Going into the BCS championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas Longhorns, if you had told me that with four minutes left in the game, we would be down by three points and have the ball, I would have said I liked our chances. If you had told me that we would get there with our true freshman quarterback, I would have told you that you were nuts.

After a very ugly first half, most of America thought the Longhorns would be blown off the field in the second half. I’ll admit that I was worried it was going to get ugly.

Instead, the Longhorns dug deep and were playing for the win late in the game. And while the final score differential as seventeen (thanks for showing your ass, Coach Saban), Texas proved their strength of heart and depth of talent on that field.

BCS National Championship Game
Texas Longhorns vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
January 7, 2010, 7pm Central
Pasadena, California
Network: ABC/ESPN Radio

I’m the first to admit that I’m biased when it comes to the Texas Longhorns. But after countless hours spent reading online articles, blogs, and forms, watching sports broadcasts, and listening to podcasts, I’m having a hard time predicting tonight’s outcome.

Part of that is because both teams have been inconsistent this year. Everyone talks about Texas’ close game with Nebraska because it was the most recent game. The Texas offense was essentially shut down in that game and against Oklahoma. And the Texas defense was totally absent for the Texas A&M game.

Don’t forget that if Tennessee had a halfway decent field goal kicker, Alabama wouldn’t be in the championship game. And that they barely slipped by a four loss Auburn team. But when Alabama struggles, people say that is just what happens in the SEC.

With Urban Meyer’s announcement yesterday that he is stepping down after Florida’s bowl game, I’ll confess that I was a bit concerned about Will Muschamp being offered the job. I expect Florida wants a defensive minded coach with experience in the SEC. Texas’ defensive coordinator certainly fits that description.

And if the Gators came a’calling, I don’t see how Muschamp wouldn’t answer. I’m one of the biggest Longhorn homers in Austin, but even I can’t convince myself that head coach of Texas sometime in the future is better than head coach of Florida now.

However, the more I think about the situation, the less worried I become.

The Wife and I made the trek last weekend to Arlington for the Big 12 Championship between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Texas Longhorns. It was our first trip to Jerry World, so we of course took lots of pictures.

We were sitting in the lower level, so the pictures were much closer than we’re used too.

Just FYI, the picture of Colt McCoy’s butt was taken by the Wife. I accept neither credit nor blame for it.

For the second year, Texas Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy has been named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Other finalists include:

• Tim Tebow, QB, Florida Gators
• Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama Crimson Tide
• Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford Cardinal
• Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska Cornhuskers

Even after McCoy’s less than Heisman-worthy performance Saturday night, I like his odds of winning. Many of the votes were probably cast prior to the Big 12 Championship against Nebraska, when his stellar game against Texas A&M was still front of mind.

I’ll certainly have more thoughts (and predictions) on the games later, but here’s what comes to mind right off.

Rose Bowl
Ohio State vs. Oregon
January 1st, Pasadena, California

No surprise here. If the Rose Bowl has the option of taking the Pac 10 and Big 10 conference winners, they almost always will do so.

The Wife and I attended the Big 12 Championship game at Jerry World this weekend. We were in the endzone, but with only one row in front of us (as opposed to our usual DKR-TMS seats we up on the top deck). It’s not the best angle for shooting video of the Longhorn Band, but here’s their halftime show in any case.

While I was shooting video of the pre-game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Texas Longhorns, the Wife took the following pictures.

At last night’s game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Texas Longhorns, the National Anthem was sung by soprano Mary Dunleavy. It was an outstanding performance.

The halftime show for the Longhorn Band at the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and Texas Longhorns.