Collegiate student-athletes will make physical mistakes related to execution, and mental mistakes due to exhaustion, lack of discipline or even momentary lapses of concentration. Physical mistakes can be minimized through practice, through discipline of craft, through dedication to one’s position to ensure when the time comes the play will be made. Mental execution, however, is a whole different animal and one not so easily tamed.
This is exactly what we saw of the Texas Longhorns in their narrow 20-17 loss to theUCLA Bruins on Saturday night. The physical execution was arguably the best its been to this point in the season, but the mental execution let Charlie Strong’s team down at the worst possible times.
There’s little doubt the Longhorns will continue to improve physically, in terms of drive-to-drive and how they deliver on both sides of the ball. Their bounce-back, overall sense of urgency, and level of emotion against the Bruins speaks volumes about Strong’s ability to motivate, for one, but also about the difference in this team from others in years past who wouldn’t have come out with as much fire after an embarrassing loss.
Tyrone Swoopes was impressive.
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