EARLY BIRD
By Danny Reagan / Abilene, Texas
Burnt orange is just about the color of rust, isn't it?
A good ingredient for getting rid of sports rust is adrenaline.
Colt McCoy will have gone almost two weeks without facing charging linemen and blitzing linebackers. And before that was 10 straight weeks of come-from-behind, take-a-hit, run-and-gun action. He should have plenty of adrenaline in reserve.
But even if Colt and his Longhorn buddies are a little rusty, I just hope they're awake. It's a bit too early at 11 a.m. for football. At least the turkey from the day before should be well digested. I'm sure the network execs figured out how to fully monetize the plethora of holiday weekend telecasts, but the athletes who have to play first in the morning got the short end of the drumstick.
I'm going to play football analyst and point to the three things each team has to do to win the game. I think it's going to be very close.
For the Aggies: 1) Blitz Colt McCoy almost half the time; 2) Have more than 300 yards passing; 3) Think about Coach Fran's future.
For the Longhorns: 1) No KSU loss/BCS "what-ifs" hangover; 2) Colt McCoy throws 3 TD passes; 3) UT rushes for 175 yards.
I mentioned Coach Dennis Franchione because many "experts" believe a loss in Austin might just seal his fate ... meaning he won't be back as head coach of the Aggies.
That would indeed be a shame. He almost has the A&M program back where the Aggies would have a realistic shot each November at the Big 12 South title.
I haven't met too many Big 12 coaches, but I did meet Coach Fran in Austin right after he took the A&M job. He said College Station was the exact place he wanted to be, and he was sure he could bring the Aggies back to prominence. I believed him then and I still do.
And just because the Aggies lose Friday doesn't mean they aren't thisclose to prominence once again.