Anyone that follows Texas College Football recalls an unexpected and amazing 2005 season for the University of Texas Longhorns. This was the year that Vince Young stepped over the right side of the USC goal line with 19 seconds left in the game, in what many professionals believe to be the greatest championship game performance ever. USC was leading by 5 points when the clock hit 19 seconds. Young was eight yards from the goal line, pulled back on the snap, looked around quickly, then took off toward the right side, over the goal unopposed for a touchdown. A two point conversion moved the score to UT 41, USC 38. Most of us had already turned off our TVs, those that didn’t, were already walking away, disappointed. I was the only one still watching the TV at our Rose Bowl party. I screamed so loud that I upset the rest of the folks talking. Our neighbor down the street didn’t know the game results until the next day when he called us to offer condolences on the loss. When I explained what happened, he didn’t know if I was pulling his leg or not. He checked the news, and joined the frenzy that night. The UT Tower was lit Burnt Orange for three days. People were coming from all over the state to take pictures of the Tower. It was indeed exciting for any Longhorn fan.

This was the first UT Longhorn championship win in thirty five years. They had a perfect 12 - 0 season and a 19 game winning streak  leading up to the championship. This was the first time UT had a perfect 12 - 0 record.

Last season, the UT Longhorns came within 2 tenths of a BCS point from playing in the National Championship. Oklahoma went to the championship instead. Many Longhorn fans believe the spot was stolen from Texas, since UT beat Oklahoma head to head. But, it was a three way tie for the BCS Title, and came down to Votes, Popularity, and probably some downright favoritism.

The 2008-2009 season was near perfect for the Longhorns, and it was again a pleasant surprise for Longhorn fans. Colt McCoy surprised us all. We didn’t know what would happen after the Vince Young Longhorns, but Colt has surprised us, especially last season.

McCoy was a Red Shirt Freshman in 2005. He watched Vince Young win the Rose Bowl from the sidelines. The very next season McCoy began to set records, both school records, then national records.

We stand at the start of another College Football season, the first Longhorn game will be at home, Austin, Texas, against Louisiana. We have 12 games to go before the end of the season. If we play those games as well as the ones last year, we stand a strong chance to take the Longhorns to another Championship game.

Let us play one game at a time, and not get ahead of ourselves. We’ll hope for no injuries to key players. Mr. McCoy will be on the minds of hundreds of thousands of fans. Godspeed.