Times have drastically changed.

Let me give you a hypothetical situation: In oh, around 2007 you fall into a deep sleep for 4 years. You come to, You might expect to find flying cars, hover crafts, mind reading machines, you'd expect it to be very Back to the future 2-esque. You don't find any of that, instead you find  the 2011 College football season. You might ask, did Texas and Baylor switch teams? Did the Big 12 forget how to count? What you've found is that Baylor has won the Heisman and has finished 2nd in the Big 12. Texas is a very mediocre 7-5, and just the year before they were a horrible 5-7, Oklahoma is the 2nd best team in well, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M is going to the SEC!?? You'd think "Oh, I'm still dreaming, I'm sure I'll wake up eventually.

Here's the kicker: This is reality my friend. Those of us who weren't in a coma saw all of this unfold right before our very eyes, and even we're expecting Ashton Kutcher to show up to tell us we all got "punk'd"

The reality is, there has been a  major shift in the sporting landscape, especially College football. 2 short years ago the Texas Longhorns were coming off a season where they played in the BCS National Championship Game, a game in which they might have won if star quarterback Colt McCoy had not been injured on the first play (it's one of those things we'll never know). The very next season they finished a very disappointing 5-7, failing to be bowl eligable. Then things in their conference, the Big 12 got a little crazy. Nebraska got fed up with conference management and headed to the Big 10, Colorado got poached by the Pac 10. Texas and Oklahoma threatened to take their talents to the Big 10 as well. The Big 12 begged Texas to stay. They gave Texas the Longhorn network. Texas stayed. Texas A&M got jealous and bitter, whined about it for a while and packed their bags for the SEC (good luck with that.) Somehow TCU and West Virginia got thrown into the mix and are now a part of the Big 12. (That's the nutshell version of it.) 

Even now, Texas has major, major quarterback issues, and is really struggling to find their identity as the top dog in their own state. On the flip side of that Baylor, yes Baylor has become a football power. It's believable that their basketball team could be #7 in the nation and undefeated, it's even more believable that their Women's basketball team is #1 in the nation, but in football? come on, now, quit messing around, They've been the whipping boy for teams like Texas, A&M, and Texas Tech for a good 15 years or so. Not anymore, Baylor's Robert Griffin III has put Baylor on the map. RG3, as they call him, has transformed the once lowly laughing stock of College football into a force to be feared both within and outside the Big 12 conference. As of right now, Baylor is the best team in the state of Texas. Did you catch that? Baylor is the best team in Texas.  In both football and basketball. Texas football is about to change for along time, not just because of Baylor, but also because it's two biggest rivals Texas and Texas A&M won't be playing for a while. That could take some getting used to.  Longhorns fans will have no one to boast to at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Aggies will have no one to taunt the months leading up to Thanksgiving.

When will things change again? When will everything be back to "normal". Will it ever be the same? Will the Longhorns ever  return to their once prominant place among college football's elite. Will they ever play A&M again? Only time will tell. No one really knows. So, for now enjoy it, Especially you Baylor fans.

Back in the saddle.... potentially.

Many times over the last over the last 6 years it's been said that it's "ridiculous that Silsbee is a 3A" school competing with the likes of Hardin Jefferson, Hamshire- Fannet, Orangefield, Bridge City, and other 3A schools in the South East Texas area.  Previous to dropping down to 3A, Silsbee was 4A for many years even 5A for a handful of years in there. I've heard people complain that the "gap between the likes of Silsbee, Jasper and West Orange- Stark and every other 3A school around is lightyears apart" 

Well, that could change when the 2012 season starts. Silsbee is projected to have more than 1,000 students enrolled, making them 4A for the first time since 2003. Tiger fans would like to erase 2003 from their memory they left district 204A on a 19 game losing streak.  That was then, this is now. If the Tigers entered District 20-4A now they would be favored to make the playoffs, possibly even contend for the district title.  There are 3 potential things that could happen should Silsbee pass the 1,000 student mark when the official count takes place: 1. They would become a part of district 20-4A as is making them the 9th team in the district. 2. They would replace Livingston and the district would remain at 8 teams. 3. District 20-4A would split and Silsbee would join a district with Livingston, Lumberton, Vidor, Beaumont Central, Beaumont Ozen (Which Silsbee would be the 7th team) PN-G, Nederland and LCM would become a part of district 21-4A.  Here's the Potential part: It's very likely that Silsbee could remain 3A keeping District 21-3A as is.

Let's get down to the truth, Silsbee belongs in 4A. They belong with the likes of PN-G, Nederland, Central, Dayton etc. I know Silsbee had a 19 game losing streak the last time they were 4A as I said that was then, this is now. As of now, Silsbee has one of the more explosive offenses in the area. They have key players that are only sophomores. They have the Albert Einstein of offensive coordinators on their sideline.  They have speed, they have size, they have depth. I've yet to hear anyone say "Silsbee belongs in 3A" We all know, 4A is where they belong.  One thing that hasn't changed in decades is Silsbee continually produces pure athletes on both sides of the ball. Don't believe me? go to rivals.com and type in Silsbee it will give you a list of recruits that have gone on to play college ball. Whether they actually go 4A or not, remains to be seen. What I'm saying is they deserve it, what I'm saying is they could compete in 4A (if you don't agree I'll give you my personal number and debate with you til I'm blue in the face....if you're from Vidor don't bother calling, I would just make fun of you.) It would be exciting it would good for Silsbee, and the district they would join.