Texas vs USC: Fame is Fleeting

Let me get this out of the way: Hook-em Horns

The day after Texas’ victory, Vince Young was all over the TV. He was on Jay Leno. Sports pundits assured us he should be picked first in the NFL draft.

President Bush called Coach Brown to congratulate him early in the morning following the win.

It was as if USC didn’t even exist.

Yet USC played equally as great a game as Texas.

In fact, a few inches here or there, a doubtful call by the referee reversed and the game would have been won by USC.

The point is not that USC should have won or that Vince Young is not an unbelievable quarterback.

The point is that the margin between winner and loser can be very very small and it can even be something out of the loser’s control.

And yet the reward for winning is overwhelming. The winners are supermen, athletic geniuses. They are in constant demand for interviews. Their images are everywhere.

The losers are questioned. What didn’t they do this or that? Why are they so stupid?

A few inches here or there and the shoe is on the other foot.

USC is the greatest team to ever play college football. Three straight national titles.

Coach Brown can’t win the big game.

Vince Young needs to stay another year in college to learn how to play quarterback.

An individual involved in such a situation can’t let himself be defined by fame or by criticism.

Both are fleeting.

The media may be the message, but it is not reality.