Despite what could have been a sure-fire Texas loss, the Longhorns came back against Oklahoma, and showed what they called “a real effort.” Since we all tend to remember what happened the most recently, memories may dwell on Aaron Williams’s punt fumble in the final 90 seconds of the game. Kind of like many Longhorns fans thinking the 2008 loss to Texas Tech happened “because” Blake Gideon dropped an interception during the final drive.

It is in that vein that I ask for this:

Just think about what Williams (and Gideon, for that matter) have done for Texas. Or get a play-by-play wrap of the game, and realize there were many plays that led to this loss, not just the one. I’ve talked to enough coaches and broadcasters to wholeheartedly believe that a game is not won or lost on one play. Things still have to happen both before and after that to make it occur.

Williams kept Texas in the game. Mack Brown said as much. Williams is a game-changer. Need I remind you of his sack on Sam Bradford in the 2009 Red River Rivalry, which ended Bradford’s college career? Not that an injury was the goal, but a sack certainly was. Williams is on the Thorpe, Bednarik and Nagurski watch lists for a reason this year. Play after play, you see Williams extend himself to limits most people’s bodies won’t go.

Then he makes a mistake at a crucial time in the biggest game of the year.

It happens. I’m not saying it wasn’t bad for the Longhorns. But so were the nine penalties, the two turnovers, the 57 OU plays in the first half, and more. Oklahoma won that game yesterday. But Williams didn’t lose it.