BEVO Blog: Mack Attack?

The folks down in Austin, TX are getting restless. The 'Horns are 3-2, and out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1998. Are there "For Sale" signs being planted in Mack Brown's front yard?

Winning is everything in Texas and according to USA Today, at least some think the Mack Brown is in a little hot water. What hooey.

OK, Texas isn't going to any major bowl this year. Next week they'll likely lose to Nebraska at Lincoln but I still think they'll finish off what is essentially a re-building season 9-3. Going into the 2010 campaign the Longhorns were way over-rated. Colt and J-Ship moved to Ohio leaving some big holes. The defense was supposed to be the best in the land. It isn't. Then there's those dumb "East-West Offense" passes aka the "Greg Davis Offense" which is offensive.

All this has a few not-so diehard fans longing for D-Coord Will Muschamp, already the designated heir to the throne, to take over at the end of the season. They worry Muschamp could head back to his alma mater Georgia if he doesn't get the top job.

Mack Brown is 131-29 in 13 seasons at Texas including a National Championship (I was there) and but for Colt getting knocked out this year's game, might have won a second.

131-29.

If you've ever lived in Texas, you understand the pressure to win at any level. Texas is also the biggest of the big dogs in college football. It was Texas that put the kabosh on what might have been the PAC 16. The program is a cash cow, and cash is king in college football.

Mack Brown will step-down when he's good and ready. If Will Muschamp has any sense, he'll wait patiently for that day to come. As for O-Coord Greg Davis, he can leave anytime he'd like. That could come as early as a week from Sunday.

Finally, I heard that a few OU fans made their way to the Texas-Exes game-watching party this past weekend and behaved like, well, OU fans. Too bad for them because payback is a bee-otch.

HOOK'EM!

Brian Olson

Conversation Starters LLC

"We start the conversation about you"

BEVO Blog: Being humbled is so humbling.

There are two schools of thought about UCLA's drubbing of Texas last weekend:

1. The 'Horns were "looking ahead" to Saturday's annual clash with OU.
2. The 'Horns aren't living up to advanced billing.

I've chosen to enroll in the latter school. (The enrollment standards are much lower) Texas fans have had a great run the past few years, but things came to a screeching halt against 'Bama when Colt McCoy was knocked out of the BCS Championship game.

We were at the Texas-Wyoming game a couple of weeks ago in Austin, frankly the team was curiously flat. Compared to most teams, the Longhorns still rock. But in Texas there's winning and "not exactly."

QB Garrett Gilbert follows in the footsteps of Vince Young and Colt McCoy, but in his first full season as QB1, he's hearing the footsteps of defensive players instead. Running game? Haven't seen one yet. Mistakes? Far too many to be a factor in this year's BCS equation. Which equates at best to a 9-3 season. Maybe the Aloha Bowl?? Alo-HOWDY!

But betting on the outcome of the annual food and football fest in Dallas is a foolish thing. It's a game that brings out the best and worst in both Texas and OU. (And their fans) It's a sea of burnt orange and red, evenly divided.

Nothing about the game or the outcome will surprise me, or likely most members of Longhorn Nation.

So belly up to the chocolate covered bacon stand and enjoy the game. Don't forget to check out the fried butter.

There are a few other games of note, not the least of which being:

Alabama and Florida
Stanford and Oregon

Check out the full schedule here.

HOOK'EM HORNS!

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

BEVO Blog: Austin Weekend

Last weekend we had the good fortune to be in Austin, TX for the home opener between the 'Horns and the Pokes. Texas won 34-7 but it was the weekend itself that was most memorable. From cupcakes on Congress to meeting old friends in the Oval at the LBJ Library to eating mass amounts of "Q at the Salt Lick, it was a grand weekend.

Being a firm believer that a picture is worth often times more than a thousand words, here's a look back at a wonderful time.



Root for your team this weekend and HOOK'EM!

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

BEVO Blog: Opening Weekend

It has begun. College football season. Already one surprise with Utah knocking off soon to be not #15 Pittsburgh.

The big match-up comes Monday Night, (Monday Night College Football?) when #3 Boise State plays #10 Virginia Tech. In our weekly pool, which we WON last year, I'm picking Virginia Tech to send Boise back to the blue, blue fields of Idaho. That said, if Boise State were to go undefeated this season they deserve a shot at the national championship.

While the NFL is great, College Football is where it's at. The students, the alumni and of course the teams and traditions are unique in sports. Mascots and marching bands. Wow. It's the happiest time of the year.

We're excited to journey to Austin next weekend for the Texas home opener against Wyoming. 'Q at the Salt Lick, a visit to the Co-op and then the game. HOOK'EM!!

As for this weekend, Rice, it's what's for dinner.

Enjoy the weekend and regardless of your favorite team, cheer them on and cheer them on loud.

And please take time to support Chemo101.com for the Pepsi Refresh Grant. Make a difference!

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversations about you"

BEVO Blog #2

I just watched the Big 12 Preview on ESPNU. The usual cast of characters got the most attention, mainly Texas and OU, although honorable mentions went to A&M and Texas Tech. It will be weird to see Tech actually running the football! Howdy Tommy.

Texas and OU come into the season with new QB's. Sam Bradford is now with St. Louis, Colt McCoy with Cleveland. Texas coach Mack Brown is legendary for his ability to re-load each season. Garrett Gilbert got a baptism by fire last January in the BCS Championship Game. It will serve him well this year. Also look for Texas to run the ball a lot more.

The two big games on the Texas schedule this year are Nebraska who has a lot of motivation to beat the 'Horns in Lincoln this year. That last second loss in the Big 12 Championship game still hurts and with Nebraska leaving for the Big 10, this could be the last meeting of the two teams for quite some time. The big question is just how will the Nebraska fans, among the best and most sportsmanlike in all of college football, react when the Longhorns take the field.

Then's there's the annual gathering in Dallas with the Sooners. The Red River Rivalry. Game time has been pushed back a couple of hours which means an even rowdier crowd than ever. Most of the predictions have Texas winning, again. But when these two teams take the field against each other, all bets are off. Howdy ya'll.

We're excited to be heading to Austin for the Wyoming game on September 11. Pre-game will be at the Salt Lick plus we'll make a visit to the Co-op. We were up at the game last year in Laramie, and the Cowboys led at half-time. The Pokes have a history of playing big teams tough in the first-half. As for the second-half, not so much. But never take Wyoming for granted. Just ask the Vols.

College football is almost here, and no matter who you cheer on, it's the happiest time of the year.

HOOK'EM!

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversations about you"