Double Coverage 11-18-2011 by The Daily Texan

The Daily Texan Presents:

Nov. 18, 2011

SENIOR NIGHT

Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; senior class has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Now they reflect on four wild years of football. pg. 10

Vol. 6, Issue 11

Friday, November 18, 2011

theLINEUP 4 page

10 13

tebow pt. 2

Collin Klein is big, strong and fast. Texas will have its hands full defending the Kansas State quarterback.

A LAsting impression

The Longhorns’ senior class reflects on four years of football and the emotion involved in playing their last home game.

strength in LeAdership

Texas’ underclassmen have learned invaluable lessons from their senior leaders.

PrEviEws and notEbooks Double Coverage looks at how the Longhorns and other teams around the country are gearing up for Week 11.

Cover Illustration: Ryan Edwards, Above: Fanny Trang| Daily Texan staff

5 - power rAnkings page 7 - mAtchups 12 - pLAyers to wAtch

14 - gAmes to wAtch page

15 - keys to the gAme 17 - heismAn wAtch

sEnior CovEragE The Double Coverage staff details how this senior class is leaving a football legacy unlike that of past classes, and how graduating fans have come to grow with the team over the last four years.

14 - LeAding by exAmpLe page

Texas’ seniors have been through ups and downs in their four years, but it has helped them grow as mentors.

16 - As A FAn A UT students tells her story of how the Texas football team has impacted her life as a fan.

Editor’s notE

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

The Daily Texan PresenTs:

Volume 6, Issue 11 • 2011 edItIon

Double Coverage Editor……………Sameer Bhuchar Design Editor…………………….Simonetta Nieto Photo Editor…………………………Ryan Edwards Copy Editor……….....……Sydney Fitzgerald Issue Designer...............Martina Geronimo Writers…….................................Austin Laymance ...............................................................Christian Corona …………...........................…...............Nick Cremona ................................................................Lauren Giudice ..................................…......…...............Chris Hummer …………………....................…….....Wes Maulsby ..........................................Kristin Otto. . . .

Friday, November 18, 2011

Senior’s injury leaves Texas seeking replacement By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff

The Longhorns have some big shoes to fill. A season-ending knee injury to Fozzy Whittaker last week leaves a gaping hole in the Texas offense, but the senior’s leadership will also be missed. Whittaker led the Longhorns with nine touchdowns and 955 all-purpose yards and was the heart and soul of the team. “It’s a big loss but somebody has to step up and assume that role,” said junior wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. “We all have to come together closer as a team and get the job done.” Whittaker, UT’s third leading rusher, was most effective running the “Wild” package, where he used his vision, power and speed to near perfection in the red zone. He took 25 direct snaps, resulting in 164 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Now, the onus is on playcaller Bryan Harsin to account for that lost production. He says the Longhorns can still use the “Wild” formation. “We’ll have to change our personnel, but the scheme won’t change,” Harsin said. “We’ll have another variation of that and get one of those backs in there. Fozzy wasn’t the only guy that was doing it [in practice]. We’ll just figure out who we put back there.” Junior tailback Jeremy Hills

carried 11 times for 35 yards after Whittaker’s injury in the first quarter against Missouri last week. Harsin said he wants a running back to assume Whittaker’s spot in the Wild, and Hills or D.J. Monroe fit the mold. Senior left guard David Snow believes Harsin can find a solution in just one week. “He has a knack for finding players for situations and he created the Wild package in the first place,” Snow said. “He can find something else.” But Whittaker’s absence will affect more than just one formation. He was an important part of the Longhorns’ power run game, and with leading rushers Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron nursing injuries (turf toe and hamstring, respectively), Texas needs more production from the rest of its offense. The Longhorns were held to a season-worst 247 yards against Missouri without that trio, and Harsin’s offense failed to score a touchdown for the first time in his 75-game career as a coordinator (five seasons at Boise State, one at Texas). “Everybody in every position has to step up,” said senior tight end Blaine Irby. “We can’t put so much weight on the next running back. Everybody that’s playing needs to do just a little bit more.” That means more production from the passing game. Quarterback David Ash struggled in his

Texas running back Fozzy Whittaker reacts on the field after hurting his leg during the first quarter against Missouri. The Longhorns will have a tough time replacing his leadership.

L.G. Patterson Associated Press

first road start and couldn’t find a rhythm against MU. He missed open receivers down field and had more incompletions (16) than completions (13). Sophomore wide out Mike Davis, though, has shown big-play ability and could be the spark Texas so desperately needs. Davis is first on the team with 33 receptions for 521 yards and has four catches of at least 45 yards. “Coach Harsin always talks about if we’re a man down, some-

Relatives.

Spec’s has lower prices on over 10,000 wines and spirits, hundreds of crisp, refreshing beers and a huge selection of gourmet cheeses and foods you ��

one has got to carry the flag,” Davis said. “So a man down means someone’s got to pick up the flag, carry it and lead.” Still, Davis is most dangerous in play-action, meaning the Longhorns will have to be able to run the ball to set up the pass. They were unable to do that against Missouri, granted they were without Brown and Bergeron. But with their status unknown moving forward — head coach Mack Brown said he can’t plan on them playing Saturday —

it’s unclear how effective the offense can be. One thing is certain, though, Harsin remains committed to running the ball. “The philosophy’s not going to change,” Harsin said. “We’ve got guys to play. That’s how we play, that’s what we believe in and that’s what we’ll continue to do.” Now Texas just needs to find the next Fozzy Whittaker. That’s easier said than done. But if anyone can do that, it’s Harsin.

W I N ES · S P I R I TS F I N E R FO O D S (512) 280-7400 specsonline.com

Friday, November 18, 2011

Klein excels on the ground, continues to rack up yards Wildcat quarterback brings dual-threat aspect to Kansas State offense By Christian Corona Daily Texan Staff

He stands at 6-foot-5 and 226 pounds. He can hurt a defense with his arm as much as he can with his feet. He will try to run around defenders but doesn’t mind going through them. Remind you of anyone? The first dual-threat quarterback of that size that would first come to mind for most Longhorns fans is Vince Young. But Kansas State’s Collin Klein reminds Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz of someone else. “He plays a lot like Tim Tebow played at Florida,” Diaz said. “When you watch the film, you’re like, ‘Geez, there’s a guy a couple years ago that did something like this.’” Like Tebow, Klein thrives in shortyardage situations and quickly gained the respect of his teammates, being voted as team captain despite starting just two games quarterback the

previous season and playing wide receiver the year before. Klein leads the nation with 24 touchdowns, is one of two FBS quarterbacks to run for at least 100 yards per game, and only two players have more than Klein’s 241 carries. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” said head coach Mack Brown. “He’s the number one reason they’ve won eight football games so far. Bill Snyder’s done a great job of utilizing his best player and getting the ball in his hands.” Most quarterbacks, even the mobile ones, run out of bounds when given the opportunity. But Klein is a different breed of quarterback. He’s been successful running between the tackles and more than just about every other field general, even ones such as Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III that Texas has yet to face, does not shy away from contact. “Nobody runs with that style,” said senior linebacker Emmanuel

Acho. “Klein, if you’re in his way, will try to run through you and run over you. It’s going to be fun. Your goal in a game is to hit the quarterback and they’re bringing him to you. I’m looking forward to it.” Klein, who started two games at wide receiver as a freshman, is also an adept passer. The junior quarterback has thrown for more than 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns, doing more than enough to keep opposing defenses honest. “I think the improvement in the passing game from last year to this year is the most notable thing that we have to respect,” said senior safety Blake Gideon. “We can’t just load the box having everybody’s eyes in the backfield.” Klein is not only an explosive offensive weapon but he does a good job of protecting the football. He’s thrown five interceptions in 219 pass attempts this year and has lost just one fumble in 241 carries. Texas has forced just one turnover in its last five

Caven Lacrosse and Sports Center at

Clark Field

Grand Opening & Dedication Friday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m.

Charlie Riedel | Associated Press

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown againt Texas A&M. Klein has drawn comparisons to Tim Tebow.

games but will need a few takeaways to have a chance at beating Kansas State this weekend. “It seems like for three weeks in a row, we’ve gotten in each other’s way on an interception,” Diaz said. “We have one where Christian Scott is in unbelievable coverage and Emmanuel Acho’s our free guy. If one of them messes up on that play, the other one probably makes the interception.” Kansas State’s offense also hurts teams with their scheme. It’s no secret that the Wildcats will run the ball — they’ve logged more than twice as many rushes as passes so far this season — but how they will is uncertain. Kansas State may literally

have a countless number of formations to throw at Texas as Diaz said a graduate assistant “was afraid to say” how many there actually were. Klein was a big part of the Wildcats’ 39-14 win over the Longhorns last year. He ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns and, like Tebow in Denver’s win over Kansas City this past weekend, completed just two passes in the victory. Klein should connect on a lot more throws Saturday as he’s notched 39 completions over the last two weeks. Even though he doesn’t get the attention or admiration Tebow does, Klein is very capable of having a Tebow-esque game in Austin this weekend.

Featuring remarks by UT President Bill Powers & UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D. /FX TZOUIFUJD UVSG r /FX USBDL r /FX FYFSDJTF TUBUJPOT r /FX QFEFTUSJBO CSJEHF BDSPTT 8BMMFS $SFFL r r /FX NVMUJQVSQPTF TVQQPSU CVJMEJOH r

Everyone’s Invited! RECREATION

Next issue: Nov. 23 www.utrecsports.org

Texas A&M

Friday, November 18, 2011

BIG 12POWERRANKINGS — By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff

Oklahoma State

Quarterback Brandon Weeden and the Cowboys laid it on thick in their 66-6 win over Texas Tech last week, leading from wire to wire. It’s beginning to look like the annual Bedlam game between the Cowboys and Sooners will be the deciding factor of which team from the Big 12 receives the BCS auto-bid. The Cowboys do have to get past Iowa State this week in order to set up that colossal game in Stillwater, Okla. There doesn’t seem to be a team in the nation that can slow down the offensive onslaught the Cowboys possess.

The Sooners’ loss to Texas Tech is beginning to look more and more like an anomaly. With a week of rest under their belts, the Sooners gear up for Baylor this week in a primetime matchup. This game will have its share of offense, but defense will be the deciding factor. The Sooners will have to keep Robert Griffin III under wraps if they want to keep any slim hopes of a national title appearance alive. The Sooners have begun to creep back up in the BCS standings and are currently No. 5 in the most recent standings. If they can avoid upsets these next two weeks, they have a case to make for an appearance at the Sugar Bowl.

Missouri

Texas A&M

Oklahoma

It’s deja vu all over again for the Aggies. In all but one game this year, the Aggies have held a double-digit lead, yet their record is 5-5. Perplexing to say the least. Last week’s quadrupleovertime loss at the hands of Kansas State was just the latest in disappointments this season for the Aggies. Lowly Kansas visits this week in what should be a win for the Aggies. The Aggies are still one win away from becoming bowl eligible, and if they are unable to do so this week it will only make the annual matchup with Texas on Thanksgiving night more interesting.

Iowa State

Kansas State

It took four overtimes, but in the end the Wildcats got the best of the Aggies last week. Quarterback Collin Klein has bulldozed his way to 24 rushing touchdowns and has added another 10 through the air. He’s a workhorse and the main reason the Wildcats are 8-2 this season. Behind Klein, the Wildcats can’t be counted out of any remaining game this season. Klein and Co. head to Austin this week to play a dinged up Longhorn squad.

The Bears may not have envisioned being 6-3 after 11 weeks, but three games still remain for them to improve on that mark. Quarterback Robert Griffin III has continued his usual routine of scoring touchdowns at will over the past few weeks and has now scored at least one passing and rushing touchdown in three consecutive games. Griffin and the Bears face an Oklahoma team that seems to be back on track after an uncanny loss to Texas Tech at home.

Another bye this week for the Cyclones before they face Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Kansas State in successive weeks. Barring some pretty big upsets, that’ll make three straight ranked opponents. Not just any ranked teams either, the Cyclones could potentially face three top-five teams in a row for the first time in school history. Currently at 5-4 on the year, it will be a tall order for the Cyclones to steal a win from any of their remaining opponents. Not much to be thankful for with that daunting of a schedule in front of the Cyclones.

Kansas

Baylor

It’s alive! It took 11 weeks but the Jayhawks finally showed some signs of life, taking Baylor to the brink in overtime, only to eventually lose 31-30. The Jayhawks were one missed twopoint conversion away from earning their first conference win. Jordan Webb’s three interceptions didn’t help the Jayhawks’ bid for their first victory since Week 2 of the season, but Kansas did run for 296 yards in the loss. Who knows, maybe they can pull off a shocker this week in College Station against the Aggies.

Texas Tech

Texas

Is it Missouri, or misery? Even though the Tigers defeated the Longhorns a week ago they still suffered a major blow. Sophomore running back Henry Josey was lost for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL, MCL and patellar tendon. These kind of injuries almost always sideline players for an extended period of time, and the loss of Josey will be felt far beyond this season. However, the Tigers do retain a couple viable replacements in Kendial Lawrence and De’Vion Moore, who will need to carry the load this week against Texas Tech.

Ouch. The Longhorns were without their top-two options at running back last week, and it definitely showed. On top of that, Texas lost the services of senior all-everything back Fozzy Whittaker to a torn ACL. At any rate, the Longhorns will need to find a solution to the running game woes fast with Kansas State coming to town this weekend. The ineffectiveness of freshman quarterback David Ash will also have to be addressed and corrected if Texas wants to make a case for a bowl not named “Pinstripe.”

Ever since the Red Raiders topped Oklahoma 41-38 three weeks ago in Norman, they have really struggled to find an identity. Last week was no different as Oklahoma State came in and absolutely wrecked Tech. 66-6 looks bad, but let us not forget that the Cowboys held a 49-0 advantage at the half. Coach Tommy Tuberville has to be sweating up in Lubbock after three straight conference losses by a combined score of 159-33. The Red Raiders travel to Columbia, Mo., to take on the Tigers this week. Careful, two players suffered season-ending injuries on the turf of Faurot Field just last week.

CARRINGTON BYDNOM

UNDERTHEHELMET Free time “I’m a relaxed guy, don’t do too much. I watch a little TV or do some studying.”

Favorite place in Austin “My room, for sure. That’s where I spend most of my time. I don’t get out too much.”

Role model “My dad. He taught me a lot about life in general and being a football player.”

Player you pattern game after “I’ve started watching Michael Huff.”

Friday, November 18, 2011

Legendary coach enjoys leading this year’s ‘hard-working’ squad By Chris Hummer Daily Texan Staff

Bill Snyder knows football. He was the head coach at Kansas State for 16 years, from 1989-2005, and he totally transformed the program from one of the most inept in college football to a Big 12 championship winner. Snyder did it with an incredible work ethic and an appetite for the game, which is more of an appetite than he had for actual meals. According to an article in Sports Illustrated in 1998, Snyder would only eat one meal a day, working right through lunch, which he liked so much that he worked through dinner as well. However, in 2005, Snyder decided he was done with that kind of effort. He was coming off two consecutive losing seasons and at 66 years old, he decided it was time to hang his hat. Right after his retirement, Kansas State quickly renamed their stadium, Bill Snyder Family Stadium. This is a little ironic considering

how much time football has taken away from Snyder’s family time — 18 hour work days in your office will do that. Snyder enjoyed retirement about as much as someone whose whole life has centered in and around the gridiron can. “I learned that life after football really can be pretty good,” Snyder said But three years later, when Wildcat officials approached Snyder about a return to the sideline, he jumped at the chance. Now in 2011, Snyder is still striding the sideline and coaching young players, while leading Kansas State to their best season in years as the No. 13 team in the country at 8-2 overall. When Snyder is asked why he left the comfy confines of retirement to go back into the stressful profession that is a being a division-one coach, his answer was simple: He missed working with his players. Especially guys from teams like this year’s, where there is no single great player, just a bunch of hardworking teammates. “It’s just a bunch of young guys, no real standout individuals,” Sny-

der said. “Guys that play together, care about each other, work pretty hard and try to do the right things. I think they play with discipline — most of the time, not always. They’re pretty good about not beating themselves.” It’s not just this team that has those hard-working values on the field, every single one of Snyder’s teams has worked together like that. That kind of effort and togetherness is one of the core principals of Snyder’s hard-nosed teaching style. “That’s what our program has really always been about,” Snyder said. “Just the intrinsic values — responsibility and accountability and discipline and toughness and hard work and caring about each other and appropriate attitudes — all those things that we would teach our children.” Snyder has an old school approach on the game, he looks to push his players further and further every day, making them better at their trade and better people at the same time. His demeanor can be a bit tough to deal with and he is

Kansas State defensive back Emmanuel Lamur (23) is helped off the field by head coach Bill Snyder after being hurt. The long-time coach has earned the respect of his team and coaches around the country.

Charlie Riedel Associated Press

serious on game day. But his players understand and appreciate the values he teaches, and his drive to make them raise their level of play on a day-to-day basis. “It’s all there in his message,” said defensive end Jordan Voelker. “It’s a great message. I think some people have trouble interpreting it, because it is somewhat monotonous. His big thing is improving every week. “But it makes total sense,” Voelker said. “He doesn’t want you to look at the next opponent. He wants you to focus on getting better. He wants you to do what it takes to win, and let the games take care of them-

selves. That’s what we’ve done, and that’s why we’re here.” Snyder has been around the college game for a while and has experienced a lot. He has been a mentor, a winner and a loser, as well. He has had a son play for him and even has a grandson playing under him right now. With all of that experience on the sideline, the Kansas State program is in good hands and his players know how lucky they are to have him on their side of the field. “We have one of the best coaches in college football,” Currie said. “Everyone realizes what a tremendous leader we have in Bill Snyder.”

Friday, November 18, 2011

MATCHUPS — By Wes Maulsby | Daily Texan Staff

QUARTERBACK

As long as Texas has one of its top options in the backfield, it will have the advantage at the position. Losing Fozzy Whittaker will be tough for the team. Aside from being one of the main leaders of the squad, he was having one of his most productive seasons as a Longhorn. The Wildcats are led by their quarterback, Collin Klein, who has more than 1,000 yards rushing on the season. Sophomore John Hubert is second on the team with 781 yards. Though Kansas State is primarily a rushing team, it has been out-rushed by Texas this season. If either Malcolm Brown or Joe Bergeron can play at 100 percent, Texas will have the advantage. If not, it could be a long day on offense for the Longhorns.

RECEIVERS Neither team has a receiver in the top 10 of receptions, receiving yards per game or total receiving yards in the conference. The leading receiver for Kansas State is junior Chris Harper, while Texas is led by Mike Davis. Harper is the only Wildcat receiver who has more than 20 catches on the year, while Davis has been the primary receiver for David Ash, especially with Jaxon Shipley out the past couple of games. If Shipley is healthy, then Texas will have two good receivers to Kansas State’s one. The most important factor for receivers in this game won’t be catches or yards. Instead, it will be based on their ability to block defenders down field for the running backs.

OFFENSIVE LINE With both teams wanting to run the ball in this game, the play of the lines becomes one of the deciding factors to the game. Texas is still the top rushing team in the conference, despite only gaining 76 yards on the ground against Missouri. Kansas State allowed an uncharacteristic 10 tackles for loss against Texas A&M with four sacks. Both teams average more than 4.5 yards per carry, with Texas boasting a slightly better 4.92 to the Wildcats’ 4.55 yards per attempt. Kansas State allows just more than seven tackles for loss a game, with Texas allowing seven exactly. Both lines are pretty evenly matched, but Texas has more talent behind it if it shows up to play.

Advantage

Breakdown

Kansas State ranks last in the Big 12 in passing offense, but that’s not what the Wildcats use it for. Wildcat signal caller Collin Klein is fourth in the conference in rushing. Kansas State uses a kind of zone read-option hybrid offense and gets most of its yards on the ground. Last week, when asked to win the game against Missouri, the Texas quarterbacks were not up to the task. Both quarterback combined 171 yards passing on 16 of 36 attempts and one interception. With the top-three rushing options out of the game, the offense was stagnant and could not make any plays. Despite being last in passing yards, Kansas State will have the advantage at quarterback because of Klein’s dynamic skill set.

RUNNING BACK

Advantage

Breakdown

DEFENSIVE LINE Over the past three games, Jackson Jeffcoat is tied for the team lead in tackles with 27. He and Alex Okafor have been much more active of late, and it is leading to stronger play across the defensive line. In the middle, Ashton Dorsey and Kheeston Randall have been making big impacts against both the run and the pass. And the biggest surprise may be coming from Chris Whaley, who has been consistently getting on the field and making his presence known. Kansas State has only 43 tackles for loss this season, which is just more than four a game. Texas has 71 tackles for loss this season, with 35 of those coming in the last three games. These are the top two rush defenses in the conference, which will pit both teams strengths on offense and defense against each other.

LINEBACKERS

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Emmanuel Acho is tied with Jeffcoat with 27 tackles over the last three game and had a game-high four tackles for loss against Missouri, including a forced fumble. He is leading the team in tackling with 88 tackles and is averaging just less than 10 a game. Kansas State is led by Arthur Brown who has 78 tackles in 10 games. He was the first player to pick off Robert Griffin III of Baylor in the Wild Cat’s win over the Bears. Texas only allows 94.8 yards per game on the ground, with Kansas State allowing 99.8 yards rushing per game. These are the only two teams in the conference to hold opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. Nationally, both teams are in the top 25 in terms of stopping the run, with Texas at No. 10 and Kansas State at No. 25. Whichever team can stop the run the best will have a major advantage in this game.

Texas has the best defensive backfield in the conference and is leading the Big 12 in pass-efficiency defense and is second in overall pass defense. Meanwhile, Kansas State is near the bottom of both pass defense and pass efficiency defense in the conference. Kansas State is second in the conference in turnover margin thanks to 14 interceptions this season, with Nigel Malone leading the conference with six interceptions. There won’t be a lot of passing in this game, but if the Texas quarterbacks have to move the ball, they will be going up against one of the worst in the conference, while Kansas State will have a hard time against the Texas secondary. Texas has the top overall defense in the Big 12 and Kansas State is third overall, so this may end up being a very low-scoring game.

SPECIAL TEAMS Texas is among the conference’s top kickoff return teams, but so is Kansas State. The Wildcats are ranked No. 7 nationally and Texas is No. 13. Neither team is particularly strong in punting the ball or returning punts, so kick returns carry extra importance in this one. Tyler Locket has two kick return touchdowns this season and is currently leading the nation in kickoff returns. Whittaker was the leading return man for Texas, but with him out for the season, D.J. Monroe, Quandre Diggs and Marquise Goodwin have to pick up their production. If a close game came down to field goals, Texas would have a slight advantage with Justin Tucker only having missed two field goal attempts, while Kansas States Anthony Cantele having missed five kicks and one PAT.

Friday, November 18, 2011

AT&T. Get it faster with 4999

with 2-year wireless svc agreement on voice & minimum $15/mo. data plan required.

4G BLACKBERRY® TORCH™ 9810 Next-generation BlackBerry 7 OS

4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Not available everywhere. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. Learn more at att.com/network.

FREE SHIPPING 1.866.MOBILITY– ATT.COM –VISIT A STORE AT&T is a proud corporate sponsor of UT Athletics.

Austin ❑ Now Open

AT&T STORES ❑◆1011 W 5th @ Lamar, (512) 472-9355 ▲◆5407 N IH-35, Ste. 100, (512) 458-2121 ▲Servicio en Espanol

◆ Phone, Advanced TV and Internet from AT&T Sold Here

Limited-time offer. Subject to wireless customer agrmt. Credit approval req’d. Activ. fee $36/line. Coverage & svcs, including mobile broadband, not avail everywhere. Geographic, usage & other conditions & restrictions (that may result in svc termination) apply. Taxes & other chrgs apply. Prices & equip. vary by mkt & may not be avail. from ind. retailers. See store or visit att.com for details and coverage map. Early Termination Fee (ETF): None if cancelled during first 30 days, but a $35 restocking fee may apply; after 30 days, ETF up to $325, depending on device (details att.com/equipmentETF). Subject to change. Agents may impose add’l fees. Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge up to $1.25/mo. is chrg’d to help defray costs of complying with gov’t obligations & chrgs on AT&T & is not a tax or gov’t req’d chrg. Offer Details: 4G BlackBerry Torch 9810 price with 2-year wireless svc agreement on voice & minimum $15/mo. data plan required is $49.99. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. Smartphone Data Plan Requirement: Min. $15/mo. DataPlus (200MB) plan required; $15 automatically chrg’d for each additional 200MB provided if initial 200MB is exceeded. All data, including overages, must be used in the billing period in which it is provided or be forfeited. For more details on data plans, go to att.com/dataplans. BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion®, SureType®, SurePress™, and related trademarks, names, and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. Used under license from Research In Motion Limited. Screen images simulated. ©2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. Service provided by AT&T Mobility. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Friday, November 18, 2011

BIG 12

QUICKHITS — By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff

because of foot injuries.

Oklahoma State For the first time in school history, the Cowboys are 10-0. With their 66-6 win over Texas Tech last week, the Cowboys also extended their road winning streak to 11 games, the second-longest streak of its kind in the nation. Wide receiver Josh Cooper came back from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss two games and made six catches for 106 yards against the Red Raiders. Safety Deion Imade (knee) and Michael Harrison (ankle) both missed the Texas Tech game because of injury.

Texas A&M With last week’s 53-50 loss to Kansas State, fourth-year coach Mike Sherman moves to 24-24 during his time with the Aggies. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill played last week despite suffering knee and ankle sprains against the Wildcats. Cornerback Coryell Judies sat out yet again while he heals from a lingering hamstring injury. Safety Steven Campbell and wide receiver Kendric McNeal did not make the trip to Manhattan, Kan., last week

Texas Tech The Red Raiders succumbed to Oklahoma State last week for their third-straight double-digit conference loss. For the first time since 1990, the Red Raiders have lost four home games. Sophomore wide receiver Aaron Fisher sustained a season-ending knee injury against the Cowboys. Tight end Adam James (ribs) and defensive tackle Donald Langley (ankle) both left last week’s game with injuries.

Kansas Coach Turner Gill fell to 1-14 in conference games in two years with the Jayhawks after losing to Baylor 31-30 last week. True freshman Darrian Miller rushed 24 times for 147 yards in defeat last week. It was the highest-total yardage by a Kansas freshman since 1993. Running back Brandon Bourbon is done for the year after injuring his leg Nov. 5 at Iowa State. The Jayhawks remain 120th in the nation in terms of points allowed (44 points per game).

Texas The Longhorns were held without a touchdown for the first time since 2004, a 12-0 loss to Oklahoma. Texas has not allowed an opening possession touchdown to any of its opponents this year, giving up three field goals and four punts while forcing two turnovers. Defensive back Leroy Scott became the second true freshman to block a punt this year last week against the Tigers. Linebacker Keenad Robinson injured his thumb in the second quarter of last week’s game and did not return. Wide receiver Jaxon Shipley missed his second game in a row because of a knee injury. Offensive lineman Sedrick Flowers did not make the trip to Missouri because of a shoulder injury.

He will return to the starting lineup against Oklahoma State this week. Offensive lineman Ethan Tuftee will undergo minor knee surgery this week and could return in time for the game this Saturday. Safety Jacques Washington sat out for the majority of the Kansas game with an abdominal strain. No word on whether he will return this week.

Baylor

The Bears are bowl eligible for the second consecutive season, the first time since 1991-92 that this has happened. Baylor’s 13 wins in the past two years are the most over a two-year span since 1993-94 when it won 14 games. The 21-point deficit that the Bears erased in the fourth quarter last week against Kansas was the largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history. It was also the first Iowa State overtime game for the Bears since Freshman Jared Barnett became 2006, when they defeated Colorado the first Cyclone quarterback since 34-31 in triple-overtime. Brett Myer in 2004 to rush for more than 100 yards when he ran for 125 yards against Kansas two weeks ago. Kansas State Wide receiver Darius Reynolds did With five rushing touchdowns not play against the Jayhawks for last week quarterback Collin Klein failing to live up to team standards. now has 24 total rushing touchdowns. He broke a school record set by Mack Herron in 1969 when Herron rushed for 20 touchdowns. Klein has scored two or more rushing touchdowns in seven games this

Dealer in Texas... Again!! 11 Consecutive Years

Top 10 National Dealer... Again!! 4 Consecutive Years

season. Wide receiver Tyler Lockett has been lost for the season after lacerating a kidney Nov. 5 against Oklahoma. Safety Tysyn Hartman missed the majority of the second half last week against the Aggies with an undisclosed injury.

Missouri

The Tigers were able to defeat Texas for the first time since 1997 with their 17-5 victory last week. The Longhorns were the second ranked team to fall to the Tigers, the last time that occurred was in 2007, when the tigers defeated three ranked teams. Running back Henry Josey tore his left ACL, MCL and patellar tendon last week and is done for the year. The Tigers will try to win back-to-back games for the first time this year when they face Texas Tech this week.

Oklahoma

The Sooners will look to pick up their 15th recruit of the 2012 class once tight end Terrell Mitchell (Fort Scott, Kan.) is medically cleared to play. Mitchell missed his senior season of high school football after tearing his ACL in the spring. Linebacker Tony Jefferson should return to the starting lineup this week after missing time because of a knee injury.

Welcome to the neighborhood. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® now has another new café location to serve you. Stop by for a cup and visit our

ng Now Selli

UT Drag store at 24th & Guadalupe.

™ Airstream mes Motor Ho Sales - Service - Parts

312-1478 amper (512) www.camperclinic2.com linic I-35 S. Austin Exit 220 • East Frontage Road of I-35 Across from Cabela’s

LEAVING

A LASTING

IMPR

Seniors trying to leave positive impact, end with ‘b By Christian Corona Daily Texan Staff

Like this season, this year’s senior class has had its ups and downs. Texas will celebrate Senior Night this weekend, recognizing 26 players who have spent four years playing football at the 40 Acres, who have amassed a 39-12 record over those four seasons and how will play their final home game Saturday. In this year’s senior class’ first two seasons, the Longhorns had shots to capture a national title but didn’t run the table. Then, they were part of a team that delivered a disappointing 5-7 season but are trying to leave the program on a good note. “This senior class has given us a lot of great plays,” said head coach Mack Brown. “They were second in the country, they were third in the country and had a chance to win the national championship. I want the fans to come out and give them a great send-off.” Senior Night is always a meaningful moment, but facing a team that it hasn’t beaten since 2003 and who triumphed over the Longhorns 39-14 last season should provide even more motivation. The Wildcats derailed Texas’ BCS bowl hopes in 2006 and 2007 and helped keep the Longhorns from playing in the postseason at all in 2010. “That’s probably the biggest slap in the face to any football player, any defensive football player — that a team is more physical than you,” Gideon said. “We made it a point that if nothing else goes right this week, we’re not going to be outhit and we’re going to be the most physical team on the field.”

Emotions won’t just be running high because Texas could be trying to get back at a team that has had its number over the last few years. There will also be a more sentimental feel to the festivities Saturday night when the seniors are acknowledged. Emmanuel Acho, one of the four seniors on the first-team defense, is coming off a spectacular showing against Missouri, albeit in a losing effort. The senior linebacker made 12 tackles, four for loss, notched two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. He also forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow linebacker Jordan Hicks to end a Missouri opening drive that saw the Tigers get past the Longhorns’ 10-yard line. Acho will be looking to have a similar performance tomorrow. “I remember when I first got here,” Acho said. “In my last [home] game, I’ll hope to end it with a bang. It’s going to be fun.” Another senior on defense, Blake Gideon, has been the epitome of the roller-coaster ride this year’s senior class has been riding. He is the only member of the class to start every game Texas has played since he stepped on campus. But his freshman year was marred by a dropped interception in the fourth quarter of a loss to Texas Tech, Texas’ lone defeat of the season. Gideon, however, has been a staple of Texas’ secondary for the last four years and has had his moments, including logging eight tackles against top-ranked Oklahoma his freshman year, notching an interception in the 2010 national title game against Alabama and racking up 250 tackles over his career. “[Acho] and I were talking about how back in ’08 against Florida Atlantic, both of us were jogging out on the field looking at each oth-

er coming out of the tunnel,” Gideon recalled freshmen then and what we’ve developed int lows through four years, it really has flown by.” This year’s Longhorns squad is a young one over one-third of the starting slots on the dept are currently on the two-deep, six fewer than th men. The underclassmen will be looking to se “It’d only be right for them to go out with ing our heart out for them,” said sophomor rington Byndom. “We’re just looking to go only for Senior Night, but for the team in win is all we’re looking for.” It will be tough to make the seniors’ last h Kansas State rolling into Austin, not just be against Texas. The Wildcats are 6-5 all-tim horns, making them the only Big 12 team w in their series with Texas. But Kansas State quadruple-overtime victory over Texas A likely overflowing with confidence. But Te to make the most of the last opportunity it in front of the 100,000-plus, burnt orange-c customed to playing for. “It’ll flash before me: Those four years through,” said Gideon. “Seeing my parents called, I’m sure there’s going to be a little em time, there’s a game to be played.”

RESSION

bang’

d. “We were two scared to today, the highs and .” e as seniors occupy just th chart. Eleven seniors he number of true freshend the seniors off right. a win, so we’ll be playre defensive back Carout and get a win, not general. That seventh

home game a win with ecause of their history me against the Longwith a winning record e, coming off a 53-50, A&M last weekend, is exas will certainly try ts seniors have to play clad they’ve grown ac-

s and what I’ve been and hearing my name motion, but at the same

Longhorns dealing with emotions involved in final home game of careers By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff

The Longhorns senior class will take the field at Darrell K RoyalTexas Memorial Stadium for the last time on Saturday, and they couldn’t have picked a better opponent for their send off. Kansas State is the only team in the Big 12 to lead an overall series against Texas (6-5). The Wildcats have bested the Longhorns of late, winning three in a row. UT hasn’t beaten KSU since 2003, when Vince Young was the starting quarterback. Senior night is always an emotional game, though, and this is no different. “It’s going to be sad,” said senior linebacker Emmanuel Acho. “But at the same time I really despise (Kansas State). I won’t care about my emotions at that time.” Last year, the Longhorns invaded Kansas State for the Wildcat’s home finale, only to lose, 39-14. This time around, Texas hopes to return the favor against the No. 16 team in the country. Blake Gideon has started all 48 games in his career, and has been the lone constant on defense for four years. He’s experienced the highs — BCS bowl games, a national championship appearance — and the lows — a 5-7 season and the infamous loss to Texas Tech in 2008 — in his time on the 40 Acres. The safety, though, admitted this game snuck up on him. “It really has flown by,” Gideon said. Gideon succumbed to his emotions on Monday afternoon as a crowd of reporters huddled around him, asking him about Fozzy Whittaker’s seasonending knee injury. He fought back tears and choked up as he described his first memory of his fellow senior. “He would lay down in the street for anyone of us,” he said, before pausing and apologizing as he gathered himself. It was a rare sight to see Gideon in that state, but it wasn’t a huge surprise considering all that Whittaker meant to his teammates. Unfortunately for the tailback, he won’t be on the field with his classmates on Saturday. So will there be more tears? “We’ll see,” Gideon said. “It will all flash before me, those four years and everything I’ve been through. And to see my parents out there and have my name called, there will be emotion.” Still, it’s difficult for the 22 seniors to grasp the fact that this

will be their last time to run out of the tunnel with the band playing, fans screaming and smoke blowing. “I haven’t really accepted that it’s going to be my last home game,” said senior left guard David Snow. “I really don’t know what I’m going to be feeling like. It’s going to be mixed feelings.” Snow said it wouldn’t hit him until sometime in January, when he returns for his final semester. “I’m kind of thick-headed anyway, stuff takes a little bit to sink in with me,” said Snow, whose 28 starts are the most of any offensive player. Saturday’s game will end with the Longhorns walking to the south end zone to sing the “Eyes of Texas,” just as the senior’s previous 25 home games ended. The lasting image they desire? An orange tower, shining bright.

Photos by Fanny Trang Daily Texan Staff

Friday, November 18, 2011

NATIONAL

NOTEBOOK

PLAYERSTOWATCH

— By Wes Maulsby | Daily Texan Staff

— By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff

Penn State to accept bowl bid despite school scandal

Quarterback Patrick Witt, a finalist for the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, will forego his candidacy in favor of playing against rival Harvard in “The Game” this weekend. The Georgia native was set to interview for the scholarship this weekend in Atlanta but has decided to play in his last collegiate game in New Haven, Conn, instead. “I will be playing in the Yale-Harvard game this Saturday,” Witt said. “My focus this week is solely on preparing for the game alongside my teammates and coaches.” At 6-foot-4 and weighing in at 230 pounds, Witt is a legitimate pro prospect. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to play at the professional level,” said Witt. “The Rhode does affect that. If I win the scholarship, that would put the NFL on hold for at least a year or two. But if I don’t, then I would pursue the NFL in the spring and get an idea of what kind of opportunity I’d get at that level, if any.”

Press

Yale QB chooses football over Rhodes scholarship

Kansas State is last in the Big 12 in passing offense and is No. 109 in the nation, ahead of only two other BCS conference teams. Klein’s abilities aren’t as a passer but as a rusher. He leads the team in rushing and is fourth in the conference in rushing, with just more than 100 yards per game. He has five 100-yard rushing games, compared to only two games with more than 200 yards passing. However, he is coming off of his two best passing performances of the season in back-to-back games and is averaging 256 yards passing over the last two games on 60 percent passing. He is averaging more than 379 total yards over the last two games in which he got at least 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in each. Against the best rush defense in the conference, he will need to be able to pass on the Texas defense to take some defenders away from the line of scrimmage.

iated

Head coach Houston Nutt has suspended quarterback Randall Mackey and running back Jeff Scott for Saturday’s game against No. 1 LSU for violating team rules. Seldom-used running back Korvin Neat was also suspended. Nutt did not specify the violations but said the suspensions could also carry over to the season finale against Mississippi State. “They’ve got to learn how to handle change and it’s tough for a lot of them,” Nutt said. These last few weeks you try to teach them the best you can that life can be hard and lessons are tough, but there’s no easy way out.” Mackey has been the Rebels’ starting quarterback for the past six games and has thrown for just more than 1,000 yards while recording seven

After the Cardinals’ 21-14 loss to Pittsburgh last week, head coach Charlie Strong attributed the team’s lackluster play to an interesting factor: video games. “I said [last week] we have guys that miss class because they want to stay (up) all night and play that video game, whatever it was,” said Strong “I didn’t even know what it was, but it’s such a big deal.” Strong said he knew it had become an issue when he started seeing several players talk about “MW3” on Twitter. A win against the Panthers would have left only Cincinnati and the Cardinals as the only Big East teams with one loss. Now the Cardinals chances of capturing a Big East title are slim. “I said to the players (Sunday) that’s why I talk about today and not tomorrow,” Strong said. “You had your opportunity and you can’t let it slip by. There’s a great example right there. If we would have taken care of our business, look where we’d be sitting right now.”

ssoc ki| A

Mackey, Neat suspended for violating Ole Miss rules

Collin Klein, Junior QB

Video games to blame for Louisville’s last loss

c Ogro Sue

Interim head coach Tom Bradley announced this week that the Nittany Lions will accept a bowl invitation despite recent turmoil surrounding the school. Several bowl officials feel as if the Nittany Lions’ postseason appeal has declined greatly amid recent allegations of sexual abuse taking place on school grounds. “I can’t see someone eager to take them,” said one official. “I don’t think you want that story on your hands. When you bring a bowl team to your community, you want warm, fuzzy stories about student-athletes. You don’t want what’s going on there.” The Nittany Lions are 8-2 (5-1) on the season and are currently ranked No. 21 in the BCS standings. Their two losses have come against No. 3 Alabama and most recently No. 19 Nebraska. “The shame of it is the kids at Penn State now had nothing to do with all the controversy,” said another official. “But there’s a bigger picture here. Bowls are part for the economic impact and part being an opportunity to showcase the community. With Penn State, the other team won’t be a story. Everything will be what happened at Penn State [concerning former assistant Jerry Sandusky]. It’s not what you’re looking for as a bowl. It’s not a fun story. No matter what, the story with Penn State will be the residue of that situation. As a bowl game, you don’t want to bring that on yourself.”

touchdowns and five interceptions. This is the second time Mackey has been suspended this year.

Tyler Locket, Freshman WR Locket is the second leading receiver on the team, with 18 catches for 246 yards and three touchdowns. But where he is most dangerous is in returning kicks. He currently leads the nation in kick returns and has two touchdowns this season. He is averaging more than 35 yards per return this season, and his two touchdowns came in a close game against Texas Tech and a blowout win over Kansas. He also has an 80-yard return in the shootout against Oklahoma State. Texas is giving up 111 yards per game in returns on just under five returns per game. Plus, the Longhorns have already given up a 100-yard return touchdown to Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert. In a game dominated by rushing and defense, special teams will dictate field position, and a single big play in special teams could make the difference in a game.

Arthur Brown, Junior LB A transfer from Miami, Brown has made an immediate impact on a Kansas State defense that lacks some playmakers. In Kansas State’s win over Baylor, he led the team in tackles with one sack, and the big interception of Robert Griffin to set up the Wild Cats’ game-winning drive. Brown leads the team in tackling with 7.8 tackles per game. Against a team that runs as much as Texas, he will have lots of opportunities to add to his tackling total. His playmaking ability will also be on display here. Like he did against Baylor, he will have to make the Texas offense get off the field and make sure to contain the Texas running game to make the Longhorns one dimensional and rely on a shaky passing attack.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Underclassmen appreciate senior leadership By Lauren Giudice Daily Texan Staff

This senior class has been through a lot. In their first year as Longhorns, the team finished the season ranked third in the country and went 12-1. As sophomores, they went all the way to the national championship game. As juniors, there was a big change and they didn’t even qualify for a bowl game. Now this season, the seniors are leading the team through another rough patch. With so much experience with ups and downs, underclassmen have come to respect and admire the class of 2011. “They’ve definitely been mentors for us throughout this whole season, and you know, to play for them on senior night, it’s an honor for me,” said sophomore cornerback Carrington Byndom. “And I’ll go out there and give it all that I have for them and for the team. Definitely having those guys back there is an honor.” With such a young team, leadership is vital. The team has been through a lot in the past couple of years and many

young players admire specific upperclassmen who helped them transition to college football. Junior safety Kenny Vaccarro said he credits senior safety Blake Gideon for getting him where he is today. “He has been through a lot here,” Vaccarro said. “Obviously, as far as the mental side of the game goes, it’s hard to come in and learn these systems. He helps the defense glue together and puts us all in the right positions.” Jackson Jeffcoat, who has been playing well all season, said he wants to send the seniors off on a high note — especially fellow defensive end Kheeston Randall. “Kheeston is a great guy, and he is like a big brother to me,” Jeffcoat said. “It’s always fun having him around. He was with us last year as a junior and unfortunately we didn’t get to send our seniors off the way we wanted to.” Sophomore offensive lineman Mason Walters said seniors David Snow and Tray Allen helped him, especially when he first arrived on campus. Walters said the team will fight as hard as they can

Jackson Jeffcoat (44) and Emmanuel Acho (18) makes a tackle against Texas Tech. Jeffcoat, a sophomore, wants to send the seniors off right this season.

on Saturday. “Coming in, both those guys, they were already kind of established older guys when I was new on campus, and they’ve both helped me out in places on the field and off the field,” Walters said. Senior linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho have both been playing well this season and leading the defense to the best team in the Big 12 in total defense. Acho has the fourth-highest amount of tackles in the conference and was named game captain for the BYU, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Missouri games this season. Robinson was named team captain for the games against Texas Tech, BYU, UCLA and Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Robinson injured his thumb in last week’s game against Missouri. Sophomore linebacker Jordan Hicks said he has a huge amount of respect for them. Elisabeth Dillon “They’re both great leaders,” Hicks Daily Texan Staff said. “I’ve learned almost everything I know here about this defense from been through a lot and that they have been through the ups. We’ve been them and Coach Diaz. So they’ve grown together. through the downs. I like where we taught me a lot.” “I love this senior class,” Acho said. Acho said this senior class has “We’ve been through a lot. We’ve LEADERS continues on pAgE 16

MAUI JIM BREAKWALL

Ofﬁcial Texas case and cleaning cloth included

See color like never before. Maui Jim sunglasses with patented, colorinfused PolarizedPlus2® lenses let you see game day in crisp, colorful detail. And, frames in ofﬁcially licensed Texas colors make these a must for every Longhorn fan!

mauijim.com

ENT

Buy them at the Maui Jim tent on game day, or at University Co-op and Longhorns Ltd! LA

R I Z E D PL

Friday, November 18, 2011

GAMESTOWATCH — By Chris Hummer | Daily Texan Staff

No. 16 Nebraska @ No. 18 Michigan Overall 8-2 Big Ten (4-2)

Overall 8-2 Big Ten (4-2)

Southern Methodist @ No. 11 Houston Overall 6-4 C-USA (4-2)

Overall 10-0 C-USA (6-0)

USC @ No. 4 Oregon

No. 5 Oklahoma @ No. 22 Baylor Overall 8-1 Big 12 (5-1)

Overall 6-3 Big 12 (3-3)

Overall 8-2 Pac-12 (5-2)

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich. Saturday 12:00 p.m. TV: ESPN

Robertson Stadium, Houston Saturday 3:30 p.m. TV: FOX

Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco Saturday 8:00 p.m. TV: ABC

Overall 9-1 Pac-12 (7-0) Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Ore. Saturday 8:00 p.m. TV: ABC

These two teams are in a tie for second place in the Legends division of the Big 10, one game behind Michigan State. This game between the Cornhuskers and the Wolverines will eliminate the loser from Big 10 title game contention, meaning there is a lot on the line for the pair of teams. This is the first time that these two historic programs will meet as members of the Big 10. Both teams play similar styles of offensive football. Michigan and Nebraska do the majority of their damage on the ground with the Cornhuskers rushing for 232.7 yards a game, while the Wolverines average slightly more at 235.9 yards per contest. Each school also expects its quarterback to spearhead the rushing game. Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez has 768 yards this season, while human-highlight-reel Denard Robinson already has 864 of his own. Each school also features an above-average defense that people come to expect when it comes to the Big Ten schools. So expect a close game, with some exciting rushing plays.

Houston is two games away from a perfect season and perhaps the program’s first ever BCS bowl bid. The only two things that stand in its way are a showdown for the West division crown against Tulsa two weeks from now and a game that screams “trap” against SMU this Saturday. SMU has had an up-and-down season so far this year after opening with a bad loss to Texas A&M, but then spit out five straight wins, including an overtime thriller against TCU. The Mustangs are bowl eligible and this weekend they have the opportunity to upset Houston. They sling the ball around the yard with the best of them under June Jones’ system, and they are stingy enough on defense to slow Houston down.However, it will take their very best game to tackle the offensive juggernaut that is Houston, a team that averages 54.7 points a game. Senior Heisman contender Case Keenum throws the ball around to the tune of 395.1 yards a game, so this should be a high-scoring game. Could another unbeaten fall?

Oklahoma has a shot at a national title once again thanks to Stanford’s loss to Oregon last weekend, and the Sooners will take full advantage of it. The first step to a possible title game appearance starts with Baylor and their high-flying offense. The Bears put up 40.3 points a contest behind their talented all-world quarterback Robert Griffin III. As good as “RG3” has been this season, Landry Jones of Oklahoma might be even better. Jones has thrown for 3,349 yards this season, along with 28 touchdowns and only nine picks, easily putting him in the Heisman conversation. Jones’ teammates are also extremely talented, especially on the defensive side of the ball where they allow only 19.8 points a game compared to the Bears’ who allow 36 points a game. With all of these factors pointing in the Sooners’ favor, why should anyone watch this game when it sounds like Oklahoma is the clear cut favorite? Because it will be a shoot-out with two top quarterbacks facing each other.

Oregon has placed themselves squarely back in the national title race with its primetime win over previously undefeated Stanford last Saturday. While it may seem that their toughest task is now behind them, the Ducks still face a very challenging game against USC. The Trojans are enjoying a very good season despite their countless sanctions against them. Junior quarterback Matt Barkley has been one of the best in the country throwing for 2,782 yards, 29 touchdowns and only six interceptions so far, while the team has been very resilient, pushing through its lack of depth to get out to an 8-2 start. As talented as USC is, they face an uphill fight to knock off the Ducks, who feature an explosive offense that light up the scoreboard with ease. The Ducks average 46.7 points a game, while allowing a respectable 21.7 points a game themselves. USC is good, but the Ducks are just slightly better. It will be close, but look for the Ducks to continue their march toward a possible title birth.

Despite roller coaster careers, seniors leave impression By Sameer Bhuchar

Daily Texan Columnist Over the course of nine games, we’ve seen three or four incarnations of this Texas football team. It all started where it left off in 2010, with Garrett Gilbert at the helm and a team that knew it would have to heavily rely on the defense to win games. Two games later, the Longhorns experimented with the sometimes-hot, sometimes-cold dual-quarterback system. It worked against BYU and was blown up against Oklahoma. Then the team reinvented itself again by giving Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron and Fozzy Whittaker the ball and cramming it down opponent’s throats, until injury to all three derailed that version. So now we are here with Version 4.0 of the team unveiling itself in game 10 of the season, Senior Night, and some may ask what role the se-

niors have had in all this transition. After all, they were playing for a National Championship two years ago, but when it was their turn to take over the squad as upperclassmen, the team went 5-7 in their junior year and has been on a roller coaster of up and downs this season. As freshmen, the were brought up in a culture of winning by their elder peers, but didn’t quite fully get how to win on their own at first. But look closer and you’ll see that this senior class has led the team in ways that work beyond immediate output on the field. They learned an entirely new defense and offense than the one they knew for three years and have worked to not only perfect it on the field, but teach it to their eventual replacements. And the best part about it is that they are more than happy to do it. Senior running back Fozzy Whittaker, the heartbeat of the Longhorn team, said he was embarrassed by how he and his team played last

season and wanted to help right the wrongs that Texas faced. “The senior leaders of this team were going to make sure that we didn’t let that happen again, and we were going to find a way, brickby-brick, build a new foundation to build up this team so that we’re stronger than ever,” Whittaker said. He will continue to lead players such as Bergeron and Brown from the sidelines, and surely the lessons he’s taught them will impact the youngsters throughout their Longhorn careers. Between the barrage of injuries, the shuffling of quarterbacks, and the youth of the team, Texas has conducted one of the most comprehensive trial-and-error system’s in the country this year. But the one constant variable in this experiment of a year was the senior class and its mission to lay the foundation for future Longhorn teams, rather than feeling the self-entitlement that many criticize Texas players for.

Fanny Trang | Daily Texan Staff

Joe Bergeron looks to the sky as he celebrates a touchdown. Bergeron is one of the many young players that will benefit from the senior leaders.

Unlike past senior classes, this one will not go out as consummate winners. They will go out as the squad that ushered in a new era of Texas football. One defined by their willingness to accept that success is

a process. No matter how the season ends up for them, the senior class has done it’s fair share of heavy lifting this year and have built a legacy that will last for seasons to come.

Friday, November 18, 2011

KEYS TO THE GAME By Wes Maulsby

Rebounding

Powerless Running Texas was held to 76 rushing yards against Missouri, after having run for 400+ yards in the previous two games. That is the lowest rushing total since the Red River Rivalry, where Oklahoma held Texas to 36 yards rushing. Texas has rushed for at least 145 yards in every other game this season. Texas was without its top-three rushers last week with Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron being held out of the game and Fozzy Whittaker tearing two ligaments in his knee after four carries. The Longhorns have outrushed 10 opponents this season, winning nine of those games with the only loss coming to Oklahoma State. Texas’ chances of winning lies on the health of the legs of Brown and Bergeron.

2-5 This is the number that most will be familiar with. Kansas State is the only other school in the Big 12 that has a winning record against Texas other than Oklahoma. Texas’ only two wins over Kansas State came in the 2002 and 2003 season. The Kansas State losses are some of the worst in Mack Brown’s career. He lost to the Wildcats by 18 points in 1999, by 41 points in Manhattan in 1998, by 20 at home in 2007 and by 25 last year in Manhattan. Texas’ only two wins against the Wildcats were by three points in ’02, and by four points in ’03. Texas’ record in seasons that it plays Kansas State is 64-26 with a 71-percent winning percentage. His record in season without Kansas State on the schedule is 69-8 with a 90-percent win percentage. Mack Brown’s four best seasons-2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009 — which had a combined record of 49-3 all came without Kansas State on the schedule. Historically, Texas is only 5-6 against Kansas State, with most of those wins coming before World War II, and two of those coming before the even the AP Poll existed.

Under Mack Brown, Texas has only been held under 20 points 23 times — only 13 percent of the time while at Texas. Last week’s five-point performance was the lowest offensive output since being held to a single touchdown twice in 2006. The only lower scores came in 2004 where the Longhorns were shut out by Oklahoma in a 12-0 loss and again versus the Sooners in a 3-14 loss in 2001. Kansas State has held Texas to less than 20 points in three of its wins in 1998, 1999 and last year’s contest. Texas is 11-7, following sub-20 point games under Mack Brown (with some of those games coming as the last game of the season, with no following game) and is averaging just more than 30 points in those games. Under Brown, Texas has only been held to less than 20 points in consecutive games twice. The most recent was last year, where the Longhorns were held to 30 combined points against Kansas State and Oklahoma State and in three consecutive games at the conclusion of the 1999 season.

Small Ball In their last six meetings, the winner of the game between the Longhorns and the Wildcats was outgained by the other. In 2002 and 2003, Kansas State got the most total yards and outrushed Texas. But Texas gained more yards through the air in two wins. In ’06, ’07 and ’10, Texas outgained the Wildcats in three losses and outrushed them in ’06 and ’07. In 1999, Texas outgained Kansas State by 28 yards and passed for nearly 100 more than the Wildcats. The only game in which the winner had the most total yards was the first meeting under Brown in 1998. Kansas State outrushed the Longhorns by 170 yards yet were beaten in the passing game by 57 yards.

! u o y g n i m i d d n a l e k c i n e r e W’ MEXICAN MARTINIS & MARGARITAS ON THE ROCKS FOR THE PRICE OF A HOUSE DRINK

CAZADORES SILVER with Cointreau Margarita PREMIUM

Mexican Martini

$5.00

$9.00

Margarita

Mexican Martini

$5.50

$9.25

El Jimador, Cuervo Especial, Sauza Conmemorativo, 1800, Sauza Hornitos, Herradura Silver, Cazadores Reposado

SUPER PREMIUM

Margarita

Mexican Martini

$6.50

$11.00

f Cazadores Añejo, Corzo Silver, Corzo Reposado, Herradura Añejo, Don Julio Silver, El Tesoro Añejo, Don Julio Añejo, Patrõn Silver, Patrõn Añejo, Sauza Tres Plata, Sauza Tres Generaciones Plata, Sauza Tres Generaciones Añejo, El Tesoro Silver

TEXAS STAR

409 West 30th St. 512-477-2935

NORTH STAR 8820 Burnet Rd. 512-454-1474

�� Really FREE Cash Back Checking!

the University of Texas, As a student or employee of hip you are eligible for members . 512-833-3300 | 1-800-580-3300

LITTLE TEXAS

901-C Little Texas Lane 512-326-9899

Join today – rbfcu.org To receive debit card rewards, you must open a Really Free Checking Account and use our debit card for purchases. The 15¢ cash back promotional offer begins October 1, 2011 and ends December 31, 2011. On January 1, 2012, this offer will revert to our standard 10¢ cash back program and is subject to change. Federally insured by the NCUA.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Senior reflects on life-long love of UT ball LEADERS

continues from PAGE 13

By Kristin Otto Daily Texan Staff

“I’ve watched UT football ever since I knew what football was.” With the 2011 season coming to a close, Ashley Park reminisced on her long-lived love of Longhorn football. For Ashley, however, the approaching last home game of the season against the Kansas State Wildcats does not only inspire football-related nostalgia. This upcoming May, Park’s time as a UT student will expire as she plans to graduate with a major in broadcast journalism; however, she did not start her college career at UT Austin. During her senior year at Reagan High School in San Antonio, Park was admitted to the UTSA/UT Coordinated Admissions Program — commonly referred to by students as being “capped.” Even while she was enrolled in the University of Texas at San Antonio, she frequently made the drive to Austin to attend football games — temporarily switching out UTSA Roadrunner blue for “more flattering” Longhorn burnt orange attire. Although she said being a native San Antonian had its perks — such as being able to go cheer on the Longhorns when they played in the Alamo Bowl — Park always knew that she was destined to go to school in Austin. Consequently, she did not think twice when she was

accepted to UT Austin at the end of her freshman year. “I went [to Austin] because I was pretty much raised to live and breathe everything about UT,” said Parks, whose mother and uncle are both Texas alumni. “I’ve been visiting the campus ever since I was a little girl; I have always loved it. Also, I knew UT had a really good College of Communication.” Since she has been a Longhorn, not only has she attended every home football game, but Park has also taken full advantage of the opportunities that Texas, her major and the College of Communication have had to offer. She works in the sports department of Texas Student Television and every Monday she attends weekly football press conferences, filming interviews with Mack Brown, coaches and players. Park is also a “Texas Angel;” the Angels are a group of young Longhorn women who work with the UT SHARE — Students Helping Admissions’ Recruitment Effort — organization. She spends time with recruits when they visit UT, conducting tours of the football facilities and sitting with them and their families during games at DKR. Her favorite and most memorable last home game of a football season was back in the fall of her sophomore year; on the night of November 21, 2009, the 11-0 Longhorns crushed the University of

Provided by Ashley Park

Senior broadcast journalism major Ashley Park poses in front of Bevo. Park has been a Texas football fan her whole life.

Kansas Jayhawks 51-20. Coming off the last UT home game — another whopping victory over Kansas — this Saturday’s game will be bittersweet for Park. “Win or lose, I think that this weekend’s last home game will be really exciting. The seniors have truly made a big impact on this year’s season and I think everyone is going to be happy … and sad …

to see them play for the last time at DKR.” As an Angel, Park has guided recruits to the beginning of their journeys as UT football players. She has watched the team grow, as she’s grown with it. The time will come on Saturday night for senior players to pass down their legacies to the future stars of Longhorn football.

Next issue: Nov. 23 SUPPORT YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM

Texas A&M

AVAILABLE NOW ON

FOOTBALL ANTHEM

ITUNES

www.brickbybrickut.com

Healthy Vegetarian Cuisine with a Delicious Oriental Flair Cornucopia is next to Veggie Heaven and offers a variety of popcorns.

UT FOOTBALL TEAM DANCE SONG DOWNLOAD THE SONG EVERYONE IS DANCING TO!

we serve bubble tea - mon–fri/– sat–sun

a Guadalupe • - T-Shirts for Sale 

www.veggieheavenaustin.com

♲

R E C YC L E

BUY THE SONG

are, and I like the friendships that have formed.” Gideon agrees that the team has been through a lot of highs and lows in their four years at Texas. Senior running back Fozzy Whittaker said the team was embarrassed by last season. He, along with the other seniors, took it upon themselves to make sure this season was different. “The senior leaders of this team were going to make sure that we didn’t let that happen again, and we were going to find a way, brick-by-brick, build a new foundation to build up this team so that we’re stronger than ever,” Whittaker said. Head coach Mack Brown had a lot to say about the senior leaders. He had kind words for many specific seniors. He noted Blake Gideon has started every game at Texas, Christian Scott’s athletic and academic performance, Whittaker’s unselfishness, Cody Johnson’s willingness to move to fullback, Tray Allen and Blaine Irby’s recoveries from injuries and Justin Tucker’s consistent impressive performances. It’s pretty clear that this is a senior class with a lot of character and a willingness to lead a young team. “This is a great senior class that’s given us a lot of joy, and that’s why I want the fans to give them their proper greeting when they come into the stadium on Saturday night for the game,” Brown said.

YOUR COPY OF

THE DAILY TEXAN

Friday, November 18, 2011

2011HEISMANWATCH

— By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff

David J. Phillip |Associated Press

11 weeks in and here’s how we rank them

Brandon Weeden QB Oklahoma State

Week 11 at Texas Tech- 31/37 (83.8%) for 423 yards, 5 TD Season Stats- 313/428 (73.1%) for 3,635 yards, 31 TD 9 INT

Andrew Luck QB Stanford

Week 11 vs. Oregon- 27/41 (65.9%) for 271 yards, 3 TD 2 INT Season Stats- Passings: 221/313 (70.6%) for 2,695 yards, 29 TD 7 INT Rushing: 34 carries for 134 yards, 2 TD

Bad Luck? Not necessarily. Oregon is a strong team, and they certainly proved as much with their emphatic 53-30 road win last week. In Luck’s defense, one of his two interceptions was a case of a Ducks’ defender being in the right place at the right time following a deflection off a Stanford receiver. However, Luck failed to succeed under the lights and his Heisman chances will take a dip because of his performance. He’s thrown four picks in the last three games and his accuracy is steadily declining. He’ll need to right the ship this week against California in order to regain the confidence of Heisman voters.

Case Keenum QB Houston

Week 11 at Tulane- 22/29 (75.9%) for 325 yards, 3 TD Season Stats- Passing: 279/376 (74.2%) for 3, 951 yards, 37 TD 3 INT Rushing: 37 carries for 35 yards, 2 TD

It’s become somewhat of a tradition to watch Keenum roast C-USA opponents on Thursday nights. This week, the Cougars host SMU on Saturday and should continue their reign as the nation’s highest scoring offense. If Keenum is unknown in the national spectrum, his top receiver Patrick Edwards is merely a speck in the college football universe. Keenum and Edwards have hooked up for 14 touchdowns thus far, catapulting Edwards to the top of many offensive categories. A few more losses from schools currently ranked in the BCS top-five and the Cougars could find themselves in the national title hunt. It’s still a little far-fetched, but crazier things have happened.

DOWN

Trent Richardson RB Alabama

Week 11 at Mississippi State- 32 carries for 127 yards (4.0 ypc), 1 TD Season Stats- Rushing: 204 carries for 1,205 yards (5.9 ypc), 18 TD Receiving: 25 catches for 318 yards, 1 TD

The Tide made it pretty clear that in order for them to be successful for the remainder of the season, their offense must run through Richardson. He followed through with last week’s game plan, gaining more than 100 yards on the ground for the seventh time this season. He also made it into the endzone after being stuffed by LSU two weeks ago. Richardson and the Tide are still a favorite to compete for the national title and that’s why his Heisman chances are still on the rise. Expect ridiculous numbers from “T-Rich” this week as Georgia Southern comes to “T-Town.”

Keith Srakocic |Associated Press

Weeden’s message to the Red Raiders last week: Respect your elders. With surgical precision, the 28-year-old threw for five scores and no interceptions for the second time this season. He’s heating up at precisely the right stage in the season, although his numbers the entire year have been nothing to scoff at. Currently ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings, the Cowboys are two games away from a national title appearance. If Weeden and the Cowboys win out, he’s got to be the favorite for the Heisman.

LaMichael James RB Oregon

Week 11 at Stanford- 20 carries for 146 yards (7.3 ypc), 3 TD Season Stats- Rushing: 153 carries for 1,207 yards (7.9 ypc), 12 TD Receiving: 13 catches for 175 yards, 1 TD After seemingly falling off the face of the Earth at the season’s start, James is right back in the Heisman conversation. He made an emphatic statement against Stanford last week, as the junior found the end zone three times against what was supposed to be one of the Pac-12’s best defenses. James missed two games because of injury but still remains one of the most productive running backs in the nation. He has led the Ducks back after a season-opening loss to top-ranked LSU, which doesn’t look bad at all now that we know how good the Tigers are. If James and the Ducks can slip into the national title, James is sure to be a frontrunner for the Heisman.

Aaron Marineau |Daily Emerald

e! m ti l ‘o d o o g a y jo n e d n a e Com watch rs & Enjoy free stuff from our sponso der the tent!! the game on a big screen tv un

nt Double Coverage & e t xan azos e T ly & Br i a D he f MLK T for ner o k Loo e cor S h t t a AN JAC

Presented by

DK Mem Royal oria - Texa l Sta s dium

e t a g l i a T Days

are every

September 3 Rice

October 29 Kansas

September 10 November 5 BYU

Texas Tech

October 15

November 19

Oklahoma homegame! State

Kansas State

to s k n a h T l a i c e p S TEXASNT STUDDEIA ME

The Daily Texan • TSTV • KVRX • Texas Travesty • Cactus Yearbook visit us at WWW.UTEXAS.EDU/TSM

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Carter Goss Broadcast Manager & Sponsorships P 512.475.6721 E cartergoss@mail.utexas.edu

Friday, November 18, 2011

TEXANSTAFFPICKS Sameer Bhuchar

Trey Scott

Austin Laymance

Christian Corona

Nick Cremona

Lauren Giudice

Wes Maulsby

Chris Hummer

(5-5)

(7-3)

(6-4)

(7-3)

(8-2)

Overall Record

(59-31)

(66-24)

(67-23)

(61-29)

(55-35)

(63-27)

(64-26)

(69-21)

No. 16 Kansas State at Texas

TEXAS

Last Week’s Record

No. 17 Nebraska at No. 20 Michigan

KANSAS STATE KANSAS STATE

TEXAS

KANSAS STATE KANSAS STATE

MICHIGAN

HOUSTON

OHIO STATE

OHIO SATE

OHIO STATE

PENN STATE

No. 1 LSU at Ole Miss

LSU

USC at No. 4 Oregon

OREGON

Arizona at Arizona State

ARIZONA STATE

Texas Tech at Missouri

TEXAS TECH

MISSOURI

No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 25 Baylor

OKLAHOMA

BAYLOR

OKLAHOMA

BAYLOR

OKLAHOMA

Vanderbilt at Tennessee

VANDERBILT

TENNESSEE

VANDERBILT

VANDERBILT W

TENNESSEE

VANDERBILT

Southern Methodist at No. 11 Houston No. 21 Penn State at Ohio State

The “You Pick ‘Em” Contest will continue again next week. Enter your picks on the Daily Texan website every Friday morning for your chance to win two movie tickets courtesy of Regal Cinemas.