Texas Ends Futility Against Oklahoma

The grounds of the Texas state fair can no longer be referred to as dismissal grounds for Mack Brown, the longtime Texas coach and once-a-year carnival-ride operator.

After five consecutive losses to Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, some of them excruciating, Texas finally turned the corn-dog tables on the Sooners on Saturday with a 45-12 victory in front of 75,452.

Brown didn’t shed any tears, because, he said, “it’s midseason,” meaning he has Colorado to beat next week ... or else.

There was no mistaking, though, the giant exhale that passed for afternoon breeze as Brown soaked up the postgame love and Longhorn players took turns wearing the spoils of victory -- the coveted Golden Hat.

“We were expected to win today,” Brown said. “We thought we’d win today.”

Given that Texas versus Oklahoma of late has been a college football accident waiting to happen, you almost had to come to see it for yourself.

Even before kickoff, though, certain truths were self-evident:

* No. 2 Texas had its best team in years -- and Oklahoma didn’t.

* The Longhorns had star quarterback Vince Young, a chorus line of speed players and a defense that meets you head-on at the line of scrimmage.

The Sooners started a freshman quarterback and almost ran out of medical tape on the sprained right ankle of tailback Adrian Peterson, who hobbled through pregame warmups and managed 10 yards in three carries.

“Not a lot we could do about it,” Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops lamented of Peterson’s pain.

The question became: How could Texas lose?

None of Texas’ fears was realized as the Longhorns improved to 5-0, 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference, and made their case for remaining No. 2 in the country despite what-about-us cries from Virginia Tech and Alabama.

Oklahoma fell to 2-3, 1-1.

Texas’ daylong celebration was capped in the fourth quarter, when defensive tackle Rod Wright picked up a Rhett Bomar fumble and rumbled 67 yards for the Longhorns’ last touchdown.

“The whole time it felt unreal,” Wright said. “Big guys running 60 yards for a touchdown, it doesn’t happen very often.”

Young ran for only 45 yards in 17 carries, but he passed for 241 and three touchdowns. Jamaal Charles, a freshman tailback, gained the bulk of his 116 rushing yards on an 80-yard scoring run in the first quarter.

Oklahoma fans, perhaps for years to come, will make a case about a game-turning pass interference call against the Sooners in the second quarter.

Texas led, 14-6, when Oklahoma linebacker Zach Latimer intercepted a Young pass in Texas territory, but the play was nullified by pass interference.

“I’m not at all questioning the call,” Stoops, who referred to the play as “a breaking point,” said.

Texas retained possession and cashed in with a field goal to make it 17-6.

Breaking Point II came late in the half, when Texas got the ball back at its own 30 with 55 seconds left ... and did not run out the clock.

Brown took heat in the 2001 Oklahoma loss for not trying to score at the end of the half, but Saturday’s move proved just how comfortable Brown has become in his coaching skin.

Saturday, Young flung the ball to Billy Pittman for a 64-yard scoring play with 17 seconds left and Texas took a 24-6 lead into halftime.

In other words, game over.

Recalling the 2001 decision, Brown said “I got beat up for it, but I thought it was smart at that time,” but acknowledged that when being aggressive works, “you look smarter than taking a knee.”

Brown said it was accurate, if not simplistic, to suggest his confidence has been a reflection of his team’s play.

“You make better decisions when your players are being productive,” he said.

Brown seems to be a more relaxed coach since receiving a 10-year contract extension last year and then coming through with a come-from-behind win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

He said Saturday’s victory was not about him, but it was to the extent that he won’t be hounded about Oklahoma for at least another year.

Brown said the game was important because it kept Texas undefeated and firmly situated in this year’s national-title race.

“This game has kept us from going forward,” he said of the five consecutive losses to Oklahoma. “That’s why this day is important.”

Texas may now have the straightest shot to the Rose Bowl, which plays host to the national-title game on Jan. 4. The only ranked team left on Texas’ schedule is No. 15 Texas Tech, which plays at Austin on Oct. 22.