This morning, Texas Longhorns backup quarterback Sherrod Harris, a fifth-year senior, announced that he will not return to the team this season. He will instead focus on finishing up his corporate communications degree in hopes of graduating in December.

Said Harris in the statement released by the team:

I’ve had a couple of tough semesters in school and I really need to get back on track academically so I’ve decided to focus most of my effort on academics for what is possibly my last semester in school. This was a very tough decision because I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time on the football field, running out of the tunnel on game day and being a part of the team.

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.

A statement game.

That’s what the Texas Longhorns needed, and that’s what they delivered, beating the Oklahoma State Cowboys 41-14, with two touchdowns coming from the defense. Texas moves to 8-0 on the season, and remains in the driver seat to go to Pasadena for the National Championship game.

As usual, I took a camera with me to the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Texas Longhorns at Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium last Saturday night. I can’t really shoot the game from our seats on the east side upper deck, but I got some decent shots of the team walking in before the game, of the crowd, and of the Longhorn Band’s halftime show.

As always, the Texas Longhorns coaches and players walked into Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium through the north gate two hours before yesterday’s game against the Colorado Buffaloes.

To change things up, the Wife shot video while I took stills (to be posted later today or tomorrow).

As always, the Wife and I were in Section 127 (upper deck eastside at about the 28 yard line). As usual, I brought a camera with me to take some pictures.

We started at the north gate to see the coaches and players walk in.

Continuing with the Who’s Who in Social Media for the Texas Longhorns, here are some of the most important and prominent sites, publications and blogs. To qualify, a site must not only have social aspects itself, but be engaging in other social networks as well.

Is it football season yet?

Nope. We’re still in the doldrums of the off-season, but I wanted to write about my beloved Texas Longhorns. So, like any decent blogger would do, I came up with a related topic to fill the void.

To that end, I’m combining the Texas Longhorns with another of my favorite topics, social media, to create the “Who’s Who of Social Media for the Texas Longhorns”. The list includes bloggers, sports writers, and even former players. Part Two will include profiles of some of the most prominent sites.

Brian Orakpo, former defensive end for the Texas Longhorns, was picked by the Washington Redskins as the 13th pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. By dropping to the Redskins, he is guaranteed to visit the state of Texas at least once every year, as he tees up Tony Romo in one of their two games every season.

Said Orakpo shortly after the pick was announced:

I can’t put it into words how I feel right now. Being a first-round draft pick is a dream come true. It really shows how hard work pays off and is a tribute to my family, coaches, teammates – everyone that helped me get here. It was tough to wait a little longer than I expected, but when it came down to the Washington Redskins, I was really excited. I had a great visit their with Mr. Snyder, Vinny Cerrato and Coach Zorn. It just felt like the perfect fit. It’s a lot like Texas, a great organization with a proud history, a winning tradition, great fans. I can’t wait to get to work and do my best to help the Redskins. I told them when we had dinner on my visit there that I guaranteed them I would work as hard as anybody, and now I’m ready to show them.

With the season over, and little to talk about in college football until signing day and the NFL draft, I thought I would take a look at my all time favorite Longhorns.

This is based upon nothing by my personal opinion and biases, but current players are not eligible. Therefore, Colt McCoy, who would otherwise likely make the list, will have to wait until next year.

I’m also going to limit it to guys who I can actually remember playing college ball, which limits us to about the mid-Seventies. This disqualifies amazing players like Tommy Nobis, Bill Bradley, and James Street. Sorry guys, I only had limited control over when I was born.