BETWEEN THE LINES
If you've checked out Jim Vertuno's story about 10 wins not being enough for Colt McCoy and the Longhorns (see "Colt in the News" link at top), you know that 10 wins is the same as saying 3 losses.
If you remember, back in late December, I brought up the same subject ...
"A third-straight 10-3 season won't satisfy a lot of UT fans or players ... So, here's my early prediction: The Longhorns - behind an even stronger and more mature McCoy - will go 13-1 in 2008, winning all THREE of their efforts on the big stages (throw in the Big 12 championship game) and losing only to the Red Raiders in Lubbock."
Colt will see a number of excellent quarterbacks on opposing teams this season, and that fact alone makes a 13-victory prediction very shaky.
However, it's not just the added physical maturity that is inherent in a third season, but it's the mental toughness. I haven't seen a game Colt has played that he hasn't thought he could win. Most of his losses have been close and could've gone either way.
And that brings us to reading between the lines: It has to go one way early this upcoming season (onto the "W" column) or Mack Brown will make changes quickly. The 5th and 6th games of the year (at Colorado and then against Oklahoma) will be pivotal.
Back-to-back wins there will cement Colt into the driver's seat and go a long way toward making my crazy 13-win prediction a reality. I'm sure not many people think I know what I'm talking about.
At least I know where I'll be on Nov. 1 - in Lubbock watching one of the best games of the year.