Look at the bright side, Horn fans -- your inevitable defeat now comes with a ready-made excuse. If Colt McCoy hadn't been injured, UT would have continued to receive wonderful gifts from Bama and turned them into field goals, therefore (somehow) winning the game.

The UT crowd at The Tavern at Waugh has not given up the ghost, our man reports. There was some groaning at the inexplicable last-second play in the first half, but no one's leaving. They are, perhaps, drinking more heavily, though.

Unless something dramatic happens, this game will drift away from the Horns until even the most optimistic UT fans will have to concede.

And then we'll have to hear all about McCoy...and his magical ability to create field goals out of amazing gifts.