Double Coverage 2012-11-21

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the daily texan presents

november 21, 2012

Vol. 7, issue 12

senior send-off page 12

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wednesday, november 21, 2012

thelineup 4

Goodbye to A&M

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Phillips back on track

The Longhorns and Aggies won’t play each other this season for the first time since 1915. Here’s a look back at the rivalry.

Junior safety Adrian Phillips had his share of mishaps early this season, but after taking time to hone his skills he has reclaimed his starting spot.

No. 1 Shiro Davis | Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan Staff No. 84 Marquise Goodwin | Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan file photo

previews&Notebooks 14 16 17 21 22

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Players to watch

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games to watch

Believe in boykin

The Horned Frogs have asked a lot from their redhshirt freshman quarterback Trevone Boykin, and more times than not he has been up to the challenge.

Home for the Holiday

The Longhorns’ 2012 senior class will play its final home game against TCU. After enduring a rough patch or two, the seniors want to leave the Texas program the way they found it—in a BCS bowl game.

big 12 power rankings National notebook

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big 12 notebook

the daily texan presents

november 21, 2012

Vol. 7, issue 12

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

Frogs here to stay

TCU head coach Gary Patterson made some changes to his team’s practice schedule leading up to the Horned Frogs’ game against the Longhorns. A rested TCU squad could spell trouble for Texas.

Texas had its bye last week, and this week it’s saying bye-bye to Texas A&M and hello to TCU. The Horned Frogs flaunt a tough defense and a blossoming quarterback, but Texas looks to be figuring things out on both sides of the ball. My prediction—Texas 30, TCU 21. Double Coverage returns next week to preview the Longhorns’ regular season finale at Kansas State.

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Horns in position to win Big 12

By Christian Corona Sports Editor

A little more than three weeks ago, Mike Davis made a bold prediction.

“I feel like we can still go to a BCS bowl,” the junior wide receiver said Oct. 29. “We’ve got hope. College football today is crazy. You can lose at anytime. You don’t ever know what can happen. You just have to be ready.”

At the time, the assertion seemed far-fetched. Texas was coming off an unimpressive, 21-17 comeback win over last-place Kansas. The Longhorns’ 6-2 record wasn’t indicative of their recent struggles. Disappointing losses to West Virginia and Oklahoma preceded narrow victories over Baylor and Kansas that were too close for comfort.

But, suddenly, following stellar wins over Texas Tech and Iowa State, Texas is in the BCS bowl picture. A Big 12 title is not out of reach.

All that has to happen for the Longhorns to capture the conference crown is win out – beat TCU this Thanksgiving and take down Kansas State in Manhattan the following Saturday – and for Oklahoma

State to beat Oklahoma in Norman this Friday.

That would create a fourway tie between Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Kansas State – all of whom would finish 7-2 in Big 12 play under this scenario. With Kansas State (2-1) and Texas (2-1) owning the best records over the other three teams involved in the tiebreaker, the Longhorns would win the Big 12 via their win over the Wildcats on Dec. 1.

“After the two losses we had, we all realized that you give up controlling your own destiny when you do that and all you can do is focus on what you can take care of,” junior guard Mason Walters said. “If you wish another team to lose, it’s not going to matter. The good thing is we’ve worked and continued to build something.”

Now it doesn’t look too bad.”

Davis was right – college football today is crazy. Baylor’s stunning win over topranked Kansas State on Saturday, making it two straight weeks the No. 1 team in the land went down, was perfect evidence of that.

But he hasn’t been proven right quite yet. Assuming Texas will just stroll into Manhattan and stroll out with a win would be fool-

Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan Staff After losing back-to-back games against West Virginia and Oklahoma, Texas’ BCS hopes seemed to be fading. Since their loss to the Sooners, the Longhorns have reeled off four straight wins. Texas needs a little help, but could find itself in a major bowl come January.

ish. Even looking past TCU would be ill-advised.

The Horned Frogs have lost three of their last four games and have yet to beat a team with a winning record this year. They’re 6-0 against

teams at or below .500 and 0-4 against everyone else.

But Texas having a chance to win the Big 12 doesn’t change the fact that Kansas State has its number. The Longhorns have not won in

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Manhattan in a decade. They haven’t beaten K-State anywhere since 2003.

Even when Texas has been better than K-State (see: 2006, 2007), it hasn’t been able to top the Wildcats. The Longhorns

are going to see a Kansas State squad coming off a bye week, a crushing defeat in its most recent game and playing at home with one of the nation’s

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wednesday, november 21, 2012

looking back

Longhorns move past rivalry with Aggies

By Ryan Haddox Family, turkey and too many desserts to count are a few things we look forward to each Thanksgiving. For Longhorn fans across the country, Thanksgiving has also been associated with a chance to re-establish their dominance against in-state rival Texas A&M. One of the most heated rivalries in college football, the game that first started in 1894 has brought the state of Texas some of its most precious memories on the gridiron.

The stories are passed down from generation to

generation like old fables we all grew up on. Each university mentions the other in its fight song, and traditions were born a century ago that can be attributed to the rivalry. The Lone Star Showdown has been sewn into the fabric of each university and its alumni base, bringing with it a searing hatred for one another.

And while this all still holds true today, for the first time since 1915 the game will not be played. Texas A&M’s move to the SEC, along with other factors, are causing college football’s third-most played rivalry to take a break, forcing new opponents onto each other during Thanksgiving. While

it is a crime against anyone who enjoys good football on the holidays to have the game suspended, each university will carry on until the rivalry is renewed one day in the future.

For Texas, the end of the Lone Star Showdown means a few things. For instance, the Hex Rally, which came alive in 1941, won’t carry near the weight it has the past 71 years.

The tradition began when a few students sought the advice of a local fortune teller on how to beat the Aggies, who held an 18-year win streak at home against the Longhorns.

She advised the students to burn red candles all week before the game to put a hex on

the Aggies, and it worked. The Longhorns won the game 230, and a tradition was born.

Now steps in TCU. The rally will still take place, and it will still be special, but it almost certainly won’t carry the same vibe it has for decades prior.

The tradition was born to beat the Aggies, and the Horned Frogs of TCU don’t invoke near the level of repulsion that requires a hex to be put on them to help ensure victory.

Another tradition that will change on Thursday is the school that Texas historically owns will be different. Texas held a 76-37-5 series advantage over the Aggies, good for a 69.6 winning percentage. Now,

Texas will have a chance to improve on its win percentage over TCU. The schools have met 82 times over the course of their history, the last being in 2007 when the Longhorns won 34-13. Texas holds a 6120-1 record over TCU, equaling out to a win percentage of 75 percent. Since the Lone Star Showdown began annually in 1915, the Longhorns have had a pretty rich tradition of winning football games against the Aggies on Thanksgiving. Now the Longhorn faithful will have to hope the winning part of that tradition sticks, even if it is another Texas school on the football field.

It will be a weird experience

come Thursday night when the Longhorns line up to face TCU. There will be no horns to be “sawed off ”, there will be no Reveille and there will be no “goodbye to Texas University” booming throughout the stadium. Instead, another rivalry will be revived, even if it is on a much different scale.

The show will go on despite the irregularities in the week leading up to the game and the atmosphere pre-kickoff. Texas will get the chance to flex its muscles on someone else, a new Big 12 member anxious to show the world they can hang with the big boys of the state. It will be exhilarating and bizarre all at the same time.

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan file photo Keenan Robinson (1) attempts to contain Texas A&M running back Ben Malena (23) during Texas’ 27-25 win over the Aggies last season. The Longhorns and Aggies have parted ways since the Aggies’ move to the SEC and have no plans of playing one another for at least one more year. Texas will continue its tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day, but the Aggies have opted out of the game.

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moving forward

Horned Frogs pose new challenge on Thanksgiving

By Lauren Giudice This Thanksgiving, Texans will experience a new tradition. The rivalry that dominated college football in Texas for over 100 years ended when Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC. Now, the Longhorns will find a new in-state rival in TCU. It’s certainly different, but the Texas players aren’t letting it get to them. They’re trying to win out and, though they don’t control their own destiny, potentially win a Big 12 title.

“We have to be ready for TCU,” junior safety Adrian Phillips said. “A&M was a good rivalry and we ended it the way that it was supposed to be ended and now TCU is in our conference and they’re playing us this Thursday so we’re just going to have to take it to them.”

Kicker Justin Tucker hit a 40-yard game winning field goal as time expired to give the Longhorns a 27-25 win during their final matchup against the Aggies.

Texas, especially its seniors, is hoping to start this new instate rivalry with a win.

“This could be the start of something,” said senior running back Jeremy Hills.

“If it is, I’m glad we got the chance to start it. We’ve just got to make sure we start it off the right way. It’s pretty cool and I’m excited.”

It’s a start of something, likely a Thanksgiving alternation of games versus TCU and Texas Tech, but it is also an end for many players. It will be senior night at DKR and, though the class of 2014 is small, they will say goodbye to Texas and hello to the

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff Freshman tailback Daje Johnson (27) finds a seam in the Iowa State defense during Texas’ last game, a 33-7 win on Nov. 10. The Longhorns will face TCU on Thanksgiving Day, but after this season their opponent is expected to change on a yearly basis after their long-standing commitment to playing Texas A&M was dissolved.

Horned Frogs.

The goal of this class was to get this team back on track after falling apart in 2010.

Progress was made in 2011, when the Longhorns went 8-5. A 10-win season is now in sight. The next step is a win over a team Texas has only played twice since the breakup of the Southwest Conference in 1995.

“I’m happy to be playing on Thanksgiving,” said senior defensive end Alex Okafor.

“It’s a primetime game, as big as any game in the season.

Honestly if you’re going to mention A&M, I feel sorry for them not being in this game anymore because they don’t get the opportunity that we have to play in front of the whole country. So that’s what I’m excited about.”

Junior guard Mason Walters is excited that Texas is starting a new tradition with a team the Longhorns have a few things in common with.

“Tradition changes a little bit and that’s fun to be a part of,” Walters said. “Then again, it is different. Hopefully this first go-round will be something we start off right and maybe someday we finish right.”

Head coach Mack Brown is sad to see the end of the rivalry between the Longhorns and the Aggies. But, like Walters, he is also glad that the Longhorns will still play on Thanksgiving and

against a SWC rival.

“When A&M left our league and the decision was made that the two teams would not play anymore, I felt like that I still wanted to play on Thanksgiving because I think it’s a great time to play for many reasons,” he said. “I’m really excited that we’re playing an old Southwest Conference rival and foe that has really done a great job in the BCS the last few years.”

‘

This could be the start of something...We’ve just got to make sure we start it off the right way. It’s pretty cool and I’m excited.

—Jeremy Hills, senior running back

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wednesday, november 21, 2012

Texas A&M settles into new conference with surprising ease

By Trey Scott

Associate Managing Editor

Man, Texas A&M is cool.

Seriously. Not satirically. The Aggies are all the rage, with a dizzying style of play and big conference wins and OMG JFF. These aren’t the Aggies we grew up watching. Those guys were whiners, who blamed losses on the clock running out. Those guys choked away leads. And so we laughed out loud at their mistakes and their hubris, for thinking they could succeed in the Southeastern Conference when they couldn’t in the Big 12.

On the eve of what would have been the 119th Lone Star Showdown, now’s the time to come out and say it: Texas

A&M made the right decision to jump east. Texas might be wishing it did the same.

No, the SEC isn’t a better conference than the Big 12, from top to bottom. The Big 12 currently has seven bowleligible teams, will definitely finish with eight (West Virginia will beat Kansas) and might end up with nine (if Baylor beats Texas Tech or Oklahoma). That’s 90 percent of the conference going bowling. The vaunted SEC, on the other hand, will probably send eight of its 14 teams to the postseason.

But the SEC is more relevant than the Big 12, with games that draw larger media attention and national spotlight. On the same day the Aggies beat No. 1 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on CBS, Texas dispatched a boring — but

going-bowling — Iowa State team with ease at 11 a.m. on the Longhorn Network.

The Aggies are making a push to becoming the preferred school of choice for many of the state’s best prospects. The Longhorns are No. 8 in ESPN’s recruiting rankings while Texas A&M is No. 12, with a chance to zoom upward if five-star athlete (and one-time Texas commit) Ricky Seals-Jones ends up in College Station.

Recruits love the Aggies’ free-wheeling offensive style, without even a playbook, where receivers are asked to just get open and Johnny Manziel will find them, or space to run. Manziel, like most good quarterbacks, was once recruited by the

A&M continues on page 11

Dave Martin | Associated Press Texas A&M wide receiver Kenric McNeal (5), quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) and defensive back Dustin Harris (22) celebrate a 29-24 win over top ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Nov. 10.

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Phillips improves after tackling issues

By Lauren Giudice Adrian Phillips had big shoes to fill. He followed safety Blake Gideon, who started all 52 games he played in at Texas.

But it took Phillips more time than he thought to excel in the starting safety spot.

“It was a struggle at the beginning of the year but me and (secondary) coach (Duane) Akina, we just talked about it and I just kept working,” Phillips said. “I couldn’t get too down on myself because the more you get down on yourself, the worse that you play. I just had to identify the problem and get it fixed.”

Throughout preseason, Phillips’ coaches spoke highly of his performance and of his abilities. But early on, he, along with the rest of the defense, performed below the standard that was expected.

He struggled through Texas’ first few games and lost his spot on top of the depth chart to sophomore Mykkele Thompson after poor performaces against Oklahoma State and West Virginia. Specifically, Phillips missed two open field tackles that led to two long touchdowns for Oklahoma State. Against the Sooners, Phillips was twice hurdled by fullback Trey Millard.

Phillips worked hard and found his way back to the top of the depth chart.

“It was just missed tackles,” Phillips said. “I just have to eliminate the missed tackles and that can hurt any defense. One player can mess up the whole team and I just have to get that fixed.”

He and the rest of the defense are far from perfection. But missed tackles are gradually becoming less of an issue for them. Tackling is a basic skill for any defensive football player. So that’s what

Daily Texan staff photos Above: Junior safety Adrian Phillips (17) didn’t have a picturesque start to the season, but after realizing the mistakes he was making he has steadily improved and earned the trust of his coaches and teammates once again. Phillips’ improvements came after working on fundamental techniques like taking better angles and wrapping up in the open field. Top Right: Phillips stays warm on a stationary bike during the Longhorns’ 31-22 win over Texas Tech Nov. 3. Bottom Right: Texas Tech running back Eric Stephens (34) is taken down by Phillips during a game in Lubbock.

Phillips did. He went back to the basics.

He focused on taking better angles. He said he was trying to do too much at times and now he lets the play come to him. Phillips said the defense made the decision to be a dominating defense again. Senior safety Kenny Vaccaro is a leader on the team and helped Phillips during his slump.

“I think he’s improved a lot,” Vaccaro said. “I think

his confidence got down.

I told him, ‘Bro, my junior year, I didn’t start out hot.

Nobody was talking about me and then I got better. If you get better and better every game, that’s how you get better as a player.’ I think he really took that to heart and started playing better.”

Head coach Mack Brown noted that he has seen Phillips’ tackling improve as the season has gone on. Phillips and the rest of the defense

used people’s negative criticism of them as an inspiration to play better.

“You have to take more pride in your work,” Phillips said. “You have to get it in your mind that this is what we’re going to do and we can’t allow the offense to do that.”

Phillips didn’t practice in the spring or fall due to a shoulder surgery. It is unclear if that was holding him back this season.

Alex Okafor, the other se-

nior defensive leader, is glad to see Phillips’ improvement.

Phillips and the defense used the negative criticism to inspire them to play better.

“One thing I’ll give to him, he has thick skin,” Okafor said.

“He received a lot of criticism at the beginning of the season but he didn’t let it get to him. He always kept a positive mindset. I’m just so proud of him for being able to stay on and stay confident and continue to elevate his game.”

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wednesday, november 21, 2012

Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan Staff Sophomore tight end Greg Daniels (81) hauls in a pass from David Ash on the first play from scrimmage during the Longhorns’ 33-7 win over Iowa State. Both Daniels and senior Barrett Matthews have made tight end an area of strength for the Longhorns after a recent stretch of ineffectiveness at the position. Daniels and Matthews are now considered integral pieces of the Longhorns’ offense.

Tight ends bolster Texas offense after down period

By Chris Hummer Senior tight end Barrett Matthews and sophomore tight end Greg Daniels have been used sparingly in the passing game this season, with their biggest contributions coming in the run game. However, that changed against Iowa State.

Each player was lined up on the Longhorns’ first offensive snap of the game – scheduled to be Texas’ wishbone tribute to Darrell K Royal — and both made a major impact.

Matthews was on the field to block, the Longhorns threw a double-reverse pass, and he had to hold up a collapsing

linebacker to make the play work. It was important, but Daniels’ job was a bit more stressful. He was tasked with making the catch that would honor Royal, and after he sold the run block, Daniels sprinted to the corner on the Texas sideline, pulling away from the pursuit to haul in the 47-yard catch.

“I am honored that they called my number,” Daniels said.

“It was great to catch a pass and get open. I’m just honored they trusted me to do that.”

Trust is something that has been building in the coaching staff for Daniels and Matthews both. Each has been a practice warrior despite limited playing time, and every time they’ve laid out a solid block, the more and more that the coaching

staff believes they can perform under pressure.

“Having Greg and Barrett on the first play - that was a no brainer,” co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said. “Those guys have practiced well. They play hard, and they have done a lot of things to deserve to be in there.”

Daniels had his huge moment on the first offense snap – the play was shown all over national television that day – but Matthews’ came on a bit smaller scale a quarter later.

The Longhorns drove the ball to the Cyclones’ three-yard line, and that’s when Harsin decided to go deep into the

DANIELS continues on page 11

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heisman watch

wednesday, november 21, 2012

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wes maulsby daily texan staff Associated Press

Johnny Manziel, Freshman QB, Texas A&M

Last Week: 14-for-20 (70 percent) for 267 yards three TDs and one interception. 16 rushes for 100 yards (6.3 yards per carry) and two TDs Season: 241-for-356 (67.7 percent) for 3047 yards 21 TDs and seven interceptions. 172 rushes for 1114 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and 17 TDs Manziel has skyrocketed onto the Heisman scene with his performance agaisnt Alabama.

Two weeks ago the freshman completed 77 percent of his passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 92 yards. He is now among the leaders for the Heisman, with Kansas State and Oregon losing Saturday. Manziel’s loss to Florida and ugly performance against LSU aren’t being mentioned in the wake of his stellar game against Alabama. Although, without a confernece championship game, he will be sitting at home on the last week of the season while others are still playing high profile games.

Braxton Miller, Sophomore QB, Ohio State

Last Week: 10-for-18 (56 percent) for 97 yards. 23 rushes for 48 yards (2.1 yards per carry) Season: 134-for-236 (57 percent) for 1850 yards 14 TDs and six intercpetions. 207 rushes for 1214 yards (5.9 ayrds per carry) and 13 TDs Miller was caught in a defensive slugfest against Wisconsin and was not able to put up very impressive numbers. Despite that, Ohio State was able to come away with another close win.

This was Ohio State’s sixth game decided by a single posession and second overtime win in the past four games. Miller’s lines at times aren’t impressive, but he is one of the primary reasons for Ohio State’s perfect record this season, and has been very explosive and dangerous at times. Even with Ohio State out of the spotlight completely due to the NCAA probation, people will always pay attention when Ohio State plays. People will pay extra attention Saturday when the Buckeyes play arch-rival Michigan. Miller needs to put on a show.

Kenjon Barner Senior RB, Oregon

Last Week: 21 rushes for 66 yards (3 yards per carry) Season: 220 rushes for 1426 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and 19 TDs Since running for 321 yards against USC, Barner has been held in check rushing for 131 yards in his past two games combined. With Oregon’s loss to Stanford, it no longer controls its own destiny in the Pac-12, either. Stanford has to lose to UCLA in order for Oregon to have a chance. Meanwhile, the Ducks still have to take care of business against a nasty Oregon State team that has surprised a lot of people this season. Barner has gotten it done in other games this season and still has a chance at possibly two games if Stanford goes down. He is now the one that needs help in order to land college football biggest prize. If he can explode for a big game against Oregon State, then he has a chance. He is still one of the most explosive players in the country, but he has to find a way to break loose for some big plays. He’s shown that he can do it, now he just has to execute.

Manti Te’o Senio LB, Notre Dame

Last Week: Six tackles Season: 96 tackles and six interceptions Te’o and Notre Dame needed help and they got it. Stanford and Baylor both won to put Notre Dame atop the rankings and in position for the national championship. The win also puts Te’o on the No. 1 team in the country. He is a sure bet as an All-American candidate and will be carrying the banner of the defense into New York for the Heisman ceremony. The only thing that is working against him at this point is USC. The Trojans have had nowhere near the kind of season they expected and are now looking th Holiday Bowl right in the face. Losing to Notre Dame would be its second loss to the Irish in three years. Those two programs are going in different directions: USC is falling apart at the seams while Notre Dame is making its long-awaited return to national prominence. Its return is being led by Te’o, which gives him as good a chance at taking the award as any defensive player in the past few years.

Collin Klein Senior QB, Kansas State

Last Week: 27-for-50 (54 percent) for 286 yards two TDs and three interceptions. 17 rushes for 39 yards Season: 172-for-258 (66 percent) for 2306 yards 14 TDs and six interceptions. 171 rushes for 787 yards and 20 TDs Baylor crushed Kansas State’s dream of a national championship and put a major dent in Klein’s Heisman campaign. Klein, who threw three interceptions against the Bears, could still be in the lead for the Heisman, but it is razorthin. He looked great early, but it’s a what-haveyou-done-for-me-lately world and he has to produce. The senior has a week off to prepare for the season finale against Texas in what has become a major game. A loss will cost Kansas State the conference title and an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game. Texas’ defense has been playing better of late and will also have extra days to prepare. Beat Texas and look good doing it, and the Heisman likely goes to Klein. Lose, and he has to watch it slip away along with so many other things from this season.

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wednesday, november 21, 2012

Entering Week 12, Texas sits in an interesting spot in the Big 12. Although the Longhorns have suffered two disappointing losses, they still have a lot to be thankful for as they have an outside chance of claiming the conference title.

After a string of impressive wins and improvements, the Longhorns will enter Thanksgiving Day against a predictable TCU squad. In order to continue its success, Texas will need to manipulate this predictability.

be wary of turnovers As stated over and over again, the Longhorns’ bread and butter is running the football. They pound and pound, wearing down defenses while racking up easy yards in the process. Against TCU, Texas will need to be wary of the Horned Frogs ability to strip and steal the football. TCU has forced opponents into 26 turnovers this season, which amounts to just over two per contest. The Longhorns haven’t been prone to turnovers, but they will need to protect the football at all costs when running the football. When the Longhorns look to pass, they should keep in mind that 17 of those 26 TCU turnovers have been interceptions. The Horned Frogs can capitalize on bad decisions by signal callers and the Longhorns should make sure to stay under control at all times in this game. Texas shouldn’t be overly concerned, but the Longhorns should definitely be wary of TCU’s ability to force turnovers.

get the ball in the red zone With the Longhorns’ ability to run the football, red zone opportunities are often prevalent. TCU’s opponents have had an 83-percent success rating in the red zone this season and the Longhorns should look to increase this percentage. Joe Bergeron and Johnathan Gray have had their way with defenses in the red zone and will surely have some great opportunities to add to their touchdown totals in this game if Texas can get into the red zone. It might sound like an obvious plan to get within twenty yards of the end zone, but it’s worth noting that TCU has had problems defending when teams make it there. Texas should look to impose its will and get into the red zone in this game, where opponents have thrived against the Horned Frogs thus far.

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change the stats With all of this talk of running the football, it’s pretty clear the Longhorns should continue adding to their statistics by running the football in this game.

TCU has proven the ability to hold up against rushing attacks this season, only allowing 984 yards and eight rushing touchdowns through ten games. Texas should look to pound the ball relentlessly and change this theme of success. If they apply constant pressure with the run and wear down the TCU defense, momentum could quickly turn and stay in the hands of the Longhorns. Sometimes the best way to break down a wall is to run right through it. The Horned Frogs have proven stout against the rush this season, so Texas should use its proven backs to run right through this solid defense.

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Boykin revives Frogs, could be 2013 starter

By Sara Beth Purdy When TCU quarterback Casey Pachall was suspended indefinitely for a DWI arrest, the Horned Frogs turned to the only other player who had lined up under center this season on the roster, redshirt freshman Trevone Boykin.

Before assuming the starting duties, Boykin had played as a backup throwing for 74 yards and a touchdown through three games while racking up 122 yards on the ground. At this point in the season, after six games as the starting quarterback, Boykin has 1,540 yards in the air with 14 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 58.3 completion percentage. In addition, he has two touchdowns on the ground while rushing for 267 yards, the third leading rusher for TCU. Considering the circumstances, Boykin’s 2-4 record doesn’t accurately show the progress he has made leading the Horned Frogs and the strides he has made towards solidifying his position as their starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. “[Trevone] is a natural leader,” offensive lineman Blaize Foltz said last week. “It showed when he came back into the game after getting banged up. We definitely have a better chance to win when he is in the game for us.”

A&M

continues from page 6 Longhorns to play in the secondary. As the legend of ‘Johnny Football’ continues to grow, there’s a very good

Against Baylor on Oct. 13, Boykin had a career day during a 49-21 blowout victory.

He threw for 261 yards and four touchdowns, completing 73 percent of his passes.

On the ground, Boykin also had 56 yards and one touchdown. He didn’t commit a turnover.

A pair of losses to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, which included a injury against the Cowboys, didn’t derail Boykin. Against West Virginia, he orchestrated a come-from-behind 39-38 victory for the Horned Frogs which included two overtimes. Boykin had 254 yards in the air and two touchdowns with 28 yards on the ground.

Although he is a powerful passing quarterback, Boykin can scramble when he needs to. Faced with a fourth-andfive situation against West Virginia, Boykin ran for 11 yards for the first down and then scampered for eight yards to set up good field goal position to tie the game.

Later on in the game, Boykin threw a 95-yard touchdown to tie the game again and force overtime.

Even though Pachall is allowed to return in 2013 for another chance to play, Boykin may have solidified himself as next year’s go-to guy. Boykin prevented what could have been a disastrous season and guaranteed TCU a spot in the postseason. chance he brings home the Heisman in a couple of weeks.

Few thought new head coach Kevin Sumlin’s spread offense could work in the rugged SEC, but it has, prolifically. The Aggies are fifth nationally in total offense and sixth in scoring.

DANIELS continues from page 8

LM Otero | Associated Press TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) is hit by Kansas State defensive end Adam Davis (55) and linebacker Arthur Brown (4) during the first half of a game Nov. 10 in Fort Worth.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury — a terrific quarterback at Texas Tech in a previous life — will get head coaching offers in the offseason, if he isn’t slotted as a Ryan Gosling body double beforehand. The aura Sumlin and Kingsbury bring to

the living rooms of recruits across the state is impactful.

“I feel like they gave me the best chance to produce,” Thomas Johnson, a standout 2012 wideout who once was verbally committed to Texas, said after choosing the Aggies on National Signing

Day. “It wasn’t difficult.”

Texas A&M has shed its reputation as an also-ran and will soon be chasing conference and national championships. So as we enjoy turkey and pie this Thanksgiving, let’s not forget that helping of crow.

playbook. Ash received the snap and rolled left, tossing the ball up to a wide open Matthews, who had snuck into the back corner of the end zone after shedding his block, for a touchdown.

Ash said Matthews was the only option on that play, and the senior did everything right to earn his first touchdown reception since his sophomore year. It was a play call designed to reward Matthews for all his hard work and for not getting frustrated despite his lack of playing time.

“That was something that we put together because you want to throw a guy a bone that has been out there grinding, banging his head out there for a lot of games and just being physical but not complaining about it,” Harsin said.

It may have been just a bone, but it could be the most rewarding gimme Matthews has ever received, Matthews said after the game.

Both tight ends made huge plays against the Cyclones, but their careers are headed in quite different directions.

Matthews is finishing up his time at Texas, and he’ll be working to enjoy his last few games while ensuring the Longhorns finish as strongly as possible. Daniels, on the other hand, is steadily improving as an all-around tight end in his first season the position after playing defensive end in high school.

The tight ends aren’t a goto group yet, but the pair, along with D.J. Grant and M.J. McFarland are working hard to change that.

“We are still building and still want more things to come to us,” Matthews said.

“We want to be able to lead the offense, but they still have to trust us and we are still building trust.”

so long, seniors

d.j. grant tight end

D.J. Monroe running back

jeremy hills running back

Luke Poehlmann offensive tackle

kenny vacarro safety

Class of 2012 endures, plays in final home game

By Chris Hummer There are only seven listed as starters on the depth chart, and their contributions are just as scattered and spotty.

But on Thanksgiving, the 2012 senior class will take center stage.

Thursday evening’s game against TCU is the Longhorns’ senior night, and each member of the senior class, which includes only nine scholarship players, will stroll onto the field for their final game at Darrell K RoyaTexas Memorial Stadium.

There are only nine, but the number is appropriately representative of the up-anddown journey they took to this point.

“A lot of guys didn’t last in our class,” safety Kenny Vaccaro. “We’re the lone few.”

They may be few, but they couldn’t be more proud. When this group of seniors started at

alex okafor defensive end

Texas they competed for a national title, but the tide turned from there. In 2010, Texas finished 5-7, the team’s worst record in the Mack Brown era.

Then in 2011, they laid the foundation for a turnaround with an 8-5 season.

Now, the senior class is leading Texas on a resurgence. Vaccaro and Alex Okafor have become the pillars of the defense, holding the unit up despite its poor start in Big 12 play. Offensively, the seniors haven’t made as much of an impact, but hard-working role players like Luke Poehlmann, Ryan Roberson and D.J. Monroe epitomize the rugged attitude of the group.

Receiver Marquise Goodwin has hauled in two receiving touchdowns, but his leadership and experience on the field aren’t as easily measured.

The dogged work ethic of this senior class helps explain its desire to restore Texas football back to the expected level

of success.

“When we’re done with this place, it’s like mamma says ‘got to put it back the way you found it,’” senior running back Jeremy Hills said. “We found it and it was undefeated, and we’re trying to put it back in a BCS bowl.”

It’s been an emotional ride for the seniors. Some came in as a part of the 2008 recruiting class, some in 2009, but the group has blended well. They’re no longer teammates or even friends; they’re brothers on and off the field.

“We’re tight,” Hills said. “We always hang out and go out to eat. It helps us a little on the field because I don’t know that guy just as a player. I know that guy, and I trust he’s going to do his job.”

Trust is the key word.

In 2010, the chemistry wasn’t there for a prosperous season, resulting in a fivewin effort. In 2011, the team

barrett matthews tight end

inched closer. Senior leaders like Emmanuel Acho and Blake Gideon kept the team in check and pushed Texas on an upward path. In 2012, Vaccaro and Okafor have transformed into the glue of the team and have the Longhorns rising as a result.

“It’s definitely been a roller coaster career filled with glamour and disappointment,” Okafor said. “The senior class has seen it all. We’re just trying to get this thing back right.”

A big aspect of the turnaround has been helping the underclassmen to adjust to the pace of the college game, as freshmen and sophomores make up a huge chunk of the roster. Whether it’s answering football related questions or just ‘how the heck do you get to this building?’ they’re there to assist.

The questions seem simple to the seniors, but in reflection they know they were in that position only a

Ryan Roberson fullback

few short years ago. A fact, even as the season embarks on the home stretch, that remains surreal.

“I’m just now getting used to it,” Hills said. “As an older guy there are a lot of people asking you questions I feel like they should know. But they’re the same questions I was asking early on ... . It’s giving back.”

The seniors still can’t quite comprehend the ride is nearing its end. But like always, they’re taking the schedule one game at a time.

They don’t want the moment to overwhelm them, but it won’t stop each of the seniors from taking a second in the tunnel leading into DKR, to soak in the moment one last time.

“You hear the fans and you hear the Hellraisers right above you,” Hills said. “Then you come out of that smoke and look and see 100,000 people ... it’s the most exciting thing there is.”

marquise goodwin wide receiver

Photos by Elisabeth Dillon & Lawrence Peart

14

guest column

14

wednesday, november 21, 2012

Patterson tweaks team routine in preparation for important road tilt

By Landon Haaf

TCU makes the jaunt down I-35 to Austin to play on Thanksgiving Day for the first time since 1928.

The nationally televised holiday game will be a big stage for a team in its first year in the Big 12. A team that has started more true freshmen than scholarship seniors.

The 6-4 Frogs visit Austin with a disappointing 2012 résumé in comparison to recent years, but they pose a bigger threat than many would expect from a team ranked sixth in the conference. They are no strangers to the circumstances surrounding their Turkey Day showdown in the state capitol.

The Longhorns, a team ranked No. 16 in the country

and averaging over 450 total yards per game, present a challenge for a Horned Frog defense that has only one starting senior. However, the Frogs lead the Big 12 conference in run defense, total defense and third down defense. The powerful Kansas State offense managed only 260 total yards against the Horned Frog defense.

DKR’s anticipated crowd of over 100,000 people will be the largest the Frogs have played in front of since last New Year’s Day in Pasadena.

Head coach Gary Patterson is a man who goes about his business with a routine.

So much so that he has worn the same dress shirt – vertical purple stripes and a white collar – to 10 of his 11 Tuesday press conferences

players to watch

matt warden daily texan staff

Sports Director for TCU 360

this year.

However, with last Saturday being their first open date since Sept. 1, Patterson switched the Frogs’ practice schedule in preparation for the bout with the Longhorns.

“We knew this would be a physical game, so we wanted to bang early,” Patterson said. “We wanted three days of game-plan practices this week.”

Patterson moved the typical Wednesday and Thursday practices to last Thursday and Saturday, giving his team off-days in between those physical practices.

History shows that when Patterson does deviate from his routine, there is a method to his madness.

Take a two-point conversion call last November at Boise State, ID that broke

devonte fields freshman defensive end The Texas offensive line must pay attention to Devonte Fields. The freshman defensive end has had a productive season, picking up eight sacks and 43 tackles. His 15.5 tackles for loss lead the Horned Frog defense as Fields’ relentless pressure clogs up a lot of running lanes for opponents to get through. His speed at 240 pounds is a deadly weapon and will force the offensive line of Texas to be on top of their game in this matchup. If Texas wants to keep Ash, and the running backs, off their backs they will need to contain the established freshman and keep him from racking up even more sacks. Fields’ name will definitely be called more than once on Thanksgiving Day.

josh boyce junior wide receiver The Texas defense has made great strides the last few weeks in coverage and in its ability to tackle. When the Longhorns face off against TCU, this progress will need to be continued as they will face another small and quick receiver in Josh Boyce. The junior wideout has had an impressive year thus far, racking up 756 yards on 56 receptions. His seven touchdowns lead the team, and his 13.5 yards per reception make him a player to watch. At 6-foot, 203 pounds, Boyce is similar to other players that have given the Longhorns problems all season long. His quickness allows him to get away from defenders and pick up necessary yards after the catch even in good coverage. His talents were showcased beautifully against West Virginia when he caught six passes for 180 yards with two touchdowns. For those people doing the math, that amounts to thirty yards per reception, which evidences Boyce’s ability to run with the football in his hands. The Longhorns should look to press Boyce early and keep him from finding lanes to run through when he catches the football.

the fifth-ranked Broncos’ 67-game regular season winning streak on the Smurf Turf. Take a similar call in overtime in Morgantown, W. Va., three weeks ago that propelled TCU to a 39-38 win over the Mountaineers in its first ever trip to West Virginia.

And this week, TCU is forced to abandon the routine with 10 days’ rest leading into its first Thursday game since 2008, and its first Thanksgiving Day game since 32 years before Patterson was born.

Patterson and his team may try to once again thrive on the unexpected in Austin.

The unexpected is something the Frogs have dealt with a lot in their inaugural Big 12 campaign. Unexpected injuries. Unexpected

off-the-field adversity. And, falling short on their biggest expectation: winning.

TCU has been much less of a model of consistency this season in comparison to its Mountain West Conference days. The Frogs haven’t strung together back-to-back emotional performances on both sides of the ball in 2012.

The last game against Kansas State was less than stellar.

The Frogs could not get anything going on the offensive side of the ball. An empty paper bag tumbling in the breeze moved more explosively down the field than the TCU offense.

But that loss could be the best thing for TCU in preparing for Thursday.

TCU has not lost its ability to bounce back from a loss. The Frogs are 23-8 in

regular season games following a loss under Patterson, and that has translated to this season.

The Iowa State loss was followed by an enthusiastic performance against Baylor and a 28-point win.

TCU bounced back from a loss in Stillwater with the double-overtime win against West Virginia.

And now, the Frogs are faced with another opportunity to respond to a loss. And it couldn’t come in a better situation for a team still trying to prove naysayers wrong.

“Those people that said TCU couldn’t play weekto-week in the Big 12 didn’t watch much college football,” Patterson said. “The Thanksgiving Day game is a staple [of college football], and we want to be a part of history.”

trevone boykin freshman quarterback Boykin is a player who was forced into early action this season with the indefinite suspension of starting quarterback Casey Pachall. The freshman has had his up-and-downs, but has showcased the ability to perform under pressure. In the nine games he has appeared in this season, Boykin has passed for 1,540 yards with fourteen touchdowns. His eight interceptions show that he can make mistakes when pressured, but the same can be said for most freshman starters. Boykin’s most impressive performance came against a tough Texas Tech team. Despite a triple overtime loss, his 332 yards passing and four touchdowns in the contest showed that he could match the firepower of the prolific Tech offense. He has showcased a bit of ability with his legs also, rushing for two touchdowns while acquiring a 4.6 yards per carry average when he does run. The Longhorns should look to force Boykin to remain in the pocket and make throws against the toughest defense he’s seen so far in his career. He has proven he can play under pressure, but his detriments and inexperience have also shown themselves and Texas should look to exploit this while trying to contain him.

Associated Press

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games to watch

16

wednesday, november 21, 2012

peter sblendorio daily texan staff

NO. 1 NOTRE DAME AT USC Overall 11-0 Away 4-0

Overall 7-4 Pac-12 5-4

NO. 4 FLORIDA VS. NO. 10 FLORIDA STATE Overall 10-1 SEC 7-1

Overall 10-1 ACC 7-1

GEORGIA TECH AT NO. 3 GEORGIA Overall 6-5 ACC 5-3

Overall 10-1 SEC 7-1

NO. 5 OREGON AT NO. 15 OREGON STATE Overall 10-1 Pac-12 7-1

Overall 8-2 Pac-12 6-2

Los Angeles Coliseum Saturday 7 p.m.

TV: ABC

Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday 2:30 p.m.

TV: ABC

Sanford Stadium Saturday 11 a.m.

TV: ESPN

Reser Stadium Saturday 2 p.m.

TV: Pac-12 Network

Notre Dame is the No. 1 team in the BCS standings for the first time in school history, and it is now one win away from a chance to compete for its first national championship since 1988. The Fighting Irish is the last major unbeaten team, and a victory over a slumping USC squad that will be without quarterback Matt Barkley will likely earn its a berth in the title game. This Notre Dame defense will be difficult for the Trojans to score against, especially with redshirt freshman Max Wittek making his first career start. USC will be hungry to play spoiler in what has been a disappointing season for the Trojans.

The door remains open for the Gators to earn a berth in the national championship game, but they need a lot of things to happen. First and foremost: beat the rival Seminoles. Florida is on a three-game win streak after suffering its only loss of the season against the Bulldogs, and it brings in the nation’s third most stringent defense in allowing just 11.7 points per game. The Gators face a tough task, though, as Florida State is seventh in the nation in scoring and fifth in points allowed. At the very least, both teams are competing for a bid to a BCS game, and a win in this matchup would solidify either team’s chances.

Georgia’s already in the SEC Championship and the winner of that game will likely be given the chance to compete for a national championship, putting a huge emphasis on this one for Georgia — if it loses, it doesn’t matter what happens in the SEC Championship. Aaron Murray has had a big year for the Bulldogs, throwing for 2,986 yards and 28 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. His play, coupled with the outstanding Georgia running game, has made the Bulldogs one of the SEC’s most potent offenses. The Yellow Jackets would love to be able to end their rival’s championship aspirations, but they will likely have to be prepared to win in a shootout to do so.

The Ducks will need some serious help in order to clinch a spot in the national championship game. In addition to needing losses by several of the top four teams this weekend, Oregon will need a win against the Beavers to keep its title hopes alive. That is easier said than done, as Oregon State has gone 8-2 this season and has won two games against ranked opponents. The Ducks still possess one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses, averaging 51.1 points per game. The Beavers will be eager to hinder the championship aspirations of their in-state rival while improving their own bowl position.

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big 12 power rankings wes maulsby daily texan staff

1

2

kansas state

The Wildcats’ control over the national rankings didn’t last long.

A road trip to Waco against the struggling Baylor Bears proved too much for Kansas State to handle. Baylor dominated the line of scrimamge to the tune fo 342 yards against a defense that had given up just 709 rush yards throught the first seven conference games. Meanwhile, KSU’s offense was forced out of its comfort zone and was only able to gain 76 yards on the ground. The one thing that has almost alwas been on the side of Bill Snyder-coached teams was an edge in mental toughness. But when Kansas State cut Baylor’s lead to 11 with 12 minutes to play in the third quarter, Baylor responded by scoring 17 unanswered points, breaking the Wildcats and sealing the upset.

6

iowa state

7

TCU

8

Baylor

9

West virginia

oklahoma

The Sooners survived the Mountaineers’ best shot in Morgantown to escape with a one point win. Oklahoma was able to slip by with two touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game to survive the Mountaineers. Tavon Austin looked like a Heisman frontrunner against the Sooners. He racked up 426 yards in offense with 146 yards in kick returns on top of that. Fortunately for Oklahoma, quarterback Landry Jones had a lights-out game with 554 yards passing and six touchdowns against just one interception. The Sooners have two games left including Bedlam against the Cowboys this week.

3

texas

4

oklahoma state

5

texas tech

The Longhorns had the weekend off and missed out on all the chaos that was spreading throughout the nation. Knowing the Longhorns, they should count themselves lucky for skipping that.

Texas has had a week to build off a solid win over a scrappy Iowa State team at home. The Longhorns still have a lot to play for as the season winds down. Texas is two wins away from a 10-win season — the first since 2009 — and could find itself in a BCS bowl if Oklahoma loses once more.

The Cowboys have quietly crept their way back up the conference rankings with wins in five in their last six games. Oklahoma State is fresh off a big win over sliding Texas Tech. The Cowboys’ defense held the Red Raider offense to 383 yards and forced three turnovers. This resurgence has taken place while having to shuffle different quarterbacks due to injury. Oklahoma State is suddenly in a very good position as far as the postseason is concerned. A win over Oklahoma could lead to a potential four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 this season.

The Red Raiders are far from the level they showed against West Virginia. They have lost three of their last four games, with their only win coming at home against Kansas in overtime. Texas Tech only has one game left against Baylor, which is fresh off a win over the No. 1 team in the country. This could work in the Red Raiders’ favor if Baylor is not able to recover both physically and mentally from last week’s win. The Red Raiders will need help if they want to stop the bleeding.

10

The Cyclones used a 28-point second quarter to put away Kansas last week, keeping the Jayhawks winless and putting themsleves in contention for a bowl berth. Iowa State is now 6-5 with a home game agaisnt West Virginia to finish the season. The Cyclones have a chance to notch seven wins for the first time since 2009.

The Horned Frogs have lost four of their last six games for a 3-4 record in conference play. While TCU leads the confernece in total defense, its 20 turnovers is the most in the conference. This has given opposing offenses short fields which is why TCU is allowing 30 points per game in confernece play.

But TCU gets Texas in the middle of a turnover drought, having only forced nine on the season while giving it up just seven times. But there are always lots of turnovers in TCU games, so something’s got to give.

Fresh off a win over the former No. 1 team in the BCS, the Bears’ hopes have skyrocketed. With two games left, the Bears have a chance to get to seven wins after losing their first four conference games. Baylor’s offense had always been potent, but its defense finally stepped up and stopped Collin Klein, the Heisman frontrunner, who was forced into three interceptions. Baylor now has to worry about forgetting this massive win and recovering for its next two games. It still has work to do to become bowl eligible.

The Mountaineers are officially hemorrhaging. They have lost five straight games and cannot seem to get over the hump. Even with Tavon Austin and Geno Smith returning to the kind of form against Oklahoma that made West Virginia a Top 5 team, the defense cost it once again. The Mountaineers are allowing 51 points per game in conference play and gave up 50 to the Sooners. They get Iowa State and Kansas to end the season. Losing to both would put this horrid season among the most historic of collapses, though that’s unlikely.

kansas

The Jayhawks have given up at least 41 points for the third consecutive game. Since holding Texas to 21 in late October, Kansas has allowed a total of 153 points over the last three games.

The Jayhawks have one game left, against West Virginia, to get a conference win. Losing that game would secure one of the worst seasons for a Big 12 team in recent memory. It’s not very sunny in Lawrence right now.

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matchups

20

wednesday, november 21, 2012

PETER SBLENDORIO daily texan staff

QUARTERBACK The Horned Frogs have gone just 2-4 since Casey Pachall’s DWI arrest, but this is not a reflection of the play of Trevone Boykin. The freshman has filled in admirably at the position, throwing for 1,540 yards and 14 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Boykin has been a threat on the ground as well, rushing for 267 yards and two scores on 93 attempts.

Texas has also been the beneficiary of strong quarterback play for much of the season, and David Ash has responded from a mid-season slump with back-toback impressive performances. Overall, the sophomore has completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 2,354 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing just five interceptions. Ash’s efficiency rating of 161.7 leads the Big 12 and he is the leader of a Texas offense that has averaged nearly 40 points per game.

RUNNING BACK The Longhorns have been one of the better running teams in the Big 12 this season, and Johnathan Gray has played a big role in his freshman campaign.

Gray leads the team with 607 yards on the ground and is coming off of his first career multi-touchdown game. Joe Bergeron has become one of the nation’s top short-yardage backs, as he leads the team with 16 rushing touchdowns, and the return of Malcolm Brown solidifies the unit even further. TCU has been unspectacular on the ground, as its leading rusher has earned just 445 yards. As a team, the Horned Frogs average 3.9 yards per rush and have run for just nine touchdowns in ten games.

advantage

wide RECEIVERS Texas receivers Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley are both coming off of strong performances against Iowa State, as the pair combined for 15 receptions for 250 yards and a score against the Cyclones. Both Davis and Shipley have had nice seasons, as they have each caught at least 40 passes for 500 yards and have hauled in a total of 15 touchdowns. TCU has a balanced receiver unit as well, with at least four wideouts catching 21 or more passes for at least 300 yards. Josh Boyce has been the most productive Horned Frog, catching 56 passes for 756 yards and seven scores, and Brandon Carter has become a deadly big-play threat. Neither team is struggling at the position, but the Horned Frogs have benefitted from more depth at wide receiver in 2012.

advantage

OFFENSIVE LINE The offensive line has been perhaps the most impressive unit on this Longhorns’ team, as it allowed just seven sacks for 56 yards. Ash has consistently had time to complete passes downfield, as his receivers are averaging over 13 yards per catch. The run blocking has been strong as well, as the line has opened up running lanes all season for the Texas backs and allowed them to earn 4.8 yards per carry. TCU has not been nearly as efficient of offense this year, averaging under four yards per carry and 12.8 yards per catch. In addition, the TCU offensive line has surrendered 22 sacks for 166 yards. This has hindered the Horned Frogs on drives throughout the season.

advantage

advantage

DEFENSIVE LINE The Texas defensive line is playing as well as it has all season and is coming off of an especially strong performance against Iowa State. Alex Okafor is enjoying a fine senior season, leading the team with eight sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Cedric Reed has done a nice job filling in for an injured Jackson Jeffcoat at the opposite end, and defensive tackles Desmond Jackson and Brandon Moore have been solid up the middle in the past couple of games. As a whole, the Longhorns have recorded 23 sacks on the season. The Horned Frogs, too, boast a strong defensive line, as they too have brought the opposing quarterback down 23 times.

That said, the Texas offensive line has been much tougher than that of TCU, and it will be much tougher for the Horned Frogs to generate pressure because of this.

advantage

LINEBACKERS The play of the Texas linebackers has improved greatly in the past two weeks after struggling for much of the season.

Steve Edmond has grown since the start of the season and he now leads the team with 43 unassisted tackles. Texas is still allowing five yards per rush and has surrendered and average of 200 yards per game on the ground. The Longhorns’ unit has made strides in limiting big plays, but will have to continue to improve its tackling. TCU has been one of the most stout run defenses in the Big 12, as it allows just 3.1 yards per carry and 98.4 rushing yards per game. The Horned Frog linebackers have been solid in bringing down opposing backs all season long.

advantage

SECONDARY

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Horned Frogs have been tough to beat through the air, as they have held opponents to just 6.6 yards per pass attempt. Teams have averaged 227.9 yards through the air per game against TCU, but the Horned Frogs have also intercepted 17 passes. Texas has been solid in the secondary as well, but opponents have been able to earn 7.7 yards per pass and have averaged 229.6 passing yards per game. The Longhorns have allowed four fewer scores through the air than have the Horned Frogs, but they have also recorded six fewer interceptions.

advantage

Both teams have been strong returning kicks this season, with Texas earning 24.3 yards per return and TCU averaging 22.3 yards on kickoffs. The Horned Frogs have had the edge on punts, as they have gained an average of 15.4 yards on returns while Texas has earned 9.9 yards. The Horned Frogs have also been the more consistent team on field goals tries, as kicker Jaden Oberkrom has nailed 16 of his 22 attempts and is perfect on 37 extra point tries. The Longhorns have struggled at kicking field goals, going 7-for-13 attempts as a team. Three extra-point attempts have also been missed.

advantage

21

national notebook

wednesday, november 21, 2012

21

Realignment strikes again, Dooley fired

By Hank South Week 12 in college football was the craziest one yet, opening the door to a handful of teams having their own elaborate scenario to reach the BCS title game. The past two weekends have seen the No. 1 team go down consecutively and with Notre Dame visiting USC on Saturday, will the Fighting Irish be next?

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

• Rutgers and the University of Maryland will join the Big Ten Conference as soon as the 2014 season.

The universities will be the 13th and 14th members of the conference, which will most likely prompt a name change. Maryland’s current

conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference, has instilled a $50 million exit fee, but Terrapins higher-ups believe they will be able to negotiate the cost.

• USC quarterback Matt Barkley will not play against Notre Dame this weekend after injuring his shoulder versus UCLA last Saturday. With a win, the Fighting Irish would secure a spot in the BCS title game. However, a Trojan win would surely send the rankings into one of the biggest shuffles in BCS history. Redshirt freshman Max Wittek will start in Barkley’s place.

• Tennessee has fired head coach Derek Dooley after three seasons. The Volunteers are winless in the SEC this season and went an unremarkable 15-21 in Dooley’s tenure in Knoxville. Tennessee will

finish below .500 for the third consecutive season, which marks the first time the feat has occurred since 1909-1911.

• Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel will return to the field versus Florida State, but as to whether he will start is still unknown. Driskel sprained his ankle against LouisianaLafayette on Nov. 10. The sophomore has passed for 1,324 yards and ten touchdowns on the season.

• Miami will impose a postseason bowl-ban on itself for the second consecutive season, following an ongoing investigation as to whether players received improper benefits from a booster. The Hurricanes (6-5, 4-3) had an opportunity to play their way into the ACC Championship game and a possible BCS berth.

• Kansas State and Texas

A&M quarterbacks Collin Klein and Johnny Manziel and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o are the three finalists for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the nation’s top player. The award is typically a strong predictor of the Heisman Trophy.

• Minnesota wideout A.J. Barker left the program after accusing head coach Jerry Kill and the training staff of abusive behavior. Barker claimed Kill accosted him in front of the team, questioning his ankle injury. Barker went on to say

BARKER continues on page 22

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley surveys the field before a game against Missouri at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 10 in Knoxville, Tenn. Dooley was fired this week.

Amy Smotherman Burgess Associated Press

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Graduate Runner Up

White A Champion

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22

big 12 notebook

22

wednesday, november 21, 2012

BIG 12

Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk (25) celebrates the 41-14 win over Kansas following a game on Saturday, Nov. 3 in Waco, Texas.

continues from page 3

Jerry Larson Associated Press

Seastrunk explodes onto scene, Chelf to start

By Hank South After Kansas State’s loss at Baylor on Saturday night, it looks like a Big 12 team will not be represented in the BCS National Championship game in January. It certainly has been a strong year within the Big 12 nonetheless, with seven of the 10 teams in the conference bowl-eligible, with two needing one win to reach postseason play. Let’s take a look at some of the notes around the conference heading into the Thanksgiving weekend.

• A few Big 12 players have made their way onto various national awards lists. West Virginia and Baylor receivers Stedman Bailey and Terrance Williams are Biletnikoff candidates, which goes to the nation’s top receiver. Kansas State

do-it-all quarterback Collin Klein is up for the Davey O’Brien Trophy (best quarterback) and the Maxwell Award (best player). The award ceremony will be Dec. 6.

• Oklahoma State has had its ups and downs this season. The Cowboys lost their starting quarterback two different times this season, once when freshman Wes Lunt went down with an injured knee and again when redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh broke his leg. However, quarterback production is in no shortage in Stillwater as junior Clint Chelf has filled the void passing for 805 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions in three games. Walsh returned last week against Texas Tech and ran and threw for a touchdown. Chelf will start against OU.

• While Oklahoma eked out a win versus West Virginia on Saturday night, the Sooners’ defense was vastly exposed. The Mountaineers racked up 778 total yards on offense (the most ever against the Sooners), including receiver Tavon Austin carrying the ball 21 times for 344 yards.

The week before, Oklahoma gave up 252 yards rushing to Baylor. The road doesn’t get any easier for the Sooners as they host Oklahoma State and the No. 3 total offense in the nation Saturday.

• If there was any bright spot to Kansas’ 51-23 loss to Iowa State last weekend, it was that the Jayhawks picked up two junior college commits in linebacker Samson Faifili and wideout Mark Thomas. Both recruits have had stellar JUCO, including 110 tackles, 14 tackles

for a loss and twelve sacks for Faifili. Kansas is losing 23 seniors, but head coach Charlie Weis expects to sign as many as 27 for 2013.

• Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk might be the next great running back in college football, come 2013. Seastrunk, a sophomore, has 560 yards on 80 carries this season, averaging seven yards a rush. Factor in junior tailback Glasco Martin who has 641 yards, averaging 5.4 yards a carry, and the Bears might have one of the most explosive backfields in the country next season.

• After beginning the season with the kicking game as a weak link, Iowa State can finally rely on junior Edwin Arceo. The community college transfer struggled early, at one point missing three extra points, but has rebounded

late, connecting for 10 of 14 field goals, including 51-yard boot last weekend. Arceo will undoubtedly be a strength for the Cyclones in 2013.

BIG 12 GAMES THURSDAY

TCU AT TEXAS 6:30 p.m. ESPN FRIDAY

West Virginia at Iowa State 2:30 p.m. ABC SATURDAY

Baylor at Texas Tech

1:30 p.m. FOX

Oklahoma State at Oklahoma 2:30 p.m. ESPN

most dynamic quarterbacks in Collin Klein.

Not all would be lost with a defeat in Manhattan. At 9-3, Texas would still have a chance to earn a 10th win in a bowl game, although it wouldn’t likely a BCS bowl. But victory No. 10 would carry a ton of symbolic significance.

“We can still come away a 10-2 team in the regular season,” Walters said. “That’s if we take care of business every week.

These big-picture talks worry you a little bit because you don’t want it to go downhill. You want to stick to what you’re doing.”

Before going 5-7 in 2010, the Longhorns won 10 games in nine straight years. A 10th win would go a long way toward proving that they’ve fully recovered from that abysmal season.

But if that 10th win came in Manhattan next weekend, the significance of that victory could be much more than symbolic. A very tangible Big 12 Championship trophy could be heading to Austin.

BARKER continues from page 21

that the head coach questioned his family background. Kill has since denied the allegations.

Barker was the Golden Gophers’ leading receiver, catching 30 passes for 577 yards and seven touchdowns. The junior will look to transfer for his final year of eligibility.

• College football’s winningest coach in history, St. John’s John Gagliardi, will retire at the end of the season.

Gagliardi compiled 489 wins, including 465 and four national championships at the Division III University in Collegeville, Minn. Gagliardi’s career spanned over six decades. Gagliardi was the first active head coach inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

23

texan staff picks

wednesday, november 21, 2012

23

nick cremona

lauren giudice

chris hummer

christian corona

sara beth purdy

PETER SBLENDORIO

wes maulsby

hank south

matt warden

7-3

7-3

9-1

9-1

9-1

8-2

9-1

8-2

7-3

Overall Record

57-38

66-29

62-33

71-24

61-34

61-34

68-27

67-28

57-38

Texas vs. TCU

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

West Virginia vs. Iowa St.

Iowa State

West Virginia

West Virginia

West Virginia

West Virginia

West Virginia

Iowa State

West Virginia

West Virginia

Notre Dame vs. USC

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Michigan vs. Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Michigan

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Michigan

Ohio State

Ohio State

Oregon vs. Oregon State

Oregon State

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Oregon

Florida vs. Florida State

Florida

Florida

Florida State

Florida State

Florida State

Florida

Florida State

Florida State

Florida State

Stanford vs. UCLA

UCLA

Stanford

Stanford

UCLA

Stanford

UCLA

Stanford

UCLA

UCLA

Clemson

Clemson

South Carolina

Clemson

Clemson

South Carolina

Last Week’s Record

South Carolina vs. Clemson South Carolina South Carolina South Carolina

Oklahoma St. vs. Oklahoma Oklahoma St.

Texas Tech vs. Baylor

Baylor

Oklahoma

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma

Baylor

Baylor

Baylor

Baylor

Baylor

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

Texas Tech

24

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