Are we entering a golden era of Texas athletics? No, we're already there | Bohls, Golden
Texas figures to be a top-five team entering next football season. The Longhorns' men's and women's basketball programs are now making NCAA Tournament runs an expectation. Texas volleyball is looking to three-peat, the softball team is eyeing a possible national championship, and on and on. This means it's a great time to follow the Longhorns as they prepare to make their jump to the SEC. But just how special is this current run of UT success?
1. Lighting the Tower orange ... again and again
Is this the next golden era for Texas athletics?
Bohls: How can it not be? Sure, maybe it could go from gold to silver — or bronze? — in an instant with the move to the mighty SEC. But a dozen Big 12 championships and counting and two Directors’ Cups in the past three years and possibly another this year don’t lie. Texas is well-positioned to make some waves, not ripples, immediately in the SEC in football, volleyball, swimming, women’s basketball and track, especially.
Golden: If it isn’t the next golden era, I’m changing my last name. Steve Sarkisian’s football team is close to breaking through for the first national title in 19 seasons, and basketball’s Rodney Terry has four NCAA tourney wins in two seasons, something that’s been done only once in the past 15 years. And let’s not forget about the ladies. A blind man can see that Mike White’s softball team is poised to make history with natty No. 1 while Jerritt Elliott’s volleyball team is seeking to become the second to win three straight national titles. Vic Schaefer will have one of the best 1-2 backcourt duos in America with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker. Texas trails North Carolina and Stanford in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, but its constant presence atop or near the top every year speaks to the school’s overall dominance.
2. It's Oklahoma City or bust for Texas softball
Will Texas softball win its first national championship?
Bohls: Yes, it will. Oklahoma is on notice. This is White’s best team so far. He’s already beaten the Sooners two out of three. The Longhorns are stacked offensively and have a potentially dominant strikeout ace in freshman Teagan Kavan as well as a lot of pitching depth. Reese Atwood is crushing it and should catapult Texas to the title.
Golden: I’m picking Texas, but I worry about No. 2 Oklahoma, which has flown under the radar while seeking a fourth straight national title. The Horns have plenty of firepower with the nation’s top player in Atwood as well as Kavan, as good of a 1-2 punch in the country. But the Sooners have a championship pedigree and home-state advantage in the College World Series.
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3. Texas' NFL receivers are looking good
Pick a Longhorn from this NFL draft class who'll burst onto the scene and one who will bust.
Bohls: I think wide receiver Adonai Mitchell will be a star in Indy. He'll be a surprise strong rookie of the year candidate in that rising franchise with an emerging quarterback in Anthony Richardson and playing half his games indoors. But as much as we root for linebacker Jaylan Ford, I’m a little worried that he might not have the speed to assure him success in the league in New Orleans. He does have the heart and brain, however.
Golden: Wideout Xavier Worthy should pinch himself when he wakes up every morning because he landed in a dream scenario in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes has been starving for a deep threat since Tyreek Hill left, and X will step right in. Of the 11 drafted, I’m not certain of a bust, but if there’s one that I have the most concern about, it’s defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, who'll have to get that weight under control if he wants to be more than a two-down player. He’s plenty talented enough, but he will have to work on his fitness to live up to his second-round draft status at the pro level.
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4. Trap game for Texas? No such thing in the SEC
Other than Georgia and Oklahoma, what SEC opponent could be the scariest game this fall for Texas?
Bohls: Arkansas at Arkansas always is scary. The Hogs already have that game circled. Steve Sarkisian learned of the depth of the hatred the Razorbacks have for all things Longhorns back in 2021. He was caught off guard in his first trip to Fayetteville, which didn’t go well, because he’d only been there with Alabama’s talent and went in overconfident. Plus, Sam Pittman will be playing for his job this season.
Golden: Probably 90% of the calendars in College Station have Nov. 30 circled in maroon ink. Thanksgiving weekend at Kyle Field will be raucous. Texas A&M lives to beat Texas, and nothing would make that fan base happier than to give new coach Mike Elko a signature win in his first year at the helm. And if you believe the preseason prognosticators who have the Horns near the top — USA Today has Texas at No. 2 behind Georgia — then there could be playoff implications in play in the regular-season finale.
5. The eyes of Texas baseball are on LBJ
Can Texas get to Omaha without major production from Lebarron Johnson Jr.?
Bohls: Highly unlikely. He hasn’t been anywhere close to an ace, but he’s a big-time talent who hopefully will figure it out in May and June and get his stuff corrected to reemerge as the star in the Longhorns’ rotation. Texas has stabilized its bullpen somewhat but just can’t outslug everybody to get to the College World Series.
More: Texas baseball now getting good at-bats from struggling players Porter Brown, Jack O'Dowd
Golden: No way. LBJ has to figure it out between now and the postseason or the Horns will be home for the summer. They just don’t have enough pitching to overcome that ghastly 5.82 earned run average that’s on the stat line of the former Friday night starter. They have enough offense to give any team hell, but they need at least three starters — including Johnson — to be playing their best ball to have a realistic chance to advance to Omaha.
6. Is the NBA still fan-tastic?
Has the NBA just devolved into arguments over which team got screwed more by the refs?
Bohls: Seems like it. Indiana sent a tape of 78 missed, or at least disputed, calls from its playoff series. Jeepers, come on, NBA. They’re making a mockery of the playoffs. I’d defy anybody to try to officiate NBA games, but the refs can’t be the center of attention. It’s harder than determining Jerry Jones’ next bizarre move.
Golden: Not really. Indiana coach Rick Carlisle has a beef with the refs for allegedly missing 78 calls in the series with the Knicks, but he knows better than most that home teams usually get the calls in the regular season and playoffs. Then you have Denver’s Jamal Murray throwing heating pads onto the court from the bench. The whining is silly, but the officiating has been inconsistent. I’m not sure who missed the memo because it’s been that way for years.
7. Making runbacks a thing of the past
What NFL team will benefit the most from the new kickoff rule?
Bohls: I’m going to say the Pittsburgh Steelers with the addition of Cordarrelle Patterson barely over the Dallas Cowboys with KaVontae Turpin. But keep an eye on Jacksonville, which scooped up former Longhorn and Raven Devin Duvernay.
Golden: My first guess was none, but I could see Dallas' KaVontae Turpin breaking loose a few times. Even with the potential of jarring collisions lessened by the kicking team lining up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line, there aren’t that many game-breakers returning kicks. Coaches don’t want to risk turnovers, and while many don’t mind gambling on fourth down in their own territory, most prefer to play it safe and get their quarterback on the field right away.
8. So long, Astros and Rangers?
Are the Rangers and Astros dead in the water?
Bohls: No way. Yes, Texas has had pitching issues, but Cory Seager will hit eventually, Josh Jung will return, and so will Max Scherzer. No team has had the pitching injuries the Astros have, but their pedigree and moxie and bats and maybe even Josh Hader will resurface to keep them in contention.
Golden: Not even close. Has the MLB season even started yet? Seriously, these teams are almost bookending the standings in the AL West, one of the two worst divisions in baseball, along with the NL West. Houston, next to last in the division going into Saturday night's games, is getting a first-half MVP season from Jose Altuve and was only seven games behind first-place Texas. Expect the Astros to add a starting pitcher sooner rather than later. It’s early to be eliminating anyone in a season in which the team with the best record (Philadelphia) is only 14 games above .500.
9. Who needs the College Football Playoff, anyway?
Should the Group of Five just stage its own separate playoff?
Bohls: Absolutely, it should. I think that playoff would be a bigger TV draw than the hollowed out bowl games, and ESPN always wants inventory in December and January. Doesn’t that make more sense than getting one of the dozen spots in the new College Football Playoff format?
Golden: Heck, yeah. The CFP, although expanded to 12 teams, is slanted to reward the big dogs in the SEC and Big Ten. If the powers that be in the G5 are able to sell it to the networks and lesser bowl games, they should make it happen. It would be great to see the non-football factories have their own tournament, even if it’s only four to eight teams. Good football is good football.
More: No. 1 Texas softball rolls in Big 12 tournament opener, will face Baylor in semifinals
10. Move over, Tom Brady
If you could arrange a roast of one pro athlete, who would it be?
Bohls: Probably have to be either Johnny Manziel or goody two shoes Peyton Manning. With Johnny Football, at least, roasters wouldn’t even have to make up anything. The truth is stronger content than any made-up jokes.
Golden: That’s an easy one. Michael Jordan, all day long. It would surpass Tom Brady’s epic roast from last week because there are people out there who would love nothing more than to put Jordan in a pit and light up the charcoals. Imagine his former best friend Charles Barkley and mortal enemy Isaiah Thomas on the dais. I’d pay to see it.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Is Texas entering a golden era for Longhorns sports or already in it?
