Late post from me this week. I’ve been preparing to travel for work and a chunk of my week was spent flying “home” to Ireland at short notice to support my family at a funeral. Football’s taken a bit of a back seat, and that’s life.
It’s times like this though that show you what’s important — and for as much as I love football it’s not been my priority. However, it does remind you the value of having things that bring you joy, with a renewed appreciation of being able to enjoy your passions.
So, that brings me to this week. Our Texas Longhorns are back at DKR to face UTSA. I’ll admit, a lot of this game I’m unprepared for.
The thing about being a relative newbie to the sport and in the UK is that the big games get the big hype. Michigan last week a prime example, and looking ahead to Oklahoma and Georgia. I have to work a bit harder than I usually would to understand the coming match up. It’s games like this, that for all intents and purposes should be a comfortable blowout, that I have less knowledge of.
I’m not talking just about unfamiliarity of the team, I’m talking about unfamiliarity with the approach we should be taking. It’s why I’m super grateful for the folks at Texas Sports Unfiltered, especially Eric Henry and Keenan Womack. Listening to their show, False Start, gave me some great insights.
As a UK fan we’re always pretty sceptical. Glass half full types. We love a bit of doom and gloom, and the prospect of losing an “easy” game can get all consuming. It sometimes feels inevitable that an L might go on our record.
I’ve not really considered the idea of rotating guys onto the field and sharing snaps. To make an ice hockey comparison, sending in third or fourth line for a larger portion of the game.
This makes me nervous, as to be comfortable doing that with a “half glass full” mentality, I’d want to have an insurmountable lead before even considering putting a secondary team on the field.
This is where I feel my football knowledge growing, and gaining a greater appreciation for how coaching staff will be considering how they get guys reps, and establish depth, to take us all the way if these kids need called on later down the stretch.
So, as for scoreline I’m unsure. I’d like to think 50+ with less than 10 scored against us. But I’ll take this new mindset into consideration and ready myself for a 47 – 18 win.
I’m unfortunately missing the game owing to being 37000ft in the air, but I look forward to seeing what Texas can put up and how our guys perform at home in front of what I’m sure will be a celebrant crowd after the win in Michigan last week.
Hook ’em.
Hooked: UT Football through a UK lens. 
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