Double Coverage Issue 9 Volume 5

THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS:

Oct. 29, 2010

WHAT WENT

WRONG? The Longhorns’ unlucky season and what exactly happened — page 12

Vol.5, Issue 9

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Friday, October 29, 2010

theLINEUP page

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8 18 Cover photo: Caleb Bryant Miller, above: Danielle Villasana| Daily Texan Staff

Longhorn Band twirler Alexa Bourdage performs during the halftime of this year’s UCLA game. The business/premed senior has twirled for the Longhorns since coming to Texas as a freshman.

REGULARS 6 7 9 14 

page

MATCHups POSITION BATTLES POWER RANKINGS PLAYERStoWATCH

14  15  17  19 

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BIG 12 NORTH notebook BIG 12 SOUTH notebook GAMEStoWATCH

23

HEISMAN watch

WATCH OUT FOR GRIFFIN Quarterback Robert Griffin’s return has helped Baylor become an elite-level offense.

BOWL GAME OR BUST After a 12-year drought, Baylor head coach Art Briles has gotten the Bears back to the postseason.

IDENTITY CRISIS For a powerhouse like Texas, losing consecutive home games is a direct affront to the program’s prestige.

EARLY RETIREMENT For the first time ever, Texas officials announce the retirement of a player’s jersey mid-football season.

A WELCOME DISTRACTION For the past four years, Alexa Bourdage has kept students fascinated with her performances.

EDITOR’S NOTE

The Daily Texan’s Double Coverage is printed the Friday before every Texas football game and twice during OU week.

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 9 • OCTOBER 29, 2010

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Double Coverage Editor……………Will Anderson Design Editor…………………….Mustafa Saifuddin Photo Editor……………………………Derek Stout Page designer...........................Martina Geronimo Copy Editors........Sydney Fitzgerald, Cristina Herrera ............................................Austin Myers Daily Texan Sports Editor………………Dan Hurwitz Writers……...................................Sameer Bhuchar, ..........................Alexandra Carreno, Austin Laymance, ......................................................Jordan Godwin, …………………........Laken Litman, Jonathan Parrett

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Friday, October 29, 2010

Similarities abound to 1997 season for Horns

By Laken Litman Daily Texan Staff On Sept. 13, 1997, Mack Brown was coaching North Carolina to a 28-17 win over No. 17 Stanford.

After the game, one of Brown’s assistant coaches came over to him and said that Texas had just gotten smothered 66-3 by UCLA. This was pertinent information considering Brown was leaving UNC to become the head coach at Texas the following year.

“I remember [the assistant coach] ran up to me and said, ‘What an awful night to be in Austin, Texas,’” Brown said.

In 1997, John Mackovic was in his sixth and final season as the Longhorns’ head coach. Texas had started the year as the nation’s 12th-ranked team and beat Rutgers 48-14 in its opening game. Then the team lost to UCLA the following week.

Sometimes, history repeats itself.

When UCLA came to Austin this year, it was the Bruins’ first trip back to Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium since the Mackovic era. The Longhorns were coming off an emotional win against Texas Tech in Lubbock, were 3-0 and seemed to be living up to the preseason hype as the nation’s fourthranked team. But talk of the ’97 UCLA game took center stage that week even though critics were saying that a repeat was unlikely. Of course Texas defied those predictions and lost 34-12.

The loss shocked players, coaches and fans alike because Texas — which had only lost two games total in the previous two years ­— is accustomed to winning early season non-conference matchups.

The following Saturday, Texas lost to Oklahoma but fixed its problems during a bye week and

Texas’ 1997 Season

went to Lincoln and knocked off then-No. 5 Nebraska. Everything seemed back on track until Texas lost its second consecutive home - Longhorns begin the season No. 12 in the nation and open with a 48-14 win over Rutgers game to Iowa State. The Longhorns have not lost back-to-back home - Team loses 66-3 to UCLA in Week 2 games since 1997.

Bad luck often comes in threes - In Stillwater, Oklahoma State blows out Texas 42-16.

— the last time Texas lost to the Bears was that fateful 1997 season.

- Texas defeats Oklahoma but loses to Colorado two weeks later, dealing the team consecuNow the Longhorns must prepare for a ranked and dangerous Baytive home losses. lor squad. Brown has said all season long that there are no “gim- After dropping to the Buffs, Texas falls to Baylor at home by two points. mie games” like there have been in the past.

- To finish the season the Horns loses to Texas A&M 27-16.

“The past is the past and we don’t talk about the past,” said senior defensive end Eddie Jones.

Brown has been in this position before. He’s not new to losing games, curing national championship hangovers and turning seasons around.

“We are back to ’03, we are back to ’07,” Brown said. “We are back to where we have to fix things. We are back to where we need to end in a positive way. This week was a pivotal week for us because [the players] could have laid down with all the negative things around them and they have chosen to pull together.”

Though there are quite a few similarities to 1997 (and if Texas loses to Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M there will be even more), Brown feels that his players are going to look like a different team this weekend.

“I told them that they are the ones who can change this season the most,” Brown said. “And that is what they have done this week.

I have enjoyed being around them.

They have had a very business-like attitude. It has been no whining Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan Staff and no pouting. Nobody is sitting around feeling sorry for themselves. Coaches watch from the sideline as Texas loses to Oklahoma earlier this year. The Longhorns have lost conThey are ready to go back to work.” secutive home games this season, the first time since 1997.

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preview

Friday, October 29, 2010

No. 25 Baylor @ Texas 6-2 (3-1 Big 12) 4-3 (2-2 Big 12) Last game: 47-42 win vs. Kansas St. Last game: 28-21 loss vs. Iowa St. Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium FSN, 6 p.m.

Curt Youngblood | Daily Texan file photo

Baylor lineman Danny Watkins, middle, tackles Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho after the Longhorn intercepted a pass during last year’s game in Waco.

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Longhorns wary of underrating resurgent Bears

By Jordan Godwin Daily Texan Staff Texas head coach Mack Brown is getting desperate to inspire his team before they host 25thranked Baylor.

Earlier this week, Brown took a $20 bill and showed it to his team.

“I wadded it up and I threw it on the ground,” Brown said. “I spit on it, honestly. I stepped on it, I pushed it, I asked them how much it was worth when I started. They said 20 bucks. I spit on it, stepped on it, and asked how much it was worth now. They said 20 bucks. And I told them they were worth the same amount as they were when beat Nebraska.

Your worth didn’t go down.”

Don’t assume Brown is losing his mind – these desperate times call for the desperate measures. Not one member of the Longhorns was alive in 1986, the last time an unranked Texas team played a ranked Baylor team. The players underestimated UCLA and Iowa State because they thought they were facing bad teams that they would dominate. Whether it’s to Brown’s credit or not, the players seem to now have a deeper understanding of how they should approach every game.

“We’ve learned that we can’t just roll our helmets out there and expect to win,” said safety Blake Gideon. “We’ve got to come out with the same fire as we had in Nebraska. If we don’t have our eyes open to that by now, then we’ve got a lot of growing up to do.”

In Gideon’s and the rest of the Longhorns’ lifetimes, that’s all they’ve known Baylor to be, pitiful — the bad news Baylor Bears.

But with the fifth-ranked Baylor offense coming to town, someone should tell the players that these aren’t your older brother’s Baylor Bears.

“This is the best Baylor team we have played in our 13 years here,” Brown said. “This week right now for us is not about Baylor. We have to get us fixed. We have to go back and start playing the fundamentally sound football that we have played in the past.

We have to play with confidence.

We have to play with swagger.”

But Brown knows better than to simply fix his own team’s mistakes. With the way the teams are ranked, it’s not crazy to wonder if Baylor simply has more talent than Texas.

WARY continues on page 11

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Friday, October 29, 2010

Baylor’s Griffin III acts as heartbeat of Bears’ offense

By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff Baylor’s Robert Griffin III is to the football program as the UT Tower is to the 40 Acres. Take the thrilling Griffin or the iconic Tower away, and the passion, pride, heart and soul of the school goes out the window.

Luckily for Texas fans, the Tower isn’t going anywhere. But Baylor learned what life is like when the face of a program is taken away in one fell swoop.

After a sensational freshman campaign in 2008, when Griffin arrived on the college football scene as a raw 18-year-old athlete whose play forecasted an unprecedented career, the course of Baylor football took a turn for the worse one fateful autumn day.

The entire course of the Bears’ 2009 season — filled with promise thanks to the second installment of the “Griffin Show” — flipped when Griffin tore his ACL in Baylor’s third game. The Bears went 2-8 without Griffin in what amounted to a lost season.

But Griffin took it in stride, rehabbed his knee and expanded his game. The knee injury may have been a blessing in disguise for the redshirt sophomore as he focused on improving his accuracy, and it’s shown during his 2010 comeback tour.

In his 15 starts prior to the injury, Griffin completed a respectable 61 percent of his passes while throwing 19 touchdowns. But in his first eight games back this season, he’s hovering around 67 percent and is finding the end zone with more regularity, slinging 18 TD passes so far. Griffin’s ascension as a consistent signal-caller is not lost on Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.

“He’s really developed himself as a passer,” Muschamp said.

“Compared to ’08 when we played until now, it’s night and day.”

But it was the sensational plays he made with his legs that brought attention to Griffin in the first place, making him the gridiron version of NBA Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins — a “human highlight film.”

Junior cornerback Aaron Williams has known Griffin since their high school days, when the

two ran AAU track together and didn’t hesitate to compare the electric athlete to Longhorn great Vince Young.

“Robert Griffin does stuff that you never thought they could do,” Williams said. “He throws off-balance and completes passes. He’ll throw across the field from the other side. He’s a playmaker.”

But Williams knows Griffin’s importance to Baylor goes beyond the awe-inspiring plays he regularly makes.

“He’s the heartbeat of the whole team, everybody feeds off his emotion,” Williams said. “Everybody runs off how he’s going to play and what he’s going to do.

The plays he makes excite people and he sets the tempo for the whole team.”

The Bears were a completely different team in 2009 after Griffin went down and his loss was felt not only on the offensive side of the ball but also across the entire Baylor program.

With Griffin’s return, he and Baylor are back on the map thanks to a rejuvenated offense. Griffin has all ready thrown more touchdowns than the Bears made as a team in each of the past two seasons. Baylor’s offense is averaging 168 more yards per game in 2010 than a season ago and Griffin has the Bears ranked No. 5 nationally in total offense.

Behind Griffin, the Bears are putting points on the scoreboard with ease. In four Big 12 contests this season, Baylor has scored 67 more points than the 2009 squad did in all eight conference games.

Texas safety Blake Gideon has faced the Bears with and without Griffin and understands that the swagger Griffin brings to the table goes beyond his play on the field.

“It was a big loss for them last year so you can definitely tell this year the impact that he has on that team,” Gideon said. “Not only with the yards they gain or the

GRIFFIN continues on page 11

Jack Dempsey | Associated Press

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin evades a Colorado defender in a game on Oct. 16. Griffin is averaging 344.63 total yards per game, good for third-best in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Robert Griffin Stats: • Rushing: 76 carries, 384 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, 6 TDs • Passing- 180-270 (66.7 percent), 2373 yards, 18 TDs, 296.6 yards per game

Baylor Offense Stats: • 2009: 20.8 points per game, 100.6 rushing ypg, 242.3 passing ypg • 2010: 34.9 points per game, 196.5 rushing ypg, 314.2 passing ypg

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Friday, October 29, 2010

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MATCHups — By Austin Laymance | Daily Texan Staff

Baylor’s Robert Griffin III is a one-man wrecking crew, piling up more than 344 yards of total offense per game to lead the Big 12 and rank third nationally. He is the most athletic QB Texas has faced and will test the vulnerable Longhorn run defense. Garrett Gilbert will need to protect the ball — he threw three picks against Iowa State last week — for the Longhorns to compete.

RUNNING BACK Jay Finley is on a tear for the Bears: His 393 rushing yards in Baylor’s past two games are more than double his total from the Bears’ first six games while also eclipsing his 2009 total (370). The Longhorn tailbacks were unimpressive a week ago and lacked the explosive plays that have propelled Baylor to bowl eligibility — Texas’ longest run went for a paltry 13 yards.

RECEIVERS John Chiles had a break out game against Iowa State with 117 yards and a score, but the Longhorns will need that and more to keep up with the Bears on the scoreboard come Saturday. Baylor’s Kendall Wright is a handful out of the slot and has never been held without a catch in 32 career games. He’s the first target Griffin looks for when a play breaks down.

OFFENSIVE LINE The Longhorns allowed a costly sack late in the loss to Iowa State to stall a potential game-tying drive and struggled to open lanes for the ball carriers, taking a step back from a dominant performance against Nebraska. Baylor’s line is a big reason why the Bears have posted four straight games with more than 500 yards of offense — a school record.

Advantage

Breakdown

Advantage

Breakdown

QUARTERBACK

DEFENSIVE LINE The Longhorns were manhandled up front a week ago and will need to rebound on Saturday if Texas has any hope of stopping a potent running duo of Griffin and Finley. Baylor nose guard Phil Taylor has more tackles (33) this year than any Bear lineman had in 2009. Texas must be careful not to over pursue, as Griffin is one of the best scramblers in the country.

LINEBACKERS Keenan Robinson’s play was one of the lone bright spots from last week’s loss and Texas will need a healthy Emmanuel Acho to slow down the Bears’ offense, which ranks fifth in the nation. Antonio Johnson has been a force for Baylor with three sacks and two fumble recoveries but the Longhorn linebackers are more talented across the board, so long as they are healthy.

SECONDARY The vaunted Texas secondary looked lost at times against Iowa State, leading to a couple of touchdown passes. Texas’ cornerbacks will need to shore things up with the dangerous Griffin coming to town. But the Bears do not stack up with Texas’ second-ranked pass defense and will give up big plays, as long as the Longhorns can lock down receivers when Griffin is on the run.

SPECIAL TEAMS Baylor placekicker Aaron Jones is second in the conference in field goals with two per game and ranks No. 18 nationally in scoring (9.88 ppg). Justin Tucker missed a 37-yard field goal against Iowa State and the Longhorns will need to avoid costly special teams miscues in what is shaping up to be a close game that could come down to one or two big plays.

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Friday, October 29, 2010

position BATTLES — By Austin Laymance | Daily Texan Staff

Keenan Robinson, LB vs.

Robert Griffin III, QB In this battle between the two schools’ offensive and defensive leaders, Robinson will need to limit Griffin’s effectiveness as a runner for Texas to slow down a red-hot Baylor attack. Robinson & Co. will need to pile up

the hits on Griffin if the Longhorns are to stop the best pure athlete on the field. If Griffin escapes the pocket, Robinson must fly to the ball and make the tackle, otherwise it could be six points.

Aaron Williams, CB vs.

Kendall Wright, WR Williams will be charged with holding Wright without a catch — something that has never happened in Wright’s career at Baylor. Wright always seems to be on the same page with Griffin. Williams must

stick to Wright when the Bears’ QB is on the move for Texas to avoid giving up big plays. Williams has the quick feet needed to stay with the crafty receiver but must remain disciplined on broken plays.

Kyle Hix, OT vs.

Tevin Elliott, DE/LB Hix must keep Elliott out of the backfield and away from Garrett Gilbert for Texas to move the ball offensively. Elliott’s five sacks through the first eight games are the most by a Baylor player in

seven years and he will have his sights on Gilbert for 60 minutes.

Hix must neutralize Elliott on passing downs and will need to move the 245-pounder out of the gaps for Texas to establish a legitimate running game.

Get in-depth coverage before every Texas game from:

8

Friday, October 29, 2010

For web exclusive stories, videos, photo galleries and more, go to dailytexanonline.com

Jack Dempsey | Associated Press

Baylor head coach Art Briles warms up with his team before a game against Colorado on Oct. 16.

Briles leads program back to bowl-eligibility

By Alexandra Carreno Daily Texan Staff For the first time since 1993, Baylor is bowl eligible. Sounds like a joke, right? Not so fast.

Forget all that conference realignment talk that took place in June. That four-word phrase, ‘Baylor is bowl-eligible’ says it all — the real conference realignment is happening now.

Oklahoma and Nebraska, which have combined for eight of the conference’s 14 championships, each endured recent upsets. Don’t forget, Texas is 4-3 for the first time in more than a decade. Who’s at the top of the Big 12 South standings this week? Baylor, with a conference record of 3-1.

“We have the feeling of accomplishment, but not of our destiny having been determined,” said head coach Art Briles on Monday. “We are still rolling, we are going to roll, we are going to play and we are going to play extremely hard.”

Last Sunday, Baylor broke into The Associated Press poll at No. 25 for the first time since 1993.

“We are on top of the Big 12 South, and we plan to stay there,” quarterback Robert Griffin told ESPN.com.

So the question is, are the Bears for real?

For years Baylor has stayed near the bottom of the Big 12. To be exact, fans have endured a 16-year bowl drought. While the Bears suffered in tough losses to Texas Christian and Texas Tech this season, their most recent win over Kansas State gave fans something to finally be excited about.

“You can dodge it if you want to, or act like it doesn’t exist,” Briles said, “but we buried some ghosts [Saturday] night.”

In his third season as head coach, Briles is not unfamiliar with lifting a struggling program from the dark abyss. Before coming to Baylor, Briles was head coach at Houston, a football program that had only won eight games in the previous four years. There he lifted the program to a 34-28 overall record

BRILES continues on page 10

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Friday, October 29, 2010

BIG 12 POWER RANKINGS

1

They did it. The Tigers started the season in the bottom half of the league rankings but have climbed all the way to the top by way of a top-five defense, an emerging offense and a win over a big name school after they defeated Oklahoma last Saturday. It was head coach Gary Pinkel’s first win over the Sooners.

2

Taylor Martinez engineered a superb game against Oklahoma State, only this time it wasn’t with his feet. His five touchdown tosses prove that the Cornhuskers can be multidimensional and still very dangerous with a scoring defense ranked No. 17 in the nation.

3

Even after a slow start, the Sooners looked like they were on track to run away with the Big 12 title during a down-year for the conference.

Their turnover-prone ways re-emerged in their loss to Missouri. They have the talent but lack discipline.

4

The Cowboys still have one of the best offenses in the nation, but their defense is one of the nation’s worst. There’s no way the ‘Pokes can expect their high-energy offense to carry them through the Big 12 gauntlet without some semblance of scoring defense.

5

The butt of Texas football jokes over the past 15 years seems to have finally found its place. Whether the Bears will stay this high is suspect, but for now Robert Griffin is carrying his team to their best season in a very long time and, for the moment, the top of the Big 12 South.

6

Kansas State lost to Baylor last week and is still one win shy of becoming bowl eligible. But with the Wildcats’ high-powered run game, they still have a shot at achieving this goal and will get their first chance at home versus Oklahoma State this weekend.

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7

The Longhorns’ preseason goals have essentially been killed, cut and cooked at this point. After its lackluster performance versus Iowa State, maybe Texas should start planning for a postseason trip to Tempe, Ariz., but for the Insight Bowl instead of the national championship.

8

The Cyclones put forth their best team effort of the season last Saturday in Austin. They pulled off a historical upset against a team they’ve never beaten, but they don’t jump Texas because on paper there are still too many offensive holes and one more notch in the loss column.

9

The Red Raiders pulled out a close victory against a weak Colorado squad. But a win is a win, especially when your future schedule includes Missouri and Oklahoma. While not the same power it was under Mike Leach, Tech still has a chance to finish above Texas A&M in the South.

10

They torched Kansas last week, but the Aggies drop in the rankings by virtue of their last-place Big 12 South record and their quarterback controversy.

On paper they look good, but on film they are erratic with the recent controversy over a starting quarterback emblematic of that inconsistency.

11

The Buffaloes lost against Tech last week in a close game and lost their starting quarterback for the season. Head coach Dan Hawkins is in a tough spot in a tough year and his job doesn’t get any easier with games left at Oklahoma and Nebraska.

12

Put a fork in the Jayhawks, they are done for the season. A bowl game almost seems out of the question for a team that has to face Missoui, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. It’s time to rebuild for next year when players and coaches alike will be more attuned to Turner Gill’s system.

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Friday, October 29, 2010

Briles: Bears claim first winning record since 1997 From page 8 and four bowl appearances from 2003-2008.

October has been a month to remember for the Bears as they have won three out of four games, their only loss coming in a nail-biter to Texas Tech at the Cotton Bowl.

The offense averages over 600 yards each game and now ranks No. 5 in the country in total yards.

Through eight games the Bears have amassed 31 touchdowns and put up 34.88 points per game.

“We are doing a good job of run-

ning high percentage plays,” Griffin said. “When you can run the ball for 9, 8 yards a pop, I’m fine with that.”

But last Saturday’s win, which catapulted the team into the national spotlight, could mean nothing if the Bears do not continue to prove they belong with the best.

“I’m excited to see what is going happen,” said senior tackle Danny Watkins last Saturday. “The [Big 12] South is still open. We’re bowl-eligible with four games left?

I think it’s great.”

For the first time since 1986, a ranked Baylor will face an un-

ranked Texas team. Saturday’s game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is just the first of a grouping of tough games that will round out the Bears’ season. A game in Stillwater, Okla., against Oklahoma State and two final home games against Texas A&M and Oklahoma remain on the schedule.

“As you know nationally, anything is possible of happening,” Briles said. “All we concentrate on is going out and focusing on what we can do as a football team on that day within those 60 minutes

to have an opportunity to win the football game.”

The Longhorns are no longer nationally ranked and have lost back-to-back home games but the Bears aren’t underestimating their opponents from down Interstate Highway 35.

“We are doing a good job of going out and playing, and Texas is coming off a loss, so we know they will be mad,” Griffin said. “But it’s not our job to focus on them. Mack Brown will have those guys ready and coach Briles will have us ready.”

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the Bears have left ahead of them.

For the first time in 16 years, fans and players alike have something to smile and cheer about. For now, Baylor has gone from the punchline of football jokes to the team making fools of everyone else.

“We’ve etched our name in stone because of the drought that we had,” Griffin said. “Fifteen or 16 years is a very long one. For the team that did it, they may not remember our names individually, but they definitely will remember the team that overcame everything.”

Friday, October 29, 2010

wary: Brown wants players to lose arrogance From page 4 “Robert Griffin sends that message,” Brown said. “This is a Baylor team that we were ahead of 40-0 at halftime last year, and there’s really only one huge difference — Robert Griffin makes everybody better. He’s a guy here at the end of the year, if he keeps playing like he is, should be a consideration for the Heisman.”

Griffin is third in the nation in total offense, averaging 344.6 yards per game, including 296.6 passing and 48.0 rushing. Texas was dominated by dual-threat quarterbacks from UCLA and Iowa State but somehow managed to shut down

Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez, so how they will contain Griffin is anyone’s guess.

But Texas’ offense will have to find some form of momentum against Baylor’s susceptible defense that ranks 79th in the nation in yards allowed. But then again, 79th ranks ahead of the Oklahoma, UCLA and Iowa State — teams that shutdown Texas and forced turnover after turnover.

Much of the offense’s success relies on the plays of quarterback Garrett Gilbert. Gilbert has thrown eight interceptions and six touchdowns, not the ratio he and the coaches had imagined him having at this point in the season.

“I can’t turn the ball over,” Gideon said. “I can’t make those same mistakes. That kills us.”

Whoever decides to step up on offense this game, the Longhorns need someone. But for Texas, the unanimous approach to playing Baylor is that the Bears shouldn’t be underestimated.

“I don’t think they had respect for Iowa State,” Brown said.

“That’s a killer. Mature teams respect the opponent, and I think that was a huge difference. They didn’t think there was any way they could lose. I’ve always said in sports, about the time you think there’s no way this thing can happen is when it happens.”

griffin: Healthy quarterback impacts entire team From page 5 touchdowns, but also the overall personality he brings to the team and the leadership. He’s a natural leader and people gravitate towards him.”

Griffin is the type of player who keeps defenses on their heels, spectators on the edge of their seats and cameras focused on his every move. Just when you think you

have him cornered, Griffin will pull something out of his seemingly endless bag of tricks — as Texas junior linebacker Keenan Robinson can attest.

“He’s like a magician back there,” Robinson said. “They might come out on the set looking like he’s going to pass, but he might go back there and keep it on a draw and take it down the field for a 40-yard gain.”

For Griffin and the Bears, the focus is on beating Texas for the first time since 1997 — the year before Mack Brown took over as the Longhorns’ head coach. But a win against Texas is not the only accomplishment Griffin is capable of in Baylor’s Cinderella season.

“I can’t imagine him not being in the Heisman talk as you start looking at what he’s accomplished over the last few weeks,” Brown said.

♲

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Derek Stout | Daily Texan Staff

scary start to a scary season

Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp speaks with the media after the season-opening win versus Rice in Houston.

Brown’s unlucky 13th year

1 2 3

Greg Davis — It’s time for Mack Brown to face the coordinator Greg Davis might be a little out of t football world characterized by offensive creativity, m and lightning-quick running backs, Davis has taken a result, Texas ranks 71st in the nation in total off uncanny eight in-state schools with better offenses.

Garrett Gilbert — Whether it’s the high expectat most heralded quarterbacks in Texas high school foo burden of following Vince Young and Colt McCoy, G it done. He has looked every bit as shaky and in in January’s national championship game, and he slightest glimpse of potential to lead Texas’ offense.

Motivation — Last season’s Longhorns showed up they should win, while this year’s team shows up ex contrast has led to the downfall of a dynasty because have underestimated every opponent but Nebraska his team as arrogant. Judging by production, cockin Texas should have.

— Laken Litman | Daily Texan Staff

T

he Longhorns aren’t a superstitious bunch, but it is ironic that in the thirteenth season for head coach Mack Brown and offensive coordinator Greg Davis, things have gone mysteriously awry.

To recap, the Longhorns sit uncomfortably with a 4-3 record, which is Brown and Davis’ worst-ever start at Texas. They’ve also lost consecutive home games, which is something that’s never happened since the two arrived in Austin.

So is this season a bad case of the unlucky number 13?

Things sure didn’t bounce Texas’ way against Iowa State last week. By the start of the third quarter, Texas had only scored three points. After kicking a field goal to shorten the Cyclones’ lead to 14-6, ISU turned around and quickly killed any inkling of Texas momentum by returning the kickoff for 45 yards. Iowa State proceeded to score a touchdown in a five-minute drive and widened the scoring gap to 21-6.

The next series, Texas was driving. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert got the offense down to the Iowa State 35-yard line but threw an interception.

“We had great field position, we were still in the ball game at 21-6 and could have made something happen,” Brown said.

Then on the first play in the fourth quarter, Texas got another chance to swing the momentum when junior linebacker Keenan Robinson intercepted Cyclone quarterback Austen Arnaud. But when the Longhorns’ offense took over, Gilbert was sacked for a loss of six yards and fumbled. Iowa State took advantage and scored another touchdown to take a commanding 28-6 advantage.

By the end of the game, Texas had committed four turnovers — an interception in the end zone, a motion penalty on fourth-and-1 on the goal line, a fumble and a missed 37-yard field goal.

Talk about the epitome of a series of unfortunate events.

“That’s a whole lot of points when you go back and think of what we could have done in that game,” Brown said. “And none of that was caused

by Iowa State. All of that was self-inflicted. Every time we had a little something positive, we would mess it up.”

One might argue that the mistakes Texas has made this year are because of a lack of talent. But the Longhorns have proven they can play with the best (think beating then-No. 5 Nebraska in Lincoln), but they’ve also shown how easy it is to turn around a week later and lose to the worst (think doormat of the Big 12, Iowa State).

“The thing is, we practice hard,” Robinson said.

“It’s not like we’re playing around out there in practice or being lackadaisical. We’re out there practicing, playing hard and trying to get better. It would be different if we weren’t preparing right.”

But physical and mental preparedness are different. Brown knows his players are in great shape but thinks they lack the right mentality to win. He even called them arrogant partly because they don’t show enough respect for opponents.

“They did not give UCLA and Iowa State enough credit, and they should have,” Brown said.

Despite its three losses, Texas still has a lot of goals it can accomplish by season’s end. Winning all of the in-state games and reaching 10 wins are still within reach.

“We need to start creating our own luck,” Robinson said.

Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness and the Longhorns have had the opportunities, they just haven’t been prepared. Maybe they can start that change this week.

If not, maybe there is something to be said about the unlucky number 13.

4 5 6 7 8

Lack of a running game — Texas shocked the wo by deciding to move to a balanced offense with a he the run. Epic fail. The Longhorns have juggled five including Gilbert, and have seen little success. Th running back even close to the top 100 in the nation.

Mental preparedness — This season has been char shortcomings. Crucial penalties, special teams mi assignments cost the Longhorns victories against O State. But the biggest downfall is the fact that Marquis Monroe, the team’s most explosive receiver and runnin haven’t been adequately prepared by coaches to hav

Receivers — Malcolm Williams and James Kirkendol with so much potential to take over the receiving corp had several breakout games already on their resum Shipley in the NFL, they were sure to explode for huge n it’s a lack of chemistry with Gilbert or just the fact th passes, the receivers haven’t done much of anything.

Turnover margin — For several years, Brown’s team their excellent turnover margins, meaning the Longh of the ball on offense and force turnovers on defe eight turnovers and lost 16, Texas ranks 106th this y Akron and 14 one-win teams.

Red zone offense — To an extent, the Longhorns ha inside opponents’ 20-yard lines, but scoring a touch there has been a problem. Half of the time they ge Gilbert either throws an interception or the offense i a field goal.

truth that offensive touch. In a college mobile quarterbacks n a different road. As ffense, including an .

tions as one of the otball history or the Gilbert isn’t getting naccurate as he did e hasn’t shown the

to a game knowing xpecting to win. The se of the way players a. Brown has labeled ness is the last thing

13

13

problems that have

DERAILED the season

— Jordan Godwin | Daily Texan Staff

orld in the spring eavy emphasis on different rushers, hey don’t have a .

racterized by mental istakes and missed Oklahoma and Iowa se Goodwin and D.J. ng back, respectively, ve an impact.

ll entered the season ps. The upperclassmen mes, and with Jordan numbers. But whether hat he’s wild with his

ms were known for horns could take care ense. Having gained year, behind winless

ave been able to get hdown once they’re et into the red zone, is forced to settle for

Danielle Villasana | Daily Texan Staff

9 10 11 12

Third downs — Texas has been so successful at disappointing its fans, largely because of the failures on third downs. When the crowd is into the game, the offense finds a way to let them down by yielding to the punt team. Texas has converted just 41 percent of third downs, which ranks 10th in the Big 12.

13

Absence — Let’s face it, McCoy and Shipley were pretty good.

Those guys are gone and have been replaced by Gilbert and Kirkendoll. Colt will be in attendance this weekend for his jersey retirement — does he resemble younger brother and secondstring QB Case enough to step in as a one-game backup?

Rush defense — When they’re on, they’re on, but when they’re not, boy are there problems. The defense entered the season hyped by Brown as one of the best he had ever coached and for the most part, the pass defense has lived up to that label. But in three losses, Texas has allowed 195.6 rushing yards per game, doing so against teams that average about 40 yards less than that figure.

Kickoff returns — Texas has two of the fastest student-athletes in the country at any sport between Monroe and Goodwin, but they somehow find a way to struggle to return kickoffs. Texas ranks 93rd in the nation, averaging just 19.9 yards per return. Sad to say, but with those numbers, the Longhorns would be better off just taking a touchback every time.

Playing at home — Texas has the benefit of a 100,000-plus capacity stadium, but this season, that just makes for even more angry fans. The Longhorns are 1-2 at home, the first time that has happened since the dreadful 1997 season that got Brown here in the first place.

Stephanie Meza | Daily Texan Staff

Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert looks to the sideline during last weekend’s loss to Iowa State.

14

Friday, October 29, 2010

BIG 12 North notebook

PLAYERStoWATCH WATCH — By Austin Laymance | Daily Texan Staff

— By Sameer Bhuchar | Daily Texan Staff

Hawkins chasing wins, not records under center

Rod Aydelotte Associated Press

Robert Griffin III, QB

Griffin is the heart and soul of the Baylor program and is the most exciting player to suit up for the Bears in quite some time. Griffin is the face of the team and as he goes, the Bears go. The dual-threat QB is still one of college football’s most explosive athletes despite undergoing seasonending knee surgery three games into his 2009 campaign. The redshirt sophomore is back with a vengeance and has quickly reminded many why he was so highly touted after his outstanding freshman season when he made a name for himself in the Big 12. He is a world-class hurdler and is considered by many scouts to be the fastest QB in college football history. While he has always been a dangerous runner, Griffin has made strides in the passing game and is averaging nearly 300 yards per game through the air, while throwing for 18 touchdowns on the season and adding six more on the ground.

Jay Finley, RB Finley is Griffin’s partner in crime in the backfield in Art Briles’ spread offense and is having a sensational season for the bowl-eligible Bears. Finley has been on fire of late, tallying 143 rushing yards at Colorado on Oct. 16 and rumbling for a school-record 250 yards against Kansas State last week — breaking Griffin’s mark of 217 set in 2008. The fifth-year senior needs 93 yards to move into fifth on Baylor’s all-time rushing list and he has found the end zone twice in each of his past two games. Finley has found new life in 2010 after a nagging ankle injury limited his production a season ago. After undergoing offseason surgery, the tailback from Corsicana looks rejuvenated and eager to prove he can be Baylor’s workhouse out of the backfield.

Finley is another pure athlete on the offensive side of the ball for Baylor and is reaping the benefits of Griffin’s return as defenses often turn their attention away from Finley to stop Griffin.

Kendall Wright, WR Wright has quickly become Griffin’s favorite target and is Baylor’s leading receiver, operating out of the slot in the Bears’ spread attack. Wright is a former Baylor basketball player and is climbing the Bears’ record books in his junior season — he ranks fourth in receptions (needing 22 more to top the list) and yards.

Wright is the first Baylor player to catch more than 100 balls by the end of his sophomore season. His 113 yards receiving last week against Kansas State moved him past the 2,000-yard plateau in his career, making him just the fourth player in Baylor history to surpass that mark. Wright has a catch in all 32 games of his career, the second-longest streak in Big 12 history. The quick and shifty receiver does his damage in the middle of the field by finding open space and getting behind defenders, especially when Griffin gets out of the pocket.

The Colorado Buffaloes have a new and old starting quarterback this week.

After first stringer Tyler Hansen was knocked out of last week’s battle with the Red Raiders with a ruptured spleen, head coach Dan Hawkins handed his son, senior Cody Hawkins, the reigns.

Cody Hawkins was the starter for nearly two and a half years before being demoted to riding the pine midway through last season.

Now, Hawkins has a chance to redeem himself, as well as chase all the records he was on pace to set as a starter.

The senior play-caller is already Colorado’s career leader in touchdown passes and interceptions and is third on the school’s all-time passing yardage list behind Kordell Stewart and Joel Klatt.

But ask Hawkins if he cares about any of the leaderboard numbers and he will tell you there is only one important stat in football — wins.

“I would really love to go out with some wins,” Hawkins said.

“I could care less if I end up having to be just the holder or if they need me to punt. I mean, I don’t care what I’m doing, how many yards I’m throwing for, I really just want to win football games. I mean it would be nice to have your name on a list, but if that list doesn’t have any Ws beside it, it doesn’t mean as much.”

Hawkins may have a chance to both win and set milestones.

Though Colorado is one of the conference’s worst teams, the Buffs have a talented group of receivers and a strong arm with Hawkins. He will get his first shot at victory this season against No. 11 Oklahoma on Saturday.

Missouri’s offensive line stepping up big in wins

Jose Yau Associated Press

As Missouri players and coaches come down from their collective buzz after beating then-No. 1 Oklahoma, they have to focus on another huge matchup.

The Tigers travel to Nebraska to face Taylor Martinez and the 16thranked Cornhuskers on Saturday in a game that will likely dictate the outcome of the Big 12 North race.

For the Tigers to continue their recent climb in the BCS poll, they will have to do two things: First,

neutralize Martinez by making him a one-dimensional player. Second, they will need a stellar performance by their offensive line.

Missouri achieved the latter against Oklahoma and can’t let go of that plan against the Huskers.

“They did an awesome job, and that’s just a credit to how hard they prepared all week long,” said Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert on Saturday. “They knew what they had to do. They knew they were playing high-level guys on Oklahoma, but they executed extremely well and won the battle in the trenches.”

This year ’s Tiger offensive line is one of the best head coach Gary Pinkel has ever had, and he praised them for their effort against the Sooners.

“I had a high expectation level for them,” Pinkel said. “The protection Blaine had was outstanding. Our run blocking was really good against a really good defensive football team.”

Jayhawks lose starting quarterback, receiver

As if Kansas needed another notch in their disappointing season, the Jayhawks will be forced to use their third-string quarterback against a well-rounded Iowa State squad this weekend.

First and second string quarterbacks Jordan Webb and Kale Pick are coping with injuries, making room for third-stringer Quinn Mecham. Mecham is a junior college transfer who threw his first and only Division I pass in the waning moments against Texas A&M last week. It resulted in an incompletion.

But that’s not all Kansas is missing this week. The Jayhawks (2-5, 0-3 Big 12) will be without starting wide receiver D.J. Beshears and backup running back Deshaun Sands this weekend as both serve a one-game suspensions for an unspecified violations of team rules.

STANDINGS BIG12 NORTH 1. Missouri 2. Nebraska 3. Kansas St. 4. Iowa St. 5. Colorado 6. Kansas

CONF. OVERALL 3-0 2-1 2-2 2-2 0-3 0-3

7-0 6-1 5-2 4-4 3-4 2-5

15

Friday, October 29, 2010

BIG 12 South notebook — By Alexandra Carreno | Daily Texan Staff

OSU receiver suspended one game for DUI arrest In the midst of a record-setting year, wide receiver Justin Blackmon’s season could be in jeopardy. Police arrested the sophomore in Carrollton, Texas, early Tuesday morning. During the traffic stop, authorities deemed him to be under the influence of alcohol. He will miss this Saturday’s game against Kansas State and will not travel with the team to Manhattan.

“It was a poor decision on Justin’s part to leave town and go down to the Cowboys’ game during a game week,” head coach Mike Gundy said on his radio show Tuesday.

Blackmon was originally pulled over after officers reportedly clocked him driving 92 mph in a 60-mph zone. Three other unidentified passengers were also in the vehicle.

Under Texas law, anyone under the age of 21 who has a detectable amount of alcohol in their body while driving is regarded as driving under the influence. Blackmon turns 21 in January.

“I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for it,” Blackmon said in a prepared statement on Wednesday. “I am embarrassed to be in this position.

I am truly sorry.”

Blackmon leads the nation in receiving yards per game with 158.86 on average.

“I would let Justin Blackmon babysit my kids,” Gundy said.

“He’s a good person, made a bad decision, and hopefully he will learn from this and become a better person.”

more so than anybody,” Stoops said. “They’re trying hard, they’re working, they put the time in at practice, and we’ll just keep working with them. It has been frustrating.”

The Sooners have experienced problems at the kicker position since 2007. Just last year they became only the fourth university ever to miss 10 or more field goal tries while also failing to score one from more than 50 yards away.

“I’m very aware of our consistency and inconsistency kicking the ball,” Stoops said. “It’s in my mind and definitely will be the rest of the year.”

A&M’s Johnson may lose starting job to backup

The Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year, Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson, could be relieved of his starting position as early as Saturday.

“We’ll play it by ear. It’s too early in the week to make that decision when I don’t have to,” said Aggies head coach Mike Sherman. “I have two really good quarterbacks.”

Both Johnson and Ryan Tannehill played last Saturday in A&M’s win over Kansas. But Johnson’s 12-of-20 passing performance was less accurate than Tannehill’s 12-of-16 night.

Tannehill also passed for three touchdowns while Johnson didn’t find the end zone.

Tannehill is expected to be the team’s starting quarterback next season, but for now, Johnson is preparing for Saturday’s game against Texas Tech as if he were starting.

“I definitely want to play Oklahoma’s kicker woes more than anything,” Johnson nothing new in Norman said. “I’ve done so much in the Oklahoma has continually offseason and put so much into struggled with kickers this sea- this team. At the same time, son, especially in high-pressure coach Sherman is the coach, and I stand by his decision.” situations.

So after field-goal kicker Jimmy Stevens missed a crucial 30-yard kick and former walkon kicker Patrick O’Hara only BIG12 SOUTH CONF. OVERALL reached the 14-yard line in the 3-1 6-2 1. Baylor opening kickoff, setting up 2-1 6-1 2.

Oklahoma Missouri’s Gahn McGaffie’s 862-1 6-1 2.

Oklahoma St. yard touchdown return last Sat2-2 4-3 urday, it is easy to understand 4. Texas 2-3 4-3 why head coach Bob Stoops is 5. Texas Tech frustrated.

1-2 4-3 6. Texas A&M “We have invested in kickers,

STANDINGS

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Friday, October 29, 2010 Sponsored by:

GAMEStoWATCH — By Jon Parrett | Daily Texan Staff

No. 5 Michigan St. vs. No. 18 Iowa 8-0 (4-0 Big Ten) Last game: 35-27 win @ Northwestern

5-2 (2-1 Big Ten) Last game: 31-30 loss vs. Wisconsin

No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 13 Nebraska 7-0 (3-0 Big 12) Last game: 36-27 win vs. Oklahoma

6-1 (2-1 Big 12) Last game: 51-41 win @ Oklahoma St,

No. 2 Oregon vs. USC 7-0 (4-0 Pac-10) Last game: 60-13 win vs. UCLA

5-2 (2-2 Pac-10) Last game: 48-14 win vs. Cal

Florida vs. Georgia 4-3 (2-3 SEC) Last game: 10-7 loss vs. Mississippi St.

4-4 (3-3 SEC) Last game: 44-31 win @ Kentucky

Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa ABC/ESPN, 2:36 p.m.

Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb. ABC, 2:30 p.m.

Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles ABC, 7 p.m.

EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla. CBS, 2:30 p.m.

The Spartans are off to their best start since 1966, and the Hawkeyes could be the last pit stop en route to MSU’s first Big 10 title since 1990 and a birth in the Rose Bowl. Michigan State has proved it is a second-half team, outscoring opponents 51-10 after halftime, compared to being outscored 10-23 before the break.

The Spartans can’t afford to get off to a slow start against Iowa — the Hawkeyes’ scoring defense ranks No. 11 in the country at just more than 15 points per game.

This will only be Michigan State’s second game away from the state of Michigan, so it will be interesting to see how the team handles the crowd in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes are tough to beat at home and 16-3 in Kinnick Stadium the past two seasons but looking vulnerable after a pair of losses.

Missouri is coming off a 36-27 win over former-No. 1 Oklahoma but still isn’t a lock for the Big 12 Championship game with matchups against the Cornhuskers and Kansas State remaining. The Tigers’ offensive line came up big against the Sooners and will need to give quarterback Blaine Gabbert time against a good Blackshirt defensive line, led by Jared Crick and his 3.5 sacks on the year.

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez rebounded after a poor game against Texas and was named offensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation after compiling 435 yards of total offense and five touchdowns last week against Oklahoma State. Martinez will need to be on his toes again as the Tigers lead the Big 12 with 21 sacks and rank fifth in the country in scoring defense.

Can USC keep the College GameDay curse alive? Home teams haven’t lost this year with GameDay on their campus, but Oregon brings the highest-scoring offense in the country, averaging 55 points per game, to Southern California.

USC is two last-second field goals away from being undefeated, but its defense will have its hands full.

Oregon running back LeMichael James has rushed for 971 yards and 11 touchdowns without playing in almost two games — he missed Oregon’s first game because of suspension and hasn’t played late in contests when the Ducks have been blowing teams out. The Trojans are banned from the postseason this year because of NCAA violations, so they are treating the game against Oregon as their bowl game.

The “Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” will be without some of its luster this year — it’s the first time since 2001 both teams are not ranked in the Top 25 — but it’s still a game that can go a long way in deciding who wins the SEC East. The Bulldogs are on a three-game winning streak and they’ve scored more than 40 points in each of those games. Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green is off to a slow start since returning from suspension and hasn’t eclipsed 100 yards in receiving since his season debut Week 4 against Colorado.

The Gators are coming off of a bye week and are on a three-game losing streak, most recently a 10-7 loss to Mississippi State at home. Quarterback John Brantley hasn’t been consistent on offense this year but the Gators have history on their side, winning the last two games by 31.5 points on average.

18

Friday, October 29, 2010

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Losses humble UT but smaller sports picking up slack

10 years, the Longhorns have built themselves up as the pinBy Will Anderson nacle of excellence and, honestDaily Texan ly, fans have been spoiled by their Columnist winning ways. Consecutive home losses are humbling.

When a univeristy’s identity is I don’t know about you, generic so tied to a single facet of student UT student, but seeing the Tower life, it’s easy to feel unmoored, all bathed in orange on Wednes- adrift in a sea of mediocrity. I’ve day night was pretty awesome. heard many fellow Longhorns Nothing like a little nostalgia to lament in recent days about the brighten your mood, huh? drudgery of a three-loss season I know, I know, it was great — and how life just doesn’t seem as what a cool idea! When was the last bright anymore. time they did something like that?

Luckily, Texas has so much The University actually lit the more than just a football team.

Tower up this Volleyball just deweek because feated secondArmy ROTC ranked Nebraska won the 2010 and is climbing Even if the Longhorns 5th Apache Brithe national polls. lose this weekend to gade CompetiSwimming and tion. Usually a diving, like usual, (gasp!) Baylor, life signal of athletic look to be excelwill go on. victory, it’s been lent this season. a while since the Women’s cross Longhorn footcountry has some bal team did anyof the fastest runthing worth celebrating about, let ners in the nation. The soccer team alone leaving the lights on. is sixth in the Big 12 but has a real After the less-than-enthusiastic, shot at the postseason. nay, downright tame display by The 40 Acres are also home to Texas fans last Saturday morning, Nobel prize winners and lauded I wouldn’t expect many to remem- academics and some of the topber the last time the football team ranked schools in the country. lit up the tower atop the campus’ The world isn’t coming to an main building. It was a Saturday end, fans are just acting that way. night back on Sept. 11 when, fol- Even if the Longhorns lose this lowing a harrowing victory over weekend to (gasp!) Baylor, life will Wyoming, students and faculty go on. rejoiced at the rare sighting of the And, if you’re still not buyburnt orange monolith. ing my optimistic mood, thank Texas is a football state and UT goodness basketball season is a football school. Over the past starts in 10 days.

Corey Leamon | Daily Texan Staff

A Texas fan sits around long after most of the crowd has left following the Longhorns’ loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 2 in Dallas.

19

Friday, October 29, 2010

HEISMAN watch — By Jon Parrett | Daily Texan Staff

Cam Newton, Auburn QB Last Week: (24-17 W vs. LSU) 10/16 for 86 yards; 28 carries for 217 yards, 2 TDs Season: 90/138 passing (65 percent) for 1364 yards, 13 TDs and 5 INTs; 1077 yards rushing, 14 TDs Stock: Up Newton’s last game was what Heisman voters will remember come December, especially his third quarter 49-yard touchdown run, where he outran LSU corner Patrick Peterson to get to the end zone. Auburn plays Mississippi this week, so Newton will have a chance to pad his stats and separate himself from the other contenders.

Kellen Moore, Boise St. QB Last Week: (48-0 W vs. San Jose State) 14/16 for 231 yards, 2 TDs Season: 125/179 passing (69 percent) for 1865 yards, 18 TDs, 2 INTs Stock: Down Moore’s success in the Heisman race has a lot to do with how Boise State fares in the BCS standings — no player from a non-BCS school has won the Heisman since 1990. Unless Boise can slide into the BCS title game, voters will have a hard time picking Moore over players who have faced better opposition.

Denard Robinson, Michigan QB Last Week: Bye Season: 79/143 passing (67 percent) for 1319 yards, 9 TDs; 1096 yards rushing, 9 TDs Stock: Same Heisman fever has abated in Ann Arbor but Robinson still has a shot if he can bounce back after two rough games. He aggravated a shoulder injury two weeks ago in the loss to Iowa, and keeping healthy has been an issue for the play-caller all season. If he can get back to tearing up defenses like he was a month ago and Michigan can start winning some games in-conference, Shoelace should be able to get back in the Heisman race.

ON THE CUSP: LaMichael James, Oregon RB Last Week: (60-13 W vs. UCLA) 20 carries for 123 yards, 2 TDs Season: 134 carries for 971 yards (7.1 ypc), 11 TDs; 4 receptions for 121 yards, 1 TD Stock: Same You can’t argue with James’ production, but Oregon’s success may be hurting him in the Heisman race. The Ducks are blowing teams out so badly that James doesn’t get to play full games, limiting his stats. Oregon might want to keep him in games longer if James is to gain ground on Newton in the Heisman race.

QB Andrew Luck, Stanford QB Robert Griffen III, Baylor QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

20

Friday, October 29, 2010

University rushes to retire number after rough start

By Jon Parrett Daily Texan Staff Longhorn fans may want to arrive at the stadium 20 minutes before kickoff on Saturday to watch the athletics department retire Colt McCoy’s No. 12 jersey in a pre-game ceremony. After the proceedings, McCoy will become just the sixth Longhorn football player to have his jersey retired, along with Earl Campbell (No. 20), Bobby Layne (No. 22), Tommy Nobis (No. 60), Ricky Williams (No. 32) and Vince Young (No. 10).

“I’m very humbled, very honored, especially that they did it so quickly,” McCoy said.

“That’s a huge honor for me, for my family, for my coaches who coached me those four years and for my teammates that I played with for four years. It’s a dream come true.”

McCoy is only one year removed from a 13-1 season at Texas and accomplished more than any other quarterback in Longhorn history.

“Everything that was thrown at him as a roadblock he jumped over,” said Texas head coach

Mack Brown during a press conference on Wednesday. “He accomplished every goal except the national championship.”

McCoy is the first Longhorn to have his jersey retired since Vince Young received the honor in 2008.

“For me, it was just an awesome experience for myself and my family to go through the ceremony,” Young said. “To know that all of the hard work had paid off and be in the company of so many great players — just a really special day.”

“I’m really happy for Colt. It’ll be a day he will never forget,” Young added.

Before 2008, Texas had only retired four jerseys in school history — those of Campbell, Williams, former baseball player Roger Clemens and former basketball player T.J. Ford.

But during the summer of 2008, before any sports teams had begun their seasons, Texas athletics director DeLoss Dodds announced there would be a change in university policy: A player would no longer be required to have won player of the year to

have his or her number retired.

Since then, Texas has retired 10 numbers, spanning football, baseball and men’s basketball.

Longhorn legends Bobby Layne, Greg Swindell and Kevin Durant have all had their ceremonies, with their number hung from the rafters or emblazoned above a deluxe suite.

What makes McCoy’s ceremony unique is that when Texas retired those nine numbers in 20082009, Dodds had announced the numbers would be retired before the season started — McCoy’s was announced two weeks ago.

While bringing the winningest quarterback in NCAA history back to Austin may be a ploy to get people into their seats, it’s hard to argue that McCoy didn’t earn it.

“He fought through injuries, criticism and a small town [bias],” Brown said. “He fought through not being highly recruited. He fought through ‘you’ll never be tough enough.’”

A n d n o w, n o o n e w i l l ever wear No. 12 for the Longhorns again.

MCCOY’S STATS Career Stats:

NCAA Records:

GP: 53 Wins: 45 Passing Attempts: 1,615 Completions: 1,157 Percentage: 70.2 Yards: 13,253 TDs: 112 INTs: 45 Rushing Carries: 447 Yards: 1,589 TDs: 20

Most Wins by a Starting Quarterback: 45 Highest Completion Percentage in a season: 76.7 percent (2008) Only QB to have 10 wins in four seasons

UT Records: Career passing yards: 13,253 Career passing TDs: 112 Career total offense: 14,824 Career total TDs: 132 Passing TDs (Single Game): 6

Awards: Walter Camp Football Foundation Award: 2008, 2009 Maxwell Award: 2009 Davey O’Brien Award: 2009 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: 2009 All-American: 2008, 2009 Freshman All-American: 2006

Caleb Bryant Miller | Daily Texan file photo

Former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy smiles after winning the Big 12 Championship last season.

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Friday, October 29, 2010

Twirler entertains fans during halftime break

By Sameer Bhuchar Daily Texan Staff The situation lends itself to anxiety: hundreds of thousands of eyes fixated on the airborne object; fans at Darell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium sit still, unwilling to move until it is caught. A collective gasp is let out as it travels forty feet in the air, followed then by an eruption of screams and cheers. Alexa Bourdage caught the baton.

In a Longhorn football season that is projected to be one of the worst in recent history, there are few bright spots for fans willing to pay the entry fee to each home game. Texas football is a culture, a lifestyle, a collection of traditions rooted in the game day experience.

Enter Texas’ featured baton twirler, Alexa Bourdage. The four-year twirling veteran marches out on the field with the Longhorn band every game with the hopes of delivering a show-stopping performance to get fans off their feet.

“You step out there and you want to perform to the best of your abilities because so many people are watching you,” she said.

Bourdage went to high school in Indianapolis and when it came time to graduate she had one thing on her mind — “Where can I continue twirling?”

“I applied to Texas on a whim,” she said. “Someone just told me I should apply, but coming from Indianapolis I never thought I’d come to Texas. But I came to

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really love the campus and the audition went well. My mom always said that if I hated it down here I could always leave.”

She didn’t hate it. With Texas the best choice for both her academic and twirling desires, Bourdage headed south to warmer weather.

“My sister hangs up on me in anger every time I tell her that its 70 degrees in the winter here,” she joked.

Bourdage began her role as Texas’ featured twirler as a freshman, a spot that is held by the twirler for the entirety of her Longhorn career.

And for all four years she has been responsible for coming up with her own routine each week.

“I don’t have a coach here,” she said. “You are on your own in this position a lot. I have to put together my own material for each show and I try to keep my material original.”

So the senior business and premed major, who could hit a forty foot ceiling with her baton, has been at the helm of the Longhorn Band’s halftime performance for the past four years. She said that each time she steps on the field is as electrifying as the first.

But with the excitement comes an undeniable stipulation — she must always catch the baton. The pressure to perform perfectly is something that would faze most students, but Bourdage lives by the words of ice skater Michelle Kwan’s father.

Senior Alexa Bourdage, a four-year twirler with the Longhorn Band, smiles during the UCLA game on Sept. 25.

Danielle Villasana Daily Texan Staff

“Her dad used to say that ‘no matter how good you are the ice is still slippery,’” she said. “My dad used to put his own spin on it and say that basically this baton can slip at any time, so you have to always be on your toes. Last week at Iowa State was tough because it was really windy and almost rainy, so I’m forced to remain focused.”

Though she could drop it at anytime, fans have seen her catch the baton more than hit the ground. Junior pre-pharmacy student Bhakti Jadav said that watching Bourdage is one of her favorite parts of the game day experience.

“Honestly our team is so bad

right now that going to the games can be mundane,” Jadav said.

“Every time she catches that thing it’s like ‘Oh my god! I wish I could do that.’ Let’s make her a wide receiver.”

Jadav said her favorite memories of Bourdage are those from two years ago, when the twirling performances brought the heat.

“Two years ago, when the football stadium was real grass I loved doing the fire-routine,” Bourdage said. “That was so much fun for me, and I know the crowd loved it, but I haven’t been able to do that since the stadium switch to turf because truf melts,” she said.

“Maybe they don’t trust me not to drop a flaming baton.”

Along with performances at football games, Bourdage competes in a number of tournaments that take up the majority of her summer. She was even a recent member of the bronze medal United States twirling team that competed in Finland.

All in all, Bourdage’s favorite performances are those in front of the Texas crowd at DKR. The lights, the electricity of the stadium and the fans make for a surreal experience, she said. And with fans in need of some uplifting, the eyes of Texas will fall on Bourdage this weekend.

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