Texas Longhorns National Champions!

What a Rose Bowl performance by the fearless Longhorns. Seriously. I have lived in and around Austin for most of my days and this is the best sports experience I have EVER had. No serious, I am not overemphasizing my happiness. Here is to what I compare:

Chicago Bulls win Championship 90-91, at a time when I worshipped MJ.

Texas Beats Nebraska 1996 Big XII Championship on a play simply known by Texas fans as "4th and 1":

Facing a fourth-and-one at their own 28-yard line with 2:40 left in the game, the Longhorns decided to go for it rather than punt. Brown took the snap and found backup tight end Derek Lewis for a 61-yard completion. On the next play, Holmes ran 11 yards for his third TD run and the clinching score.

Close comparison, but a distant second.

Dallas Cowboys win Super Bowl XXVII, first in my cognizant life.

Notre Dame beats #8 Michigan, Sept. 2004, 28-20: no comparison, although a special win for me as it was my first game back since graduation.

2005 Rose Bowl Texas v. Michigan: A great game and win, especially against UM.

Houston Astros win 2005 NLCS

It appears that Mack Brown and Vince Young have secured legendary status in Austin where Longhorn Football is as big as it gets. It was fun to watch the burnt orange on the big stage and it was great to see them win this match up against a USC team that will be remembered as one of the best college football teams ever.

I think what killed USC was their arrogance. Would Reggie Bush have made a bonehead lateral in the 2nd quarter if his head wasn't swollen from all the accolades? Would Pete Carroll have gone for it on Texas' 17 yard line on 4th and 1 in the 1st quarter, instead of taking an easy field goal, had he not thought his team was unbeatable? I think the early punt return fumble by Texas might have been the best thing for the horns. USC scored easily after this and probably began thinking it would be another win like last year's routing of Oklahoma.

Texas was the better team on the field, yes I said that, but was less poised than USC. This is the truth. And trust me, I am not biased, I have learned to be disappointed in Texas after the many years of choking. I have learned to observe the team objectively and before the season started, I told many friends that if they beat Ohio State at the horseshoe, they would win the National Championship. My logic was that if Texas beat OSU, they, one, would gain confidence and, two, they would finally have that grind it out mentality that a championship team needs, but that Texas has never had. I know Texas Football well and I knew the intangible they lacked because I had seen it many times in an inferior Irish team that knocked off better teams. I also have to give credit to Mack Brown and Vince and the rest of the team for not calling out USC's sometimes classless post game interviews where they still gave little credit to Texas. Leinart said, "I still think we're a better football team. They just made the plays in the end." Dude, that is why they actually schedule football games, sell tickets to fans and broadcast the event on national television. They do this to actually play the game and put to rest the punditry and analysis. There were moments where USC gave credit, but it seemed draped in their obligation to not look like sore losers. Maybe I read too much into these comments, but give credit, admit defeat and walk off the stage.

Regardless, the Longhorns finally won a championship after 35 years and how sweet it was to walk out of a 6th Street bar, holding back the tears of joy watching thousands chant Texas Fight Texas Fight. Texas was good and although Vince Young will get most of the attention, the entire team made unbelievable plays. Consider the interception by Michael Griffin in the 2nd quarter, there are very few defensive backs in the country that could make this play. And we can’t forget about the 4th and 1 stop by the Texas defense in the 4th quarter that kept their hopes alive. Texas played well and got a bit of luck here and there.

I could not understand how a sporting event could make people so damn happy until this win and, although I understand how irrelevant a sports match is in the grand scheme of the world, this was a big deal to this "Austinian". Thanks to the team and staff for a special moment for this town. For those who have seen this Texas town grow to a city over the last two decades, for those who have memories of a Longhorn team that had a tiny following in the 80s, for those who know every nuance that makes this city special and for those who consider themselves Austinites, enjoy this moment where this city is still on cloud nine two days after the fact.