Big 12 football: Bull's-eye on Garrett Gilbert

He's got the boyish looks. The country charm. The confident vibe.

Gilbert is on the cusp of being one of the most loved athletes in Texas.

And one of the most loathed in Oklahoma.

So it goes for nearly every Longhorn signal caller. Bobby Layne. James Street. Marty Akins. Peter Gardere. Major Applewhite. Chris Simms. Vince Young. All enjoyed the adoration of the burnt-orange masses and the abhorrence of the crimson-clad ones.

Colt McCoy got a bit of a break these past few years because Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford became friends with him.

The four-year starter's replacement knows he might not be so lucky.

"I guess that's part of it,” Gilbert said Wednesday at Big 12 media days of becoming an enemy of the Sooner State. "It just comes with it, so I guess I'm all right with that.”

Better to accept the reality than fight it.

Gilbert, after all, looks poised to become a star.

He was a prep phenom at Lake Travis High in Austin, breaking the state record for passing yards in a season as a junior, then breaking the state record for career passing yards and becoming the top recruit in the country as a senior.

The son of former NFL quarterback Gale Gilbert was a surprise selection as the Longhorns' second-string quarterback, but as the backup to McCoy, he became largely an afterthought.

Until the national championship game.

You know the story — McCoy hurt his shoulder, and Gilbert got the nod.

"Garrett,” Texas coach Mack Brown said when he found the youngster on the sideline, "get your helmet.”

Gilbert's eyes were big as silver dollars.

"And he couldn't find his helmet,” Brown recalled with a chuckle.

He wasn't surprised that Gilbert was discombobulated. The coach had seen the backup during the pregame meal. Gilbert had eaten all of his steak, a sure sign he wasn't nervous, an even surer sign he wasn't expecting to play that day.

Why would he? Heading into the game against Alabama, McCoy had started 52 consecutive games for the Longhorns. He had played through aches and pains. He had endured the ups and downs of four seasons.

No reason to think the national championship game would be any different.

"I was obviously as a backup always trying to prepare myself — 'I'm just one play away' — but I was just really trying to enjoy the experience,” Gilbert said of the title tilt.

He went from being along for the ride to taking over the controls.

It was ugly at first. The Longhorns sputtered, their running game ineffective and their new quarterback throwing almost as many passes to the other team as his own.

But after halftime, Gilbert settled down. He moved the offense, throwing a couple of touchdown passes and pulling the Longhorns to within three points of the Crimson Tide midway through the fourth quarter.

Even though Gilbert fumbled and threw two more interceptions that allowed Alabama to ice the game, both friend and foe came away impressed.

OU linebacker Travis Lewis said, "He looked like a darn good quarterback.”

Texas defensive end Sam Acho added: "Quarter to quarter, you could almost see him growing up. You could see the maturity.”

OU defensive end Jeremy Beal: "Gilbert, I think, is going to be an outstanding player.”

So, let the loving and the loathing begin.

Gilbert comes across as a nice guy, a 4.0 student, an All-American type. He's the kind of young man you'd just as soon pat on the head as kick in the keister.

All the more reason for Longhorn fans to adore him and Sooner fans to abhor him.

"I'm just gonna try and do my job the best I can,” Gilbert said.

Do that, and Gilbert really will become the most hated athlete in Oklahoma.

Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@opubco.com. You can also view her personality page at newsok.com/jennicarlson.

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