Double Coverage 9-2-2010

The Daily Texan Presents:

Sept. 2, 2011

Vol. 6, Issue 2

BRICK BY BRICK Mack Brown hopes to reconstruct team mentality with deliberate growth

THE FOUNDATION: Texas’ linebackers are vital to the rebuilding process Page 12

2

Friday, September 2, 2011

3

Friday, September 2, 2011

Quick start against Rice key to successful season

provides shot at redemption theLINEUP Game for less-than-stellar win a year ago

9page

Center of attention Redshirt freshman Dominic Espinosa is finally healthy and ready to take on the starting center position.

12 20

Laying thE foundation

The Longhorns are rebuilding and the linebackers are the key to that delicate process.

feeling the heat yet?

Cover Illustration: Ryan Edwards, Above: Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan file photo

PrEviEws and notEbooks Double Coverage looks at how the Longhorns and other teams around the country are gearing up for their season openers.

5 - Big 12 report 10 - Card

page

Big 12 quiCk hits

The Texas players have practiced under the hot summer sun for months, so that won’t be a factor Saturday.

onE PiEcE at a timE

Check out which Longhorns need to contribute to the “brick by brick” mentality Mack Brown hopes to instill in his team, as well as the Rice players looking to knock them down.

14 - riCe players to watCh

17 - Must-see tv 19 - nCaa noteBook

11 - ground

page

work

Increased production from Foswhitt Whittaker and Co. is needed for Texas to return to form.

15 - dual-threat qB

Rice’s Taylor McHargue can stand up in the pocket or create plays with his feet.

Editor’s notE

By Christian Corona Daily Texan Staff

Texas beat Rice handily, 34-17, in their season opener a year ago.

The Longhorns scored 24 secondquarter points, Tre Newton found the end zone three times and Texas won the turnover battle. But even in the Longhorns’ first game, there were warning signs.

Texas was down by three at the end of the first quarter, led by only 14 at halftime and Garrett Gilbert failed to throw a touchdown pass in his first career start. It would be the first of only five victories last season. It also proved that games against the lowliest of opponents, especially your first opponent, are a good indication of how the rest of the season will go.

“I have not slept much since Thanksgiving,” said head coach Mack Brown. “We were maintaining here for a long time and probably got a little full of ourselves and thought it was going to be OK. I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t see it happening.”

In 2004, Texas blanked North Texas, 65-0, in their season opener as they jumped out to a 44-0 halftime lead. The Longhorns went on to win their first ever BCS bowl game after beating Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The next season, the Longhorns began the year by

pounding Louisiana-Lafayette, 603, en route to winning their first national championship since 1970.

Colt McCoy led Texas to a 39-point drubbing of Louisiana-Monroe four season openers later before taking Texas back to the national title game.

Last year, however, was a completely different story. But now the Longhorns are eager to write on a clean slate and get this season started the right way.

“It’s been way too long,” said sophomore linebacker Jordan Hicks. “We’ve had that 5-7 hanging over our head for too long. We’re all ready to go out and there and play.

Texas lost seven games in 2010, more than any season under Mack Brown. To make matters worse, five of those defeats came under the lights of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Coming into last season, the Longhorns went 66-6 (.917) at home with Brown as head coach. But they went on to lose more home games in 2010 than they did all last decade. The Longhorns fittingly kick this season off with a home game.

“It’s unacceptable for us to lose at home,” said junior defensive end Alex Okafor. “We don’t plan on that happening again.”

Even with that home opener drawing near, Brown and his

Derek Stout | Daily Texan file photo

Head coach Mack Brown looks on as he waited for his team to take the field against Baylor last year. After the season, Brown was not pleased with Texas’ slow starts against its opponents and hopes to fix that this year.

coaching staff did not release a depth chart until Monday. This offseason, there was a great deal of uncertainty as to how the coaching staff would fill out the depth chart.

Brown claimed throughout spring and fall camp that every spot was open. Names on the depth chart would be shuffled after every practice and scrimmage. Brown even claimed that the depth chart “changed hourly.” As senior center David Snow said, “Nothing is set

in stone.”

“There’s been more changes in this depth chart than any I’ve ever seen,” Brown said. “We’re going to play the guy that gives us the best chance to win. Period. After the season we had last year, it’s about winning. It’s not about you. It’s not about an individual. It’s not about what your feelings. It’s totally about who the best player is. Period. End of discussion.”

Texas almost never puts a

perennial powerhouse program on the first game of the schedule. Fans don’t often take that first opponent seriously. The Longhorns should win Saturday and win by double digits. But how will they win? The answer to that question might provide valuable insight as to how the rest of this season will go.

“I want them to start the season right,” Brown said. “I want our guys to truly start over and play with confidence and have fun.”

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

The Daily Texan PresenTs:

Volume 6, Issue 1 • season PreVIew 2011 edItIon

Double Coverage Editor……………Sameer Bhuchar Design Editor…………………….Simonetta Nieto Photo Editor…………………………Ryan Edwards Copy Editors ……….....……Austin Myers Daily Texan Sports Editor………………Trey Scott Writers…….........................................Austin Laymance ...............................................................Christian Corona …………...........................…...............Nick Cremona ................................................................Lauren Giudice ..................................…......…...............Chris Hummer …………………....................…….....Wes Maulsby ................................................................Michael Morton ......................................................Al Lenhart .........................................Kristin Otto

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4

Friday, September 2, 2011

Top caliber teams OK to feast on cupcake squads

By Trey Scott

Daily Texan Columnist Besides Heisman hopefuls and No. 1 NFL draft picks, there’s something else the past six national champions have in common.

Call it a guilty pleasure, but the best in the country can’t help but feast on cupcakes.

Auburn kicked off last year’s season with a 52-26 win over Arkansas State, Alabama played a schedule consisting of Florida International, North Texas and Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2009, and Florida crushed Hawaii, a tropical cupcake, 56-10 in 2008.

In 2007, Louisiana State smoked Mississippi State 45-0 in the opener (a conference foe usually shouldn’t be considered a cupcake, but the pre-Dan Mullen Bulldogs had cream puff written all over them) and then routed Middle Tennessee State University 44-0 the next week. The 2006 Florida team coasted through Southern Miss and Central Florida by a combined score of 76-7.

Remember Texas’ 60-3 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in 2005?

Me neither. I think I fell asleep on the couch.

A game against cupcakes — also known as tomato cans, cream puffs, snoozers, gimmes and walk-in-theparks — obviously doesn’t provide the same oomph as Saturday’s LSUOregon game would. But television ratings take a back seat when either LSU or Oregon, both championship hopefuls, will enter Week 2 with a 0-1 record.

No matter how much fun it is, it’s just too risky to play such a tough opponent in Week 1. Without a playoff to determine a national champion, one loss could decimate title hopes.

Some teams do it and get away with it. The aforementioned 2009 Crimson Tide team sneaked past Virginia

Tech by 10 points in its opener. Not worth it, a full slate of conference games are tough enough as it is.

Texas has made a habit of eating dessert before dinner. The last time the Longhorns played a “good” team (i.e., a school from a BCS conference or one with a respectable history) in Week 1 was in 1999 when they lost 23-20 to North Carolina State.

In fact, I’d make the case that nobody has had an easier Week 1 in the last decade than the Longhorns. The opponents? A who’swho of nobodies: North Texas (thrice), Louisiana-Lafayette (twice), Rice (twice, including this Saturday), New Mexico State (twice), Louisiana Monroe, Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State.

The combined score of every opener since 2000 is 533-94. The toughest game in that stretch was in 2007, when the Longhorns held off Arkansas State to win 21-13.

To be fair, Texas does usually follow a cupcake with a strong Week 2 opponent, whether it be Ohio State, Arkansas, TCU or BYU. But even that has come back to bite the Longhorns — when they lost to Ohio State in 2006, it essentially sapped all the buzz out of the team. When it comes to playing nationally ranked teams in the preseason, the risks far outweigh the rewards: The only incentives for it is it boosts the schedule and it gives the school national prominence. Texas doesn’t need the latter, and it’s hard to imagine the Longhorns going undefeated and being left out of the title game.

Head coach Mack Brown tries not to run up the score in the first game, instead electing to empty the bench and keep the ball on the ground.

But other than that, there’s a lot for a team to feel good about in a 65-0 pasting (2004 against North Texas).

The quarterbacks feel confident, the skill players invincible. Both the of-

5

Friday, September 2, 2011

Iowa State Strength - Running game

C

BIG12REPORTCARD

Sophomore Shontrelle Johnson takes over the starting running back gig and will look to learn from four-year starter James Robinson, who precedes him at the position.

Johnson ran for 218 yards and a score last season.

Weakness - Wide receivers The Cyclones’ top-three receivers from last season graduated, and the fourth leading receiver Darius Reynolds’ status is still up in the air after an offseason toe injury. Junior college transfer quarterback Steele Jantz may struggle to find a solid option to throw to.

Lauren Gerson | Daily Texan file photo

Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert hurdles a pancaked Wyoming defender during last year’s contest. Despite their down season, the Longhorns won the game 34-7 partly due to Wyoming’s inferior talent.

fensive and defensive lines have so much fun manhandling that first opponent that the mentality carries over into the rest of the season.

Maybe that’s what went wrong last season. Texas beat Rice 34-17 in Houston, but it wasn’t the opener anybody around here is used to. A score of 49-10 would have been much better.

The two teams play again tomorrow, much to the possible chagrin of the fans, who would be much more riveted by a seesaw affair between two titans and to the annoyance of other national powers who take on a tougher opponent in Week 1 to promote enthusiasm for the college game.

The Longhorns, and the other top teams in the nation, don’t need to listen.

Let them eat cupcake.

Date

Time

TV

Team

09/03

7:00pm

LHN

Rice

09/10

6:00pm

ESPN

Brigham Young

09/17

2:30pm

ABC

at UCLA

10/01

TBA

TBA

at Iowa State

10/08

11:00am

ABC

Oklahoma

10/15

TBA

TBA

Oklahoma State

10/29

TBA

TBA

Kansas

11/05

TBA

TBA

Texas Tech

11/12

TBA

TBA

at Missouri

11/19

TBA

TBA

Kansas State

11/24

7:00pm

ESPN

at Texas A&M

12/03

TBA

ABC

at Baylor

Kansas State Strength - Secondary

C+

The Wildcats return most of last year’s defense who weren’t spectacular but do bring experience to the field.

Most notably David Garrett at cornerback and Tysyn Hartman at safety return and are in charge of keeping opponents out of the defensive backfield.

Weakness - Running game Daniel Thomas ran for more than 1,500 yards last season, but he’s long gone now. Redshirt junior quarterback is the team’s returning rushing leader.

Tennessee transfer Bryce Brown will have his work cut out for him as he enters the season as the front-runner for the starting running back job.

Kansas Strength - Quarterback

D

Sophomore Jordan Webb will take the reins of an offense that lacks any true playmakers aside from possibly himself. Rebuilding is the name of the game for the Jayhawks this year. Webb played for the majority of last season and will look to build his game this year.

Weakness - Secondary The Jayhawks only registered seven picks last season and failed to stop any team from throwing on them. With plenty of pass-happy quarterbacks on their schedule, the Jayhawks could be in for another long year in Lawrence.

— By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff

A-

Texas A&M Strength - Offense

A

Oklahoma Strength - Senior leaders

The Aggies have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the ball. The senior trio of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Cyrus Gray and wide receiver Jeff Fuller alone can cause a defense fits. Sprinkle in Ryan Swope at receiver and it’s easy to see why the Aggies’ hopes are high this season.

The Sooners’ offense is anchored by two seniors in quarterback Landry Jones and wide receiver Ryan Broyles. Broyles is Jones’ favorite target and the pair mesh well on the field. Their leadership is extremely important to the team’s success. There are 16 seniors total on this year’s squad.

Weakness - Defensive line

Weakness - Running game

Not a terrible weakness here, more along the lines of a possible concern. The loss of defensive end Von Miller will be felt, but players such as defensive end Tony JerodEddie should be able to hold the line down.

Baylor Strength - Passing game

B

One wouldn’t think that a speedy quarterback like Robert Griffin III would excel as a passer, but he has done just that for the Bears. Griffin had a career-high 67 percent completion last season and threw for more than 3,500 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Missouri Strength - Defensive line

B

The Tigers ranked sixth in points allowed last season and return nearly all of the starters from that entire defensive unit. The defense will be relied on heavily this year as well and should keep the Tigers in most games.

Weakness - Quarterback

Weakness - Defense The Bears ranked 80th in sacks and interceptions a year ago, and if it weren’t for Griffin and the rest of the offense, the Bears would have suffered greatly. They will need to get their act together if they want to go bowling this year.

Texas Tech

After what seemed like a decade with the team, DeMarco Murray has finally graduated and the Sooners are left without a clear-cut choice at running back. The odds-on favorite to take over for Murray is freshman Brandon Williams. The five-star recruit and Texas native was also targeted by the Longhorns.

C

+

The loss of Blaine Gabbert will hurt this team, and it is not certain how sophomore James Franklin will fill the void left by Gabbert. However, Franklin has some tools at his disposal, especially junior wide receiver T.J. Moe.

Oklahoma State Strength - Offense

A-

No surprise here. The remnants of Mike Leach still remain in junior quarterback Seth Doege, who will have to step up as a leader. Doege has a strong arm and plenty of options at receiver.

Senior quarterback Brandon Weeden and junior wide receiver Justin Blackmon connected for 20 touchdowns last year. The Cowboys are set if the pair continues to perform well. Weeden threw for more than 4,000 yards last year, so he does a great job of distributing the ball to his playmakers. Four starters from last season’s offensive line also return.

Weakness - Defense

Weakness - Defensive line

Strength - Passing game

The Red Raiders ranked 61st last season in sacks and must get more pressure on opponents’ quarterbacks.

Head coach Tommy Tuberville has done a lot for this program in his short time at the helm, and the defense should continue to improve.

Only two starters from the Cowboys’ front seven return this year. While much of the secondary returns, the line gave up some big numbers last season and haven’t gotten any better talent-wise. These guys will have to step up in order for the Cowboys to get past their in-state rivals in Norman.

7

Friday, September 2, 2011

Rice DE honors teammate by wearing his old number

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By Chris Hummer Daily Texan Staff

Rice will be missing a big part of its defense after senior safety Travis Bradshaw suffered a career-ending neck injury during the first week of preseason camp.

This is a huge blow for Rice’s secondary, which counted on Bradshaw’s big hits to make a consistent impact on the field.

But that is a one dimensional way of looking at the situation. In reality, a studentathlete suffered a devastating injury, which took away his ability to play the game he loves.

Looking back on the day, it was all kind of a blur for him as he suffered the injury, which he originally felt was just a minor nuisance.

“I just thought I had strained some muscles,” he said. “I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

But team doctors urged him to get an X-ray, which revealed a cracked vertebrae.

Even then, he figured he would still get to play again, until doctors explained the extent of the injury. He then realized his playing career was finished.

“That whole day was unreal,” he said. “I was starting to realize what that meant.”

The news of Bradshaw’s injury is a big blow to the team, the staff and to fans of Rice football. But in response, the community has rallied around him.

This includes his teammate, defensive end Scott Solomon, who has decided to switch his jersey number to 35 this year to honor Bradshaw — that way, number 35 will get to see the field all season after all.

“I want to wear his jersey this year just as a tribute to him and to honor him for everything he has done for this team,” Solomon said. “He has done so much for us.

He is still a part of the family.”

It isn’t surprising to see Solomon step up and honor his teammate like this because he knows what it feels like to sit out a season with an injury. He missed all of 2010 after breaking his leg early in training camp of that year, bringing him back in 2011 for his fifth season with the Owls.

Solomon acknowledges that what he went through is only a fraction of what Bradshaw is dealing with because in the end, he had the comfort of knowing he would see the field again.

“It is a lot worse for him because he knows he is not coming back. I knew I would be coming back the next year, and it was still hard for me. I can’t imagine what he is going

Scott Solomon, No. 13, tackles a Vanderbilt player during their 2008 contest. He is changing his number to 35 in honor of his former teammate Travis Bradshow who suffered a career-ending neck injury last year.

Courtesy of Rice Thresher

through right now.”

Solomon is perhaps Rice’s best defensive player, and it is appropriate that he be the one to step up and honor Bradshaw, the team’s defense captain, in this way. Though, the tribute is not only for the player that Bradshaw was on the field — for Solomon, it is a way to honor the person that Bradshaw is on and off the field and the work ethic that he displayed on a day-to-day basis.

“I have so much respect for him as a person and as a player.” Solomon said. “He is a very disciplined player as well as a very disciplined person. He has worked so hard in every aspect of his life. That is why I respect him so much.”

“He is the kind of person that will work through anything to be successful and get to the top. That is what made him such a good

player and that is why I want to honor him this year in this way.”

Bradshaw isn’t allowed to be on the sideline with his teammates but will still be there every game to support them from the stands or in the press box, always with a clipboard in order to help his coaches.

Bradshaw is on pace to graduate in December with a degree in chemical engineering and will exert the same kind of effort he put forth on the field into the classroom. That same effort will also go into cheering on his Owls on the field every day, just as they have done throughout this whole ordeal with him.

“The support has been unbelievable,” Bradshaw said. “My teammates know how much the game meant to me and how much I wanted to be out there.”

8

Friday, September 2, 2011

Center Espinosa secures role as O-line ‘captain’

MATCHUPS — By Wes Maulsby | Daily Texan Staff

QUARTERBACK

Rice’s Sam McGuffie was a highly recruited running back out of high school who spent his freshman year at Michigan before transferring to Rice. He is the leading rusher and receiver who will be moved all over the field to create mismatches. Texas’ running game has been inconsistent for the past few years with no back able to take control of the starting job. A strong offseason from Fozzy Whittaker and the freshmen tandem of Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron has potential but need to prove they can produce.

RECEIVERS Both teams are inexperienced at the receiver position with only one senior on the starting lineup between the two teams.

Sophomore Mike Davis returns as Texas’ leading receiver but look for Jaxon Shipley to make plays throughout the game. For Rice, McGuffie will be a primary target at receiver. The tight end position should be important for both teams. Junior Luke Wilson led Rice with 425 receiving yards in 2010, and Blaine Irby will be returning to the field for the first time since his injury in 2008. Though young, Texas has a lot of talent at the receiver position and the veteran tight ends should make the difference.

OFFENSIVE LINE Texas’ offensive line woes have been well documented since the end of last season and with new line coach Stacy Searels, the Longhorns hope to bring back a power rushing game. Though Rice brings back a veteran offensive line, it will have its hands full against Texas’ front four. The Owls were unable to get any pressure into the opposing backfield last season and now the team’s top two sack leaders, Cheta Ozougwu and Kramer Lucio, are gone. By way of unit potential, Texas has the slight edge over Rice.

Advantage

Breakdown

Texas recently named Garrett Gilbert the starting quarterback, and he’ll have to prove that he can improve his play if he is to hang onto the starting job. For Rice, sophomore Taylor McHargue was slowed by injuries last season before leading Rice to wins in its final two games of the season.

He is a dual-threat quarterback who is able to move well in the pocket. Gilbert has the edge in experience, but if he can’t cut down the mistakes against Rice, then he won’t remain the supreme quarterback for long.

RUNNING BACK

Advantage

Breakdown

DEFENSIVE LINE Kheeston Randall anchors a talented group of defensive linemen that will make a living of getting to the quarterback this season with Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat at the end positions. The Owls feature three seniors in its starting lineup that will have enough experience to give Texas’ new offensive line some trouble. Texas will need to sure up a run defense that was suspect last season, and Rice will be counting on its front four to apply some pressure if it’s going to avoid last year’s defensive struggles.

The defensive ends for Texas will make the difference in this one, they will be getting constant pressure on the Rice backfield.

LINEBACKERS The strength of the entire Texas roster lies at linebacker with two seniors Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho. The rest of the roster is filled with talent with former five-star recruit Jordan Hicks starting as the strong side linebacker. Rice’s nickel defense will use two linebackers and will be relying on former Idaho transfer senior Justin Allen to lead the unit. Texas fields one of the most talented linebacking corps in the Big 12, if not the nation, and will be able to use its depth to get talent on thefield.

SECONDARY The Longhorns have developed a reputation of producing high quality defensive backs over the last few years, and while this team will have new starters at corner, their experience at safety should ease the transition. Rice will again have a unit that is filled with upperclassmen and experience and will have five defensive backs on the field in their base defense that will look to swarm Texas’ green receivers. Though Texas will be without Christian Scott for the first part of the season, Blake Gideon is entering his fourth year as starter, and Kenny Vaccaro is a human cruise missile looking to blow someone up on every play.

9

Friday, September 2, 2011

SPECIAL TEAMS As was the case with most of the team last season, Texas’ special team was disappointing last season but has a senior kicker in Justin Tucker who has a strong leg. Rice has a strong punter; its kicker set a freshman record for points last season and should be more accurate with a season under his belt. Both teams will be relying on young athletes to carry the load as returners, and Texas will be looking to make sure to get speedster D.J. Monroe whatever touches they can get. Look for Texas to apply pressure on punts and field goals to try to get their hands on a few of them.

Local product provides confidence, intelligence and speed to offense

By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff

When Dominic Espinosa finally got his chance to shine, he didn’t disappoint.

Espinosa has been a nice surprise for the Longhorns coming out of fall camp, and the redshirt freshman impressed the coaches enough to earn the starting nod at center for the season-opener against Rice.

A local product from Cedar Park, Espinosa sat out his first year at Texas and then missed spring practice with an injured shoulder, which required surgery. This August, Espinosa fought his way into the starting five and solidified an O-line that took a step backwards in 2010, when the Longhorns averaged a paltry 150.2 rushing yards per game.

Texas was thin along the offensive line during spring ball, and first-year O-line coach Stacy Searels didn’t have a lot to work with. But with Espinosa healthy by the time fall camp got underway, the former prep AllAmerican wasted no time making a name for himself.

“It has really helped us,” said head coach Mack Brown. “It’s one of those deals that Stacy has felt like is such a bonus.”

“I kept telling Stacy in the spring that he’s a good player, and you’ll be excited about him. He’s tough, he’s smart, he just doesn’t have experience, and it didn’t take Stacy long to put him in there.”

Espinosa was a heralded recruit when he first arrived on campus, but shoulder problems derailed his development. Now, though, Espinosa will anchor the offensive line.

“He was a great recruited offensive lineman so after he got over his injuries it was time for him to step up and play,” said senior left tackle Tray Allen.

To make room for Espinosa on the first team, senior lineman David Snow moved from center to left guard. Snow started all 12 games at center a year ago.

“To make the line better, we just needed to move people around,” Snow said. “He battled back and went through a lot of tough circumstances. He just really worked hard.

Nothing was given to him.”

Although the freshman replaced

the senior, Snow says he’s comfortable handing off the center spot to Espinosa, who has been lauded by the coaching staff and his teammates for his high football IQ. “He knows the calls, he’s coming along very good,” Snow said. “With more experience, he’ll get even better and more confident.”

Espinosa has embraced Searels’ smash-mouth philosophy and has held his own in one-on-one drills against the defensive linemen in fall camp. Espinosa routinely goes against senior defensive tackle Kheeston Randall.

“That’s great practice [for him]; you get no better reps than those one-on-ones,” Randall said. “He’s a shorter center, but that gives him more leverage.

“He’s very quick. He knows the offense, he can give checks, and he’s a super smart player. He’s the captain of the O-line.”

Though Espinosa has turned heads with his play so far, having a veteran group of linemen has helped the young center’s development. He made the most of his redshirt season too, soaking up all he could in the film room and on the scout team.

“He’s so smart all ready; he’s one of those guys that you can put anywhere on the line and he knows exactly what to do,” said senior running back Fozzy Whittaker. “Having a more experienced line around him helping him and picking him up has helped him become a better player.”

So, is Whittaker concerned about the freshman being able to open holes from the Longhorns’ tailbacks?

“Seeing the way he’s played this fall camp, I’m very confident in his ability,” Whittaker said. “He’s very agile; he can pull. He’s one of those guys with flexible hips.”

Texas’ motto this offseason has been a brick-by-brick approach to rebuilding the team coming off a 5-7 season. The offensive line needs rebuilding too, with only two returning starters.

The Longhorns — and the O-line — will lay the first brick on the road to redemption down on Saturday night against the Owls.

Espinosa waited a year for his chance to shine. Finally, his moment is here.

Dominic Espinosa played at Cedar Park High School before coming to Texas, where he was redshirted his freshman year.

After suffering shoulder injuries in spring, Espinosa is finally ready to take on the starting center job.

D Courtesy of Susan Johnson

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Friday, September 2, 2011

BIG 12

QUICKHITS

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Texas has a full deck of quarterbacks to choose from, but who is the best fit?

MOVING PAST THEIR MISTAKES –Blake Gideon and the Texas secondary grow from 2008’s Lubbock mistakes. | page 4

–The Longhorn defense plans to answer Raider fans’ taunts with sacks. | page 8

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Friday, September 2, 2011

From the ground up

The Longhorns must emphasize a strong run game to return to championship form

season opener against Tulsa this Texas Saturday, despite reports last week By Austin Laymance Redshirt freshman quarterback Daily Texan Staff saying he would not.

Connor Wood visited Colorado on Monday and was seen on the LSU Mack Brown knows what it takes campus Tuesday. He made his trans- Iowa State to build a successful program: a The Cyclones’ backup safety Earlpowerful running game. fer official Wednesday by announcing his intentions to join the Colo- Brooks will miss this season with a During his first year at Texas in rado Buffaloes. Wood was fourth on torn left ACL. Brooks played in all1998, the Longhorns averaged 204.2 the depth chart behind Garrett Gil- 12 games last season and was set torushing yards per game en route to a backup starting safety Ter’Ran Ben-nine-win season. Brown has coached bert and Case McCoy. ton. Despite breaking his toe earlierfour teams in 13 seasons at UT that this offseason, senior wide receiveraveraged more than 200 yards per Oklahoma State Darius Reynolds has been listed asgame on the ground. Three of those The Cowboys’ starting safety, a starter on the depth chart. four teams won at least 10 games, insenior Johnny Thomas and sophocluding a BCS National Championmore wide receiver Michael Harriship in 2005.

Kansas son, have been ruled ineligible for Sophomore wide receiver Erick Now, coming off a disastrous the team’s season opener against 5-7 campaign in 2010 that saw no Louisiana-Lafayette for reasons McGriff and freshman tight endsemblance of a legitimate ground Jimmay Mundine have been susthat have yet to be announced. attack, the onus is on the running There is no timetable for their pended for two games for violat-game to restore the program to return according to head coach ing team policy. Sophomore de-national prominence. fensive end Tyrone Sellers has also Mike Gundy. been suspended for one game for “We are running the ball more,” the same infraction. The JayhawksBrown said. “Hopefully, we will Baylor will also be without the services ofrun it better. Hopefully, that will Demetri Goodson, who spent senior defensive tackle Pat Dorsey,take the pressure off whoever plays the last two years playing basket- sophomore wide receiver Chrisquarterback.” ball at Gonzaga, has joined the Omigie and freshman linebacker With an unreliable run game Baylor football program. Goodson Jake Farley because of injuries. a year ago, opposing defenses made the Longhorns one-dimenis a native of Spring, and will start to practice as a defensive back. Possible expansion ahead sional and were free to tee-off on first-year starting quarterback Because Gonzaga does not have a for Big 12 Garrett Gilbert. football program, he will be able Senior running back Fozzy WhitNow that Texas A&M has ofto play immediately. ficially withdrawn from the Bigtaker saw first-hand what a non12 for what seems like the fifthexistent ground attack will do to an Oklahoma time, the conference is down tooffense as the Longhorns averaged Freshman receiver Trey Metoy- nine teams next season. With con-just 23.8 points per game, the lowest er will attend Hargrave Military ference instability at an all-timemark in Brown’s tenure.

Academy this fall and will retain high, a five-member expansion This season, Texas is banking on a full four years of eligibility with committee has been discussingWhittaker and a pair of freshmen the Sooners. Freshman defensive possible teams to add, with BYUstandouts in the backfield to return tackle Jordan Wade will sit out the and Pittsburgh becoming popularthe ground attack to the standards fall in order to improve his grades. early choices. SMU and Houstonset before them while alleviating Sophomore linebacker Tony Jef- have also been mentioned as pos-Gilbert from the stress of carrying the offense. ferson will play in the Sooners’ sible additions.

“It’ll take some of that pressure off the quarterback, where we don’t have to throw every single play, and we don’t have to try to take shots [downfield] every single play,” Whittaker said. “I feel like the run game is going to help the offense be more balanced ... We can try to control the football by staying on the ground and being a productive offense and being balanced so the defense can’t focus on one thing.”

It’s been a while since Texas was balanced on offense.

The rushing attack has tailed off in recent years, with the Longhorns Associated Pressemploying a spread offense that relied heavily on quick passes. The The Aggies celebrate with fans after beating Nebraska last year. Texas last time Texas averaged at least 200 A&M recently announced their intentions to leave the Big 12.

rushing yards per game was in 2007.

During that same year, the program had its last 1,000-yard rusher with Jamaal Charles.

But after last season’s debacle ended with a loss to Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night, the Longhorns realized they needed to start from the ground up.

“It was a big focus when we stepped off the field last Thanksgiving,” said senior left tackle Tray Allen.

“As an offensive line, we knew what we had to gear up and get ready for. It was our focus all summer, all spring: running the ball and being a tougher offensive line.”

Gilbert struggled through his first full year as the Longhorns’ starter under center, throwing 10 touchdowns against 17 interceptions as Texas failed to win at least 10 games for the first time since 2000.

Granted, Gilbert received little help from his offensive line and tailbacks.

Texas hopes new offensive coordinator Brian Harsin from Boise State will return emphasis on the run and bring better success for Gilbert and the team. Harsin is known for his prolific offenses at Boise State that were as balanced as they were dangerous.

“The one thing is having some balance in there and having something in the run game to be able to go to,” Harsin said. “We try to put him in a good situation where he can have some success completing the football. All 11 guys have to be doing their jobs out there for everybody to be successful.”

Gilbert was rarely in a good situation a year ago with Texas often behind on the scoreboard, which forced the Longhorns to throw the ball to get back in the game. Opposing defensive coordinators could eliminate the threat of the run and then blitz from all angles, knowing the Longhorns needed to pass.

Now, though, Texas has more playmakers out of the backfield with highly touted Malcolm Brown and fellow freshman Joe Bergeron, who’s made a serious case for playing time throughout fall camp.

Armed with a stronger supporting cast, Gilbert thinks his junior campaign can erase the horrors of 2010.

“The quarterback position is about making plays, but I’ve got 10 great players around me,” Gilbert said.

Foswhitt Whittaker, 28, strides past a Texas Tech defender during a match-up last season.

Whittaker is the senior leader of an otherwise young, unproven corp of running backs.

Caleb Bryant Miller Daily Texan file photo

“So they make my job easier. I’ve got playmakers that can go make plays for me.”

Brown revamped his coaching staff this offseason, bringing in offensive line coach Stacy Searels from Georgia to toughen up the front five and bring an edge to the run game.

Under Searels’ direction, the Long-

horns abandoned their zone-blocking schemes — instead it will run the ball downhill.

“We’re pounding it; we’re going to hit it hard,” said senior left guard David Snow. “Coach Searels came in and changed all that.”

Brown has instituted a brick-bybrick approach for the Longhorns to

return to the top of the college football landscape. He’s likened the 2011 season to his very first year on the 40 Acres back in 1998.

As was the case when he started to build his program at Texas, Brown will need a powerful running game once more if he hopes to rebuild this team.

Great performances require great preparation.

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12

ASOLIDFOUNDATION

TEXAS’ LINEBACKERS ARE THE FIRST BRICKS IN PLACE AS THE TEAM REBUILDS

By Christian Corona | Daily Texan Staff Shortly after Texas wrapped up its 5-7 campaign last season, Mack Brown opted for a new approach for this year. It emphasized a fresh start, laying a new foundation for the program — one that would be built “brick by brick.”

The Longhorns’ linebackers would be a good place to start.

The trio of terrific defenders — Keenan Robinson, Emmanuel Acho and Jordan Hicks — is the strength of the defense, possibly the team. Robinson and Acho are seniors who combined for 200 tackles last season while Hicks is one of the best young linebackers in the nation. As a unit, the linebackers will be one of the biggest reasons Texas bounces back from last year’s abysmal showing.

“It’s like you get to write the story all over again,” Acho said. “It’s no longer about last year’s team, the championship team from two years ago, it’s now about this team. You get to write your own story.

You have the pen, you have the paper, now it’s how you want to write it.”

Part of the brick-by-brick process for Brown meant cleaning house and revamping his coaching staff. The 14th-year Texas head coach hired new offensive and defensive coordinators, also bringing in new offensive line, defensive tackles, wide receivers and strength coaches. Brown even introduced himself to his team by saying, “My name is Mack Brown and this is my first season at Texas.”

“We’re starting over,” Robinson said. “I just felt like

Derek Stout| Daily Texan file photo

we should not dwell on the past and dwell on what happened last year so we want to start new and that’s why we have that new slogan ‘brick by brick.’ We’re laying a foundation.”

Some of the team’s members, especially at linebacker, don’t require an introduction. Robinson led the Longhorns with 113 tackles a year ago, good enough to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors. Perhaps the senior linebacker’s most remarkable accomplishments in the offseason as Robinson, who benched 405 pounds last year, maxed out at 450.

“He’s been playing at a very high level,” said defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. “I do think Keenan was a guy that had always been there but had kind of been riding the bus in the middle, not necessarily in the front with his hand on the steering wheel or foot on the gas. At some point in spring ball, he began to realize the power.”

Acho, also a senior, made the most of his first year as a starter, making 87 tackles, 12 of them for loss. Like Robinson, Acho provides great leadership to the young Longhorns on defense. Acho should know a little about playing a leadership role seeing as how his brother Sam, a rookie playing for the Arizona Cardinals, played it last year.

“The senior linebackers [Emmanuel Acho] and Keenan [Robinson] have both taken it upon themselves to lead this defense,” Hicks said. “We have all grabbed onto them and they have been leading us through the summer and through all of camp.”

For Hicks, this is his first year as a starter. He came all the way

Corey Leamon| Daily Texan file photo

from West Chester, Ohio, to be a Longhorn. Now that Hicks, who was widely considered to be the top linebacker coming out of high school two years ago, is at the top of the depth chart, he’s prepared to make the lengthy trip pay off.

Playing for Diaz also likely goes a long way toward ensuring players coming to Texas was the right choice. The former Mississippi State defensive coordinator is relatively new to the program as he replaces current Florida head coach Will Muschamp. Diaz is giving his players a great deal of freedom, along with sending more corners and safeties to the line of scrimmage and dropping more defensive linemen and linebackers into coverage.

“It’s not freelancing but really controlled,” Hicks said. “It looks like a lot of moving and a lot of freelancing, but when you understand the scheme and you’re out there and you know your job.”

The Longhorns have one of the finest defensive lines in the country. Senior defensive tackle Kheeston Randall is a mismatch for everyone while Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat are two of the most athletic pass-rushers in the country. The secondary is solid despite having only three players who have started a game.

But the linebackers that play between those two units are the glue that holds the defense together. All three starters could end up in the NFL and even with sophomore Demarco Cobbs’ recent injury, they’re still deep. The linebackers will be a wall in the middle of the Texas defense, a wall like the one the Longhorns are trying to build brick by brick this season.

Lauren Gerson| Daily Texan file photo

13

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Friday, September 2, 2011

PLAYERSTOWATCH

— By Wes Maulsby | Daily Texan Staff

By Lauren Giudice Daily Texan Staff

Sam McGuffie, Junior RB

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Scott Solomon, Senior DE Solomon is the leader of the Rice defense, and is one of the most productive defensive lineman in Rice’s history. He is in the top 10 for career sacks and tackles for loss at Rice, and his 6.5 sacks from 2009 was one of the top 10 season totals in Rice history.

Against Texas, he will be wearing number 35 to honor fellow senior Travis Bradshaw, who suffered a career ending injury during preseason practices. Texas has had obvious problems with the offensive line in recent years, but it has done a decent job in pass protection. Solomon will be up against a first time starter in Trey Allen, who will be disruptive whether getting to the quarterback or getting his hands on passes. He will command the attention of the Texas blocking schemes, even on rushing plays so he doesn’t blow it up in the backfield.

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where your guys are going to be,” McHargue said.

Bailiff is confident that McHargue is what Rice needs this season. The Owls finished 4-8 last season, and they are aiming to win their conference and make it to a bowl game, which they haven’t done since 2008.

“He makes great decisions,” Bailiff said. “He takes care of the ball. That is why he is there right now.”

Last season, McHargue was told he

would be starting in his first game just a few days before the first game of the season. This year his confidence is up and he, along with other members of the offense, will be ready for Texas.

“This year, I am a lot more confident in myself and more confident in the offense,” McHargue said. “We are really just excited about what we have. I think that’s the biggest thing.

I trust fully every guy that we have on our offense.”

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to come out and do their assignments and focus on their techniques this weekend.

“They’re a great team,” Jeffcoat said.

“We watched a little of them on film.

Very explosive plays, passing, running — they’ve got a great offense.”

Defensive end Alex Okafor said Rice’s zone-read concept on offense requires Texas’ defense to have strong discipline because big runs are a concern.

“We have to stay on them,” Okafor said. “We have our assignments down. We study a lot of film and once we do that we’ll be able to stop them, I believe.”

He also said that filling gaps up front and protecting the middle will be important on Saturday night.

Rice is bringing back a lot of experience to their offense, especially with their offensive line and new offensive coordinator John Reagan.

“We don’t have a new offense this year, it is just something we are building on, and that gives you the opportunity to take advantage of studying defenses instead of worrying about

Taylor McHargue, Sophomore QB After winning the starting job in the spring of 2010, he got injured in the middle of the season, but made a strong return at the end of the season. With Rice having only won two games, he came back to lead the Owls to consecutive wins to end the season against East Carolina and UAB. A dual threat, he can hurt the defense with his arms and his legs and with McGuffie in the backfield with him, they can form a nasty combination on zone read plays and play action. The Rice offense has quite a few weapons at its disposal, and with Texas breaking in a new defense, the Owls will surely try to take advantage of that with some big plays from McHargue both through the air and on the ground.

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Last season Taylor McHargue started in his first game, as a freshman, against Texas. Although the Owls lost 34-17, they put up a strong fight. A lot of that has to do with McHargue.

“Last year it was pretty nerveracking for my first game,” McHargue said. “But it was just like anything else.

After one or two plays you settle and it just becomes a football game.”

McHargue missed twice as many games as he played last season due to a mid-season shoulder injury, but he came back later in the year and led Rice to victory in its last two games.

Although he doesn’t admit it, McHargue is very much a dual-threat quarterback. He started three games last season and threw for 491 yards and six touchdowns.

“I do try to make some plays with my feet every now and then just to keep defenses honest,” McHargue said. “You obviously don’t want to depend on that. I think that’s part of my style is trying to make plays outside

McGuffie went to Michigan for his freshman season before transferring to Rice. He is an explosive player who became famous for his highlight videos in which he showed the ability to stop on a dime and hurdled numerous would be tacklers. McGuffie has great agility, tremendous change of direction, can stop and start at will, and goes from zero to 60 faster than a Ferrari. He returns this year as Rice’s leading rusher and receiver, so Rice will be moving him all over the field in order to find numerous ways to give him the ball, using him as the poor man’s Reggie Bush. And the defense will have to account for him on every play, and make sure that they use sure tackling, or he will make the first guy miss and bust loose for big gains.

the pocket with my feet.”

Rice head coach David Bailiff said having McHargue start helps with the team’s confidence and that they are very optimistic. He also said McHargue does a good job of managing the game.

Although McHargue is the leader of the offense and is expected to have a breakthrough season, the Owl’s offense includes other standout players with great potential. Specifically, he is aided by junior running back Sam McGuffie. Last season, the Michigan transfer had solid receiving yards with 39 catches and 384 yards.

“Sam’s just an explosive guy that defenses really have to account where he’s at at all times because we move him around on the field and he doesn’t just line up in the backfield,” McHargue said. “He’s such an explosive player that he can change a game in the blink of an eye.”

Texas’ defense does not seem to be underestimating the potential that the Rice offense, specifically McHargue, has. Sophomore defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat said the defense needs

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EXCLUSIVE STORIES

Texas not taking Rice quarterback lightly

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Friday, September 2, 2011

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Friday, September 2, 2011

Cowboy quarterback Weeden set to lead team with maturity

By Michael Morton Daily Texan Staff

Mary Kang | Daily Texan file photo

Quarterback Brandon Weeden slings the ball down field against the Longhorns. He has thrown at least one touchdown in each one of his games.

Brandon Weeden is not your typical college quarterback.

The road to starting quarterback of the Oklahoma State Cowboys has been a bumpy one for the 27-yearold senior from Edmond, Okla.

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MLB by the New York Yankees, Weeden bounced around minor league baseball for years — landing with three different teams but never making it up to the big leagues.

With a career mark of 19-26 and an ERA of 5.02, Weeden was released by the Kansas City Royals in 2006 and out of a job.

“I was upset,” he said. “I’d been playing baseball since I was 3 years old. It was tough. It was something I loved to do. It took me a few days. I went home, thought about it and just decided to give college football a try.”

Then stepped in Mike Gundy.

Now the head coach of the Cowboys, Gundy recruited Weeden out of high school when he was the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. During a visit to Stillwater after being released by the Royals, Weeden met with Gundy, and after hitting it off with the coach, was offered a spot despite being much older than the other players on the Cowboys’ roster.

“I think there’s an advantage in being older,” Gundy said. “We all know that we’re different at 26 than we are at 18. And in order to handle the pressures of being a quarterback and playing at this level, maturity is an advantage.”

Weeden was redshirted for his first year at OSU and saw action in only one game during his freshman season. But it was a game in 2009 against 3-7 Colorado when the sophomore Weeden was finally able to make his mark with Cowboys fans.

Trailing the Buffaloes 14-10 at halftime in Stillwater and with star quarterback Zac Robinson out because of an injury, the third-string Weeden took over the reins of the Cowboys’ offense in the second half and took his first meaningful snaps since the Oklahoma high school semifinals in 2001.

Hitting 10-of-15 passes for 168 yards — including touchdown tosses of 28 and 47 yards — Weeden led the Cowboys back for a 31-28 victory over Colorado.

If the Colorado game was Weeden’s opening act, his junior season was the main event.

In his first year as a starting quarterback since 2001, Weeden had seven 300-yard passing games and three 400-yard games, earn-

ing First-Team all-Big 12 honors last year.

In addition to throwing at least one touchdown pass in every game — and at least two TD passes in 11 games — Weeden set single-season school records for passing yards (4,277), total offense (4,209), touchdown passes (34), completed passes (342), pass attempts (511) and completion percentage (66.9) and ended the season third nationally in passing yards.

With one of the most successful seasons for an OSU quarterback behind him, the six-foot-four, 218-pound former minor league pitcher of the Columbus Clippers and the High Desert Mavericks has led OSU to a number nine ranking in The Associated Press preseason poll and has one the best receivers in the nation to throw to in Justin Blackmon.

With targets like Blackmon, he is confident at the way this season will turn out, especially after a productive offseason.

“This preseason has been completely different. I know the offense, I’m not going into game one worried about what other guys are doing, I can just go out there and play and kind of react on the fly,” Weeden said. “I feel like I’m more of a leader. On the offensive side, I’m able to help see any mistakes by other guys, where as last year I was more worried about my job. I just feel that we’re all one year more experienced.”

The Cowboys are set to take on Louisiana-Lafayette, a team they drubbed 54-28 last year by way of Weeden’s five touchdown tosses.

Weeden has spent a great deal of time working with newly acquired offensive coach Todd Monken, who hasn’t tried to change Weeden’s style of play. But Weeden is grateful for the little tweaks he has made.

“We really haven’t tinkered with a ton of things, but the adjustments we have made have been sound,” Weeden said. “They’ve been solid and for a good reason... Some of the stuff that [Monken] has done has been brilliant.”

He has a corp of strong receivers, coaches that respect his maturity and decision making, and a plethora of experience behind him.

The biggest question surrounding Weeden now: What will he do for his closing act?

17

Friday, September 2, 2011

GAMESTOWATCHTHIS SEASON — By Chris Hummer | Daily Texan Staff

No. 3 Oregon @ No. 4 LSU Last season 12-1 Pac 10 (9-0)

Last season 11-2 SEC (6-2)

No. 5 Boise State @ No. 19 Georgia Last season 12-1 Mountain West (7-1)

Cowboys Stadium, Arlington Sept. 3 Time 7:00 p.m.

TV: ABC

A week ago, this game looked like a clash of two title contenders; it now looks like something completely different. LSU will not have starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson for the game because of an indefinite suspension from the team, while he is under investigation for assault charges. It will be up to former starter Jarrett Lee to take the reins of the offense and lead LSU as they try to upset last year’s national runner up. Oregon is coming in with off-season rumors of recruiting violations swirling, but it does not affect anyone on the roster directly, though it is an unnecessary distraction. The Ducks will look to their two Heisman candidates — quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James — to lead the quick strike offense on another title run. Despite LSU’s personnel issues, expect a great game where LSU’s athletic defense and Oregon’s prolific offense will clash on the field, and the winner of that battle will most likely decide the game.

Southern Methodist @ No. 8 A&M

Last season 6-7 SEC (3-2)

Last season 7-7 Conference USA (6-2)

Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia Sept. 3 Time 7:00 p.m.

TV: ESPN

BYU vs Texas

BUTLER COMMUNITY SCHOOL

No. 14 TCU @ Baylor Last season 13-0 Mountain West (8-0)

Last season 7-6 Big 12 (4-4)

Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco Sept. 2 Time 7:00 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Kyle Field, College Station Sept. 4 Time 6:30 p.m.

TV: FSN

Boise State has made multiple BCS runs in the last few years and has been a premier program in college football, and if it wants to make yet another BCS run, it will have to scale a tough SEC test in Georgia. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore will look to kick-start his Heisman run in the game, and the four-year starter will be the most important factor in Boise State’s success on the season.

Georgia is looking for a fresh start after a disappointing 6-7 season; it will look towards highly touted freshman running back Isaiah Crowell to bolster the running game. In order for Boise State to make another title run, they will have to make an impression here because its schedule only gets easier. Don’t expect the Bulldogs to lay down for them though, it should be an exciting game from opening kick-off.

Next issue: Sept. 9

Last season 9-4 Big 12 (6-2)

Why is a game in which the final score of last year’s contest was 45-10 on this list? Because these two teams are significantly different than the two teams that saw the field in last year’s game. TCU will be without quarterback Andy Dalton this time, as he was drafted in the second round of NFL draft. It will be up to new quarterback Casey Pachall to lead a talented offense. Baylor has a lot of key players returning from last year’s squad including human highlight real Robert Griffin III, who will be back to lead Bear’s offense. This game should be significantly closer than last year’s with an inexperienced leader at TCU’s helm, and a Heisman candidate leading the Bears.

But TCU knows if it wants to make yet another national title run, it has to take care of business against its Texas rival.

While all the talk surrounding Texas A&M has been about the school trying to leave the Big 12, some may have forgotten that the Aggies have a very good football team competing for a Big 12 title.

Texas A&M returns a high-powered offense that averaged 31 points a game led by starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and star wideout Jeff Fuller. They should also have an improved defense bringing in former Air Force defense coordinator Tim DeRuyter to sew up a defense that gave up 21 points a game the year before.

SMU is coming off of a bowl loss to Army and a 7-7 season, but optimism is high in Dallas. June Jones’s run and shoot offense is in full swing in his fourth year at SMU, and the team is made up of his totally of his recruits. This SMU team would like to do nothing more than beat the Aggies in week one, to jump start a run to a Conference-USA title.

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Friday, September 2, 2011

NATIONAL

NOTEBOOK

Next issue: Sept. 9

BYU vs Texas

— By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff

Tulsa receiver suspended over embezzlement rumors

Tulsa wide receiver and NCAA all-purpose yardage record-holder Damaris Johnson has been suspended indefinitely. The suspension comes after Johnson was questioned by Tulsa police regarding his girlfriend’s arrest on an embezzlement complaint. According to police reports, Johnson’s girlfriend Chamon Jones sold Johnson jewelry from the Macy’s where she was employed at greatly discounted prices. That’s nearly $3,000 worth of bling for just less than $15.

“We’ve taken a stance on the information that we have, but I’m not naive,” said Tulsa head coach Bill Blankenship. “I think there’s always more information, so we’re going to let this thing play out.”

Johnson has led the nation in allpurpose yards the past two seasons, and was a second team All-American choice last year.

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Senior outside linebacker Aaron Brown and junior wide receiver Darius Bright were arrested early Sunday morning following a fight at a Waikiki nightclub. The pair will miss the Warriors’ season opener against Colorado.

“Aaron and Darius used extremely poor judgment and in turn embarrassed the football program and the university,” said Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin on Monday.

“These are two young men who have never been in trouble with the law before, but became involved in a situation where they did not make the right choices.”

It is yet to be determined whether Brown and Bright will play in Hawaii’s Sept. 10 game at Washington.

The two will also face team discipline and participate in community service throughout the season.

South Carolina loses corner due to reoccuring foot injury

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Akeem Auguste of South Carolina will not start against East Carolina after reinjuring his foot during practice on Monday.

“He was doing well, and then he twisted it and hurt his foot again,” said defensive coordinator Lorenzo

Ward. “We’ll see an evaluation in the morning. I don’t know if he reinjured to the point it was at first, but he was doing well and then all of a sudden, he made a cut on it and hurt it again.”

Senior C.C. Whitlock will start in place of Auguste. Whitlock brings experience, having started five games last season.

“If Akeem wasn’t full speed, wasn’t 100 percent, there’s no chance he was going to start. C.C. will start,” Ward said. “I’m 100 percent sure that C.C. will start.”

Bruins plan to use two QBs against Houston Cougars Head coach Rick Neuheisel announced that junior quarterbacks Kevin Prince and Richard Brehaut will both play in the Bruins’ season opener against Houston. Prince, who has started the past two season openers, will get the first series, but Neuheisel said it’s a judgment call after that.

“After analyzing and looking at all the different strengths and weaknesses of the two youngsters, I just believe both deserve to play,” Neuheisel said. “I don’t have any idea how many reps they’ll get.

I know when I decide one goes in he’s going to have my full confidence and when I decide the other is going in, he’ll have my full confidence.”

p

, Spicewood Springs Rd. Sept. 8, 2010

Three Buckeyes suspended for taking improper benefits Three Ohio State players suspended for receiving impermissible benefits Junior running back Jordan Hall and defensive backs Corey Brown and Travis Howard have been suspended for Saturday’s opener against Akron. All three players received benefits of $300 or less at a charity event earlier this year. Ohio State self-reported the violations.

“We take this matter seriously,” said athletic director Gene Smith in a statement. “Our commitment to institutional integrity is steadfast, and we must hold everyone associated with our athletics programs accountable for lapses in judgment. We believe in transparency with the NCAA, all regulatory bodies and all of Buckeye Nation.”

After the Drought, a Flood?

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20

Friday, September 2, 2011

Longhorns consider extreme heat non-factor

21

Friday, September 2, 2011

Texas, Rice fooTball ThRough The yeaRs 10/27/1962

10/17/1914 In their first inaugural meeting, Texas landed a decisive 41-0 victory at home, led by six future Longhorn Hall of Honor players. One year later the Southwest Conference was formed and the two teams would play each other every year for the next 82 years until the SWC folded.

9/17/2005

The only regular season blemish on Texas’ 1962 record came from a 14-14 tie against Rice at Rice Stadium. The Owls were a heavy underdog but were able to finish in a draw that knocked Texas from its spot as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Longhorns only loss that season would come at the hands of LSU in the Cotton Bowl.

Runningback Jamaal Charles registered his first career start by rushing for 189 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. The victory improved Texas’ record to 4-0 on the season and helped set the pace for the rest of the year, ending with a National Championship game victory of USC.

Al Lenhart | Daily Texan Staff

11/1/1924 Under first year coach John W. Heisman, Rice gained a notable 19-6 victory at home over Texas, giving them just their second win over the Longhorns in their first 10 meetings. Heisman — for whom the trophy is named after — continued coaching with Rice until 1927 and would not win another game against the Longhorns

Texas leads historic rivalry over former conference foe

By Kristin Otto Daily Texan Staff

Since the first Longhorn-Owl faceoff in 1914, UT has defeated Rice 70 times, lost 20 games and tied one.

Texas players kneel over during practice while trainers hand them refreshments to cope with the blazing heat. The game time temperature is expected to This weekend’s meeting will mark be in the triple digits, but the players aren’t concerned with the forecast. the 93rd anniversary of what has become a historic football rivalry.

By Lauren Giudice will deal with it. to heat with a meter,” Brown said.

From the get-go, UT asserted its Weekend WeatHer ForecaSt Daily Texan Staff Linebacker Jordan Hicks be- “When the meter reads that the scoring superiority over the Owls. lieves that the heat is an advantage player’s body temperature exceeds In the first two games played beOn Sunday, Austin reached the for the Longhorns because they are a certain limit, we pull them out Fri Sept 02 Sat Sept 03 Sun Sept 04 tween the teams, the Longhorns immediately and cool them off.” highest temperature it has ever used to it. clenched back-to-back shutouts; “We are not concerned about the Brown said the players need seen. The high of 112 at Camp crushed the Owls 41-0 in 1914 Hot with times of Breezy and hot they Partly sunny to be prepared for extreme temMabry tied the record set in Sep- heat,” Hicks said. and again in 1915 with a whopping During the summer, head coach peratures to be ready for their first tember 2000. Ready for some footclouds and sun with times of 59-0 defeat. Texas proved victorious H 101° L 75° Mack Brown said the field was 120 game against Rice, specifically the ball, anyone?

H 101° L 72° clouds and sun the following year with a 16-2 win, The Longhorns have been prac- degrees and the heat index was fourth quarter.

H 99° L 73° but Rice finally took its first game in Defensive coordinator Manny ticing and scrimmaging all sum- 109. Although practicing in the 1917, defeating the Longhorns 13-0. mer in the Austin heat. The season bubble (Texas’ indoor practice fa- Diaz has been impressed with However, the Owl claim to football is approaching, and it’s time to cility) helped, it was still about 90 the player’s stamina and attitude fame was short-lived. Only a year with the heat bearing down on with. Jokingly, he told the media, urday night, there is a 10 percentlater, the Rice Owls — in their first actually compete in the swelter- degrees inside. “it’s been a little chilly out.” chance of rain.

“We’re watching the players their backs. ing temperatures. Although prehome game against the Longhorns “We were out in the heat all the “We practiced outside in 108 “They haven’t complained about cautions have been made to keep closely,” Brown said. “We’re devel— fell 14-0. players safe, that doesn’t mean oping a level of toughness that we a thing, and that comes from confi- time,” Jeffcoat said. “As kids, we degree heat today,” Okafor said. Although dominated by the unthat Texas’ game on Saturday will felt like we lost over the past couple dence,” Diaz said. “When you have played out in the heat. We are all “The rain would be refreshing inparalleled talent of Texas football, of years through our very physical confidence in your conditioning kind of used to it. Most of us have my eyes.” be pleasant. the rivalry continued throughout But chances are the rain will not level, and you have confidence in lived in Texas.”

“Our cleats were melting to the practices.” the 20th century. Between 1966 Alex Okafor said the play- be there to refresh the players on Players take various tests so your strength level, you can start turf, it was so hot,” said safety Kenand 1993, Texas won 28 consecuteam doctors and trainers can un- to realize that you can accomplish ers know what to do to prepare Saturday night, and the high fortive games against Rice — the ny Vaccaro.

But the team appears to be a lot derstand who they need to watch some things that you weren’t sure themselves and their bodies for that day is 100 degrees. It’s time forsixth-longest winning streak against the heat. both teams to not only prove how tougher than most of the com- even more carefully for heat related that you could do before.” a single team in the history of Although both the Longhorns they can stand up to each other Sophomore defensive end Jackplaining student population. The problems, Brown said. college football.

“They even have a pill they can son Jeffcoat said the heat is just and Owls will be bracing for ex- but also how well they can stand The schism in skill between the sentiment of most of the team is that the heat is what it is, and they give guys that are more susceptible something the team has to deal tremely high temperatures on Sat- the heat.

Longhorns and Owls was so widely Derek Stout | Daily Texan file photo

recognized that President John F. Kennedy likened the difficulty of going to the moon to the possibility of Rice beating Texas in football.

During his 1962 speech on the space program — which he delivered to a stadium filled with Rice Owls — JFK commented, “Why, some say, the Moon? Why choose this as our goal? Why does Rice play Texas? We choose to go to the Moon, we choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard ... ” Following the demise of the historic Southwest Conference, which both teams were a part of, in 1996, Texas joined the Big 12 while Rice aligned with Conference USA. However, both teams continue to make an appearance on one another’s schedule almost every year. In recent history, the Longhorns have maintained their dominance in games against the Owls. Notable victories include Texas’ 52-7 drubbing in 2006, its 58-14 victory over the Owls in 2007, and the Longhorn’s 52-10 blowout victory in 2008. Although the Horns went 5-7 in the 2010-11 season, they won last year’s contest 34-17.

If history is any indicator, it is safe to say that the only nocturnal action Saturday night will be the celebration of Longhorn football fans.

10/7/1989 Texas trailed Rice 30-17 heading into the fourth quarter but was able to rally down the stretch winning the game 31-30. Adrian Walker and Peter Gardere both scored touchdowns in the final quarter while the Texas defense was able to keep Rice off the scoreboard. This close victory preserved a 23 game winning streak over the Owls.

10/16/1994 On a rare Sunday game, Texas traveled to Rice and was shockingly upset by the Owls 19-17. This Rice victory snapped a 28 year dominance that Texas held over them, which ranks as the sixth longest single-opponent winning streak in college football history.

This date also marks the last time Rice has scored a victory over the Horns.

22

Friday, September 2, 2011

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Friday, September 2, 2011

TEXANSTAFFPICKS Texan Staff Picks Overall Record

Last Week’s Record Overall Record Rice at Texas

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Kent State at No. 2 Alabama

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East Carolina vs. No. 12 South Carolina

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October 29

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Georgia at Arkansas 19 Georgia

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