Who Needs the Super Bowl When There is 'The Vince Bowl?'

The Houston Chronicle this week is doing a daily countdown to "The Vince Bowl." (In case you weren't aware that Vince Young plays for the Titans and they are coming to Houston this weekend). Barf.

Some sports radio callers are saying that they are a Texan fan but they want Young to stomp a mudhole in the Texans to show the management they were wrong for passing up VY in the draft. Other callers are sick of whiny Longhorn alums calling in and want the Texans to shut them the profanity on up. I tend to be in that second category. I can't imagine being a fan of a team and then rooting against them because they didn't draft the guy I wanted. Wah wah wah and a get over it, for good measure.

I guess this week I am a self-loathing Texas alum.

I cheered Vince Young's Texas career. I wore "Draft Vince" shirts when he declared. I retired those shirts when David Carr's option was picked up. When he was available in the draft, I knew it wasn't terribly practical to take him. It would mean kicking Carr to the curb before he was given an offensive line and getting nothing for him, or it would mean salary cap hades with two first round pick QBs on the roster. (And also meaning that you couldn't get more help in other parts of the team that needed help).

Drafting Vince Young wasn't a terribly practical choice, but there were those of us that hoped that someway it could make more sense. (You couldn't pick up Carr's option and then trade him unless you wanted a huge salary cap hit). You cannot explain the impracticality of the Texans picking Vince Young to his fans because they believe that Superman wears Vince Young pajamas and that outweighs other considerations.

I knew he would end up with the Titans because Bud Adams wouldn't have let anything else happen.

The Texans had the belief that they could coach Carr up and get some help on defense switching to the 4-3. Carr looked improved this year, but with the season ending injuries to the line, and an inconsistent running game, and looking horrible on the long road trip, it is just not happening for him. People don't want to hear about the line and the running game and whatever other explanations for things because they've heard that since 2002. And the fan base has totally lost patience with him.

The national preseason stories were all about the pressure on Mario, but in my mind the pressure was always squarely on Carr because he has lost most of his good will with the fanbase.

For those of you who are from out of state and don't really understand what Young means to Texas, check out this YouTube video. It sums up the position well. Basically, it is a song dedicated to trying to get the Texans to pick Vince Young. It shows a montage of Young college highlights and Carr pro lowlights. Be sure to watch until the very end if you are into Carr misery.