Hook 'em Horns: BYU To Face Texas in 2011
by Layton on Jan 26, 2010 5:10 PM PST
8 comments
Well, Bronco certainly isn't afraid to play anybody, anywhere. The announcement from BYU today is that the Cougars and the Texas Longhorns are going to two-step in Austin on September 10, 2011.
I'm sure the decision from BYU to accept has a lot to do with 1) BYU is 43-9 over the last four seasons, and 2) they beat Oklahoma in what was basically a home game for the Sooners. Sure, Oklahoma disappointed this year, but with a healthy Bradford, they likely would have been playing for a Big 12 championship.
I don't see this as a big risk, either. Why? First and foremost, in 2011 BYU will most likely not need to be proving itself to the country because the MWC will be set to join auto-bid BCS leagues already in 2012. Secondly, IF they get beat they won't get killed--a close September loss to Texas doesn't hurt you all that much in season long race.
How can I be so optimistic about things? This year's recruiting class will have an entire season under their collective belt. And if the Cougars win, it's just another feather in the cap and a kick start to a potential BCS bowl game in 2011. It's no surprise they seem to be scheduling these bigger games when they play both TCU and Utah at home. Do you really thing Bronco is stupid enough to face somebody like Texas or Oklahoma on the road when they already have to face TCU and Utah on the road every other year???
It's a long way off but it's something to get really excited about. Just another huge opportunity on the national stage.
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Great get for both sides
BYU gets a shot at an upset, and Texas gets a premium non-BCS opponent. I like it. While Bronco’s building the program back into a great program, I sure hope a more experienced Garrett Gilbert ensures that this game isn’t too close. While Bronco’s not the kind of guy who’s going to believe in moral victories, I think the depth chart is aligned for Texas to have national championship aspirations again in 2011, so both sides could very well be satisfied if UT were to win by an even ten points.
by burntorangehorn on Jan 26, 2010 6:19 PM PST reply actions
Just a quick fact.
BYU is 4-0 against the Big 12. Rise and shout to that my friends!
Vanquish the Foe, a BYU Cougars blog at SB Nation
And 2-0 against Texas (1987 and 1988)
However, Alabama was winless vs. Texas until 2010…
by burntorangehorn on Jan 26, 2010 7:47 PM PST up reply actions
Any insights
on what are team will look like in 2011? This should be a really sweet game and hopefully a big W.
Should be a very experienced yet young team
Especially if Apo, Heaps, and Co. Really don’t go on missions. Plus, we get a legit kicker back in Sorenson.
by vaughnzipper on Jan 27, 2010 8:51 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Offensively...
things look are great. We’ll be seeing either a senior QB in Nelson or an experienced sophomore QB in Heaps. They will have an abundance of receivers and backs to throw to and rely on, players like Jacobson, Apo, Chambers, Quezada, Phillips, and others who are coming back from missions this year.
The offensive line could be an enormous strength for the Cougars in 2011, and should move mountains with their size.
Defensively, the front seven are going to be incredible. Absolutely no worries there. The only unsure area will be the corners and safeties. However, this no longer scares me as much as it used to because of Bronco’s new emphasis on signing JC-experienced boundary players.
And yes, if it comes down to kicking, feel confident is Sorenson’s ability to drill it from most anywhere on the field.
Vanquish the Foe, a BYU Cougars blog at SB Nation
Future Home & Home for BYU vs. Texas?
Keep in mind that BYU and Texas did tangle for a 2 game home and home set back in 1987 (Austin) and 1988 (Provo). BYU prevailed in both games and holds a 2-0 series advantage against the Longhorns. I also can’t rule out conference alignment as being a factor on why BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe and UT athletic director DeLoss Dodds are reluctant to put the ink on dates for a home and home series. Many are projecting the PAC-10, Big-XII & Big-10 to reorganize by the 2012-2013 academic year, and I suspect this is another factor on why Holmoe is running into the home and home reluctance factor in finding non-league opponents for BYU at this time, especially with BYU hearing footsteps about being an expansion school for the PAC-10 or replacement school for the Big-XII.
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