Double Coverage 2012-11-09

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the daily texan presents

Vol. 7, issue 11 november 9, 2012

PAGE 12

gaining ground

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Friday, november 9, 2012

thelineup 4

Starting to click

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LEGEND passes away

11 No. 26 D.J. Monroe | Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff No. 32 Johnathan Gray | Cover photo by Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff

previews&Notebooks 6 19 21

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Players to watch

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big 12 notebook national notebook

the daily texan presents

november 9, 2012

Vol. 7, issue 11

Double Coverage Editor............Nick Cremona Design Editor............................Natasha Smith Photo Editor.............................Elisabeth Dillon Copy Editor........................................Trey Scott Writers...................................Christian Corona ..................................................Lauren Giudice .....................................................Ryan Haddox ...................................................Chris Hummer ....................................................Wes Maulsby ...............................................Peter Sblendorio ................................................Sara Beth Purdy .......................................................Hank South ....................................................Matt Warden

Steve Edmond had his share of mishaps in his first year as a collegiate linebacker, but the sophomore has learned what it takes to be an effective Big 12 linebacker.

Darrell K Royal was the most successful coach to ever lead the Longhorns and his impact was felt both on and off the field, which now bears his namesake.

No Sleep Till Thanksgiving

Texas did well to defeat Texas Tech in Lubbock, but it has to be prepared to avoid another letdown to the Cyclones, who upset the Longhorns after a big win back in 2010.

Grinding out a win

The Texas running game was a key factor in last week’s win, and it will continue to be the focus of the Longhorns to ground and pound against Iowa State.

Familiar territory

The Cyclones have upset the Lonhorns once before in Austin and have already won a game in the State of Texas this year. They’ll be looking for another win in the Lone Star State this week.

Down but not out, Texas rose to the occasion and notched another Big 12 road win against Texas Tech and now faces an Iowa State team that seems to be trending downward after a promising start. The Longhorns could sneak into relevancy again if they keep things up, but first they have to navigate their way around the Cyclones. My prediction—Texas 39, Iowa State 17. Double Coverage returns in two weeks to preview TCU.

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Byndom turns corner after key victory

By Lauren Giudice Carrington Byndom’s season hasn’t been what many expected, as he has struggled and been inconsistent at times.

But against Texas Tech’s No. 12 offense, Byndom had his best game of the year and the rest of the Texas defense followed suit.

He and fellow cornerback Quandre Diggs were forced into key roles early in their careers at Texas. The two were consistent last year and key facets of Texas’ No. 11 defense. But Byndom’s injuries and tackling struggles has had opposing receivers licking their lips in anticipation of matching up against the Texas secondary.

If his play against Texas Tech is any indication, things may be turning around for Byndom. Maybe it was the defense’s impressive second half against Kansas, but there was something different about Byndom and the defense when they thwarted the Red Raiders.

“I think I just brought a lot of confidence this weekend,” Byndom said. “Knowing that they were going to throw the ball a lot of times, I was going

to get a lot of opportunities.

So I think I just brought the confidence that I was lacking into this week.”

His confidence was apparent. While the defense’s main issue has been stopping the run, Texas has allowed some costly plays through the air as well.

Texas has allowed passes of 82, 75, 44, 73 and 80-yards in games this year.

Texas Tech’s Seth Doege went 26-for-44 with 329-yards when he faced the Longhorns in Lubbock.

Doege leads the country with 31 touchdown passes, but the struggling Longhorn defense held him to just one touchdown strike.

“We had our best game but that doesn’t mean we should start feeling highly about ourselves,” defensive tackle Desmond Jackson said. “We just have to keep moving forward. We can’t say ‘We have arrived now’ we just have to keep moving forward and everything will fall into place.”

Byndom broke up the Red Raiders’ game tying twopoint conversion attempt in the third quarter. In addition, he sealed the win when he blocked a Red Raiders’ field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. Had the Red

Raiders made the field goal, it would have been a onescore game.

“He has to be one of the stars of the game,” head coach Mack Brown said.

“I thought he played with confidence. I thought he might get an interception because they were throwing it his way a lot today.

But he played with a lot of confidence, and he’s more healthy, too. He’s been banged up all year, but really proud of him. He was happy after the game.”

Byndom said the defense’s lack of success has been frustrating for him to witness. While Byndom took steps forward, the defense followed and did the same by only allowing Texas Tech two touchd o w n s and forcing three field goals.

It was clearly the Longhorns’ best performance of the year.

Though Iowa State is not one of the top teams in the Big 12, this game will be another important test for the defense.

“For our defense, we’re definitely improving and growing up as the season has gone along,” Byndom said. “It’s still a work in progress, but each week we’re continuing to get better, and we still have a long way to go.”

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He has to be one of the stars of the game. I thought he played with confidence...He’s been banged up all year, but really proud of him.

— Head coach Mack Brown

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff

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Friday, november 9, 2012

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff Linebacker Steve Edmond (33) took some time to get used to playing in the Big 12, but now in his sophomore season he appears to be catching up to the talent level of everyone else in the conference.

By Chris Hummer

Edmond rises, shores up Horns’ defense

At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, Steve Edmond is the perfect blend of size and speed for a middle linebacker, but that frame isn’t quite so suitable to kicking field goals.

However, that’s one of the roles Edmond found himself in at Daingerfield High School, a small 2A school in East Texas. And it’s safe to say, Edmond is a much better suited at linebacker than kicker.

During one district home game, Edmond had missed four or five PAT’s in a row, and despite what should be a supportive home atmosphere, the stadium announcer was making light of Edmond’s inability to split the uprights. Remarkably, it got even worse for Edmond when he knocked in his final two attempts, because in those moments, with the urging of the commentator, the fans exploded into sarcastic applause.

Edmond, however, got some retribution for his embarrassment when a more friendly announcer called their next contest.

“The dude [commentator] got fired the very next day,” Edmond said. “It hurt my feelings. And my coach was saying ‘I can’t believe they are doing this to Steve.’”

Edmond has come a long way from missing PAT’s at a 2A school. Now he’s making the calls in the middle of the field at the University of Texas. However, as it

was when Edmond kicked field goals, he’s had quite a few misses before being able to connect.

At the beginning of the season the hype was high for Edmond, who would be taking over the starting role at middle linebacker. He had received rave reviews from his teammates in the offseason and his natural athletic ability — he runs a 4.7 second 40-yard dash — made him one to watch.

EDMOND continues on page 11

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Quandre Diggs (6) and Adrian Phillips (17) lay out an Oklahoma receiver after a play in the Longhorns’ 63-21 loss to the Sooners.

Elisabeth Dillon Daily Texan file photo

Earlier kickoff times cause Texas trouble

By Christian Corona Sports Editor

Here’s to hoping that there aren’t too many Longhorns football players with 8 a.m. classes this semester. Because there doesn’t seem to be many morning people on this year’s squad.

Twice the Longhorns have laid eggs during games that began at 11 a.m.

The first, of course, was the 63-21 shellacking the Sooners handed Texas at the Cotton Bowl last month.

The second came when the Longhorns trailed lastplace Kansas for most of a 21-17 victory in Lawrence a

couple of weekends ago.

Texas is three points against West Virginia away from being 6-0 in games that don’t kickoff in the morning.

But the Longhorns need to buck that concerning trend when they take on Iowa State at home beginning at 11 a.m. this Saturday.

“We didn’t play well in the first 11 [a.m. game], some of us played well in the second 11 [a.m. game], maybe we’ll all play well in the third 11 [a.m. game],” head coach Mack Brown said. “We’re not a normally early crowd for an 11 o’clock game. And we need to be. That’s something that needs to help us this week.”

Ken Rucker, the direc-

tor of high school relations and player development, along with strength and conditioning coach Bennie Wylie are constantly texting players this week, reminding them that they’ll need to wake up early Saturday morning. The wakeup call that day is set for 6:30 a.m.

“They’re letting us know every day,” junior guard Mason Walters said. “Sometimes I’ll wake up to one or sleep through one. Towards the end of the week, they’ll be texting us saying ‘Rise and shine!’ or whatever and getting us ready for the game. We understand the process. It’s just not something we’re used to.”

‘

We’re not a normally early crowd for an 11 o’clock game. And we need to be.

That’s something that needs to help us this week.

—Head coach Mack Brown

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players to watch

friday, november 9, 2012

matt warden daily texan staff

steele jantz senior quarterback

A player with probably the coolest name in college football, Jantz is a player who should be watched Saturday. Jantz has had a shaky season, throwing for 1,410 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has completed 64 percent of his passes which is impressive, but he has folded under the pressure of playing top Big 12 opponents. Three interceptions against Texas Tech, and no touchdown passes against Oklahoma pretty much sum up Jantz’s woes against the elite. However, when Jantz is on, he is one of the best passers in the conference, if not the country. Against Baylor he threw for 381 yards and five touchdowns, proving that he is capable of putting up big numbers. At 6-foot-3, 224 pounds, Jantz possesses prototypical size for an elite quarterback. If the senior can figure out how to put his physical skills together with his passing, expect big things. While the season has been up and down for Jantz, Texas should still consider him a threat.

jAKE mcdonough senior defensive tackle McDonough is a big man at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds which makes

him a perfect piece to slow down the Texas run game. McDonough has compiled 25 tackles to go along with two sacks. He also has two passes broken up this season. That’s pretty good for a lineman.

His ability to rush and get pressure on the quarterback also gives McDonough the ability to break up passes on any play if he isn’t contained. The Texas offensive line is stout, but McDonough could present some matchup problems with his size. Expect to see McDonough make an impressive play or two before this game is over.

durrell givens senior defensive back The Cyclones may only be 2-4 in the Big 12, but their defense has performed admirably all season long. The defense ranks No. 29 in points given up, and Durrell Givens has played a big part in that.

Givens is a 6-foot defensive back who has compiled 63 total tackles, good for third on his team.

His biggest contributions have come in coverage however, as Givens leads the team with three interceptions. He has also forced three fumbles on the year which shows that he can make plays in the open field. Texas possesses a solid passing attack to go along with a stout run game and Givens possesses the ability to disrupt both. The Longhorns should look to keep Givens at bay by keeping the ball away from his defensive zone.

Associated Press

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Friday, november 9, 2012

Outlook brightens after thorough win

By Nick Cremona Double Coverage Editor

Let’s get one thing straight, Lubbock is no joke.

I was fortunate enough to be able to drive myself up to last week’s game, and I have to say Jones AT&T Stadium was one of the loudest stadiums I’ve been in. For a few minutes, at least.

There was a solid “Raider!

Power!” exchange for about five uncomfortable minutes in the game’s opening minutes and no shortage of scowls from blacked-out fans as I struggled to find my seat. But for the majority of the game I found myself holding back a smile, pleasantly surprised at how well the Longhorns were playing and careful not to show emotion while surrounded

by Tech fans. The only time I was concerned about the game’s outcome was during halftime when the Texas baton twirler went down with an apparent lower leg injury. I was certain it was due to some sort of booby trap placed by an unsettled Tech groundskeeper. In any case, it was better her than say, Johnathan Gray.

In all seriousness, Tech fans aren’t that bad after all.

Not when their team gets beaten as thoroughly as it was.

Texas was up against a very good Tech team that does have a distinct home field advantage and it was able to snag a crucial road win. With favorable matchups in their next two games the Longhorns have a chance at possibly cracking the Top 10 in the BCS before facing Kansas State in what should be a chilling, or chilly, night in Manhattan, Kan.,

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff Defensive tackle Desmond Jackson (99) chases down SaDale Foster during the Longhorns’ win over Texas Tech. Jackson and the rest of the defense mostly bottled up the Red Raiders, and tightened up their red zone defense. If Texas is to keep winning games as the season progresses it will need more of the same from its defense.

on Dec 1.

But, in order to get there they have got to play as well as they did against the Red Raiders. The only reason last week’s game ended the way it did was because no one gave Texas a chance. I’ll admit I didn’t. Something happened last week where the Longhorns forgot about all the hype and just played sound football. It may not have been clinical, but Texas made enough big plays that it was obvious this team can accomplish some great

things. The Longhorns also didn’t give away the ball, which always helps.

Iowa State comes in to this week’s game at about the opposite of mid-season form.

The Cyclones are a team that have lost three of their last four games, lost their leading tackler and team leader to injury and have a quarterback who loves turning the ball over. Junior running backs James White and Shontrelle Johnson, the Cyclones’ leading rushers, haven’t had much success against Texas

in the previous two meetings, and things aren’t looking too peachy this time around either.

The Longhorns were able to hold the Red Raiders to just over 100 yards on the ground last week and that has to be credited to great play from their linebackers.

Demarco Cobbs and Dalton Santos were absent from the game, but Steve Edmond and Kendall Thompson stepped up their game and turned in great performances. Unfortunately,

Thompson got reamed on a block during a Tech punt return in the third quarter and had to leave the stadium via ambulance, but before then he had done well to stop the Red Raiders from running away with the game. The entire defense played like everyone had expected them to from day one, and it was the difference in Lubbock.

Texas has a chance to make things interesting in the Big 12 as the season’s end draws near, but it can’t let any opportunity slip away.

‘

... the Longhorns have a chance at possibly cracking the Top 10 in the BCS before facing Kansas State in what should be a chilling, or chilly, night in Manhattan ...

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Royal remembered as one of Texas’ best

By Trey Scott Associate Managing Editor

There might not be a dry eye in the place as Darrell K RoyalTexas Memorial Stadium turns into a living, breathing shrine Saturday in honor of the man who it’s named after.

Darrell Royal died Wednesday morning at age 88, succumbing to cardiovascular disease — and the brutal effects of Alzheimer’s — at an assisted living facility in Barton Creek.

Royal’s wife of 68 years, Edith, called Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds at 5:45 a.m. to let him know. Dodds was shaken by the suddenness of the news, but deep down wasn’t too surprised.

Royal’s health had been quickly dwindling. When The New York Times inquired about writing a “canned” obituary for Royal in the summer of 2011, the Texas athletic department rebuffed the request. That day was still far away. But as Alzheimer’s continued to rob Royal of his memory and quick wit, those close to him realized the day was creeping closer and closer. Royal was moved to a a separate wing at Querencia at Barton Creek, where he could be given more assistance. When The Times called again this summer, the school went ahead and helped write the obituary.

Texas Media Relations sent out the email at 7:37 a.m., with “Darrell Royal passes away” as the subject line. At 11:15 a.m., on the fourth floor of the Main Building, University of Texas President William Powers Jr. amended what was supposed to

be a Prop-1 press briefing with a word about his close friend. “[Royal] was very smart,” Powers said. “He had a folksy way about him that camouflaged a very intelligent person. He was very kind and down to earth.”

At 3:00 p.m., over at the Moncrief Athletics Complex, right next to the stadium, Dodds held a makeshift press conference.

“Anywhere you look today, on this campus, you see his fingerprints,” Dodds said.

When it was over, the media ambled out to Royal’s statue in the southeast corner of the stadium. A handful of bouquets, a miniature tower and a large wreath had been laid at his bronzed feet. Visitors began showing up to pay tribute around lunchtime and kept coming until the stadium gates closed at 11 p.m.

Recognition of Royal’s life will continue through the week, with a public memorial Tuesday at the Frank Erwin Center.

Saturday morning, however, will be the crescendo.

The Longhorns, set to play Iowa State, will wear ‘DKR’ decals on the side of their helmets. There will be a stirring video tribute flashing through Royal’s remarkable life and career. Three national titles, 11 conference championships, one losing season.

The most wins in program history, 167. The integration of a football program. The idea that a student-athlete should be expected to graduate. Royal was a national figure, the friend of Presidents, and a lion in the college coaching ranks. And yet he’d still encourage students to swing by his office at Gregory Gym to say hello.

Darrell Royal passed away this week from complications with cardiovascular disease.

Texas will wear ‘DKR’ decals this week in honor of the late coach.

Associated Press

Texas Memorial Stadium fit 60,000 when Royal was hired to revive a crummy team in December of 1956. It now seats over 101,000. They will all serve as witnesses this weekend to Texas’ first football game without DKR in nearly 60 years. The spectacle of the Longhorns lining up in the wishbone formation — which Royal co-concocted in 1968 — on their first offensive series of the game ought to induce goose bumps.

Then, finally, they will stage the best possible celebration of Darrell Royal’s life. They will play football.

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Brown wants to avoid hangover

By Lauren Giudice In 2010, the Longhorns had just beaten No. 5 Nebraska and then they came home and lost to Iowa State, 28-21.

It solidified what Texas fans had feared. It was going to be a long season. The Longhorns lost four of their next five games and didn’t qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 1997.

Iowa State had just come off a loss to Oklahoma before winning in Austin. This past Saturday, the Cyclones fell to the Sooners 35-20. With the inconsistency of this Texas team, the stage is set for a potential repeat of 2010.

Head coach Mack Brown told his team that will not happen this year.

“What I told them it’s time for us to grow up and if you’re playing in a parking lot you should still win,” Brown said.

Brown compares this team’s inconsistency to that of Texas in 2006 and 2007. Both teams finished the season with a 10-3 record. Brown said unpredictability is more common with young teams.

Texas’ past four games have had their fair share of ups and downs. The Longhorns were dominated by Oklahoma, but then they defeated Baylor, who had beaten them the last two seasons. They again struggled and narrowly defeated Kansas, a team with no FBS wins this season. And most recently, they upset Texas Tech in Lubbock.

“I think that it’s a team that really wants to do well and it’s a team that’s trying to grow up and injuries mount up each week and that’s why we just quit talking about them,” Brown said. “The curve is such that this is a huge week to see if we can maintain the intensity, the confidence and the toughness we played with Saturday.”

During a team meeting,

Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan Staff Wide receiver Jaxon Shipley and the Longhorns are trying to sidestep their early game woes against the Cyclones.

Brown asked the team who was on that 2010 squad, and the juniors and seniors raised their hands. He told them after a win like they had against Texas Tech, they cannot suffer another letdown against Iowa State.

“He [Brown] said that was one of the worst games that he’s been a part of and he doesn’t want to have another game like that and that we really need to bounce back, especially from that year and just come out there and play hard and have a lot of respect for Iowa State because they’re a really good football team,” said sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Shipley.

Brown said how well the

team practices during the week usually indicates how well they will play the following game.

But he didn’t expect the meltdown that occurred against Oklahoma even though practices were not great at times.

He was also shocked at how the offense performed against Kansas’ No. 97 defense.

But, maybe the Longhorns just aren’t morning people.

During Texas’ games against Oklahoma and Kansas, both were at 11 a.m. Saturday’s game is also at 11 a.m.

“We talked over there about sleeping a little more and just being really focused,” offensive tackle Luke Poehlmann said.

“We’ve played good in games, we’ve played bad in games ...

But it comes down to us preparing and being focused and ready to play. Doesn’t matter what time of day it is. It’s just that we’re ready to go at kickoff.”

Shipley agrees that the time of the game is not important; it’s how they prepare.

“We’ve asked them to do a better job, obviously, and we’ll keep looking at it,” Brown said.

“We text them all week at every moment to try to make them better. But we totally stunk at Dallas. We were a little better at Kansas. So maybe the third time is a charm here. Maybe they’ll play better on Saturday.”

EDMOND continues from page 4 However, Edmond had only played sparingly during his freshman campaign, and it would be a big adjustment for him to go from 2A high school football to the Big 12.

“The expectations were totally unreasonable because he played very little last year,” head coach Mack Brown said. “The transition from Daingerfield to here is a big leap.”

It proved to be.

Edmond struggled at the beginning of the season to stay in his lanes and keep up with all of the responsibilities that come with being in the commander in the middle of the defense.

Remarkably, the speed of the game managed to pick up when Texas lost linebacker Jordan Hicks to a hip injury in the Ole Miss game. Hicks, a junior, was the eldest member of the linebacking corps and the unquestioned leader of the group. But without his presence all of the presnap responsibilities fell to Edmond.

“When he [Hicks] was out there he’d be telling me ‘do this, do that or whatever’ and I’d just do that,” Edmond said. “And now that he’s gone the pressure is on me now.”

Through the first few games, Edmond, and to an extent the Texas defense, had difficulty adjusting to Hicks’ absence. In four successive games, two of which were losses, the Longhorns surrendered 275, 192, 334 and 255 yards rushing.

It wasn’t all on Edmond — tackling issues have plagued the entire unit this year and other young players have floundered — but he felt responsible for the pair of losses. It

didn’t help the sophomore that he was heaping too much pressure upon himself attempting to live up to expectations.

“I just wanted to backup what everybody was saying, and then I kinda wasn’t,” Edmond said. “I felt like the OU loss and West Virginia loss was on my shoulders.”

He’s done more the enough over the past few games to make up for it.

The coaches aren’t sure when it happened, but it seems a light has clicked on for Edmond of late.

He’s playing more aggressively and is no longer hesitating on his calls at the line. He looks like a more confident player in the middle and is playing like it.

Last Saturday against Texas Tech, Edmond was swarming around the field. He led the team with 10 tackles, and his fourth quarter pass breakup – on a play in which he read the quarterbacks’ eyes to swat away what would have been a sure first down — stopped a promising Tech drive, which would have allowed the Red Raiders to snag the lead.

Edmond is now the team leader in tackles with 76.

He still hasn’t quite reached the outstanding potential his freakish athleticism allows, but he’s on a steady upward tick.

“He’s making better plays week in and week out,” defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. “He still has it ton to improve, but it’s been fun to see his growth.”

The growth will continue, but he’s ensured one thing already: there isn’t another announcer that will dare to poke fun at his skills again.

Above: Joe Bergeron (24) finds a crease along the line during the Longhorns’ 31-22 win in Lubbock.

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff Left: Kenny Vaccaro (4) upends a Texas Tech receiver, one of his four tackles in the game.

Marisa Vasquez | Daily Texan Staff Middle: David Ash (14) looks downfield to pass.

Ash finished with 264 yards passing.

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff Right: Adrian Phillips (17) celebrates after a defensive stop.

Marisa Vasquez | Daily Texan Staff

Gutsy fourth quarter play keeping Horns alive

By Chris Hummer It was an upset on the cusp.

Texas cornerback Carrington Byndom had just blocked a field goal and left the Longhorns with a two-possession lead with only five minutes remaining against then No. 18 Texas Tech last Saturday.

Now, all the offense had to do was wind down the clock for the Longhorns first win over a ranked team in 27 games.

And with a power rushing style rarely seen from the speed oriented Texas offense, the group delivered a five minute display of dominance on the ground.

“We were able to run the clock out on the road and we’re probably going to be asked to do that again,” offensive lineman Mason Walters said. “Knowing that we can do it is a good feeling.”

Walters went on to say that the Longhorns success on the final drive came on almost the exact same play every time, a run up the middle by freshman Johnathan Gray.

The freshman back took the closer’s role by pounding the Tech defense for six and seven yard gains to eat up clock. The offensive line was opening up holes in the right spots and Gray was waiting patiently to take what was available.

The runs up the middle were a bit different than the outside rushes Gray is usually asked to provide to utilize his breakaway speed, but he showed no hesitation to enter the land of giants in between the tackles.

“Whatever the role is given to him by the game plan, he’s taken as much advantage as possible,” Walters said.

“He’s been called on a little bit more, and he’s stepped up and been doing a great job.”

However, for Texas, the winding down of the clock was a total team effort. Not just the result of a dominant performance by the offensive line and the backs. Actually, the players on offense credited the defense and the blocked field goal for fueling the final drive.

“We just got our energy from our last field goal block,” offensive lineman Trey Hopkins said. “That’s what really gave us life on the last drive.”

Hopkins went on to say that it was the first time all season in which the team had a total overall effort, with both sides of the ball working in succession to motivate and respond to the other.

“It was the offense and defense working together, finally having a total game,” Hopkins said. “It was just us feeding each other ... playing for each other like it’s supposed to be played.”

For much of the year it had been

the offense leading the defense. But on Saturday it was the opposite. The defense pitched its best performance in conference play against the 12thranked offense in the country, limiting the Red Raiders to 22 points, 16 under their season average.

And it was the defenses’ outstanding play that almost forced the Texas offense to respond.

“We start to get that feeling of urgency, like, Hey our defense is laying it all out there; we’ve got to go lay it on the line,’” Walters said. “Being able to run the clock out is something to where we able to get our juice back and say ‘Hey we got you D.’” The offense played well the entire game, except for a poor stretch in the third quarter, but the most encouraging moment was at the end of the game.

It’s an area the offense has come up huge the past three weeks. First, when they wound down the clock in the final minutes against Baylor.

Then, on their game-winning drive in Lawrence, which allowed Texas to sneak out of Kansas with a victory. Most recently, the Longhorns’ showing in Lubbock; the team’s best overall fourth quarter presentation of the year.

It’s been three games, but Texas’ tough fourth quarter mentality is something it plans to build upon to help finish the season.

14 14

Friday, november 9, 2012

SNOOZE continues from page 5 Walters and his teammates better get used to in time for this weekend’s game against Iowa State.

Texas can’t afford to turn in another disappointing 11 a.m. performance.

The Longhorns are 7-2 and coming off their bestplayed game of the year.

The good news for them is that Saturday will mark the first 11 a.m. game of the year Texas plays at home. The last two early games were on the road (Kansas) and a neutral site (Oklahoma).

The Cyclones aren’t among the best teams in the Big 12. But they weren’t in 2010, either. And they came into Austin and knocked off the heavily favored Longhorns, 28-21.

Texas was coming off

a big 20-13 triumph over No. 6 Nebraska in Lincoln — its last win over a ranked team before last Saturday’s victory over No. 20 Texas Tech in Lubbock. But the Longhorns were upset by a 3-4 Iowa State team the following week.

When did that game start? 11 a.m.

“It’s always difficult to get up and get ready to play but it’s something you have to do,” junior cornerback Carrington Byndom said.

“We’re not always going to have late games so we need to do what we need to get ready and motivated by 11 o’clock.”

If they don’t, the Cyclones — 5-4 coming into Saturday’s contest — will pull off another upset.

Surgery sidelines Knott for season

By Sara Beth Purdy He was the center of the Cyclones’ defense, easily their best player on that side of the ball. Now Jake Knott must sit on the sideline and watch as Iowa State tries to get to six wins and become bowl eligible.

Last week, Knott had shoulder surgery to repair a variety of different left shoulder injuries that he had sustained and had been playing through all season.

Last season Knott sustained a torn labrum and several dislocated shoulders. Knott was injured again against Oklahoma State this season in what proved to be the culminating injury.

“He’s played through a lot

of pain, which is a tribute to him,” Iowa Stead head coach Paul Rhoads said. “His toughness and his overall selfless desire to be a team player. It was never ever about Jake Knott, it was always about the Iowa State Cyclones.”

Knott was Rhoads’ first recruit in Ames and he turned out to be a valuable one. The outside linebacker from Waukee, Iowa, was a two-star recruit coming out of high school and ranked ninth in the state of Iowa according to Rivals.com.

Knott and fellow senior A.J. Klein are considered to be one of the best, if not the best, linebacker duo in the Big 12 conference. Knott is also the top tackler on the Cyclone defense with 79 total tackles and 55 solo tackles

in just eight games. Knott also picked up two interceptions and a sack this season.

After an 11-tackle and one forced fumble performance against Baylor, Knott was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.

Last season, Knott dislocated his shoulder multiple times against Baylor.

At one point he popped it back into place so that he could go back onto the field and continue playing. With the dislocated shoulder, he made 18 tackles against the Bears. Against Missouri, Knott also played through a broken finger.

Knott is no stranger to injury and has been willing to play through pain in order to help the Cyclones, but he decided to undergo the surgery

in order to be 100-percent healthy for the NFL combine should he be invited.

In 2011, he finished as an Associated Press First-Team All-Big 12 honoree and a Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-American.

Knott ranked third in the conference and 48th in the country with 115 tackles a year ago.

Knott finished his Iowa State career with 347 career tackles, eight interceptions, and 10 fumbles. His tackle count is good for the most in Iowa State school history, and fifth in Big 12 history.

After many seasons in the Big 12 cellar, the Cyclones were hoping to rise, but without his help on defense, Iowa State may struggle for that elusive sixth win.

Charlie Neibergall | Associated Press Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott walks off the field after winning a game against Baylor, Oct. 27 in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won 35-21.

15 friday, november 9, 2012

15

n

After a close call Saturday the Texas Longhorns sit in third place in the Big 12 with 4-2 conference record.

The Longhorns escaped Lubbock with a 31-22 win against Texas Tech, where their playmakers showed up just when they needed it. Despite a lackluster record, Iowa State presents some problems Texas needs to be mindful of this weekend.

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rush the passer Iowa State is a team known more for its defense than its offense. It currently ranks No. 29 in total defense while ranking No. 89 in total offense. When their offense is on however, the team is alive. If quarterback Steele Jantz is having a good performance, the team likely has a good chance of winning. The Longhorns should look to step up the pressure and disrupt Jantz, whose numbers are streaky to say the least. Jantz has been sacked 11 times this season which amounts to just over one per game. Against top-tier teams such as Oklahoma and Texas Tech, pressure forced Jantz into bad decisions and consequential turnovers. Jantz possesses many elite physical tools which make him a player to watch no matter what his numbers indicate. For this reason, the Longhorns should force Jantz into the pressured throws that have proven to be kryptonite for the Cyclones this season.

pound the line Iowa State has done a solid job against the run this season, with Oklahoma being the exception. The Cyclones have a big defensive line that can clog up holes and make things tough for an opponent’s running game. Texas should look to use its strength to pound the defensive line of the Cyclones and wear them down. When Iowa State gets pressure in the backfield it can make a lot of plays, as shown in the big win against TCU in which the Cyclones forced five turnovers. Texas should enter this game with a lot of confidence in their rushing attack after an impressive breaking out of sorts from freshman Johnathan Gray against Texas Tech. Iowa State is giving up just over 21 points a game and pounding the ball relentlessly will slow down their big defenders and allow running lanes to open up for bigger plays.

be creative The Cyclones, as stated already, have a solid and methodical defense. If an offense makes mistakes, the Cyclones capitalize on them. They follow their game plan every time out and force teams to use their strengths to beat them. To distract the Cyclones from the monotony of their defensive pursuits, the Longhorns should look to be a bit creative on offense. The receiving corps for Texas has fallen under the radar this season but possesses great speed that should be used more effectively. Marquise Goodwin and Mike Davis have come up big when called upon, and their speed should be used in this game to wear down the secondary of the Cyclones. A few jet sweeps wouldn’t hurt.Creative play calling would allow the receivers to step more into their element by utilizing their speed. This would also distract Iowa State’s methodical game plan and force them to make big adjustments.

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16

games to watch

16

friday, november 9, 2012

peter sblendorio daily texan staff

no. 15 texas a&m at no. 1 alabama Overall 7-2 SEC 4-2

no. 2 kansas state at tcu Overall 9-0 Big 12 6-0

Overall 9-0 SEC 6-0

Overall 6-3 Big 12 3-3

no. 11 oregon state at no. 14 stanford Overall 7-1 Pac-12 5-1

no. 21 mississippi state at no. 7 lsu Overall 7-2 SEC 3-2

Overall 7-2 Pac-12 5-1

Overall 7-2 SEC 3-2

Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday 2:30 p.m.

TV: CBS

Amon Carter Stadium Saturday 6 p.m.

TV: FOX

Stanford Stadium Saturday 2 p.m.

TV: FOX

Tiger Stadium Saturday 6 p.m.

TV: ESPN

The Aggies have continued to surprise throughout their first season in the SEC, with their only two losses coming to Florida and LSU. Johnny Manziel has led the fourth-best offense in the nation in terms of scoring, as the Aggies have averaged 44.7 points in nine games. They are yet to face a defense like Alabama’s, as the Tide lead the nation in limiting opponents to just 9.1 points per game. Alabama is coming off of a huge win over LSU and has already won three games against ranked opponents. The Crimson Tide face West Carolina and Auburn in its final two contests, making this the biggest remaining hurdle on the way to another trip to the title game.

TCU has been solid in its first season as a member of the Big 12, as it is 3-3 in conference play and coming off of an electrifying double-overtime win over West Virginia. The TCU defense has not been as effective as it has been in recent history, with the Horned Frogs giving up 24.1 points per game on average. That might not be enough to stop the dynamic Wildcats offense, led by Heisman favorite Collin Klein. A loss in any of its remaining games would be devastating to Kansas State’s title hopes and TCU will be hungry to play spoiler against its conference rival.

Cody Vaz will take the field for Oregon State after Sean Mannion struggled returning from injury, while Kevin Hogan gets the nod after Josh Nunes started each of the Cardinal’s first nine games. Neither team relies too heavily on its offense to win games, however, as both boast Top 20 defenses in terms of points allowed. The difference in this one will likely come down to the Beavers’ ability to stop Stepfan Taylor. The running back has led the way for Stanford, rushing for 947 yards and eight scores and catching 26 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown. The winner takes sole possession of second place in the conference behind undefeated Oregon.

After beginning the year at 7-0, the Bulldogs are on a two-game losing streak and are still looking for their first win against a ranked opponent. LSU is No. 10 nationally in points allowed per game, but on offense the Tigers have struggled against top-flight defenses.

Against ranked teams, LSU has averaged just 17.7 points per game. Conference title hopes for both teams diminished after losses to the Crimson Tide, but LSU and Mississippi State could each improve their chances for a berth in a prominent bowl game with a win in this one.

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17

matchups

friday, november 9, 2012

17

PETER SBLENDORIO daily texan staff

QUARTERBACK

RUNNING BACK

wide RECEIVERS

OFFENSIVE LINE

David Ash broke out of his recent slump in a big way against Texas Tech last Saturday, throwing for 264 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 31-22 win. Despite battling some midseason inconsistency, Ash has been one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the Big 12, as he has completed 67.8 percent of his passes and recorded an average rating of 156.5. Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett have shared snaps for the Cyclones, but neither has been overly impressive through nine games. As a team, Iowa State has completed 58.6 percent of passes and thrown 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, good for an efficiency rating of 119.8.

Perhaps the biggest reason Iowa State is just 89th in the nation in scoring average is its inability to gain yards on the ground. Cyclones backs have averaged just 3.9 yards on 318 attempts, and they have only scored eight touchdowns on the ground. Three players have registered at least 62 carries for the Cyclones and the leading rusher is Shontrelle Johnson with 371 yards. On the other hand, the running game has been a strength for Texas. Freshman Johnathan Gray has emerged as a bigplay threat for the Longhorns and he leads the team with 533 yards on 101 carries. As a whole, Texas averages 4.8 yards per attempt and it has scored 27 times on the ground.

Mike Davis turned in his strongest performance Saturday in what has been a breakout season for the junior. Davis leads the team with 38 receptions, 724 yards and six touchdowns, and he has become a go-to deep threat for Ash. Jaxon Shipley also hauled in a touchdown last week, his fifth of the year, and he has settled in as a dependable target in his sophomore season. The Cyclones cannot match the big play-ability of the Texas receivers, as nobody in the Iowa State receiving corps has earned more than 326 yards or scored more than four touchdowns. Iowa State receivers have averaged just 10.2 yards per completion, which is nearly three yards less than the Longhorns have averaged.

The Texas offense seemed to shift back into its early season form against Texas Tech and the offensive line played a big part in this. The Longhorns are at their best when the line provides protection for Ash and opens up lanes for their bevy of running backs. Ash has only been sacked seven times in nine games this season and the Longhorns have averaged 4.8 yards per rush and 13 yards per reception thus far. Iowa State has not been nearly as efficient on offense this year, averaging 3.9 yards per carry and 10.2 yards per completion. The Cyclones have allowed a respectable 12 sacks this year, but overall the Iowa State offensive line has not been as consistent as the Texas front five.

advantage

advantage

advantage

advantage

DEFENSIVE LINE

LINEBACKERS

The Longhorns’ defensive line had another strong game against Tech, as it was able to get pressure on the quarterback and stop the running game on runs up the middle. Alex Okafor recorded another sack and now has eight on the season, and as a whole the Longhorns have brought down the opposing quarterback 20 times this season. Iowa State has not been able to generate as much pressure rushing the passer, as the Cyclones have recorded just 14 sacks as a team. The Cyclones are far better at stopping the run than are the Longhorns, but they have been vulnerable to big plays through the air, and this is thanks in large to the defensive line’s inability to get to the quarterback.

Iowa State has been one of the stingiest run defenses in the Big 12 because of the ability of the linebackers to stop runs that get past the defensive line. Opposing runners average just 3.8 yards per carry against the Cyclones’ defense, and as a whole Iowa State has limited teams to 141 yards per game on the ground.

The Texas linebackers played one of their best games of the season, holding Texas Tech to 112 yards on the ground and just 4.0 yards per carry. Steve Edmond had a nice game, leading the team with eight tackles and providing a critical pass breakup late in the game. There is still plenty of room for this unit to improve, however, as teams have averaged 206.2 yards rushing per game.

advantage

advantage

SECONDARY

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Cyclones have not been as strong in stopping the pass as they have been at stopping the run, as they have allowed 282.7 yards per game through the air.

This is the result of teams averaging more than 40 pass attempts per game against them. The Cyclones have also intercepted 12 passes and gained 264 yards on returns. Texas has allowed less pass yardage per game in nearly 100 fewer attempts against, but they have given up 13.3 yards per completion and intercepted three fewer passes than has Iowa State.

advantage

Kick to the Longhorns at your own risk. They average 24.3 yards on kickoff returns this season. Iowa State been stronger in returning punts, however, as the Cyclones have earned an average of 16.1 yards on punt returns compared to the 11.1 yards averaged by Texas. The Cyclones have also been more consistent on field goal tries, converting 7-of-10 attempts compared to Texas’ total of five (out of 10).

advantage

18

heisman watch

18

Friday, november 9, 2012

wes mauslby daily texan staff

RISING Kenjon Barner Senior RB, Oregon

Last Week: 38 rushes for 321 yards (8.4 yards per carry) and five TDs Season: 179 rushes for 1295 yards (7.2 yards per carry) and 19 TDs What was once a one-man race for the Heisman now has a second in contention. Barner has pulled even with Klein with his extraordinary game against USC. In the most important game of the season thus far for the Ducks, Barner had one of the best single-game performances not only of this season, but in the past few years. He set a school record for rushing yards in a single game, and led an offensive output that had never been put onto a USC team.

Oregon stays on the road this week and travels to Berkley to face Cal. After that, the deciding point of Oregon’s schedule begins. It plays Stanford and Oregon State, both of which are ranked. If Barner continues to play the way he did against USC, then he will almost definitely jump Klein, especially with Kansas State only having one ranked game left, and Oregon having two more with a likely Pac 12 championship game. The Heisman race just got a lot more interesting.

in contention Manti Te’o Senior LB, Notre Dame

Last Week: 7 tackles Season: 85 tackles and five interceptions Notre Dame survived a letdown game at home against Pitt last week following its big win over Oklahoma. Pitt was the first team to score at least 20 points on Notre Dame this season and finished with 26 after the overtime periods. This was also the first time Te’o finished with less than at least 10 tackles since a September contest against Michigan. Plus, with Oregon’s trouncing of USC last week, Notre Dame has been jumped in the poll, and needs some help. The main problem for the Irish right now is that their remaining schedule isn’t very imposing. Boston College only has two wins on the season and Wake Forest only five. The worst thing that could’ve happened to his campaign was for USC to lose as much as it has. Beating the Trojans would give them four losses. Te’o no longer controls his own destiny and needs some help in both the National Title and Heisman chases.

AJ McCarron Junior QB, Alabama

Last Week: 14-for-27 (52 percent) for 165 yards and one TDs Season: 136-for-204 (66 percent) for 1849 yards and 19 TDs In Alabama’s marquee game of the season, McCarron came through and led the Crimson Tide to the come-from-behind victory over LSU. McCarron was sluggish to start out the second half, but he commanded Alabama down the field completing four of his five passes on the seminal drive. Alabama’s offense could only get 331 yards against LSU’s defense, while giving up 435 yards to the Tigers. Now McCarron and Alabama have to be leery of a letdown game against a Texas A&M team that has enough offense to upset the Crimson Tide if it isn’t ready for the game. McCarron needs for others to lose if he is going to win the Heisman. His numbers aren’t impressive enough to vault him over the rest of the field.

leader Collin Klein Senior QB, Kansas State

Last Week: 16-for-22 (73 percent) for 245 yards. 17 rushes for 64 yards (3.8 yards per carry) and one TD Season: 133-for-187 (71 percent) for 1875 yards, 12 TDs and two interceptions, 139 rushes for 698 yards (5 yards per carry) and 17 TDs Klein continues to put together the same stat sheet in almost every game. He is basically guaranteed 200 yards passing and 70 yards rushing in every game.

The only knock on him is that he is not as flashy as Barner is and that could hurt him as the games get more and more important. Additionally, Klein’s injury could come into play if it restricts his play. Klein has two more conference road games left until the season finale against Texas at home. TCU will provide a tough test, but Baylor’s defense should wilt under the kind of pressure that Klein and the Kansas State offense will put on it.

falling Braxton Miller Sophomore QB, Ohio State

Last Week: 12-for-120 (60 percent) for 226 yards and two TDs. 18 rushes for 73 yards (4 yards per carry) and one TD Season: 124-for-218 (57 percent) for 1753 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. 174 rushes for 1166 yards (6.7 yards per carry) and 13 TDs Miller continues to stick around in the Heisman race, but it seems like he is sliding.

Ohio State simply isn’t getting the attention he needs to make a move to impress voters.

The Buckeyes are on probation, so the national focus isn’t on them. Another thing that is hurting him is that the Big Ten’s reputation has taken a massive shot this season, so even though Ohio State continues to win, it isn’t getting any credit. The Buckeyes have only played two teams that were ranked at the time they played. And there are currently only two ranked teams in the Big Ten, excluding Ohio State. Miller has been a one-man wrecking machine for Ohio State and is the main reason it is still undefeated. But his numbers aren’t shocking enough to make up for the lack of publicity he and the Buckeyes are getting.

Associated Press

19

big 12 notebook

friday, november 9, 2012

19

Klein expects to start, Stoops nears milestone win

By Hank South With November in full swing, the conference remains Kansas State’s to lose.

As the season enters the final few weeks of the regular season, the Big 12 will see its fair share of crucial games.

Let’s take a look at some of the conference notes heading into the weekend.

• Kansas State senior quarterback and Heisman frontrunner Collin Klein is expected to start this Saturday when the Wildcats visit TCU. Klein missed a good part of the second half versus Oklahoma State last weekend, presumably due to a concussion. Freshman Daniel Sams would start if for some reason the senior can’t go.

The dual-threat Sams completed five of six passes for 45 yards in place of the injured Klein last week versus Oklahoma State.

• TCU head coach Gary Patterson is a former Kansas State linebacker and was almost a shoe-in for the head coaching job after the Wildcats fired Ron Prince following the 2008 season. This Saturday’s game in Fort Worth will mark the first time Patterson has coached against his alma mater.

• The Sugar Bowl will host the winners of the Big 12 and SEC starting in 2015 in what is dubbed as the “Champions Bowl.” Both schools will split an $80 million payout, the same amount divvied up between the Rose Bowl participants.

• Nebraska and Oklahoma have a tentative agreement to begin a home-and-home series in 2021, the first game taking place in Norman before heading to Lincoln in 2022. The series would renew one of the oldest rivalries in college football, dating back to 1912. The Sooners lead the series with a 45-38-3 record.

The Cornhuskers moved to the Big Ten after the 2010 season.

• When West Virginia visits Oklahoma State this weekend, two teams with extremely similar philosophies will be teeing off. Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen spent the 2010 season as the offensive coordinator in Stillwater, and after so much success the

WVU continues on page 21

Zachary Strain | Daily Texan file photo West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen will face the team he was offensive coordinator for during the 2010 season this weekend when the Mountaineers play Oklahoma State.

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20

big 12 power rankings

20

friday, november 9, 2012

wes maulsbydaily texan staff

1

2

3

4

5

kansas state

Collin Klein left the game against Oklahoma State in the third quarter after an injury and the Wildcats still finished with a three touchdown win. The severity of this injury could have major implications on both the Big 12 championship as well as the national title. With Kansas State in the driver seat at No.2 in the country, all it has to do is win out to be in the BCS Championship game. While not impossible, that will be much more difficult to do if Klein is out of commission for a while. If he returns at anything near 100 percent this week, then the Wildcats should have no problems with TCU.

6

tcu

The Horned Frogs shook off a slump that saw them drop three of their past four games with a double overtime win against West Virginia in Morgantown. The win got TCU bowl eligible with games against the top three teams in the conference. First it has to take Kansas State this week and try to become the first team since Oklahoma to even be within a single score of the Wildcats. TCU has made a habit of forcing turnovers this season, but it has also coughed the ball up a few times itself. The Horned Frogs gave the ball away three times to West Virginia and was able to get away with a win. It won’t be able to skid by like that against Kansas state.

oklahoma

Oklahoma continues to trail Kansas State by a game and would need a monumental collapse in order to win the conference. Kansas State only has three games left, and it would have to lose two of them to two of the worst defenses in the conference. Kansas State also has a week off before facing Texas in the final game of the season. With that, it appears that the Sooner are playing to hold onto second place in the conference. Additionally, they are still in the hunt for a BCS selection. Unfortunately, the once-daunting Big 12 is thinning out. All of Oklahoma’s remaining opponents are unranked after being in the Top 25 at one point this season.

7

texas

It looked as though the Longhorns were going to get run out of Lubbock leading up to the game. The defense couldn’t stop anyone from rushing for a career high against them and the offense, which had been bailing it out all season, looked pedestrian against Kansas. It turns out that Texas may have just been looking ahead to its game against the Red Raiders and it was ready to play.

The defense still gave up too many big plays, but there were no game-breaking plays it had made a habit of giving up. With the defense starting to turn the corner, winning out could put Texas in contention for a BCS berth at the end of the season.

8

west virginia

What happened? It was not too long ago that West Virginia was on track to be in the national championship game and Geno Smith’s name was already being etched onto the Heisman Trophy. It’s amazing how much three straight losses can derail a season. West Virginia is now trying just to get eligible for a bowl.

Road trips to Iowa State and Oklahoma State will be tough, and a home match against Oklahoma will be tougher. Outside of the finale against Kansas, there is no easy game left for the struggling Mountaineers.

iowa state

The good news for the Cyclones: they still have a game against Kansas. The bad news: their other two games are against West Virginia and Texas. West Virginia may be struggling, but it is still explosive and bound to get off the schneid at some point.

Texas is starting to look like the team it was supposed to be a month ago, and Kansas ... well, Texas and West Virginia will be tough. One more win may not be enough to ensure the Cyclones a bowl berth.

texas tech

The Red Raiders are an improving and looked like a dark horse in the Big 12 after blowing West Virginia out of the water. But the Mountaineers have lost two straight after that big win, and Texas Tech has lost two of its last three games with the only win coming in triple overtime. Now it gets lowly Kansas this week with only a road trip to Stillwater and a neutral battle against Baylor separating Tech from a nine-win season. This season may not be as bright as it once looked, but the Red Raiders are already bowl eligible after a five-win campaign in 2011.

9

oklahoma state

Former offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen comes back to Stillwater guiding a floundering West Virginia team looking to avoid dropping its fourth straight game. Bedlam against Oklahoma seems to be the only daunting game left on the schedule with Texas Tech visiting the Cowboys and a season finale against Baylor who seems to have forgotten what defense is. The Cowboys offense was able to move the ball on Kansas State more than any other team this season, it just couldn’t hold onto it. Five turnovers doomed the Cowboys, even with Klein out for much of the second half.

10

baylor

For the first time this season, the Bears limited a team to under 20 points. Now Baylor gets to celebrate is accomplishment with four straight games against some of the most explosive offenses in the conference. Conference opponents are now only scoring 44 points a game against the Bears, so they have clearly turned the corner and are ready to take on Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State and limit those teams to only around a paltry 44 points a game.

kansas

The Jayhawks lost the battle of the basement to Baylor. They are only scoring 17 points a game. They haven’t scored 20 points in a conference game. Further analysis has determined that Kansas is not very good. But everyone already knew that, so let’s go ahead and wrap this up. Kansas’ last hope is a home game against Iowa State next week.

21

national notebook

friday, november 9, 2012

21

USC fires rogue student manager, WVU Michigan agrees to series with BYU

continues from page 19

By Hank South As the regular season inches towards completion, a handful of teams are still in contention for the championship. Let’s take a look at some of the national notes heading into the weekend.

• Kentucky announced Sunday that head coach Joker Phillips would not be returning next season after a 12-23 stint with the Wildcats. Rumors are spreading around college football that former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino has interest in filling the vacancy. Petrino has coached in Kentucky before, leading Louisville to an Orange Bowl victory over Wake Forest in 2006.

• A student manager at USC was fired after having been found to deflate five footballs used during the Trojans’ game versus Oregon last weekend. USC was also fined by the Pac-12 for the incident.

• Staying in Los Angeles, UCLA head coach Jim Mora stated he thought the creator of a fake Twitter account for cornerback Randall Goforth should be jailed. The Twitter fraud, “trash-tweeted” USC

receivers Marquis Lee and Robert Woods, both of whom responded to the fake account.

Since his statement, Mora has admitted he overreacted.

• Tennessee State freshman defensive back William Wayne Jones III died after collapsing in practice Wednesday. The redshirt freshman was returning a ball to a coach after a noncontact drill when he fell. Jones III had no preexisting conditions the team was aware of.

• Wisconsin fifth-year senior quarterback Curt Phillips will start versus Indiana this weekend, his first career start.

Maryland-transfer Danny O’Brien is listed as co-starter. This comes after redshirt freshman Joel Stave broke his collarbone two weeks ago against Michigan State. The Badgers have had a quarterback carousel throughout the season after O’Brien didn’t live up to his billing after transferring.

• BYU will begin a homeand-home series with Michigan in 2015. The Wolverines are replacing Notre Dame with the Cougars on their schedule. BYU also has scheduled a series with Virginia that will begin next

season in Charlottesville.

BYU has recently become an Independent in football.

• History doesn’t favor Oregon winning the BCS Championship after the Ducks gave up 51 points to USC last Saturday. No team has won the BCS Title after having given up more than 50 points during the regular season. Nebraska allowed 61 points to Colorado in 2001 before losing the title game to Miami, 37-14 at the Rose Bowl.

• Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly admitted he voted Notre Dame second in the Coaches Poll behind Alabama, with Oregon, Kansas State and Georgia following in order. Kelly said of the Crimson Tide, “I think [Alabama] started there and you have to take the belt from the champ. I think they deserve to be there until somebody beats them.”

• Alabama fans got their hands on LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger’s cell phone number prior to the game in Death Valley last Saturday. After scoring a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, Mettenberger made a cell phone gesture and held it to his ear, taunting the Tide fans. Call Zach, maybe?

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly leads his team onto the field for their spring game in South Bend, Ind. Kelly, in his third-year as head coach, has the unbeaten Fighting Irish in the national championship discussion with their best start in a decade at 7-0.

Joe Raymond Associated Press

Cowboys didn’t change too much after Holgorsen left for Morgantown. West Virginia defensive coordinator Joe DeForest spent the last 11 years as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at OSU. Running back and quarterback coaches Robert Gillespie and Jake Spavital also have stints in Stillwater. The game at Boone Pickens Stadium will feature the Nos. 2 and 19 total offenses, respectively.

• Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and former Oklahoma head coaching

legend Bud Wilkinson are tied with 145 career victories apiece heading into the weekend. Both are in the club of 14 head coaches in history with an .800 winning percentage, with at least 10 years in the saddle. Wilkinson led the Sooners to three national championships in the 1950s before taking his leave to run for the U.S. Senate.

• Kansas quarterback and BYU transfer Jake Heaps is sitting out this year due to NCAA transfer rules. Heaps, a former five-star recruit, will look to revitalize the Jayhawks next season after being able to fully partake in Kansas’ offense during his time on the bench. Freshman quarterback Michael

Cummings, who replaced senior Dayne Crist, has passed for 318 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions in five games this season.

BIG 12 GAMES Kansas at Texas Tech 11 a.m.

WVU at OSU 2:30 p.m. ABC Baylor at OU 2:30 p.m.

Kansas State at TCU 6 p.m. FOX

IOWA STATE AT TEXAS 11 a.m. LHN

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guest column

22

Friday, november 9, 2012

Cyclones performing well in Lone Star State, look to Jantz for spark

By Jake Calhoun Iowa State Daily

AMES, Iowa — I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The Big 12 makes no sense.

The preseason favorite is always Oklahoma, which always finds a way to slip up; West Virginia looked like an unstoppable force until its pedestrian loss to Texas Tech; and anybody can essentially beat anybody because everyone is already beating up on each other as it is.

My jaw is still on the floor of the press box at Jack Trice Stadium from when Iowa State upset then-No. 2 Oklahoma State last season.

Watching the crowd storm the field for the second time that season with the entire country watching on a primetime Friday night game on ESPN, Iowa State crystallized the otherwise-latent parity of the Big 12 Conference.

Going into that game, I didn’t think Iowa State — which had been struggling to become bowl-eligible with three ranked teams remaining on its schedule — even remotely had a chance to beat the No. 2 team in the nation. On paper, Oklahoma State was the superior team and had proven itself as such against the rest of the Big 12 leading up to that game.

But the Cowboys didn’t execute as well as they should have, allowing the Cyclones to come back from a twotouchdown deficit to send the game into overtime. In the second overtime, the Cyclone defense picked off a pass from Brandon Weeden to set up the game-winning touchdown for a result that would essentially play into to the installment of

a four-team playoff of the BCS since Oklahoma State was snubbed from a shot at playing for a national title.

Even though Iowa State is a 10.5-point underdog for its game against No. 19 Texas this weekend, don’t bat an eye at the notion of an upset considering the Cyclones won in Austin two seasons ago.

Yes, the teams are different now and Iowa State is without its leading tackler in linebacker Jake Knott for the rest of the season. But Iowa State is 3-2 in the state of Texas under coach Paul Rhoads and has already had a victory in the state this season against TCU in Fort Worth Oct. 6.

In those five games in the state of Texas, Iowa State has outscored its opponents by a narrow margin of 142-135 with all three wins coming against ranked teams (No. 22 Texas in 2010, No. 19 Texas Tech in 2011 and No. 15 TCU this year).

There are 19 players on the ISU roster that hail from the state of Texas and many of them always have an extra spark in their game whenever they play a conference opponent in the state of Texas.

“I feel like it’s personal when I play them,” said running back James White before the win against TCU. “Any team that’s from Texas, I want to do my best against them — prove them wrong, show them what they missed out on.”

But yet, the main issue Iowa State has been having is its play at quarterback.

Quarterback Steele Jantz earned the starting job after a disparaging loss to Oklahoma State three weeks ago had stripped then-starter Jared Barnett of his job.

Jantz suffered his first loss as a starter last season in a 37-14

Charlie Neibergall | Associated Press Iowa State quarterback Steele Jantz runs from Baylor cornerback Ahmad Dixon during the first half of the game Oct. 27 in Ames, Iowa.

contest against Texas. In that game, the Cyclones laid an egg as the Longhorns took a 34-0 lead going into halftime.

This season, Jantz hasn’t looked stellar even though his stat line isn’t as bad on the surface — 12 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 63.6 percent

pass completion percentage.

But Jantz’s main issue is that he lacks the ability to lead the offense on a consistent basis. From what I’ve seen in my two years of covering the team, the offense sputters more than half the time with Jantz behind center and his

chemistry with the wide receivers is not the greatest.

If Jantz has a bad game, the offense will not be able to get things going. This means the defense will wear down and give up more yardage and points than it should, making it almost a sure loss for

Iowa State.

I guarantee you Mack Brown and his staff already know this having successfully executed this game plan a year ago.

But then again, as has been proven a lot this season, things are not always what they seem, especially in the Big 12.

23

texan staff picks

friday, november 9, 2012

23

nick cremona

lauren giudice

chris hummer

christian corona

sara beth purdy

PETER SBLENDORIO

wes maulsby

hank south

matt warden

6-4

6-4

8-2

9-1

8-2

7-3

7-3

6-4

6-4

Overall Record

50-35

59-26

53-32

62-23

52-33

53-32

59-26

59-26

50-35

Texas vs. Iowa State

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Kansas State

Kansas State

Kansas State

Kansas State

Kansas State

Kansas State

Kansas State

TCU

Kansas State

Mississippi State vs. LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

Oregon State vs. Stanford

Oregon State

Oregon State

Stanford

Stanford

Stanford

Stanford

Stanford

Stanford

Oregon State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma St.

West Virginia

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

West Virginia

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

West Virginia

Kansas vs. Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Penn State vs. Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska

Arizona State

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

USC

Last Week’s Record

Texas A&M vs. Alabama

Kansas State vs. TCU

Baylor vs. Oklahoma

WVU vs. Oklahoma State

Arizona State vs. USC

24

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