FORT WORTH, Texas - This week, we learn whether an 11-game winning streak equates to an exorcism for the Texas Longhorns.
No. 2 Texas (4-0) returns Saturday to the Cotton Bowl, where the Longhorns will find unranked Oklahoma (2-2) waiting. The Sooners, understandably, consider their five-game winning streak in the series to be a noteworthy trump card they can play to offset a shortage of experienced playmakers.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops wasted little time Sunday in tapping in to the mental mojo factor, saying the Sooners' recent dominance of the Red River Rivalry "gives you confidence that we match up well against them and we understand what they like to do. Our players get a sense of that."
So do frustrated Texas fans. Otherwise, bracelets and hats emblazoned with the phrase
"Operation Orange: Reverse the Curse" would not have been hot sellers for the past month in Austin. The souvenirs bear the logo created for Saturday's 100th renewal of the Red River Rivalry.
Buzz phrases are catchy. But the burden to reverse the curse falls on Texas coaches and players, who swear this team has re-invented itself over the past year and no longer is subject to mental meltdowns at the mere sight of the Sooner Schooner.
Without question, the swagger and body language is different with these Longhorns, who are 11-0 since leaving the Cotton Bowl after last year's 12-0 loss to Oklahoma. That has been true throughout 2005, from the Rose Bowl victory in January to the responses to OU-related questions after Saturday's 51-20 rout of Missouri. Players insist this team no longer is plagued by the ghost of OU failures past.
``We don't want to dwell on the fact that we're on a losing streak ( against OU) ," said defensive tackle Rod Wright. ``It's a totally different game, a totally different team. And the attitude is definitely different."
Tailback Selvin Young, a junior, considers this the best and most confident Texas team he's seen headed to Dallas.
``Going into Oklahoma, going into ... each and every game, we're going to be confident," Young said. ``We feel like if we just keep doing the things that we're doing, then, at the end of the game, the score is going to take care of itself."
OU? In Texas' heads? No way, says offensive tackle Jonathan Scott.
``It doesn't have anything to do with the mental aspect. Intimidation never is a factor," Scott said. ``It has to do with focusing on your techniques."
By cleaning those up, Texas plans to reverse the curse. Color the Sooners skeptical. By Saturday, we'll all know for sure.
