Double Coverage 11-23-2011 by The Daily Texan

The Daily Texan Presents:

Nov. 23, 2011

Vol. 6, Issue 12

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

Thursday marks the 118th, and likely final, rivalry game between the Longhorns and Aggies. Texas is prepared to put the Aggies down the same way it first did in 1894.

pg. 10

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Texas still exploring options at quarterback Young signal caller struggling, unable to rack up passing yards, avoid costly turnovers this year

McCoy has proven inconsistent in limited role as second stringer, listed above Ash on depth chart

By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff

By Christian Corona Daily Texan Staff

With 12 weeks gone in the regular season, the Longhorns have yet to identify a reliable quarterback. Mack Brown joked during the preseason that if he couldn’t find a quarterback by Thanksgiving, he’d be a truck driver. The head coach isn’t laughing about his QB situation anymore. Not with his two remaining signal-callers struggling to throw the ball. Freshman David Ash has started the last five games, thrown six interceptions against no touchdowns and led Texas to a 2-3 record. Sophomore Case McCoy has played in the last four games and is responsible for the Longhorns’ only two touchdowns in more than eight quarters. “Neither one of them has stepped up and taken over,” Brown said. “We will look at playing both again this week.” A decision won’t be made on a starter until Wednesday night or Thursday. Ash is 20 of 45 for 197 yards in his last two games, losses to Missouri and Kansas State. He was pulled after throwing his second interception against KSU on the first drive of the second half. “I thought David played too hard early, then pressed and didn’t relax,” Brown said. “We’ve got to get him to relax because he’s done some great things for us this year.” Ash was not available for comment and has only addressed the media this season in select postgame settings. Turnovers have plagued Ash all year. He’s been intercepted eight times in 10 games and lost a fumble against Oklahoma. The only game he started and did not turn the ball over was against Texas Tech on Nov. 5, when Ash attempted just seven passes. He may have blown his chance to start

Just as Texas’ quarterback situation began to stabilize and the Longhorns found their offensive identity, they ran into Missouri and Kansas State. The Texas offense has put up just 16 points over its last two games, with the lone touchdown coming from the backup quarterback. Case McCoy took over for Garrett Gilbert when he struggled against BYU and remained the starting quarterback after Gilbert had shoulder surgery and announced his decision to transfer. But David Ash gradually wrestled the starting quarterback job from him. After Ash tossed two interceptions against Kansas State, McCoy replaced him with the Longhorns trailing 17-3 and nearly led them to a thrilling comeback victory. “When Case came in, he gave us a great lift,” said head coach Mack Brown. “We’ve won so many games like that in the fourth quarter. We flipped the attitude, we got our swagger back and I thought we’d go right back, score and win the game.” McCoy completed eight of his 16 passes for 80 yards while throwing his fourth touchdown pass of the season, a 36 yarder to senior tight end Blaine Irby. He fired three straight incompletions before getting sacked on fourth down on Texas’ next-to-last drive. The sophomore was more productive on the next possession and came close to hitting Mike Davis for a deep pass that

McCoy continues on PAGE 4

Case McCoy

Elisabeth Dillon Daily Texan Staff

David Ash

Ash continues on PAGE 4

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

BIG 12POWERRANKINGS — By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys were victim to a classic case of overlooking an opponent when Iowa State defeated them in overtime last week. Brandon Weeden threw three costly interceptions as the Pokes lost their first game of the season at maybe the most inopportune time.

Texas

The Longhorns’ offensive woes befell them once again as they were unable to get any significant production from either of their young quarterbacks. The run game saw a slight boost with the return of injury-hampered freshman Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron, but they only combined for 73 yards.

The win over Kansas makes the Aggies finally bowl eligible. Running back Cyrus Gray and receiver Ryan Swope are potent offensive weapons and will surely be discussed ad nauseam this week in the Texas defense’s film room. There’s no question the Aggies will be ready for their last chance against “Varsity.”

Texas A&M

Kansas State

Head coach Bill Snyder’s dominance over the Longhorns continued last week as the Wildcats were able to pull out a win in Austin. Quarterback Collin Klein was kept under wraps for the majority of the game, but once again he was able to lead his team to victory.

Iowa State

Baylor

In what may prove to be his last year as a Bear, quarterback Robert Griffin III notched the most important win of his career over Oklahoma last Saturday. He once again broke a school record for passing yards (479) and threw a spectacular goahead touchdown late against the Sooners.

Defensively, the Sooners were unable to defend against Robert Griffin III as he tossed four more touchdowns and didn’t turn the ball over. Freshman quarterback Blake Bell scored four rushing touchdowns. The Sooners’ defense will have to fix things quickly as BCS-buster Iowa State is next on the schedule this week.

That was a Cyclone, all right. In one of the most shocking upsets all year the Cyclones topped Oklahoma State in overtime to officially cause chaos within the BCS top 10. It was the school’s first ever win over a top-two team. Head coach Paul Rhoads has done an excellent job this year.

Texas Tech

Oklahoma

Another tough loss for the Red Raiders as they dropped their fourth consecutive conference game against Missouri last week. This time out the Red Raiders kept it close, but James Franklin and the Tigers were just too much. The Red Raiders remain at five wins, and are in jeopardy of being left out of a bowl game. They will face Baylor this week in their season finale.

Missouri

A favorable bowl could be in the cards for the Tigers after all. With their 31-27 win over the Red Raiders last week the Tigers became bowl eligible. Tigers’ quarterback James Franklin ran for two touchdowns and added another pair of scores through the air.

Kansas

A 61-7 loss to the Aggies last weekend makes nine straight losses for the Jayhawks. They’re 0-8 in conference play and some weeks one wonders if they ever even make it to the game. With the addition of TCU and West Virginia to the ranks of the Big 12 on the horizon, it seems as if Kansas will wallow in mediocrity.

QUOTESTONOTE With Texas A&M leaving the Big 12 at the end of the school year, here’s how Texas’ players view the end of one college football’s greatest rivalries.

Mack Brown

Emmanuel Acho

Head coach

Senior linebacker

Blaine Irby

Blake Gideon

David Snow:

Senior tight end

Senior safety

Senior left guard

“I don’t think it’s good for Texas “We know that the scoreboard is “It doesn’t matter if you’re No. high school football not to be able going to remembered and we want 1 in the country or last, it’s still to showcase this game across to make it a good memory.” going to be a great game. It’s kind the country.” of a surreal moment because this is the last A&M game.”

“It is going to be the last A&M game for a while but this game, this score will be remembered for a while. It’s the last one in a long series so it’s going to be a passionate, spirited game. There’s going to be some shots thrown.”

“It’s going to come down to a brawl, that’s what this game is. It’s one of those bar fights that you knuckle down and draw out in the streets. That’s what it’s going to be, a great fight.”

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Like aging childhood friends, schools ready to grow past rivalry would say before taking a sip. “We play” in its 1939 victory, or when

By Sameer Bhuchar beat you so bad (38-0) that you the Longhorns took a fortune teller’s

Daily Texan Columnist didn’t play another game for two advice in 1941 to burn red candles

This rivalry has seen its fair share of just about everything over the last 118 years. Like a pair of college students themselves, Texas and Texas A&M have been through ups and downs together, and as much as they always competed, they knew one couldn’t exist without the other. Now as these old friends are ready to part, start different lives in different parts of the country, one can’t help but imagine them reminiscing over all the good, the bad, the funny, the ugly and everything in between. It’d be a scene that played like old college buddies grabbing their last beers. “Hey remember that first time we played you guys in 1884?” Texas

years.” It’s true, the Aggies played the Longhorns in their lone 1894 game, and never fielded another team until 1896. Texas dominated the early part of the series so convincingly, that Texas A&M didn’t score its first series touchdown and victory until 1902. “But wait a second. Remember how badly you fell for that flea-flicker we ran in 1909? We won 5-0 that game, when touchdowns were worth as much as a nickel,” Texas A&M would retort. “As a matter of fact, we played you guys twice that year, and won both games didn’t we?” They did. They’d laugh about the funny times, like when Texas A&M pranked the Longhorns with the “hideout

before the game for good luck. The joke is on A&M, Texas would point out, because the Longhorns won that year 23-0. They’d marvel at their incredible performances. “Dude, remember Ricky Williams , in 98?” Texas would say. “How could anyone forget?” A&M would concede. And of course, they’d mourn together over the hard times. More people remember the moments of unity leading up to the game in 1999 after 12 Aggie students tragically died in the bonfire collapse, than they do the epic comeback they mounted to beat the Longhorns that year. Discussion of their rivalry over the last decade would undoubtedly re-

Paul Chouy | Daily Texan file pgoto

The Texas offense huddles before a play against the Aggies in 2008. The two teams will play the final relevant game of the rivalry on Thursday.

surface wounds of betrayal and disrespect that finally seemed to reach their limits this year. One would hope that instead of allowing the bar conversation to end in a bitter revival of their mutual hatred, or even a drunken sobfest over the end of 118 crazy years together, it would end on a note of well-wishes. Texas would say thanks for being the best neighbor a person could ask to grow up with, and the Texas A&M would walk away know-

ing that it can no longer try to succeed in the shadow of its more imposing friend down road, but rather that it needs to forge its own destiny and legend that people will see as wholly “Aggie” 118 years from now. The more I reflect, this rivalry, as sad as it seems to say, is ready to end. It has been an incredible ride and for everyone playing, coaching and watching this game, it will be something special to witness for one last time.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

MATCHUPS — By Wes Maulsby | Daily Texan Staff

QUARTERBACK

Texas and Texas A&M are both in the top 20 in rushing offense in the country, with Texas averaging just less than 224 yards per game, and the Aggies just less than 219. Though they were back on the field against Kansas State, the duo of Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron combined for just 74 yards. Texas A&M’s Christine Michael suffered a seasonending knee injury against Oklahoma, and so the burden has been put on Cyrus Gray to carry the load. He has rushed for 1,045 yards this season and has 312 yards over the last two games. Unless Texas has both backs at full health, Texas A&M has the advantage here, and may have it even if the Aggies aren’t at full speed.

RECEIVERS The Aggies have four receivers with at least 200 yards receiving this season. Ryan Swope leads the team with 1,069 yards receiving and is Tannehill’s favorite target this season. Jeff Fuller hasn’t quite been putting up the numbers that he was expected to this season but is still a big target on the outside. Texas is led by Mike Davis, who has 554 yards receiving on 39 catches. With Shipley’s status still in question, Texas really doesn’t have many options at the wide receiver or the tight end positions. The Aggies have an obvious edge at the receiver position. They have four guys who can make plays in the passing game, while Texas has been trying to find an option at that position all season.

OFFENSIVE LINE Texas A&M has allowed 14 tackles for loss in the last three games, with Oklahoma stopping the Aggies behind the line of scrimmage nine times. Texas A&M averages almost five and a half yards per carry on its way to being third in the conference in rushing this season, behind only Texas and Missouri. The Longhorns have allowed seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage in their last two losses, but only allowed the Wildcats get two tackles for loss. The offense has been comatose over the last two games, and the running game has not been what it was during Kansas and Texas Tech. The team that is best able to run the ball in this contest will have an advantage, with Texas A&M likely having an easier time of pounding the ball on the ground.

Advantage

Breakdown

The Texas quarterback play has been abysmal. Kansas State scored 10 points directly off Texas interceptions on Saturday. Ryan Tannehill has passed for more than 3,100 yards this season with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He has thrown for almost 500 yards in the last two games with six touchdowns to just one interception. More than half of his interceptions came in games against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Texas has the top passing efficiency defense in the conference, so he will be facing his toughest opposition of the season, but he should do far better than the Texas quarterbacks who simply cannot make plays when they have to.

RUNNING BACK

Advantage

Breakdown

DEFENSIVE LINE Texas got to Kansas State behind the line of scrimmage 16 times on Saturday. Over the past four games, Texas has gotten 52 tackles behind the line of scrimmage with 14 sacks. To say that the Texas defensive line has come alive over the last four games would be understatement. Texas has held its last four opponents to a total of 218 yards rushing over the last four games, with Missouri getting 152 of those yards alone. Texas A&M has the 15th-ranked rush defense in the nation this year and have 34 tackles for loss over the last four games. Texas has made a living in the opposing backfield over the last few games, and that should continue this week.

LINEBACKERS

SECONDARY

Emmanuel Acho continues to lead the team in tackling, and is coming off a 13 tackle performance that includes two tackles for loss and a sack against Kansas State. Keenan Robinson, who had gone out of the Missouri game with a thumb injury, showed no signs of it while raking up 11 tackles with two for loss and a sack. Against Kansas State two weeks ago, Texas A&M was led by junior, Jonathan Stewart, who had 13 tackles with a sack. Next was Damontre for the Aggies with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Texas A&M run a 3-4 which will feature a lot of linebackers on the field. But Emmanuel Acho is the leading tackler heading into this game, and if Robinson shows no lingering effects of the thumb injury, then the Texas linebackers should have the advantage in this one.

Texas A&M can not defend the pass. The Aggies are ranked 118th in the nation in passing yards allowed. They allow nearly 300 yards per game through the air. Texas allows just fewer than 200 yards per game through the air and boasts one of the top passing efficiency defenses in the country, raking No. 11 nationally. Texas has only gotten its hands on seven passes this season and hasn’t picked one off since intercepting Jordan Webb of Kansas. The Aggies have gotten their hands on six passes this season. Although the Aggie pass defense has been abysmal this year, it won’t be under fire very much considering the Texas passing offense has been nonexistent for most of the year. And though the Texas pass defense will be under fire more, it is better and more capable of handling it.

SPECIAL TEAMS Texas finally got some yards in the punt return game against the Wildcats with Quandre Diggs gaining 45 yards on three punt returns. Texas A&M is in the bottom third of the nation in kickoff returns and is without a touchdown this season. Texas hasn’t gotten a lot out of the kickoff return department since Fozzy Whittaker got hurt. Texas used a Marquise Goodwin kickoff return to seal the win the last time it played in College Station, and another play like that will be necessary for Texas to generate some points against the Aggies. Both kickers have been good this year with Randy Bullock hitting on 84 percent of his field goals for the Aggies, and Justin Tucker hitting on 88 percent for Texas. Texas has a slim advantage here because of Tucker’s leg, and his ability to make good tackles for a kicker.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 Texas A&M wide receiver Jeff Fuller (8) reacts after missing a pass for a two-point conversion to win the game during overtime against Kansas State. The Aggies began the year with so much promise, but have fallen just short of success all year.

Aggies begin with hype, season ends in free fall By Chris Hummer Daily Texan Staff

Texas A&M has had an interesting season to say the least. The Aggies have changed conferences, had close losses, suffered incredible collapses, pulled off great performances and failed to live up to expectations all in the span of a few months. So how did the Aggies fall from the No. 8 team in the country, to a pedestrian 6-5 overall going into their final matchup of the season against Texas?

August 31st Texas A&M announces it will leave the Big 12 starting in the 2012 season. The Aggies were later accepted into the SEC for next season. This announcement created huge waves in college football, causing many teams switch conferences. Some speculate that the move could eventually break down the traditional conference alignment for good. For A&M, this announcement just added extra pressure to the players season and forced the players to answer questions about what conference they would be playing in instead of who they were playing against week after week.

September 24th vs. Oklahoma State The team was rolling despite the conference alignment rumors, it was 2-0 and coming off of a pair of big wins to open the season. The Aggies started out the game hot to quickly build a 20-3 halftime lead over the No. 7 Cowboys. However, from that point on they collapsed and three turnovers and numerous penalties allowed Oklahoma State back in the game. Oklahoma State went on to reel off 27 straight points in route to a 30-29 win. “It’s tough. We had so much on the line coming into this game and we were so excited about this game,” said quarterback Ryan Tannehill. “Any loss is tough but this one especially hurts. Our guys are resilient though. They can handle a tough loss and I think we will be able to bounce back next week.”

October 1st vs. Arkansas Bounce back the Aggies did, well at least initially against their future SEC foes, the No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks. The Aggies were dominant once again at half, leading 35-17, and were throwing the ball around the yard with ease. But once again they hit a wall in the most important portion of

Charlie Riedel Associated Press

the game, the final one. They lead the whole game up until the 1: 41 mark in the fourth quarter, when a Razorback touchdown put them in the lead for the first time and was enough to secure a 42-38 victory for Arkansas. “I do think that we’re contributing to our demise in the second half,” said head coach Mike Sherman. “We definitely have to play better, coach better and be better in order to win football games. Certainly that is a struggle for us at this point. Each player in that locker room has to look at themselves, as well as the coaches and figure

out what we could all have done a lot better.” This was the second monumental collapse for the team on the season, and sealed any chance of a national title birth for A&M this season but, more importantly, it established a trend.

October 29th vs. Missouri The Aggies were once again rolling winning three straight Big 12 games and displaying the type of talent that ranked them in the top 10 in the preseason, going into a matchup with Missouri. However,

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the Aggies inability to hold a lead came back to bite them once again, when they blew a 11-point half time cushion to the Tigers, eventually falling in overtime 38-31. “The loss is very devastating. We didn’t need a loss. We hate losing. We’re a team that had high expectations coming into the year,” said linebacker Sean Porter. “This is bad, it’s not what we expected at all and we need to play a lot better as a team.” It didn’t get much better for the Tigers after that, they went on to lose two more in a row to Oklahoma and to Kansas State, the latter being another blown lead and four overtime loss. While they played much better last week against Kanas in a 61-7 blowout of the Jayhawks, this team is still inconsistent at best. The Aggies had Big 12 title aspirations coming in to the season, and now because of their inability to finish, they face one of the most disappointing seasons in the school’s history.

Nov. 24th vs. Texas

A win against the Longhorns could do wonders to gloss over what has been a bad season. But will the Aggies have yet another collapse or will they play the way their capable of? That remains to be seen, but with this year’s A&M squad the one thing you can expect is an entertaining result, just maybe not for the home team.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Injuries to Texas A&M running backs plaguing team By Lauren Giudice Daily Texan Staff

Last week, after Texas’ loss to Missouri, head coach Mack Brown said, “We’ve got us a mess right now.” Injuries to Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron and Fozzy Whittaker hurt the Longhorns in their losses to Missouri and Kansas State. Texas A&M can relate. At the beginning of the season, the Aggies thought they had great depth when it came to running backs. But that changed when the Aggies fell to Oklahoma 25-41 on November 5th. Junior running back Christine Michael tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee — ending his season and requiring surgery. Michael had rushed for 899 yards this season and he averages just less than a hundred a game. On October 11 of last season, he broke his leg and missed the rest of the season. When Michael was out last year, running back Cyrus Gray stepped up and finished the season with seven straight games of at least 100 rushing yards. After having two season-ending injuries in a row, head coach Mike Sherman said Michael handled the news of his injury well. “It’s certainly a disappointment to him and to us,” Sherman said. “He’s in a positive state of mind, at least he was last time I saw him; it’s just part of the game.”

Sherman also said that Gray would have to step up, just as he did in the 2010 season. Gray, who has 1,045 rushing this season, is currently day-to-day after getting a stress fracture during A&M’s 61-7 rout over Kansas last week. This season is Gray’s second season in a row with 1,000 or more rushing yards. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill said Gray is important to the Aggies and he gets a lot of carries. Ben Malena is also an option at running back. “He’s a big player for us,” Tannehill said. “We’ll see how it goes. But Malena is a big player as well. He hasn’t seen the reps but he’s a solid running back. We see what he can do in practice every day. I think either way we have confidence.” Head coach Mike Sherman said he may be able to play on Thursday, even if he doesn’t practice this week. But, he hopes he will be back for Thursday’s game against Texas. “We need everybody,” Sherman said. “I think that goes without saying. It will be a great ball game and I would like to get everybody out there.” After Gray left the game on Saturday, Sherman was forced to pull the redshirt off true freshman Will Randolf. He had 37 yards on 10 carries. “It’s always difficult when you do that, but we talk to those guys every week and talk every morning before the ball game of potentials (redshirts) if certain situations arise,” Tannehill said. “Without know-

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Alonzo Adams | Associated Press

Aggie running back Christine Michael is tackled by OU’s Travis Lewis (28). Michael tore his ACL this game.

ing Cyrus’ status for the last week, I thought it was important he got reps in this ballgame. That’s just part of it. That’s what we had to do.” In addition to Cyrus and Michael’s injuries, starting defensive end Jona-

than Mathis’ season ended because of a knee injury he incurred during A&M’s game against Oklahoma State. Defensive backs Steven Campbell and Coryell Judie have missed multiple games because of leg injuries.

Both teams have been limping through this season, but how both rally on Thursday will be pivotal in determining the winner of the last Texas and Texas A&M rivalry game.

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One Last T

Texas players prepared for yet another emotional By Christian Corona Daily Texan Staff

Betsy Cooper Daily Texan Staff

The rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M is truly a tradition unlike any other. The first Masters tournament was played in 1934, 40 years after the Longhorns and Aggies began playing each other. But with Texas A&M bolting for the SEC, its 118th meeting with Texas may be the last. No golf tournament has anything on the Lone Star Showdown, which has truly been a tradition like any other. “My family always used to watch Texas and Texas A&M,” said head coach Mack Brown. “When it was on Thursday, I always thought it was more special because it was the only game in town.” Emotions ran high last weekend when the Longhorns faced Kansas State on Senior Night. Their comeback attempt fell short but Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium saved its loudest home game for last. But with the Lone Star Showdown coming to a close, at least for the near future, fans and

players alike are sure to get amped up for the Thanksgiving Day clash. “This week’s game is going to be wild,” said senior linebacker Emmanuel Acho. “I’m ready to be in that atmosphere. It’s going to be one that’s remembered.” Both the Longhorns and Aggies have underachieved this season. Texas A&M found itself among the top 10 ranked teams in this year’s preseason polls while Texas looked to bounce back from an abysmal 5-7 campaign. The Aggies have lost five games, becoming notorious for blowing doubledigit second-half leads and didn’t even become bowl eligible until demolishing Kansas last weekend. But if this rivalry has taught us anything, it’s that win-loss records don’t seem to matter as much when Texas and Texas A&M square off. “No matter what the score is or what the series says, they’re going to come out and play hard whatever their record is,” Snow said. Kyle Field, self-proclaimed home of the 12th Man, is known to produce deafening decibel levels when the Aggies host a football game. The 84-year-old stadium is never loud-

er than when the Longhorns roll int with Texas’ nonconference schedule atmosphere at Kyle Field Thursday m 118-year-old rivalry has seen. “It’ll be a passionate and emotio safety Blake Gideon. “We know wha environment. They do a great job of r out there.” There is no love lost between these animosity between these two schoo centuries and with Texas A&M set Florida and Auburn, the Aggies’ and sure to be looking to make the most o the other know how they feel about t many claimed that they are treating th other but one acknowledged the cons fierce as this one. “When you have hate going on, ce especially from the other side,” said thing about the trenches – only men

Time

l game, ‘wild’ atmosphere

to College Station. And Thanks to this season’s conference realignment developfilled through 2017, the ments, another of the Big 12’s beloved rivalries was lost afmay be the wildest this ter Texas A&M’s move to the SEC has brought the Lone Star Showdown to a halt while Nebraska, who moved to the Big onal game,” said senior Ten before this season, effectively ended its historic rivalry at to expect. It’s a hostile with Oklahoma. But with the prospect of lucrative television really having a 12th man deals in sight, the world of college sports has nearly been altered beyond recognition. e two in-state rivals. The “The decisions aren’t being made about football,” Brown ols have spanned three said. “The realignment decisions are being made by adminto face teams like LSU, istrators and trustees, not football coaches or football players. d Longhorns’ fanbase are It’s bigger than us.” of their last chance to let This week’s contest between Texas and Texas A&M might them. As for the players, not have national championship or BCS implications. There this week’s game like any aren’t any Heisman Trophy contenders taking the field in sequences of a rivalry as College Station on Thursday night. But that doesn’t mean this year’s Lone Star Showdown isn’t ertain cheap shots go on, one of this week’s most meaningful. Because, like the LongSnow. “That’s the great horns’ longtime head coach said about conference realignsurvive down there.” ment, it’s bigger than us.

Longhorns entering final game of rivalry without reliable offense By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff

The Longhorns know what they’ll eat on Thanksgiving. They’re not exactly sure how they’ll score points in the last rivalry game against Texas A&M. The Texas offense is stuck in park and head coach Mack Brown said his biggest concern for Thursday’s matchup against the Aggies is reaching the end zone. UT enters the final game of the 118-year rivalry with an offense that has managed just 18 points in the last two games, losses to Missouri and Kansas State and scored a lone touchdown. “We just keep stopping ourselves,” said Brown, who is 9-4 against A&M. “We have quarterbacks and running backs going the wrong way, low snaps that stop drives, turnovers that lead to points.” He’s right. The offense has been a mess for two straight games, much like the kitchen after Thanksgiving dinner. Texas has been ravaged by injuries in the second half of the season. The Longhorns looked like they had returned to the power running days of old, but that was before Fozzy Whittaker was lost for the year and Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron fell victim to the rigors of their first collegiate season. Two straight games of more than 400 yards rushing gave way to a pair losses and an offense plagued by inconsistency and poor execution. With Brown (turf toe) and Bergeron (hamstring) dogged by injuries of late, the Longhorns lost their identity as a downhill running team. “We can’t be that right now all the time,” Brown said. “We’re trying to figure out ways to win a ball game and at the same time moving forward.” The Longhorns are in a rebuilding season, so it’s no wonder there have been growing pains along the way. Still, a 6-2 record and a No. 21 ranking on Nov. 6 quickly evaporated as the offense plummeted at Missouri, and then continued its freefall against Kansas State. So what’s been the problem? “You could say lot of different things,” said senior left guard David Snow. “There’s a lot of young guys. It will all come together. That’s what happens when you have a brand new offense, working out the kinks. We’re still growing as an offense, finding our place.” The defense has held up its end of the bargain, though, and kept Texas in games while the offense struggles. That’s at least one thing UT can hang its hat on. There’s still time to turn things

around, but the clock is ticking. “The year hasn’t gone wrong,” said senior safety Blake Gideon. “We’ve got two games left and we’ve got a winning record. It’s not where we want to be but we’ve got an opportunity to send one of our Big 12 foes off with a bang.” Last Thanksgiving, Texas was 5-6 and desperate for a win over the Aggies to become bowleligible. The Longhorns secured a bowl invite on Nov. 5 this year, so they’ve made some progress. “We’re headed in the right direction,” Brown said. “We haven’t won as many games as I want to. But I’m fully convinced we’re getting close. I can see it, I can feel it, it’s so much better than last year.” Texas has been a few bad bounces away from winning at least two more games. Gideon intercepted a pass against Oklahoma State and returned it for six, but the quarterback was ruled down in the end zone after barely stepping out of bounds before releasing the ball, resulting in a safety. A blocked punt against Missouri hit the crossbar on the goal post, turning a sure touchdown into another safety. “It’s not illegal to score on defense either,” Gideon said. That might be the Longhorns’ best offense on Thanksgiving.

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

AGGIE TRADITIONS By Kristin Otto

THE SHOUTING If you find the highlight of college football games to be watching gorgeous, smiling girls flipping down the field and being thrown into the air, prepare to be disappointed. Long ago, A&M chose to replace girls, pompoms, pleated skirts and cheers for boys, hand signals, white uniforms and a lot of loud yelling. Known as the Aggie Yell Leaders, the studentelected, spirit-inspiring team is composed of three seniors and two juniors. You will easily be able to spot them on the sidelines in front of the student section throwing up odd hand gestures, or “pass backs.” Like a strike of lightening before a roar of thunder, the Yell Leaders will flash one of the dozen of their pass backs; the student body — immediately recognizing the symbol — will respond with

the chant that corresponds with the hand gesture. What to look out for: a Yell Leader’s left arm clapping against his bicep, his right arm pulling up with his fist clenched. Following this pass back the students will shout, “Beat the Hell Outta t.u.” — the phrase “t.u.” being a term used by Aggies to remind themselves of the fact that the “UT is not the only university in Texas.” Advice: Make a mental note. Win or lose, not many people are phased by the yells other than A&M fans. At the end of the day, never forget that you hail from University of Texas Longhorns ... and you have your own network.

THE STANDING As you pan across the East side — the student section — of Kyle Field on Thursday night, two questions are likely to come to your mind. The first, in reference to the crowd: “What’s the deal with everyone standing?” The second, in regards to the phrase featured on the crossbeam separating the second and third tiers of maroon-clad students: “What does ‘Home of the 12th Man’ mean?” The answers to these inquiries date back to the January 2, 1922, Dixie Classic — the ancestor of the modern-day Cotton Bowl — a football showdown in Dallas between Texas A&M and Center College. Although Center College was favored to win, the matchup was tight and brutal throughout. Near the end of the game, A&M had only 11 healthy players left — all of whom were on the field. Aware that his team would be forced to forfeit the game if one more injury was sustained, A&M Coach Dana X. Bible looked up into the stands and spotted former football-turned-basketball player E. King Gill in the press box assisting reporters in distinguishing Aggie players. Coach

Bible beckoned Gill down from the stands and asked him to suit up and assume the role of the team’s 12th man. Without hesitation, he prepared for play. Ultimately, when the Aggies emerged victorious — outscoring Center College 22-14 — Gill, who had never entered the game, was the sole standing player that remained on the A&M sideline. “I wish I could say I went in and scored the winning touchdown but I didn’t, all I did was stand by ready to go in case my team needed me,” Gill later commented. Ever since, the A&M student body has assumed the name and spirit of the 12th man — always on its feet, ready to help its team at a moment’s notice. Aggies have been standing for nearly 90 years; be assured that their tradition will not be broken on the last game of this historic UT-TAMU rivalry. Advice: Stay Strong. Remain standing in lifted boots or high-heeled shoes — anything to get the Longhorns one (taller) leg up on the competition.

THE SINGING AND THE SWAYING When Kyle Field is loud and rockin’ ... what on the seemingly-shuddering earth is going on? The answer: the “Aggie War Hymn.” Although the A&M student body executes its musical theater number every game, the spectacle is specifically addressed to the University of Texas; there is a good chance that Thursday will be the last football game during which the Aggies will have the opportunity to perform it in front a live Longhorn audience. The second verse of the song,

which opens with “Good-bye to Texas university” is traditionally repeated twice, then followed by the Aggie anthem, “Saw Varsity’s Horns Off.” At this point A&M fans link arms, intertwine legs and sway back and forth in the opposite direction of the string of Aggies in of them. The synchronized motion, which shakes the whole upper deck, is supposed to imitate that of a saw and is a (questionably perverted) symbol of severing off Bevo’s horns. If you are not an Aggie

fan numb with school spirit, the combination of singing and swaying will most likely leave you nothing more than annoyed. Advice: Come prepared. Suggested items to bring to the game: a pair of earplugs, a bottle of Dramamine and, for Bevo’s sake, a PETA shirt.

LASTWEEK’SWINNER

Submit your weekly picks on the Double Coverage site for a chance to be immortalized as a “Fan Pick ‘Em” winner, as well as receive two free movie tickets courtesy of Regal Cinemas. Because the contest was on hold last week, Double Coverage chose to feature Sarang who is actually one of the long lost winners who claimed his prize a little later than expected. Better late than never! Keep the picks coming, readers.

FAVORITE TEXAS FOOTBALL MEMORY: “My favorite UT football memory is when I took a road trip with some friends to Arizona to watch the Longhorns beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.” Sarang Patel UT Alumni

THOUGHTS ON THE END OF THE RIVALRY: “I am not too upset that the rivalry with A&M is ending. Outside of the state of Texas, the rivalry hasn’t garnered the national attention. In recent history, the series rarely featured a matchup where both teams were dominant. CURRENTLY WORKS AT: Hewlet Packard in austin