CASE WILL GET A SHOT
By mark rogers
March 4, 2011
It's too perfect to not happen.
The McCoy-to-Shipley connection that ripped opposing defenses and wowed UT fans from 2006-2009, setting records and winning championships along the way, was stuff of legend.
Longhorn fans will look back on those years like Dallas Cowboys fans look at 1992-1995. A time of glory, winning, seemingly unstoppable offenses, impenetrable defenses, and pure, utter happiness.
What a Dallas Cowboys fan would give to relive those glory years. Oh how the Chicago Bulls fan daydreams about somehow recreating the Jordan/Pippen years, or a Rangers fan daydreams about .... well.... LAST year.
That same longing for the past is just starting to settle in to UT nation. Especially after last year's "No Bowl Debacle".
But it doesn't have to settle in for long. We have a chance to see the McCoy-to-Shipley connection live on...if only for a few more short glorious years.
That is, only if Case McCoy and Jaxon Shipley can live up to their huge expectations and become the cream of the college football crop over the next few years.
And what expectations are we talking about?
Only 7.5 miles of passing yards, 112 touchdowns for Case.
And nearly 250 receptions and almost 2 miles of receiving yards for Jaxon.
That's what their older brothers were able to do in burnt orange.
Standing in their paths?
For Case - returning starter Garrett Gilbert. The much maligned junior is a polarizing figure in Austin. One side says he can't cut it at this level. They cite his 10:17 TD to INT ratio. An absolutely terrible mark.
The other side says that it wasn't his fault. He has the pedigree. The know how. But he didn't have the benefit of a running game or a good offensive line to help him out. And we all know that if you don't have those things, you're going to have terrible numbers. Right? Don't we?
Needless to say (so why am I saying it?), but with a new Offensive Coordinator and new scheme, the QB position will be wide open. Gilbert, McCoy and sophomore Connor Wood will renew the competition they held at this time last year...throw in freshman David Ash to the mix and it should be a very interesting and controversial QB battle.
Standing in Jaxon's way? His inexperience and the other receivers' experience.
Jaxon does have the benefit of training with and spending gobs of time with his NFL receiver brother, but how will his dominance of Class 3A translate to Austin? It may take him a couple of years, but make no mistake, the kid is a superstar in the making.
Some say the McCoy-to-Shipley scenario can't happen. They say Case isn't what his brother was. They say Jaxon is too young to make an impact right now. That's just wishful thinking.
But you know what? They said the same thing about Colt and Jordan, too. And look where they ended up: holding some of the most coveted records in UT football history and playing on Sundays. Not too bad for a couple of small-time Texas prep stars.
So I'm calling right here..today on March 4, 2011.
The McCoy-to-Shipley connection will live on. Maybe not next year. But it will live on...oh yes, it will....live on.
It's just too perfect not to happen.
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