2011-12: Not as bad as you think

by Bevoman96 on Jul 19, 2025 9:38 AM CDT

I have been reading at virtually every turn about how embarrassingly horrendous the 2011-12 UT athletic season was. And if you read something often enough, you start to believe it.

But as a kid who grew up in the 1980s (pretty sorry) and attended UT in the early-to-mid 1990s (not much better), I know what horrendous looks like. Finally, I had to stop and ask myself: Was 2011-12 really THAT BAD? So last Saturday morning at 4 a.m. I did what any other insomniac sports fan would do: Waste valuable sleep time by doing some meaningless research.

My question: How many other schools besides UT had a football team that won its bowl game, men's and women's basketball teams that made it into the NCAA tourney, and a baseball team that ... well ... at least finished above .500?

The answer: FOUR -- Baylor (the Baptists' best year since The Great Awakening), Florida (S-E-C! S-E-C!), Michigan State and Purdue.

So even though we can all agree that 2011-12 was well below the incredibly high standard we have grown accustomed to, our Longhorns still managed to accomplish something only four other schools could do. How's that for perspective?

Just thought I'd share my findings with my fellow BC readers. I know it made me feel better.

Hook 'em.

Be excellent to each other.

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At least you enjoyed the Gardere Era in the early 90's,

which is 4-0 vs OU. Not even Vince can lay claim to that

A&M;'s all-male cheerleaders, or "Yell Leaders", will be right at home when visiting Arkansas. It's like "Deliverance", but it's real...

by bevosteve67 on Jul 19, 2025 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

Peter the Great

Good times! I will still buy him a drink if I see him in Austin.

Oh, my bad.
My bad?!
Your bad don't work in my world! -Ray Lewis

by TexasGarcia37 on Jul 19, 2025 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Ah, yes ... good ol' Gardere magic

True, that was one of the few highlights of that era. I also recall being jacked up in 7th grade about us beating “Ironhead” Hayward’s Pitt team in the 1987 Bluebonnet Bowl (the first UT bowl victory I remember watching). Then there was the Priest Holmes-fueled Sun Bowl win over Mack’s UNC team before he was converted to the Burnt Orange Nation. Beating a&m at Kyle for the final SWC title my senior year was especially sweet (let’s not think about the Sugar Bowl vs. Va Tech). Next came the upset of Nebraska in the Big 12 title game, and … that’s about it!

Which brings me to my point: I think too many of these late arrivals to the UT bandwagon believed that 10-win seasons were a lock because WE’RE TEXAS. Anything less, and it’s “fire everybody!” Well, some of us remember when We’re Texas meant We Hope To Be Bowl Eligible And Not Get Embarrassed By Sherrill’s Aggies On Turkey Day. Perspective, lads. Things are not so bad.

Hook ’em.

by Bevoman96 on Jul 20, 2025 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Well said

I remember opening up the Statesman’s recruiting run down and routinely seeing Texas barely mentioned in regards to the State’s best…

Mack’s recent sins should not be forgiven wholesale given the recruiting opportunities that were squandered post 2005, but many people automatically assume that anyone could step in and recruit like hell.

I remember about 20 years of evidence that suggests that UT’s ability to lock up top classes year in and year out is far from a given, and coincidentally, only started happening once Mack came.

by Big(g) Ern on Jul 20, 2025 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions