Cap's Reasons, Why Not (the Longhorns?) -UPDATED

Reason #1...Vince Young.

If you didn't see last night's Rose Bowl Game between the Texas Longhorns and USC Trojans, I suggest you read Bill Simmon's running diary of how things transpired here. In fact, if you did see it, read it anyways. Hilarious, as always.

And if you didn't see my column from yesterday, yes, I called this one too. That makes me 2-0 when it comes to predictions that I put in writing on this site. Maybe I won't attempt to do a Steelers-Bengals preview tomorrow, wouldn't want to tarnish that perfect record.

That was truly one of the most incredible football games that I've ever seen. As far as non-Buckeye games go, that ranks #1 in my mind in terms of rewatchability. I can't wait to get home tonight and watch it as an ESPN Instant Classic.

I've decided to list some of my thoughts from the game, since I have many. This was one of the few games that I've watched from the comfort of my home, by myself, so I was able to catch alot of the comments by sideline reporters and whatnot that normally I'd be too drunk to pay attention to.

Here goes...

1. Vince Young should declare for the NFL draft right now. Seriously, could his stock get any higher after a game like that? Not only do I not want to play against him in week two when the Buckeyes and Longhorns play their rematch in Austin, but I honestly think he might be the number one pick. Don't forget, it's the Houston Texans that have the first choice. Plus, Young just seems like a better version of Michael Vick. This guy is built like a tailback, with wide receiver speed, and he can actually throw the ball very efficiently. Not great, but efficient. Young keeps saying he's coming back, but for once I don't agree with the decision to stay in school, if that is his decision.

2. Matt Leinart is a pompus asshole. Did you see that post-game interview with Holly Rowe? First he said, "It was a great win...a tough loss." Guess it hadn't quite sunk in yet. Either that of he is the second coming of the waffle that is John Kerry.

Then he said, "I think we're a better football team..." Are you serious bro? You just LOST. I guess we just shouldn't have played the game since you're the better team. Didn't your Hollywood butt-buddy Nick Lachey teach you how to be gracious and humble in front of the cameras? Oh crap...yeah, Nick Lachey, silly me.

And then in the post-game press conference he basically said that the offense did everything they needed to win, but called out his defense saying that "we just didn't enough stops."

3. Speaking of Holly Rowe, she had a great interview and then an "oof" moment just two short hours apart. I loved her halftime interview with Texas coach Mack Brown.

Holly: What happened to turn the momentum in the first half?

Mack: blah blah blah rubber stamp answer blah blah blah....We really stunk in the first part of the half...

(at this point he tried to get away, but she quickly shot back with...)

Holly: What stunk?

Is that so hard people? It was a direct response that seemed like the next appropriate question, but I didn't think she was going to go there. Most sideline reporters wouldn't. She got the in depth response she was looking for and that's all it took, nice job Holly.

But then...after the aforementioned Leinart post-game interview, she said, "Thanks Vince." Ouch.

4. I seriously think that I could be a college football coach. How many decisions will be second-guessed over the past week in crucial moments of bowl games? Let's leave out all of the other games (including Weiss' mistakes against the Bucks) and list a few from last night:

-Pete Carroll going for it on 4th and 2 from the Texas 40 with two minutes to play. Yes, if you get the first down, it's probably over. But if you punt and pin them back, they'll likely have to go an extra 20-30 yards for that final score than they did. 19 seconds. At worst it comes down to the final play, but they may have come up short.

-Once you make the decision to go for it, why wasn't Reggie Bush involved, even as a decoy? He won the damn Heisman Trophy!

-Furthermore, how come he wasn't in on either of the two previous plays? They had a dropped screen pass to the full-back and then LenDale White getting stopped short on third down. Maybe it's just me, but if I have the best player in the country, I want him involved in critical moments. And if I'm Reggie Bush, I'm saying, "give me the damn ball!"

-How come we didn't see Bush and White in the same backfield like we kept hearing about in the pre-game? They made it pretty easy on Texas, in my humble opinion. The 'Horns knew that when Bush was in, it was either a pass or a run to the outside. When White was in, it was a run up the middle. Not rocket science. Are the Trojan coaches that dumb, or that arrogant?

-Pete Carroll then called timeout on the 2-point conversion. Poor defensive alignment or not, give up the 2 and save the timeout for the final 19 seconds in case your golden boy gets you in position for a field goal, which he almost did.

5. I love Keith Jackson. I believe that he should work every big college football game. He's much much much better at his job than Brent Musberger. But seriously, is he turning into Harry Carey? He's losing his mind. I can't even count how many times he screwed up names, couldn't see what was happening, or mumbled a long incoherent rant that left me scratching my head. I wonder if this is what Howard Cossell would have sounded like at the age of 107.

6. The more I think about it, the more Dan Fouts' role in "Waterboy" is just a dead on spoof of himself. This is Mr. Cliche. All game long, I was dumbfounded at the amount of times I said "thank you, oh master of the obvious." I just kept waiting for him to chime in on that final Texas drive with, "Last game of the season, can't hold anything back now!"

7. Going back to the Reggie Bush thing...all season I was convinced that this kid was the real deal. The creme de la creme. I have to be honest when I saw this, I'm not so convinced anymore. Yes he's still great, still explosive, still a game-changer. But if I'm the best player in the country, don't you think I would demand the football when the game is on the line? Isn't that what the best of the best do?

Reggie only touched the ball 19 times last night and apparently that's all he ever touches it. Someone on deadspin said that when USC played Oregon earlier in the year Reggie had 25 carries and then had to sit out practice all week because he was beat up. If that's true, how will he hold up against the NFL? Seriously, the worst defense in the NFL hits infinitely harder than the best Pac-10 defense. I'm not saying he's going to be a bust, but while I think he's a great college game-breaker, he won't be quite the same when he gets into "the league." I'm reminded of guys like Peter Warrick and Desmond Howard a little bit. And I think Ted Ginn over in Columbus might end up the same way.

Something tells me that LenDale White is going to be the better NFL back. It wasn't just last night's performance either. There is a reason that White, and not Bush, broke the USC touchdown record.

8. The Phantom Touchdown. Yes, Vince Young's knee was clearly on the ground. This should not have been a touchdown for the Longhorns. However, it would have been first down inside the 15 yard line and Texas had just gone something like 60 yards in 4-5 plays. I think they were going to score there regardless. Unfortunately, the Trojans couldn't do anything except waste a timeout to give the replay officials time to look at it. You can't ask for a review like you can in the pros. This is one Pete Carroll got right, he made the right decision in letting it go. Texas' special teams came sprinting out there to kick the PAT quickly, knowing full well that it would be overturned if it came to a review, and subsequently missed the kick.


That's it from me for today. Feel free to post any of your thoughts from last night's game in the comments section.