RIVALRIES
Looks like the Longhorns had a tougher battle against Mother Nature in Wyoming than the Cowboys.
But once Colt McCoy and company figured out they have to do all that football stuff with less oxygen, everything turned out as planned.
Same thing with Taylor Potts and the Red Raiders against Rice - as far as the outcome, that is.
The Longhorns have the Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma, but I believe the "Red Raider Rivalry" this season is going to be just as important as it was last year.
Both quarterbacks are living up to expectations. Potts has thrown 29 more passes than McCoy, but they're about identical with completion percentage - 67.1% for Colt and 66.7% for Potts.
Of course, Potts has more TD throws, 9 vs. 5, but that's a given. Colt's longest for paydirt is 78 this season, while Potts' is 49.
You have to give the "big-game experience" factor to Colt, but "got-something-to-prove" factor goes to Potts.
The former Abilene High signal-caller is no doubt motivated to show the world what he has, and what better way to do it than in front of a nationally televised audience on ABC at 7 p.m. Saturday?
ESPN has even given its nod to the "Red Raider Rivalry" for the second year in a row.
The "Game Day" crew will be in Austin all day long, and I'm sure fans from both teams will find them for the early-morning show.
My household is about split evenly who they want to win - ol' dad's scarlet-and-black alma mater or mom's favorite burnt orange crew.
However, there is a new favorite emerging as far as quarterbacks.
All four of my children have gone to (or are still going to) Abilene Wylie.
We all remember where we were on Dec. 10, 2004 - sitting in front of the television watching quarterback Case Keenum lead the Wylie Bulldogs down the field with 3 minutes left in the game to set up the winning field goal (17-14) over Cuero in the state championship game.
This past Saturday, we were flipping back-and-forth between the Texas/Wyoming game and the Houston game with Oklahoma State.
And after the Red Raiders finish in Austin this Saturday in what should be a hard-fought, close and exciting game, they head to Houston the very next weekend for another tough one against Keenum (55-of-76 and 7 TDs) and the Coogs. The 'Horns host their "cousins" from UTEP that week.
But who's looking ahead? Not me ... well maybe, technically.
Really, I'm just looking forward to all those footballs flying around for the next couple of weeks.
That's my brand of college football, and who woulda thunk all those QBs would be from Abilene and the surrounding "Abilene-o-plex?"