Since Texas’ football program has been down since Colt McCoy left the BCS Championship game with a shoulder injury, there have been plenty of moments that have left Longhorns fans questioning “what if”?
Arguably the two biggest words in the dictionary that sports fans for eons have found themselves muttering at one point or another due to their team coming up just short in a big moment. Texas is no exception, as even with the program’s long time struggles, there have been moments of triumph that maybe could have been more had something not happened.
It is always a fun time to rehash some of a program or fan base’s worst memories, and that’s exactly what I’ll do today. There are multiple moments that stick out to me in particular for Texas, and what could have been had they gone another way.
Here are some of Texas’ biggest “what if” moments in recent memory.
On this date in 2016, the Texas Longhorns and UTEP Miners met at DKR. In a throwback Thursday we look back at the Texas win.
The Texas Longhorns are preparing to host the UTEP Miners on Saturday in their first game of the year. However, it was four years ago on this date they these two teams last met. The quarterback for the Longhorns was Shane Buechele, starting for then head coach Charlie Strong. It was the second game following ESPN’s Joe Tessitore claiming “Texas is back folks!”
NBA All-Star forward and former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant was on hand for this game. Durant was on the sideline to take in this game. Unlike the previous game, the Longhorns weren’t expecting much of a fight from UTEP.
Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
The Miners started off the game getting the ball first, however after a three and out the Longhorns got the ball. It started out as a promising drive. In fact it started inside UTEP territory after an Armanti Foreman return of nine yards. Texas would fumble the ball away but after another three and out, Texas got the party started.
Following a Jake Oliver catch for 10 yards and a personal foul from the Miners, Texas quarterback Shane Buechele found former quarterback Jerrod Heard for a 29-yard touchdown catch in the front corner of the endzone. That gave Texas the early 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Longhorns would add a field goal. They were set up when Brandon Jones blocked a punt from UTEP deep in Miners territory. The offense would go three and out before Trent Domingue 33-yard field goal.
On a third and one for the Miners, future Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones goes 51 yards for the touchdown. Texas lead cut down to just three. Unfortunately for the Miners, that would be their entire offense on the day. Texas would add another field goal to go up six. Buechele would find Jacorey Warrick for a touchdown just before the half. That made up for his fumble on the opening drive that robbed Texas of a touchdown.
Texas would outscore UTEP 21-0 in the second half. Chris Warren III started it off with a one-yard run midway through the third. Buechele would connect with Dorian Leonard for a 46-yard touchdown, Texas led at that point 34-7 with 6:07 left in the quarter.
Early on the fourth quarter Buechele would find Jerrod Heard again giving him his second touchdown of the game. Not a bad way to spend your birthday at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas would win this game 41-7.
The Dallas Renegades made roster moves today and one was waiving former Longhorn, Jerrod Heard. He had been injured for most of the season.
The Dallas Renegades made three roster moves today and one was waiving former Texas wide receiver/quarterback, Jerrod Heard. Being injured for the entire season, Heard was falling and falling down the depth chart, before being waived.
Heard has been replaced by former Carolina Panther, Cleveland Brown, and Chicago Bear wide receiver Armanti Edwards. Like Heard, he was a quarterback during his time in college at Appalachian State.
ROSTER UPDATE: The Renegades have made 3 roster moves this week, adding WR Armanti Edwards, OLB Jesse Aniebonam, and QB Brogan Roback. WR Jerrod Heard was waived. OLB Hau'oli Kikaha has retired. QB Eric Dungey was placed on the Reserve/Left Squad list due to a family matter. pic.twitter.com/4aRBbLoExC
During his time at Texas, Heard had a 58.3 completion percentage, while passing for 1,214 yards and five touchdowns. Making the switch to receiver after his freshman year, he then had 540 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 58 receptions.
After going undrafted in 2019, Heard will now look to get healthy again to make his way back into professional football. If the NFL is not there for him, the XFL should have a spot for his talent.
The XFL was back on the field for week two. Former Longhorns Cedric Reed, Patrick Vahe, Jerrod Heard and Kent Perkins all in action.
The XFL was back for week two of the 2020 rebirth season. Cedric Reed and Patrick Vahe of the Los Angels Wildcats faced off against Jerrod Heard and the Dallas Renegades. Vahe didn’t have a tipped pass caught for a reception in this game.
Heard wouldn’t catch a pass in this game and didn’t return a punt in this game. It was all quiet for the former quarterback turned receiver in the second game of his XFL career. Cedric Reed on the other hand, had more of an impact.
Reed got to the quarterback a couple times in this game with a quarterback hit and sack. It was quite reminiscent of his Longhorn days, seeing Reed bring down a former Sooners quarterback in Landry. Reed finished with three combined tackles, one sack, one qb hit and one tackle for loss. The Wildcats fell to the Renegades 25-18.
Kent Perkins and the St Louis Battlehawks lost to the Houston Roughnecks 28-24.
Week one of the XFL is now in the books. Here are how the former Texas Longhorns fared in their first game of the season.
Football is back after a long five day layoff following the Super Bowl last weekend. The XFL rebirth kicked off on Saturday with their first two games and followed that with the final two on Sunday. Four former Texas Longhorns players took part in the first XFL season since the league folded in 2001.
There were no Longhorns in the initial game of the XFL season between Seattle and DC. However, in the second game between the Los Angeles Wildcats and Houston Roughnecks featured two former Texas players.
Cedric Reed: One tackle
Patrick Vahe: One reception on a tipped passed that went for five yards.
In the first game on Sunday, neither team had a former Longhorn when the Tampa Bay Vipers traveled to New York to face the Guardians. The final game between the St Louis Battlehawks and the Dallas Renegades saw two former Texas players facing either other.
The XFL season officially kicked off on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s game former head coach Mack Brown delivered a messaged to Bob Stoops.
Former Longhorn wide receiver Jerrod Heard is getting ready to make his XFL debut for the Dallas Renegades. Heard will be playing for longtime rival head coach Bob Stoops. Ahead of their game against the St. Louis Battlehawks, former head coach Mack Brown had a message for Stoops and the Renegades.
Yesterday, we surprised @CoachBobStoops with a little video from some of the biggest names from his legendary career wishing him luck, including Lincoln Riley, Mack Brown, Mike Leach, Kevin Sumlin, Adrian Peterson, and more! #ForTheLoveOfFootball@xfl2020pic.twitter.com/J7ooyEajPV
“Bob, good luck this season. Football is better with you on the sideline. Go get ’em man and have fun. Good luck.” – Mack Brown in his message to Stoops
The Renegades will kickoff their season against the Battlehawks live from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The game is set for a 4:00 pm CST kickoff and can be seen on ESPN.
Recently the initial depth charts for each of the eight participating teams in the XFL were announced. Here is where each former Longhorn is currently projected on the teams depth chart.
Jerrod Heard, 4th wide receiver for the Dallas Renegades
Patrick Vahe, backup right guard for the Los Angeles Wildcats
Cedric Reed, starting left defensive end for the Los Angeles Wildcats
Kent Perkins, starting left guard for the St Louis Battlehawks
In the opening weekend, XFL has the Battlehawks traveling to Dallas to take on the Renegades. Jerrod Heard and Kent Perkins will both be on display in that game. Dallas will play their home games at Globe Life Park, the former home of the Texas Rangers who move into a new stadium in March.
The other game with two longhorns will be on Saturday night when the LA Wildcats travel to Houston. Cedric Reed and Patrick Vahe will represent Texas as they play their first XFL game in the state where they played a majority of their college football. This game will be played at TDECU Stadium, the home of the University of Houston.
Jerrod Heard will be one of four former Longhorns set to play in the revival season of the XFL.
The NFL season will be wrapping up next Sunday with two former Longhorns getting a shot at a Super Bowl ring. While neither Alex Okafor or Marquise Goodwin will get an opportunity to actually play in the big game, they were part of the team prior to injuries ending their season. Football isn’t over despite the championship game on the horizon.
The XFL will be playing their first season since they folded the organization after one season in 2001. After a failed experiment with the Alliance of American football earlier this year, the XFL provides another avenue for players to chase their dream of playing professional football. For a handful of Longhorns, it is another opportunity to play they game they love on a National level.
Jerrod Heard is one of five Longhorns who joined the league in their draft. Heard will be playing wide receiver in Dallas for the Renegades. Heard played quarterback for Texas before switching to receiver. Following the switch, he caught 58 passes at Texas for 540 yards and four touchdowns.
Following the 2015 NFL Draft, Cedric Reed signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. Reed also was a member of the Miami Dolphins before being out of the league. He never played a game at the NFL level, now Reed will be a member of the Los Angeles Wildcats.
Reed will be joined by former offensive lineman Patrick Vahe. He started 45 games for the Longhorns from 2015-2018. Vahe was a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2019 when he signed with the team prior to training camp but released before the season started as they trimmed down rosters.
Kent Perkins will be representing Texas with the St. Louis Battlehawks. Perkins played one game in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 after being promoted from the practice squad. He retired from football the next season before re-emerging with St Louis of the XFL. Perkins played in Austin from 2013-2016 starting 34 games at right guard and tackle.
Davante Davis was originally with Tampa Bay Vipers before being waived on January 5, 2020. Davis would’ve made it five Longhorns in the XFL. Hopefully the former cornerback who played in 48 games in Texas gets another opportunity to play football again.
