UT, World Wide Leader become lovers

Yesterday, it was announced that The University of Texas and ESPN have joined unholy forces for the much-anticipated Longhorn TV network.

The deal will net UT $300 million on a 20-year deal.

As expected, there's criticism. Hell. UT could dissolve all of its athletic program and give all money to handicapped students for a free education, and people from Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma or wherever would bitch that UT was being too philanthropic.

UT not starting its own network, if it can get away with it, is like UT intentionally not recruiting the best players just to let Baylor, Kansas State or Colorado catch up.

That's ridiculous. Any program that can have its own network -- or recruit a five-star kid -- should do it.

Why? Because its awesome. For one.

Two, that $300 million will be used to buy some rowing oars, some cleats, football pads, baseballs, eye black, tackling dummies, batting cages, towels and Gatorade.

However, never could you spend $300 million on athletics. The dirty little secret in college sports is that these institutions are very much involved in ... WAIT FOR IT! ... education.

It sounds naive, but it's the truth. Don't get me wrong. I'm not dumb enough to think UT doesn't care about its football program. Nor that K-State doesn't care about basketball or TCU, baseball.
But these colleges and universities are really into education. The amount of money that they pour into research, equipment, updating technology and supplying certain services for an expanding study body is astonishing.

In fact, if you went to the heart of what UT was all about, football is probably No. 1. Research is probably No. 2.

The football team makes up 50-100 members of the student body, which totals 51,000 students. The handful of football players that go into the pros are a pleasant byproduct. However, the other 50,990 students that will enter the workforce, make a ton of cash and then send copious amounts back to their alma mater means even more.

That $300 million will go more into computers, beakers, petri dishes, incredibly expensive biology instruments, books, software and all that bookish shit.

Changes at UT

Greg Davis: Job search is on

Following their worst season in forever, changes are coming to Texas Longhorns football.

It's started. Vaunted offensive coordinator Greg Davis is fired. Sooner or later, it was coming.

Davis is, frankly, a sacrificial lamb. He won't be the only one. Look at this way, the Longhorns lost two of the best two most otherwordly, transcendent players in their history: Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley.

This on top of the yearly vacating of other skill players and offensive linemen in the NFL Draft. Guys like Quan Cosby, Jamaal Charles, Justin Blalock, Phil Loadholt and others. Guys that aren't otherworldly and, yet, when they're gone you miss them.

That can only happen for so long. After eight years of Vince Young and McCoy, eventually you have some ounce of futility at quarterback because no one else is getting snaps. Garrett Gilbert may be a good college quarterback, but he's not Young or McCoy even at his best. He's a pocket quarterback.

This drop off was coming.

The other thing that kills Davis is the recruiting. They haven't had a good running back in two years. However, Davis is expected to make lemonade out of whatever fruit is purchased. It doesn't matter. You need 200 yards a game, if you need it, with Fozzy Whittaker, Cody Johnson and Tre Newton.

The Longhorns have struck out with offensive playmakers as of late. They might blossom next year. Unfortunately for Davis, he'll not be around to see it.

Tre Newton: Possibly very smart

Tre Newton: Concussed

Tre Newton, the stand-out running back from Southlake Carroll and current dud on the Texas Longhorns, is quitting football.

He was concussed two weeks ago against Kansas State and didn't play against Oklahoma State. Honestly, he wasn't really missed. Newton's been a rather big disappointment at Texas.

He has a total of 180 carries in two seasons totaling a paltry 781 and nine touchdowns.

Newton's had a number of concussions dating back to his high school days, if not before. Newton, of course, is the son of Cowboys great Nate Newton, so there was probably an unspoken pressure to play professionally.

I doubt Tre would've translated to the NFL. He was missing something. But he had at least two years to prove himself and figure it out.

As it stands, if it stands, Tre will be 80 years old and know how to tie his shoe as he gets a fantastic college education at a premier institution.

Smartest move of his life.

The real McCoy

Colt, in younger, gayer times

On the weekend when it was announced that the Texas Longhorns will retire Colt McCoy's No. 12, the current incarnation of the kid born with a handful of Texas dirt under his crib is getting his first NFL start.

And it's a doozy.

McCoy will be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns just five short weeks after he was nearly cut. It will unfortunately not come against the Carolina Panthers or St. Louis Rams.

It will be against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The best team in the league. In Pittsburgh.

McCoy will need all his God-fearing, Bible-thumping buddies to send a prayer up to heaven because he might be beat to pulp by the end of the day.

It'll still be interesting. McCoy's always won. In high school and college. He not only won, but he was the dude on every team he's ever been on. But so were every other hotshot quarterback that's come through the NFL. It doesn't always translate. Sometimes it does.