(Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy being helped to his feet by two persons who don’t work for newspapers)

Believe it or not, there’s someone out there with even less respect for the Austin American-Statesman’s Kirk Bohls than Gary Cartwright. The former selected Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh and ‘Bama’s Mark Ingram ahead of UT QB Colt McCoy on his Heisman ballot, an act of non-boosterism reminiscent of Bohl’s 2005 vote for Reggie Bush ahead of Vince Young. Of the resulting 250 emails received by Bohls, co-worker John Kelso writes they were running “about 6-1 in favor of sending him to hell in a handbasket and various other locations.”

One letter writer even called Bohls a “Ding Dong.” Not sure what that means, or what evidence you use to prove someone qualifies as a Ding Dong.

“You are scum and you know it,” one wrote. “I hope your kids get the tar beat out of them and harassed to hell (worse than 2005) because you’re a moron.”

“Unbelievable that you would not support Colt McCoy for the Heisman,” wrote another. “Colt should have won this trophy before and you show no loyalty by not voting for him. You have always dogged the Longhorn coaches and players and seem to find it difficult to find something positive to say.”

Here’s the problem. I suspect a lot of people don’t understand what Bohls’ job is. Bohls’ job is not UT cheerleader. For starters, he wouldn’t look good in the skirt and the pompoms. Second, he is not paid by the University of Texas to cover Longhorn games. He is paid by the Austin American-Statesman.

And he is paid to watch the games, observe what he sees, then come back and tell what he saw and what he thought about it.

On an entirely different tip, Dallas Morning News editor Michael Landauer finds himself under fire for touting McCoy as a finalist for the DMN’s Texan Of The Year Award.

This is what we, on the edtorial board, call “wearing your board hat.” It’s not that I don’t agree with what I wrote, just that I wrote it in our official board voice.

Still, I have to admit, in doing my research for this, I truly respect McCoy. He’s got so many traits that most Aggies admire, including a commitment to community service, a strong faith, a sense of purpose and, of course, incredible talent. I celebrate him as a Texan, even if I rooted against him as a Longhorn.