It is easy to get nostalgic when we compare the past with today. Something about time and distance seems to soften the rough edges a bit and polish up those dim spots from twenty years ago.

I have seen it in the comments people make about the behaviors of athletes "back in their day". Unfortunately, I am old enough to remember back in "my day" and tragically I saw much of the same behaviors. Biggest differences were at TCU we were so bad no one paid attention, but more importantly there were no camera phones, internet, or push to generate site traffic.

On the lighter side though two things leaped out at me as Son of Davey and I were watching a couple of UT games from the 1980's on the LHN.

First, the passing game flat out sucked. Not just UT's, but throwing the football back in those days was nothing short of brutal. Take for example the 1981 OU-UT game which featured Texas quarterback Rick McIvor. If you don't know him McIvor had one of the strongest throwing arms to ever grace the Forty Acres. First guy I ever knew who you could actually hear the ball whistle through the arm and he was touted for his passing prowess before and during the game.

McIvor led UT to a 34-14 come from behind victory over Satan's OU squad as the Horns exploded for 31 second half points. Rick threw 2 touchdowns for the day as he finished 6 of 13 for 127 yards. What's that? No, that wasn't a type and in fact through almost three quarters he was 4 of 11 for 87 yards before his two touchdown passes. What is stunning watching those old games is not the lack of sophistication in the passing game, but the ability to execute basic throws. Some of Rick's misses were not good and the OU passing game was so bad ( 0 for 8) out of their wishbone offense they make Georgia Tech's current offense look like an aerial circus. It truly is amazing how far offensive football has come in this state and college football over the past 25 years.

The other thing that definitely wasn't better in the day? The sideline apparel worn for the games. Fred Akers was wearing a pair of coaching pants with a waist band so wide it looked like he had on a burnt orange cummerbund and the UT equipment managers were wearing the tightest Bike coaching shorts I think I have ever seen. John McEnroe in his tennis shorts looked like the Fab 5 compared to this guys and I am pretty damn sure a couple of those guys had to end up sterile after wearing those polyester nut huggers for an entire season.

Granted this is not the most profound think ever written on this board, but after the last few weeks we all have had I just wanted to throw some off base a bit out there as we wait the last few days before the seasons begin again for us.