Hooked: UT Football through a UK lens.

Howdy folks! T-1 day ’til we face the first “real” test of the year.

Funny story for y’all.. I had a particularly humbling moment this week was when I saw Untold: Sign Stealer pop up in my recommended this week. I fully thought to myself: “What signs are Michigan stealing? Like, the other teams fan support signs or what? Are they that insecure?”.

Come to learn, nothing of the sort. It’s the opposing teams play-calls they’re stealing! I’ve only followed Texas Longhorns for a couple of years — I’ve watched the NFL (Go Birds!) for around 10 so I’m not completely clueless when it comes to the game of football — but I’ve now seen first-hand the nuances of college football can totally check a newbie. That’s showbiz, baby.

The notion of sign stealing boggled my mind because; 1) I assumed college teams had the green dot like the NFL. 2) I grew up watching rugby, famously the sport that Louis Rees-Zammit played. A team sport where the coaches sit high in their box at midfield, watching and analyzing. Everything that happens on the pitch is down to the players, with the exception of broad game strategy and tactics which are communicated from coach to players via waterboys or substitutions.

This made me realize just how complex the game of football is. How every snap is a game within itself.

Anyhow, here we are, travelling to Ann Arbor for a test. “The Big House” as it’s affectionately called. Cute.

What’s not cute? Michigan’s team. While they did get gutted somewhat in the post-season, key leadership in Harbaugh and JJ McCarthy are gone, they’ve still got a great program. It’s easy to say they’ll have a hangover year after the Natty, but they’ve got enough support, and enough willpower, to put up a stiff test. Especially after the drama from last year.

They’ve got to make their dual QB threat work for them, though. Steve Sarkisian is too composed to be hoodwinked by that tomfoolery. It wasn’t firing for them last week and they relied on the rush. I think they could find success later in the season with it, but Texas are too smart and can shut down the parts of your game you rely on.

What I saw last week from Texas should be enough to come home with a W. I liked what I saw in the RB and WR rooms. I loved what Quinn had with him, and fully anticipate for him to show up with his best stuff. He moved the ball down the field with authority last week, was well protected, and I expect much of the same in Michigan.

Score prediction from me is 31-24. First road game of the season is always tough, notwithstanding it being in Michigan, but we’ve got enough. Looking forward to it.

Hook ’em.