DALLAS -- We're almost tired of the God-fearing attitude, the jaw-dropping accuracy, the Heisman-chasing talent, the melt-in-your-mouth charm.
But who knew Colt McCoy could tackle? For the second consecutive season, the Longhorns' Tebow-in-Texas quarterback was the difference in the Red River Shootout with Oklahoma. For the first time in his life, McCoy likely won a game with a tackle.
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Make that saved the season. One of the biggest plays he'll ever make came in one of the worst games he'll ever play. More on that later. The fact that Oklahoma cornerback Brian Jackson didn't score with what looked like a game-winning interception of McCoy in the fourth quarter is the difference in that God-fearing attitude right now, because the accuracy and talent seemingly deserted him in Texas' 16-13 victory.
"It's not going to be pretty every time," McCoy said smiling.
All Texas cares about is that it is 6-0 and somewhere down in the bio for its Heisman runner-up quarterback is something about playing safety at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola, Texas. The experience was needed as Texas got to the halfway point of the season with its championship hopes still intact.
"He didn't miss a tackle today," Horns coach Mack Brown said cheerfully.
He only had to make one. It came with six minutes left and Texas casually driving for an insurance score. Oklahoma cornerback Brian Jackson jumped a slant pattern, intercepted McCoy and had about 80 yards in front of him to get to Nirvana.
"I was looking toward the end zone," said Jackson, a senior and one of countless Texas Sooners from nearby DeSoto. "I kind of I saw him out of my peripheral [vision]. I kind of made a move ... He's an athlete."
So good that Jackson's untouched window to what looked like the game-winning pick six quickly closed. The former Jim Ned defensive back -- yes, he played quarterback too -- took the correct angle, made a perfect tackle and dropped Jackson at his own 30.
"He had a great jump on the ball," Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal said of Jackson, not McCoy. "I thought he was going to take it to the house. I thought it was destiny. 'Hey, we're going to win this game.' ... In the end he made a touchdown-saving tackle." "I knew I was going to make the tackle," McCoy said. "I've made enough."
The way the Texas defense was playing and the way Oklahoma's crippled offense was moving, that was the difference in a series that has turned in Mack Brown's favor. In the early part of this decade, he was Bob Stoops' whipping boy. Now he has won four out of the past five and there's not a Big 12 tiebreaker in sight.
Now, can we move on? That was the Texas attitude -- when isn't there one? -- after being slopped by Oklahoma. That makes it four times in five years. A Red River Shootout this was not. More like a messterpiece featuring eight turnovers was aptly summed up by Texas' Bevo mascot, who took a dump in the Oklahoma end zone an hour after the conclusion.
• Texas 16, OU 13 | Bradford hurt
Texas is 6-0 for the second year in a row and should debut, at least, No. 3 in the first BCS rankings released on Sunday. McCoy? History, baby. He became the third Texas quarterback to beat Oklahoma three times in his career. One of the others you might recognize, Hall of Famer Bobby Layne.
"We haven't played near our best game yet," Brown said after the closest Texas-OU game in 12 years. "We're not even close to where we can be."
That's the kind of thing you say after a game with all those turnovers and only one touchdown by each team.
Last season, McCoy burrowed his way into our hearts with his aw-shucks personality while throwing daggers at the opposition, completing almost 80 percent of his passes. This year he has been something less. Less of a thrower, less of a runner, less of a force. The offensive line has not been consistent and there is no running back on the roster you wouldn't move aside for if he was coming the other way on the sidewalk. It added up to a tepid 5-0 record, built with wins over the likes of Louisiana-Monroe, Wyoming and Texas-El Paso.
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| Colt McCoy doesn't have a great game in the pocket, but steps up in an unfamiliar spot. (AP) |
"The second one," Stoops said, "was pretty, and in his hands, as it can be."
This was not the game for Texas to get well against an OU defense that was as fierce as its offense was clunky. Sam Bradford went down yet again -- same shoulder, maybe same injury -- could have played his last college game.
McCoy wasn't well. He came into the game sick, having lost his voice a couple of days ago. Early on Saturday, he hurt the thumb on this throwing hand in the first quarter. That would have been a convenient excuse for the inconsistent play if Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables hadn't designed a package of brilliant blitz schemes.
"We had seen corners [blitzing] by themselves," McCoy said. "Today they were bringing corners and linebackers. We weren't prepared for that."
Even with Bradford out, McCoy and the Horns couldn't get going. McCoy's performance -- 21 for 39, 127 yards, four sacks -- was at least the second worst of his career. (There was a 12 for 28 against Nebraska in 2007.) The teams kept fighting for field position like it was Hamburger Hill. The nation's No. 1 run defense (Texas) was only slightly better than the nation's No. 3 run defense (Oklahoma). No wonder Mack Brown was ecstatic at gaining 142 yards on the ground (on 40 carries).
McCoy led three scoring drives and passed for one touchdown -- that was it -- while all of the drives came in the second half. A muffed punt set up Texas' only points of the first half. A 24-yard pass slant pass to freshman Marquise Goodwin gave Texas its first lead, 13-6.
That would be the Marquise Goodwin who came to Texas on a track scholarship before coming out for football. Good thing. The nation's No. 2 receiver, Jordan Shipley, was a footnote (four catches, 22 yards).
When McCoy raised up to pass late in the game, it could have been questioned. Six minutes left and Texas trying to protect a three-point lead? Well, it was a short, seemingly safe pass.
"You have so much adrenaline going that a little thumb injury is not going to take you out," McCoy said.
It didn't, well, not when Texas' Earl Thomas intercepted Landry Jones six plays later.
Oklahoma is now 3-3 with the three losses coming by a total of five points. Its future is as uncertain as the prognosis on Bradford's shoulder. For now, there is one Heisman winner out and one Heisman runner-up, stepping up.
"We know we haven't played up to our potential," McCoy said parroting his coach. "It might be scary if we start playing really well."
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