As flags pile up, so do losses
There were positive signs and debatable penalties, but UT is still 1-3 — with schedule not getting easier.
Let’s assume Texas kicker Nick Rose drills the extra point against California. That game probably goes into overtime, would you agree?
And given a second chance, it’s doubtful Michael Dickson drops that snap against Oklahoma State. The freshman punter likely gets offff a decent kick, and the Cowboys must move a modest amount before getting into fifield goal range.
Ifs and buts don’t win games, though. The old Bill Parcells axiom still rings true: You are what your record says you are.
For the fifirst time since 1956, Texas is a 1-3 football team heading into a date with fourth-ranked TCU (4-0, 1-0 in the Big 12).
“It’s tough when you lose two games like that,” linebacker Peter Jinkens said after Saturday’s 30-27 loss to the Cow-
boys. “But you’ve just got to go back to the drawing board, keep pushing, keep working hard.”
UT fans let the officiating crew have it afterward, showering them with boos as they scampered off the field. Take emotion over the last two losses and questionable penalties in Saturday’s game out of the equation, though. Look what remains. The Longhorns indeed have some positive things cooking.
Quarterback Jerrod Heard had only 167 total yards one week after piling up 527. But the running game found its legs, as Texas amassed 171 yards on the ground against Oklahoma State. But how much will that change now that right tackle Kent Perkins (knee) is out? His return is unknown.
The defensive line, the team’s most maligned unit, stuffed the ground game. Oklahoma State managed only 103 yards, about 77 below its average. Hassan Ridgeway scored on a 34-yard fumble return. Holton Hill raced 41 yards for a score after an interception.
Dylan Haines had another pick, and Kris Boyd would’ve had one, too, if not for a questionable roughing penalty on Paul Boyette.
Ah, yes, the penalties. Texas was flagged 16 times, an uncharacteristically high number. It was the most penalties since 12 against Baylor on Dec. 3, 2011. Two touchdowns, along with Boyd’s interception, were negated because of flags.
The two most questionable calls came late. On first-and-10 from the Texas 44, OSU’s Rennie Childs got stopped for no gain. Officials flew a flag on UT’s Poona Ford for defensive holding.
ESPN cameras had a clear shot of Ford being double-teamed, driven back, and OSU’s Victor Salako held Ford with his arm across the Longhorns player’s chest.
“Some of those calls were …,” said Ridgeway, who held his anger as best he could. “I haven’t ever seen defensive hold on a double-team when one of the dudes is still holding on to him. That surprised me.”
Texas coach Charlie Strong was apoplectic. “The (official) said it was a defensive holding call, and I said, ‘On a run play on the offense, that cannot happen.’ But it did,” Strong said.
KEYE-TV cameraman Anthony Geronimo had a shot of one official appearing to initiate contact with Strong, but the official threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, anyway.
Those back-to-back penalties moved the ball to the Texas 19. OSU collected a tying field goal with 1:33 remaining.
Whether the calls were good or bad, the Horns must move on. “The amazing thing about this game is it’s a game of life,” Strong said. “When you get knocked down, you’ve got to be able to pick yourself up.”