Rohde: This time Mack tells it like it is

By John Rohde

Published: October 11, 2008

DALLAS — Words from Texas coach Mack Brown sometimes ring hollow after his annual showdown against Oklahoma.

In Brown’s dozen seasons at the podium, some of his explanations have been perplexing. He has answered questions for players, which makes proper attribution somewhat confusing.

Many of his responses actually have spurred more questions.

On this second Saturday in October, however, never before has Brown spoken more clearly than following his team’s 45-35 upset over the top-ranked Sooners.

Brown saw a game people who live north of the Red River hopefully saw in the same fashion.

“It’s a shame these two teams are in the same league, much less the same division, and that they have to play this early in the season,” Brown began. “Because today, that was two of the best football teams in the country.

“It was hard-fought. Guys from both teams left it all out on the field and looked totally exhausted at the end of the game. It was a heavyweight fight that continued throughout the day ... Neither team gave up and neither team quit.”

Many coaches have made similar remarks after a game, and many of those coaches have embellished.

No embellishment here.

OU coach Bob Stoops has long been a class act whenever he loses (all of 23 times now in 125 starts with the Sooners).

Brown, on the other hand, excels in victory. He is careful not to pour salt into the wound of any victim.

It is in defeat when Brown has been known to literally talk himself into a corner, trying to explain away something that went awry.

Saturday’s contest left coaches and players complimenting the opposing sideline.

A record crowd of 92,182 at the expanded Cotton Bowl saw numerous swings in momentum throughout the contest.

One of the bigger swings came when Stoops chose to fake a punt near midfield with three minutes left in the third quarter.

OU wound up one yard shy of a first down, the UT sideline erupted, and the Longhorns marched down the field to take their first lead of the game.

“I commend Bob for faking it,” Brown said.

Given the outcome of the play, obviously Brown favored the fake, but this was no tongue-and-cheek comment.

“Momentum had changed,” Brown explained. “It was a chance there for them to keep the drive going. We made a great play on it, so it was a great call by them and even a better stop by (us).”

Brown’s enlightening insight continued.

“Usually with college kids in a game like this, somebody gives up,” Brown said. “But give those kids credit on both sides of the ball. I didn’t see anybody loaf. I didn’t see anybody give up. I thought it was one of the greatest football games I’ve ever seen.”

One of the greatest games ever probably was a bit of an overstatement.

Other than that, no argument here with anything Brown said.

John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m. on New JOX 930 (AM).

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