Horns Up: LGBTQ Group stands up to guard 

The clock is ticking: LGBTQ rights group Lambda Legal is putting pressure on the Texas National Guard to reverse its policy against granting federal benefits to legally married same-sex spouses of service members. In a letter sent Friday, Lambda Legal lawyer Paul Castillo asked Major General John F. Nichols, adjutant general of Texas, to respond to the organization’s request within 10 days. While not spelling out specific consequences for failing to act in a timely manner, the letter is likely the final step before the group takes the Guard to court. Married LGBTQ couples in Texas likely still have a ways to go before they can enjoy the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts, but we are glad that the Guard is starting to feel the heat for its discriminatory policy. 

Horns Down: Predictable game calling 

Hindsight is 20/20, and we know that second-guessing the coaching of Saturday night’s football fiasco won’t change the outcome. That being said, we’re still mystified as to why much of the offensive game plan in the second half consisted of runs straight into the open arms of the Rebels’ defensive line. Seriously, Mack, you needed to call a 30-second timeout to draw out a straight line?

Horns Up: Somebody loves you, Mack Brown

At a campaign event in Austin on Friday, Lt. Gov David Dewhurst, who is running for re-election in 2014, told a reporter from the San Antonio Express-News that he still supports Texas football coach Mack Brown. Why? Because Texas has a (recently broken) “tradition of winning.” What’s the over/under on both Brown and Dewhurst being able to commiserate on having lost their jobs? 

Horns Down: Come early, be loud, stay… a little while

The stands were half empty by the end of the third quarter. To those who bolted: Yeah, your lack of confidence was vindicated when the clock ran out, but it won’t always turn out that way. And there are much better ways to support the team than heading for the exits and making #fireeveryone trend on Twitter. To those who stayed: You know and we know that when the Longhorns get back to the mountaintop, you’ll have earned it.