The Daily Texan Presents:
Dec. 7, 2011
Vol. 6, Issue 14
THROUGH THE LENS
THE DOUBLE COVERAGE STAFF LOOKS AT THE MOST TELLING PHOTOS FROM THE SEASON. PG. 6
ON HOLIDAY
THE LONGHORNS HAVE EXTRA TIME TO PREPARE FOR THEIR HOLIDAY BOWL APPEARANCE. THEIR EXTRA PRACTICES WILL HELP THEM IN THE LONG RUN. PG. 4
BCS BOWL GAMES
THE CHAMPIONSHIP SYSTEM IS CLEARLY FLAWED, BUT THE BCS GAMES THIS SEASON PROVIDE A FEW INTERESTING MATCHUPS. PG. 8
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BOWL PREPARATION
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MORE TO BUILD
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. Cover Illustration: Ryan Edwards, Above: Mary Kang| Daily Texan staff
EDITOR’S NOTE You’ve heard it before. Texas has seen its fair share of ups and downs this season. Though it only notched two more wins than last year, there were obvious improvements and glaring weaknesses. For us at Double Coverage, it was extremely insightful to watch the team go through its growing pains as we went through them ourselves. Throughout the year we’ve tried our best to provide the most comprehensive football coverage we could for Texas football fans, and it has been a privilege and an honor to try to serve you readers in this way. I hope that you continue to read Double Coverage next fall and in the seasons to come and thank you for your continued support.
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The Longhorns get 15 extra practices before the Holiday Bowl, and the coaches plan on using that time to prepare for next year as well as their matchup against California.
Texas’ motto for rebuilding this season was “brick-bybrick,” but that construction process went slower than expected this year, and there is still a ways to go.
A LOOK BACK
The Double Coverage photographers take a look back on pivotal visual moments throughout the year.
AWARDS TO WATCH HEISMAN FINALISTS BOWL GAMES TO WATCH
THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS:
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 14 • 2011 EDITION
Double Coverage Editor……………Sameer Bhuchar Design Editor…………………….Simonetta Nieto Photo Editor…………………………Ryan Edwards Copy Editor……….....……Sydney Fitzgerald Issue Designer...............Martina Geronimo Writers……....................................Trey Scott ............................................Austin Laymance ...............................................................Christian Corona …………...........................…...............Nick Cremona ................................................................Lauren Giudice ..................................…......…...............Chris Hummer …………………....................…….....Wes Maulsby
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Hard to say if season was success or not By Sameer Bhuchar all season, Longhorn fans can be The Bad Daily Texan Columnist
So here we are. 7-5 and a trip to the Holiday Bowl. It feels good and underwhelming at the same time. The bid is both a reflection of an accomplishment and a let down. All year, my columns have acknowledged that Texas did things right, it rebuilt with realistic expectations. Its seniors mentored the team, while particular freshmen grew up throughout the course of the season. But still, there is that persistent nagging feeling that Texas still never reached its potential.
The Good Don’t get me wrong, there are a number of reasons to feel confident about this team heading into the bowl game and next season. The first sign of excitement for the team to come is the secondary. Texas may be losing a few players to graduation and possibly the NFL, but with returners like Carrington Byndom, Quandre Diggs and Adrian Philipps who tormented wide recievers and quarterbacks
confident in this unit next year. Texas running game is another aspect of the team that found some success to build on. The team averaged 210 rushing yards per game, thanks in part to the rise of Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron. However, the numbers are a little inflated as Texas couldn’t put together a complete run game in the final three games of the season due to injury. However, if Brown and Bergeron are fully recovered by the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28th, we may catch a glimpse of what next season’s run game can do, especially since the Bears’ defense is statistically similar to most Big 12 defenses. The Longhorns will also add running back Johnathan Gray, 2011-12 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, into the mix so Texas isn’t short of talent in its ground attack. Texas will also have a pair of solid wide receivers moving forward with Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis. With a productive offseason, they could mature to be the next “Quan CosbyJordan Shipley” tandem circa 2008.
If you are like me, and are also battling this cognitive dissonance as you reflect on the year, perhaps it’s because the negatives of the season are so glaring that it’s hard to say Texas has a clear, positive trajectory moving forward. The Longhorns badly need a quarterback. Texas had three different starters throughout the season, and still doesn’t know who the best man for the job is moving forward. With Garrett Gilbert out of the mix, Texas will likely go with Case McCoy, but he never made a strong argument that he deserves it. He had four turnovers against Baylor and still can’t throw the deep ball. Both McCoy and Ash showed signs of promise, but until they figure out a way to fuse two human beings together, their individual strengths are not good enough to make defenses quiver. Texas is also in trouble of losing a lot of talent to the NFL and graduation. And while that is a great accomplishment for the players, it will be tough for Texas to immediately replace talents like Emmanuel Acho, Keenan Robinson, Kheeston Randall
Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff
Case McCoy will have to elevate his play in the Holiday Bowl to give Texas a feeling of security at the position moving forward.
and even Justin Tucker, who bailed in its fan base moving forward it Texas out on multiple occassions with will need to see Case McCoy manhis golden boot. age a full, 60-minute game. In many ways, this is his chance to tie down the starting job for next season. The The Bowl Longhorns need a win fueled by a If history is any indicator, Case’s display of his ability and leadership, older brother won the MVP in this because the perception between a bowl four years ago during another 7-6 season and an 8-5 one is mark“rebuilding” season by Texas stan- edly different, and I know a win dards. California, however, boasts a would do wonders to rid Longhorn good pass defense that barely gives fans of the conflicted feelings that up 200 yards a game. For Texas to currently dwell in the bottom of not only win, but instill confidence their guts.
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Bowl prep will allow team to invest in future By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff
After a disappointing end to the regular season that saw Texas lose three of its last four games, the Longhorns need as much practice time as they can get. With an invitation to play California in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 28, a young Texas team will get 15 additional practices to continue rebuilding a program that was at the top of the college football world two years ago. Texas is 12-12 since the 2009 season, when UT lost to Alabama in the BCS National Championship game. The Longhorns are still developing new offensive and defensive schemes this year, so an extra three weeks with first-year coordinators Manny Diaz and Bryan Harsin will benefit Texas in the long run. “It’s another two and a half weeks of practice opportunities and a chance, for us as coaches, to continue the investment in
the future of our football team and our program,” said Diaz, who joined the defensive staff in January. “Every one of those practice days is invaluable. We know that we will see the results down the line.” The Longhorns missed out on a chance to get better during the bowl season in 2010, a 5-7 mark left them ineligible for post-season play. The lack of extra reps on the practice field stunted the team’s growth, leaving UT scrambling to prepare for 2011. “Football is a hard sport to get better at unless you are playing football,” Diaz said. “We have 15 days in the spring, and then we don’t really see them again until August. You can do conditioning drills and things like that, but you can only play football during the season.” Now, the Longhorns have a chance to continue their “brickby-brick” rebuilding plan as they prepare for a trip to the West Coast to play Cal. And for a team with two thirds of its play-
ers with less than two seasons of experience, bowl preparation is a valuable tool. For the true freshmen and redshirts who haven’t seen much action, the extra snaps can be the difference between a productive upcoming season or a mediocre one. “It really is a great opportunity for them to catch the eye of the coaches and get their foot in the door before spring ball starts,” said tight end Blaine Irby, a senior who also played in the Holiday Bowl in 2007. “I remember when I was younger, feeling like it was a great opportunity to showcase how you play football and your talents. It is a great way for our younger guys to really improve on their technique and to improve on the little things.” Texas, though, won’t get back on the field until final exams end. “We need time to reset,” said freshman cornerback Quandre Diggs. “But once practices get going, all the guys are going to
Longhorns’ Holiday Bowl Schedule: Though the Longhorns have 15 additional practices, the bowl season is a time for relaxation too. Here is what the team will do during its week in San Diego. Dec. 24: Team Day at Sea World Dec. 25: Team Day at the San Diego Zoo Dec. 26: Luncheon with Navy and Marine Corps Dec. 27: Battle of the Bands at the San Diego Convention Center Dec. 28: Holiday Bowl vs. California Golden Bears
be upbeat and ready to go.” Once they resume practice, the Longhorns will spend the first week of bowl preparation working to correct the mistakes that plagued them over second half of the season: offensive confusion, turnovers, blown coverages, missed assignments. Before the Longhorns can turn their attention to the Golden Bears, they need to get back to basics. Still, the extended season can give Texas a push not only this
year, but also in the future — if UT can start another 12-year streak of bowl games. “If I am in this program for four or five years as a player, then I have had four more months of practice over the course of my career to improve,” said Diaz, who will coach in his 11th bowl. “So that when I leave here, I have had almost an entire other season of practice to get better as a football player. That is vital for us.”
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff
Freshman quarterback David Ash (14) and running back Malcolm Brown (28) celebrate Brown’s rushing touchdown. The Texas offense will build around Brown’s dynamic ability next year.
Foundation set, Horns need more ‘bricks’ By Christian Corona Daily Texan Staff
All season long, Texas has talked about the “brick by brick” approach it’s taken to rebuilding the football program. After going 7-5, the Longhorns aren’t laying the bricks as quickly as some might like. With a revolving door at quarterback, injuries hitting the running backs hard down the stretch and youth spread out across every unit, seven wins can seem like quite an accomplishment, especially in a conference as loaded as the Big 12. But many fans expected a record more than seven victories, especially with all the new talent and revamped coaching staff following the 5-7 debacle in 2010. “It’s headed back in the right direction,” said head coach Mack Brown. “I think the Big 12 was the hardest it’s been, since I’ve been here, in 14 years. I’m excited about getting to the bowl game and getting No. 8, and having a fresh start next year. I think we’ll be back in the mix.” The Longhorns made significant strides this year, discovering legitimate running threats in freshmen Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron and watching a defense inexperienced at several spots turn into one of the 15 best in the nation. Brown and Bergeron missed multiple contests while hampered by turf toe and hamstring inju-
ries but proved they can provide the foundation for an effective rushing attack in the years to come. Gatorade Player of the Year Jonathan Gray, the crown jewel of Texas’ top-ranked recruiting class, should contribute in the backfield as well. “I saw enough good things that we have to build on,” Brown said. “I really disrupted everything in the program this year, starting with the strength program to offense to defense to the kicking game. The kids have been resilient and they’ve done a good job. They just need to finish with their eighth win.” But five-loss seasons aren’t normally cause for celebration on the Forty Acres. Without an established starting quarterback or a backfield that could stay healthy throughout the year, the Longhorns stumbled more often than they’re used to. Losing to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State – two national title contenders – came as no surprise, but not many fans though Texas would fall to Missouri, Kansas State and Baylor. “I wouldn’t say it was a great year,” said freshman defensive back Quandre Diggs. “We’re 7-5, but it’s better than last year. All we can do is build off of this. Texas is going to be back on the rise and be back on top in the next few years.” All four of Texas’ quarterbacks made headlines this year. Connor Wood transferred to Colorado before
the season began and Garrett Gilbert decided to transfer to SMU midseason while David Ash and Case McCoy wrestled over the starting quarterback job. Both squandered opportunities to separate themselves and with threetime state champion Connor Brewer coming in next season, along with dual-threat quarterback Jalen Overstreet, the position behind center is still in a state of flux. Meanwhile, McCoy’s and Ash’s teammates maintain their confidence in them. “They can win big,” said junior wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. “We have to maintain our faith in them. They’re growing up day by day, showing great leadership. It’s hard to come out there and be the brain of the team.” Texas’ depth chart is stacked with freshmen and sophomores, 13 of whom occupy starting positions. 18 true freshmen played for the Longhorns this year, a testament to the outstanding recruiting class Brown reeled in and how badly his team needed an infusion of new talent. With another excellent group of prospects set to come to Austin next year, Texas is setting itself up for a bright future. “I’m excited about the youth we have on this football team,” said defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. “As a coaching staff, I think we see where this movie ends. There’s no panic button.”
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roughthelens Wednesday, December 7, 2011
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As the season wore on, the Longhorns saw young running backs and receivers emerge, quarterbacks shuffle, NFLtalent prosper and dramatic finishes. The Double Coverage photographers chose to examine this through visuals.
Photos by Elisabeth Dillon, Trent Lesikar, Tamir Kalifa, Lawrence Peart Daily Texan Staff
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BCS games intrigue, leave room for debate, must include playoff By Trey Scott
Daily Texan Columnist It’s time for another year of second-guessing the computers and begging for a playoff. After so many years though, we should be used to controversy and a lack of clarity when it comes to these bowl games — such as, if Alabama wins, everybody loses. For better or for worse, here are a few slightly sarcastic and very judgemental thoughts on this year’s BCS schedule.
Allstate BCS National Championship: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 2 Alabama Jan. 9
Tostitos Fiesta: Stanford vs. Oklahoma State Jan. 2 Somebody call Truman and Stalin because we’ve got an arms race. Wow, that’s literally the worst joke I’ve ever told. I feel like the Alabama kicker right now. Somebody slap me. However, the Andrew LuckBrandon Weeden should be the best quarterback battle of the season. Luck’s in the running for the Heisman Trophy and Weeden was too before his Cowboys lost a heartbreaker to Iowa State — their only one of the season. Thus, the biggest cry for a playoff this year was made by those one state north, who can’t believe that Alabama gets its second shot at LSU without letting anybody else take a turn.
The match-up we’ve all been hoping against. If you’re into touchdowns, stay away. If you’re into field goals, this is your thing. Seriously though, what’s the point of playing this game? LSU is clearly the best team in the nation, it has already beat Alabama and is the champion of the universe’s best conference. If Alabama wins, then you’ve just got big problems because LSU will surely be the Associated Press champs and the season series will have been split. That’s a tie, right? It’s time for a playoff.
Allstate Sugar: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech Jan. 3
Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon Jan. 2
Discover Orange: West Virginia vs. Clemson Jan. 4
This might be as intriguing a bowl game in the last 10 years. You’ve got the power of Wisconsin against the speed of Oregon. You’ve got two of the nation’s best running backs — the Badgers’ Montee Ball and the Ducks’ LaMichael James. You’ve got two talented quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Darron Thomas. You know what else you got? A game that should be far more exciting than the one at the top of this page. If the BCS ever made a good decision, it was this one.
Now we’re getting to the yawners. Virginia Tech loses by 28 points to Clemson in the ACC Championship game and still backs itself into a BCS bowl. Blame Houston, I guess, for losing $17 million and losing to Southern Miss last week. Michigan is led by Denard “Insert overused nickname here” Robinson, who can’t throw worth a lick but runs like a scatback: on 208 attempts this year, Robinson has rushed for 1,163 yards and 16 touchdowns.
For years, the Orange Bowl has been a joke. You’ve got the Big East Conference and its automatic qualifier to blame for that, but we’re lucky this year that it’s West Virginia who emerges from that mess and not Cincinnati, Louisville or Rutgers. The Mountaineers have a fun offense to watch and will be in the Big 12 in the near future, so this is a good look at them. Clemson has a dynamic passand-catch pair in Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins but, ACC Championship game not included, has a history of under-performing in big games.
AWARDSTOWATCH
— By Wes Maulsby | Daily Texan Staff
Doak Walker for Best Running Back Trent Richardson, Runningbak, Alabama A finalist for the Heisman trophy, Richardson rushed for 1,583 yards this season, which was good for No.5 in the nation while leading the SEC. He set a single-season school record for rushing touchdowns with 20 this season, and fits the award mold of the best player on one of the best teams in the nation. His main competition is LaMichael James out of Oregon and Monte Ball from Wisconsin. James led the naiton in rushing this season and is looking to join Ricky Williams and Darren McFadden as the only two time winners of the award. Ball, meanwhile, led the nation in scoring with 32 touchdowns for the Badgers.
Bednarik Award for Best Defensive Player Dant’a Hightower, Linebacker, Alabama The best player on the best defense in the nation, Hightower is a solid choice for this award. He was the one calling the plays and making the shifts for the nation’s No.1 defense. He also led Alabama in tackling this season with 79, including eight tackles for loss and three sacks. He also recorded his only interception of his career this season against Tennessee. A finalist for many awards this season, Hightower has a chance to win many of them, but the one thing going against him for the Bednarik is the history of the award going to seniors. The last non-senior to take the award was Penn State’s Paul Polslusznay in 2005, the first of two wins for him. If this is the case, watch out for Devon Still, another Penn State senior at Defensive Tackle.
Thorpe Award for Top Defensive Back David Amerson, Cornerback, North Carolina State Amerson leads the nation in interceptions this year with 11, getting almost one every game. He only had four games without an interception and had three games in which he recorded two, all of which were wins. He is in the top 10 in the nation in passes defended and had one pick-six against Virginia to seal the game. Only a sophomore, he will have more chances to win the award, which, like Hightower, could hurt him considering that upperclassmen usually take the award. If this is the case, watch out for a pair of SEC defenders to take it in either Mark Barron of Alabama or Morris Claiborne of LSU.
Maxwell Award for Collegiate Player of the Year Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford Entering the season as the Heisman favorite, Luck put up solid numbers but was never able to take over as the main guy for the award. He passed for 3,170 yards this season, completing 70 percent of his passes. He threw 35 touchdown passes to only nine interceptions this season but never made the leap that was expected of him. Traditionally, the Maxwell Award winner does not win the Heisman Trophy, which doesn’t bode well for Luck, but he still had a season in which he did nothing to lose the award, he just never outright won it either.
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2011HEISMANWATCH
— By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff
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Robert Griffin III QB Baylor
Week 14 vs. Texas- Passing: 15/22 (68.2%) for 320 yards, 2 TD 1 INT Rushing: 12 carries for 32 yards, 2 TD Season Stats-- Passing: 267/369 (72.4%) for 3,998 yards, 36 TD 6 INT Rushing: 161 carries for 644 yards (4.0 ypc), 9 TD Remember all that talk by the Longhorns’ defense about how RGIII wasn’t going to win the Heisman against them? Well, he may have done just that last week. Against what proved to be a pretty tenacious Texas defense in the second half of the season, Griffin executed and came out with yet another big win. In the last five games Griffin has scored no less than three touchdowns and has only tossed two interceptions. The 9-3 (6-3) mark that Griffin has led the Bears to marks the most successful season from Baylor in decades. It’s not likely that Griffin will return for his senior season after the arcade-like numbers he put up this year. However, he has an excellent chance of becoming the only Bears’ player to ever win the Heisman.
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Trent Richardson RB Alabama
Tony Gutierrez Associated Press
Week 14- DNP Season Stats- Rushing: 263 rushes for 1,583 yards (6.0 ypc), 20 TD Receiving: 27 receptions for 327 yards (12.1 ypc), 3 TD All of the BCS imperfections aside, the rematch between Alabama and LSU should be another game that is decided by the slimmest of margins. Whenever the nation’s top offensive and defensive lines clash, you can’t help but fix your eyes on the action. Richardson has been one of the most consistent backs in the nation throughout this year, scoring at least once in every game but one — against LSU. He’s also among the nation’s leading rushers and like many other juniors, will likely forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft. In the end, Richardson’s numbers may not stack up as well, but he has put this team on his back the entire year and is easily the most important offensive player for the Tide.
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Andrew Luck QB Stanford
Week 14- DNP Season Stats- Passing: 261/373 (70.0%) for 3,170 yards, 35 TD 9 INT Rushing: 43 carries for 153 yards, 2 TD Luck wasn’t able to sway voters any more this past week as Oregon and UCLA duked it out for the Pac-12 title, but his Heisman chances haven’t been squelched quite yet. Head coach David Shaw has been campaigning for Luck ever since the season came to a close two weeks ago, and he’s showing no signs of easing up, either. It’s a shame that the Heisman isn’t given out after the conclusion of bowl season because Luck could have a career night in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State. While Luck was the clear favorite to win the Heisman throughout most of the year, he sort of leveled off as the season drew to a close and allowed both Griffin and Richardson to garner more attention. Luck threw six interceptions in his final five games, including two in a crucial loss to Oregon.
Montee Ball RB Wisconsin
Week 14 at Michigan State- Rushing: 27 carries for 137 yards (5.1 ypc), 3 TD Receiving: 3 receptions for 7 yards, 1 TD Season Stats- Rushing: 275 carries for 1,759 yards (6.4 ypc), 32 TD Receiving: 20 receptions for 255 yards (12.8 ypc), 6 TD
It’s crazy to think that the hype surrounding a player from Baylor has overshadowed one of the greatest single-season performances of the past decade. Well, at least Wisconsin fans know about it. Ball now owns a couple Badger all-time records, including most rushing touchdowns in a season (32), most points scored in a season (230). His 38 total touchdowns also rank first on the Badgers’ all-time list, a record previously held by the always entertaining Ron Dayne. Ball is also the nation’s leading rusher and scorer this season. The next closest player on the scoring list this year is Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein with 156 points. Stat-wise, Ball may have the most impressive resume; it’s not easy running for 30-plus touchdowns, especially in the Big Ten.
Michael Conroy Associated Press
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Tyrann Mathieu CB LSU
Week 14 vs. Georgia- 4 solo tackles, 4 punt returns for 119 yards (29.75 avg.), 1 TD Season Stats- 71 total tackles (54 solo), 2 sacks, 2 INT, 6 forced fumbles (4 recovered), 4 total TD (2 fumble returns, 2 punt returns) This is one player that opponents must absolutely dread playing against. Mathieu has an innate sense for not only ripping the ball away from his offensive counterparts, but also putting the ball in the endzone after he’s separated it from a player. He’s been nicknamed“Honey Badger”for his ferocious defensive skill-set and his ability to completely change a game in an instant. Nevermind his play on defense, Mathieu is a top-notch punt returner with a nose for sparking big returns. More than once this season Mathieu has brought his team to life after a lengthy punt return. He may not take home the Heisman this season, but for the sheer excitement he’s provided this year he deserves the invite to New York. Give Mathieu one more year under head coach Les Miles and he could be much higher on this list at the end of next season.
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
GAMESTOWATCH — By Chris Hummer | Daily Texan Staff
No. 8 Kansas State @ No. 6 Arkansas Overall 10-2 BIG 12 (6-2)
Overall 12-0 SEC (8-0)
No. 9 South Carolina @ No. 20 Nebraska Overall 10-2 SEC (6-2)
No.17 Michigan State @ No. 16 Georgia
Overall 9-3 Big Ten (5-3)
Overall 10-3 Big Ten (7-1)
Overall 10-3 SEC (7-1)
No. 19 Houston @ No. 22 Penn State Overall 12-1 C-USA (8-1)
AT&T Cotton Bowl Cowboy Stadium, Dallas Friday Jan. 6th, 7 p.m. TV: FOX
Capital One Bowl Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla. Monday Jan. 2nd, 12 p.m. TV: ESPN
Outback Bowl Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Fla. Monday Jan. 2nd 12 p.m. TV: ABC
This game is a matchup of two teams that were snubbed in the BCS process this season. Arkansas, only two short weeks ago was a potential national title game participant, and Kansas State has had one of the best seasons in program history, losing only two games all year to the two squads from the “Sooner State.” Both schools probably should have made it into a BCS game instead of Virginia Tech and Michigan State, but the Cotton Bowl isn’t bad. The Razorbacks feature one of the best aerial attacks in the nation, putting up 307.8 yards per game through the air. Their passing attack is spearheaded by quarterback Tyler Wilson, who fans will remember as the leader of Arkansas’ comeback against Texas A&M earlier in the year. Their only two losses of the year also happen to have come from the pair of teams competing in the national title game, LSU and Alabama, so this will be a tough team to knock off. Kansas State is a quality team though, and they have proven it all season scratching and clawing their way to a top-10 ranking, and a 10-win season. They have come through in the clutch, winning a one-point affair against Baylor and a triple overtime slugfest with the Aggies.
South Carolina has had a turbulent season thus far. Early on in the year the Gamecocks lost star running back Marcus Lattimore to a season-ending injury, that could have made lesser teams quit, because the flow of their offense ran solely through their bruiser of a back. They didn’t quit though, even working through the dismissal of their senior quarterback Stephen Garcia from the team to finish the season with 10 wins, and an appearance in a top-tier bowl. South Carolina accomplished this largely because of its defense that stepped up to the challenge, allowing only 18.8 points a game. The Gamecocks will be going up against a team that is very similar to themselves, in the form of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Cornhuskers had their first season ever as a part of the Big Ten, and overall it was successful. They won nine games and finished the season ranked in the top 20. Like the Gamecocks they lean heavily on their run, averaging 224 yards on the ground. They are also paced by their defense which allows a respectable 22.8 points a contest, despite going up against Big 10 offenses for the first time. Expect a smash mouth game as these two teams’ strengths on both sides of the ball clash.
Michigan State had the unfortunate fate of being a school that failed to make a BCS game largely because of losing its conference championship game, and an idle team similar to them — Michigan — benefited. While the Spartans should probably be playing in one of the four big games, their loss is to the advantage of the Outback Bowl, because they are talented. Their defense is one of the best in the country and holds teams to only 17.5 points a game, keeping them in any contest they are a part of. If the game gets close, the team knows they can rely on senior quarterback Kirk Cousins to deliver in the clutch. Georgia also competed in a championship game last weekend, but their experience was much different. They were overwhelmed by LSU in 32-point loss. The Bulldogs are still very good though, their only defeats on the year came to three teams ranked in the top 12, and they were rolling before playing LSU. Much like the Spartans, they rely on an above-average defense, and a star quarterback as their recipe for success, and usually Aaron Murray and the defense find the right ingredients to pull out a win. It will be an intriguing game that features two strong defenses and smart quarterbacks trying to figure out how to beat them.
Overall 9-3 Big Ten (6-2) TicketCity Bowl Cotton Bowl, Dallas Monday Jan. 2nd 12 p.m. TV: ESPNU
Houston and Penn State are two of the most the most talked about programs in the country this season, and neither story has a very good end to it. Penn State is suffering the ill effects of one of the worst scandals in college football history, and on top of that they were destroyed in their last game of the season by Wisconsin, with a spot in the Big 10 title game on the line. Houston’s last game did not go much better, as they lost out on an undefeated season, a conference USA championship, and the school’s first ever BCS birth by falling in a shocker to Southern Mississippi. To make matters worse they were grossly outplayed. Despite the terrible finishes to the schools’ seasons, the teams really are very good and, interestingly for fans, feature exact opposite styles of play. The Cougars sling the ball around the field, and move it quickly giving them the top ranked offense in the nation, putting up points at a 50-a-game clip. The Nitty Lions’ calling card on the other hand comes on the defense side of the ball, where they give up they give up only 15.7 points a contest, good for fifth in the country, but then again what else would you expect from “Linebacker U?” Opposites will meet when these two teams take the field.
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 Head coach
“This will be our fifth trip to the Holiday Bowl, but none of the guys on this team have had a chance to play in one, so I’ve told the kids that this will be one of the best bowl experiences they’ll ever have.”
Blaine Irby
Quandre Diggs
Senior tight end
Freshman corner back
“I remember going back there in ’07 when we played against Arizona State. They treat the teams real nice, and it is a fun atmosphere. San Diego is a great town, so it should be fun.”
“It actually fits right into my Christmas plans. I usually go out there to spend some time with my nephews and my brother. So it’s going to be a great trip for us.”