Mack Brown says there are no rebuilding years at Texas.

That’s because he knows Longhorns fans have little patience for what rebuilding usually means: young players trying to figure out the college game and more losses than anyone in Austin wants to even think about.

Yet it’s hard to look at the 2008 Longhorns and not think No. 11 Texas is still a year away from competing for the Big 12 title again.

There are just too many questions, too many tough games and too much inexperience to expect more than nine or 10 wins.

"Since when is a 10-win season a rebuilding year."

Well, even though Texas likes to point out that its streak of seven consecutive 10-wins seasons is unmatched across the country, it should also be noted that 10 victories or more in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 or 2007 didn’t get the Longhorns to the Big 12 championship game.

And last season’s 10-3 finish included losses to both Oklahoma and Texas A &M, the first time that’s happened since 1993.

“We need to win more this year,” junior quarterback Colt McCoy said when Texas opened training camp.

The defensive secondary that couldn’t stop anybody last season will
start freshmen at both safeties.

And new coordinator Will Muschamp has yet to game plan for the Big 12.

The Longhorns are still searching for a No. 1 tailback and they still haven’t found a third receiver.

The team motto this year is “consistently good to be great,” a slogan the players wear on an burnt-orange wristband.

The Longhorns will be consistent, but not great in ‘08.

Maybe next year.

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