The BCS Championship game

Here is my running blog of the BCS title game. Just some random thoughts as the game goes. They might not even have anything to do with what is actually happening on the field.

11:35 p.m.
With the pending legislation in Washington right now, Alabama might be the last FBS "National Champion" for a long time as long as they don't determine it with a tournament.

11:30 p.m.
Not that it really matters, but who is No. 2, Florida or Boise? I hope it is Boise. Don't want the SEC to go 1-2.

11:25 p.m.
Blake Gideon probably cost Texas a chance at two national championships. If he intercepts the ball last season against Tech, Texas probably plays for it. This year if he doesn't intercept the ball on the fake punt, everything is then different with Texas' play calling and Colt doesn't get hurt. That has to be tough to live with.

11:10 p.m.
You have to hand it to Colt for stepping in front of a mic and take some questions right there at the end. That couldn't have been easy.

11:07 p.m.
If I am Saban, I frame that shirt, stained and all. I wouldn't let that thing hit a washing machine.

11:03 p.m.
The art of the Gatorade shower has been lost. I have seen too many bad Gatorade showers where the cooler hits the coach. You guys are too big and strong to let that happen. 37-21 Bama, Final

11:00 p.m.
Gilbert and the Texas D made this a much more interesting that it looked like it was going to be at halftime. Just too much to ask after losing McCoy. Game plan and everything had to be changed. Everyone on the offense had to do things differently.

10:57
Once again, can't believe they looked at that. Pretty clear cut and the official was right on top of the play.

10:54
You knew they would go to the Heisman winner there. As expected he punched it in. Would have been really disappointing if he didn't. Hate it when Heisman winners don't perform in the bowls. Bama 31-Texas 21 2:01 to play.

10:50
Any chance they hold them to a field goal???

10:49 p.m.
Herbie just jinxed them. Asking Gilbert to rally the troops was probably asking a little too much. It was fun for a while thinking what if.

10:47 p.m.
No matter what, Texas should have a top 3 preseason ranking next year now that there won't be as many questions about the Horn offense heading into 2010.

10:45 p.m.
Does this just have the same feeling as the last time Texas was here?

10:44 p.m.
This is a huuuge play for Texas. Need a stop on third and long

10:39 p.m.
Do we see Ingram on this drive? They need him here.

10:35 p.m.
That is why they should have gotten Shipley involved earlier in the game. The guy is a playmaker. He is just about the only one Texas has on the field right now. How is Alabama letting him get that open??? There is no one else on the field who can hurt you. 24-21 Bama, 6:15 to play

10:33 p.m.
Herbie, we have a game now 11 points with 7:30 to play. You don't have to make something of it that isn't there. just call the damn game.

10:32 p.m.
Gilbert is getting no help around him. Too many penalties and drops.

10:28 p.m.
College football looks at waaaaay too much stuff for review. I didn't think that was even close live. If you look at any play close enough, you can probably pick it apart.

10:26 p.m.
Texas is going to need points of some sort here on this drive. It need to happen fast as well.

10:21 p.m.
Not a good call on the PI. Let's see how it affects this drive. Another 15 yards against Texas. Both weak calls.

10:20 p.m.
How different is this game right now if Texas takes a knee at the end of the half.

10:17 p.m.
Texas defense playing like we thought they would. Just like the offense was flat after McCoy was hurt, I think it took a little out of the defense as well.

10:08 p.m.
Texas pulling out all the stops. ABC has to love this. It is a game again. Well on second look, I think that was just a lucky bounce on what was just a low squib kick.

10:06 p.m.
You had to figure they were going to find Shipley eventually.

10:01 p.m.
Usually if you are the quarterback at a school like Texas, your first few games are against North Texas, UTEP and New Mexico. Not Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Can't blame Gilbert for not being ready for this. He went to LA wondering what his $500 bowl gift was going to be. He had no concern for the coverages in the Bama secondary or the blitz schemes he was going to see.

10:00 p.m.
Gilbert might be the quarterback of the future for Texas, but at what point do you worry about his confidence going forward? This could be mentally damaging for a long time.

9:54 p.m.
ESPN is showing 30 for 30. The Deuce has World's Strongest Man. Next year, the Southland needs to see if we can get in this time slot for a basketball game. Might be our best shot at a ESPN appearance.

9:48 p.m.
OK. Shipley has to make that catch. Never mind.

9:47 p.m.
Got to find more ways to get the ball in the hands of Shipley. Too good of an athlete not to be involved in the game like this.

9:46 p.m.
A Williams receiver for Texas with multiple drops in the game. Where have I seen this one before???

9:41 p.m.
On my ESPN Streak for the Cash, I decided to go with Ingram rushing for more than 53 yards in the first half. I got the win for that one. Now I need to have a touchdown of 30 yards for more in the second half to give me three wins for the day.

9:38 p.m.
A fan on the field might be the most exciting thing to happen in the second. Half. I hate when tv stations cut away to something else while they are chasing the "idiot" around. I like what ABC did just now. They went to the blimp cam so you could see what was going on, just no closeups to give the guy his moment of glory.

9:36 p.m.
Gilbert has virtually no chance of getting back into this game, but the penalties are not going to help the kid out.

9:30 p.m.
WOW. The ABC scoreboard to start the second half was 0-0. Is Fox running this production?

9:28 p.m.
The Horns need to go a different route with this offense right now. Gilbert may have a great future ahead of him, but that can only go so far. With no McCoy they rest of the way, I don't like the way this second half is going to go.

9:24 p.m.
Was Corso drunk during that halftime report? I didn't understand anything he was trying to say. Just spit it out already. It might be time to send him the way of Beano Cook.

9:20 p.m.
So does Colt pull a second half Willis Reid and try to came back in and play? I would have to think he is going to try and give it a shot. I just can't imagine a senior not going to give it a go. Even if he is just out giving handoffs, I think there might just be a little more life in this Texas team. They are dead right now and they need something to pick them up. I don't think there is any way they come back to win this, but they could at least keep it respectable.

9:11 p.m.
Texas is now down 24-6 at the half and this thing is over. I am sure at this point they are looking for Legendary Texas High School coach Bud Kilmer to give McCoy and injection so he can finish the game. The question is, does Jordan Shipley step in and do his best James Vanderbeek and stop it from happening?

9:08 p.m.
You could tell Saban isn't even excited about this game because Colt is not in there. It has even taken the edge out of him. He is not even interested in the game anymore.

9:03 p.m.
DID THAT JUST HAPPEN????

9:00 p.m.
A minor victory for the Longhorns. Crazier things have happened, but I just don't see them coming back. They can at least feel somewhat good about their chances.

8:57 p.m.
If Mark Ingram wore No. 23 instead, would people still compare him to Emmitt.

8:55 p.m.
If Texas can hold them here to at least a field goal, they can consider this still a ballgame.

8:51 p.m.
I will not recognize this victory for Bama. I put is in the same category as the Rockets two championships. Put a big * next to this one.

8:46 p.m.
This game really has lost its shine. How does ABC keep anyone around after halftime. Can't wait to hear the enlightening conversations Herbie and Musberger have.

8:41 p.m.
Well that should just about do it for this game. I don't think they can sneak VY into the game as the unknown "third stringer" 14-6 Bama 2nd quarter.

8:37 p.m.
Texas is going to have to create something on defense. I don't see the offense putting a drive together. I love how Herbie is trying to keep it interesting. "This is a young man with a great arm and he will be able to throw it around if Davis wants to open up the offense."

8:32 p.m.
Anything else good on TV tonight? 7-6 Alabama 2nd quarter.

8:27 p.m.
If Gilbert can't go, they just need to put Shipley in the shotgun and go Wildcat the rest of the way.

8:24 p.m.
Kirk Herbstreet has gotten worse the longer he has worked with Musburger.

8:20 p.m.
That is ball game. There is no way Texas comes back to win this game if Colt is not in the game.

8:11 p.m.
If Colt is going to be out the rest of the way, Texas has to come away with more than six points there on those two possessions. Even if the defense plays lights out, those two series might have cost them the title. 6-0 Texas 1st quarter.

7:40 p.m.
Wow. Can't believe Saban just called that fake punt. I thought he was going to be the difference maker in this game, but not because he was going to make decisions like that.