BCS Postgame Central

Get all the postgame quotes from the BCS Championship game, including both head coaches, as well as the offensive and defensive MVPs.

Alabama Crimson Tide:

Nick Saban talks about winning his second BCS Championship and more.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Mark Ingram speaks after winning Offensive MVP.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Marcell Dareus speaks after winning Offensive MVP.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Texas Longhorns:

Losing Head Coach Mack Brown speaks to the media.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Senior speaks after posting a game-high receptions and yards.

Click Here To Read Q&A

Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hubbard

CFI Countdown: #3 Texas Longhorns

2008 Record: 12-1 (Big 12: 7-1)
Bowl Game: Won Fiesta Bowl vs. Ohio St. 24-21
Location: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (94,113)
Head Coach: Mack Brown
Overall: 201-100-1 (26th season)
@ Texas: 115-26 (12th season)
Link to UT Football Page

No team enters 2009 more motivated to prove they deserve a spot in the BCS Championship game than the Longhorns. Right or wrong, Texas felt slighted by the system…that the BCS and the Big XII let them down. It won’t be difficult for Mack Brown to paint an “us against the world” picture to his players. But even more important than motivation is the fact that on the field, with seven starters back on both sides of the ball, Texas is that good.

When the Longhorns Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Greg Davis (12th season)
Scheme: Spread Offense
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: WR Quan Cosby, RB Chris Ogbonnaya, TE Blaine Irby (Injured), OG Cedric Dockery

With Colt McCoy back to run the zone read, there is little doubt that the ‘Horns will have one of the top offenses in the nation. Never have we seen a quarterback make better decisions or be more accurate than McCoy was as a junior. He also added the ability to be a force as a runner in 2008, leading Texas in rushing—a feat Brown hopes he doesn’t repeat. He also possesses all the intangibles teams look for in championship quarterbacks, starting with his leadership skills. McCoy received a big boost when his favorite target, buddy and security blanket Jordan Shipley, was granted an extra season of eligibility by the NCAA. Shipley runs crisp routes, has reliable hands, and can make things happen after the catch. However, Texas needs some other playmakers to step up other than Shipley if they are to achieve their goals for the 2009 season. At receiver, everyone is waiting for sophomore Malcolm Williams to turn into a superstar. He has the size and speed to do it all, but must prove he can be a consistent performer. Another potential weapon is former quarterback John Chiles, who expects to see most of his time at wide out. Don’t expect much production from the tight end position—not only is projected starter Blaine Irby out for the year, he is one of four tight ends that will miss the 2009 season. In the backfield, Texas struggled to find a primary ball carrier in 2008. First up in 2009 is junior Vondrell McGee, who has a nice combo of size and speed. Sophomore Fozzy Whitaker can be explosive, but must stay healthy, while fellow soph Cody Johnson is a 250-pound wrecking ball and a force near the goal line. One cause for optimism is the fact that four of five starters return along the offensive line—a unit that can pass and run block—led by left tackle Adam Ulatoski and center Chris Hall.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) QB Colt McCoy (SR), 2) WR Jordan Shipley (SR), 3) WR Malcolm Williams (SO)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Will Muschamp (2nd season)
Scheme: 4-3 (Some 3-4)
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: DE Brian Orakpo, DT Roy Miller, DT Aaron Lewis, DE Henry Melton, CB Ryan Palmer

The first order of business is replacing the pass-rushing and impact ability of NFL first-round pick Brian Orakpo, and everyone knows who Texas expects to step into that role—senior Sergio Kindle. Until last season, Kindle had been more enigma than star, but he started making plays late in the season. This season he will be shifting from linebacker to defensive end where he is expected to harass Big 12 quarterbacks all season long. Lamaar Houston is quick for a defensive tackle, while sophomore tackle Kheeston Randall and red-shirt freshman end Alex Okafor are a pair with bright futures. Even though Kindle moves from linebacker the ‘Horns still have experience at the position, as seniors Jared Norton (MIKE) and Roddrick Muckelroy (WILL) will hold down the second level of defense. Muckelroy could have a big season using his speed to cover ground and get into the backfield. The secondary is deep and talented. Sophomore Aaron Williams, juniors Chykie Brown and Curtis Brown, as well as senior Deon Beasley give them a quartet of quality corners. Chykie Brown and Williams should be All-Big 12 performers, as should sophomore left safety Earl Thomas, who couldn’t have been more impressive as a true freshman last season. Thomas has excellent range and can even play some nickel in coverage. Also starting as a rookie in 2008 was Blake Gideon, who is competing with a third sophomore, Christian Scott, at right safety.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) LB/DE Sergio Kindle (SR), 2) SS Earl Thomas (SO), 3) CB Chykie Brown (JR)

The Schedule

The Longhorns have basically a two-game schedule—versus Oklahoma in Dallas in the Red River Rivalry and a trip to Stillwater to take on the upstart Oklahoma St. Cowboys—potentially this year’s Texas Tech. Those are the only ranked teams on the docket, although they have to make road trips to Missouri, Baylor, and in-state rival Texas A&M. The out of conference schedule won’t do wonders for the Longhorns’ strength of schedule as they take on UL-Monroe, Wyoming, UTEP and Central Florida—not exactly a challenging quartet.

Pivotal Point

There are two—on offense it’s the skill players, on defense it’s the front line. In 2008 their leading rusher among the running backs was McGee who “rumbled” for 376 yards, which is simply not going to cut it in 2009. Someone must emerge from the pack. At receiver, gone is Quan Cosby who along with Shipley made almost every big catch for the ‘Horns last season. Defensively, not only must Orakpo be replaced, but defensive end Henry Melton and tackles Roy Miller and Aaron Lewis have departed as well. Can they be as stout against the run this season? There’s only one way to find out.

CFI Final Analysis

Texas is destined to have another great season and make their second straight BCS Bowl game for the first time since a guy named Vince Young ran the offense in Austin. The difference is this group may not win the national title…heck, they could even fall short of a conference title, which is life in the Big XII. At number three they are in the mix and if they are able to take the Red River Shootout (again) without any other slip ups, it could be the ‘Horns who find themselves playing for the BCS Championship with Oklahoma watching at home.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys
#11 California Golden Bears
#10 Iowa Hawkeyes
#9 Virginia Tech Hokies
#8 Georgia Bulldogs
#7 USC Trojans
#6 LSU Tigers

#5 Ohio St. Buckeyes
#4 Alabama Crimson Tide

Photos Courtesy of the University of Texas Athletics

Fiesta Bowl: Ohio St. vs. Texas

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

January 5, 2009 * 8:00 PM * FOX

In this year’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State (10-2) and Texas (11-1) will revisit their brief home-and-home rivalry from 2005-06, where the visiting team each contest. Despite their recent pairings potentially serving a backdrop for this showdown, we again face the BCS nightmare of controversy and potential mismatch. The Longhorns are suffering from some form of elimination by advanced calculus, which ruled them (and Texas Tech for that matter) out of contention for the Big 12 Championship game and potentially, the National Title game. Ohio State, likewise receiving an at-large bid to the Fiesta Bowl, was selected over undefeated Boise St. despite being completely overmatched in their last two BCS games and an early season match-up with 11-1 USC. The Buckeyes’ only other loss this year came at the hands of another BCS-qualified team, Penn State. In Columbus, the scarlet and gray stood toe-to-toe with the eventual Big Ten champions, but fell short on a late game interception. Will we be reflecting on this game as the mismatch of teams undeserving of the BCS equation? Or will we be pleasantly surprised?

When the Buckeyes Have the Ball

The one word that would describe Ohio State’s 2008 regular season would be: adjustment. Boring, perhaps…but appropriate. The keys to the offense at the beginning of the season were handed to sixth-year senior Todd Boeckmann, an efficient field general who took the Buckeyes to the National Title game last year. But he was ousted midstream against USC, when head coach Jim Tressel pulled the trigger on true freshman, dual threat quarterback, Terrelle Pryor. The Buckeyes never looked back. The offense, originally pro-style and founded on power running by Beanie Wells, was quickly converted to a shotgun spread, with the focus coming from the arm and rushing of their quarterback. As Pryor was adjusting to his role as starter, a running back-by-committee approach was utilized until Wells recovered from a foot injury. With Wells healthy again, the conundrum of how the offense would be structured arose – shotgun zone read (befitting Pryor) or pro-style I-formation (befitting Wells). How about both? The Buckeyes have lined up in everything from a double-tight end formation to a variation of the pistol, eventually holding the 28th-best rushing offense in the FBS (3rd in the Big Ten, 193 yards/game). What’s so dynamic is the Buckeyes’ ability to bruise defenses between the tackles with the 6‘ 1”, 237 pound Wells or have them chasing tread marks made by Pryor’s graceful speed. Despite Wells’ injury, Boeckmann’s benching and Pryor’s inexperience, Ohio State still managed to keep the offense churning enough to take a share of the Big Ten title.
An area of concern for the Buckeyes, however, is their diminished passing attack. It is not at all a reflection of their flashy receiving duo, Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, that Pryor’s maturation as an efficient passer is an ongoing process. Ohio State has fallen to 105th in the FBS in passing with 148 yards/game, but this may be aided somewhat by the Longhorns’ inability to stop the pass.

Texas has surrendered 266 yards/game through the air (albeit generally against the pass-heavy Big 12 conference). Just as misleading could be Texas’ 2nd ranked rushing defense in the FBS (74 yards/game) although they were able to hold Big 12 Champion Oklahoma to just 1.8 yards/carry. Further, their top tacklers come from not only their linebackers (Roddrick Muckelroy first in team tackles with 96 total), but also the safety positions – Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon are the next top tacklers behind Muckelroy. While safety play is often associated with managing the pass defense, their utility and required expertise has grown substantially with the evolution of running quarterbacks – you can’t contain rushing quarterbacks off the edge with poor safety play. Thus, it may come in handy for Texas that their safeties already possess the ability to find the ball and bring the rusher down. With that being said, one could argue that senior defensive end Brian Orakpo may prove to be the playmaker needed to slow down Ohio State’s attack. He’s sacked quarterbacks 10.5 times and also leads his defense in tackles-for-loss with 15. In passing situations Pryor has shown a tendency to either hold on to the ball too long or scramble too much before taking off down field, causing numerous drive-killing sacks. If Orakpo has a big day, he may all but eliminate Ohio State’s passing ability single-handedly.

When the Longhorns Have the Ball

As everyone knows, Texas boasts an elite quarterback in junior Colt McCoy, and not surprisingly, he is the anchoring point of their offense. This Heisman Trophy finalist made his job look simplistic while accumulating statistics a sixteen-year-old would be proud of coming from his Xbox: 3,445 yards, 32 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while completing 78 percent of his passes for an astronomical rating of 179. Not enough? How about the fact that McCoy also leads his team in rushing with 576 yards (4.5 average) and 10 touchdowns? The task sounds simple enough–stop McCoy and you win. But the Longhorns receiving corps won’t make that an easy task for the Buckeyes. Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby have been found by McCoy almost equally this year and have combined for 157 receptions, 1,934 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both are less than six feet tall, but what they lack in size, they make up for by possessing great speed and hands. Shipley also just happens to double as a playmaker in the return game, posting touchdowns from a kickoff and punt return against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, respectively. Altogether McCoy and company finished 11th in the FBS with 300 yards/game passing, which will be directly in the crosshairs of the Buckeyes’ 7th ranked pass defense (164 yards/game).

This may be another case of statistical inflation as the Buckeyes saw only one passing offense in the Big Ten that was in the top 20 in passing offense (Illinois).
Less of a statistical anomaly would be their stoutness against the run, as they surrendered only 115 yards/game on the ground. The Ohio State defensive leadership comes from their all-everything middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who led the team in tackles and sacks (four) and combined with outside linebacker Marcus Freeman for 197 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Yet, as they are stronger against the run, it is plausible to see Texas in the shotgun, passing for 80 percent of their plays. This will call for senior (and leader of the secondary) cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to step up against the strength of Texas’ passing game. Jenkins and fellow defensive back Kurt Coleman combined for seven interceptions and 14 pass-breakups. Their ability to lockdown on Cosby and Shipley could be the match-ups which dictate how well the Longhorns can move the ball.

Final Analysis

This match-up seems to favor Texas on paper – great leadership and ability from their quarterback and defense. Ohio State is suffering a minor identity crisis in its passing game and may have to rely on Beanie Wells for 200 yards rushing to stand a chance. However, recent reports are sprouting suggesting that Ohio State may come out in offensive sets where both Boeckmann and Pryor are on the field at the same time. I am reticent in believing a gimmick offense (which has been employed in high school offenses as the “A11” set) would be the answer for a team that has confidence to beat their opponents outright. But is that not exactly what happened a few years ago when David (Boise St.) took down Goliath (Oklahoma) in this very same Bowl game? And, what about the emotional preparation on the Texas sideline as they went from National Title contenders to Big 12 contenders, to hopes for an at-large BCS bid? That has to be deflating. And that’s why the nod has to go to…the Longhorns. Why? The one word that describes what Ohio State has been lacking when facing tough opponents in the big game the last two years? Adjustment.

CFI Prediction: Texas 37, Ohio State 27

Photo Credit: College Press Box, University of Texas Athletics, OSU Athletics

NINE FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2008 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - The Football Writers Association of America has announced nine finalists for the 2008 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award to be voted upon by the entire membership.

With the 2008 regular season completed, the FWAA, in conjunction with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, has tabbed the following finalists: Texas' Mack Brown, USC's Pete Carroll, Texas Tech's Mike Leach, Florida's Urban Meyer, Penn State's Joe Paterno, Boise State's Chris Petersen, Alabama's Nick Saban, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.

The finalists will be placed on a ballot which will be sent to the entire FWAA membership.

Two of the finalists, Boise State's Petersen and Utah's Whittingham, have directed their teams to unbeaten regular seasons, while seven of the nine coaches have led their teams to Bowl Championship Series games.

Of the nine finalists, four have previously been named the FWAA's National Coach of the Year, led by Penn State's Joe Paterno, who has been honored by the FWAA three times (1978, '82 and '86). Paterno has been a finalist on two other occasions (1997 and 2005). Florida's Urban Meyer (2004), Alabama's Nick Saban (2003) and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (2000) are the other previous winners. Saban is trying to become the second coach to win the honor at two different schools after earning the award at LSU five seasons ago.

While USC's Pete Carroll has never won the award, he has been a finalist three times in three consecutive years (2003-05). This also is the third time Texas' Mack Brown has been named a finalist, the second time at Texas (2005). In 1997, he was a finalist for the award at North Carolina. Boise State's Petersen is a finalist for the second time in three years, while Texas Tech's Leach and Utah's Whittingham are the only two first-time finalists. The FWAA began naming its coaching award in honor of the late Robinson, the legendary Grambling State University coach, in 1997.

The winner of the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award will be announced and honored at a reception on Jan. 6 in Miami sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and presented in conjunction with the FedEx BCS Championship Game.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

For more information on the Eddie Robinson Award, visit eddierobinsonaward.com.

LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE AND ARCHIE MANNING ANNOUNCE 2008 LIBERTY MUTUAL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS

College Football Fans Invited to Vote for Winners at www.CoachoftheYear.com Dec. 12 - Dec. 22

NEW YORK (December 9, 2008) - Today Liberty Mutual Insurance and Archie Manning, chair of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, announced the 25 finalists for the 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. The finalists represent standout college football coaches across the four NCAA divisions who best exemplify excellence in coaching - on and off the field - as determined by a combination of hundreds of thousands of fan votes at www.CoachoftheYear.com and an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame.

Each Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year finalist will have an opportunity to receive recognition in the permanent College Football Hall of Fame display in South Bend, Ind., $50,000 to support personal civic and charitable activities, and a $20,000 scholarship donation for his alumni association. After this season, the total Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year charitable and scholarship contributions will reach $680,000. The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award was introduced in 2006.

"I've had the opportunity to observe these coaches and their teams throughout the season and this lineup of finalists tells me that fans embraced what is unique about this award by voting for their favorite coach," said Manning who helped Liberty Mutual announce the finalists at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards press conference in New York City. "Being a successful college football coach is a balancing act that requires the ability to inspire a team to win on the field while developing responsible student-athletes off the field."

2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award Finalists The 25 award finalists represent 10 coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) and five coaches each from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), Division II and Division III. To qualify as a finalist, a coach had to be among the top 25 fan vote getters in his division at www.CoachoftheYear.com and then be scored by an objective model that considers, among other criteria: wins, team penalties, on-field comportment, academic achievement by the student-athletes, and civic and philanthropic commitments.

The Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) finalists are, in alphabetical order: Mack Brown, University of Texas; Brady Hoke, Ball State University; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern University; Urban Meyer, University of Florida; Joe Paterno, Pennsylvania State University; Chris Petersen, Boise State University; Nick Saban, University of Alabama; Bob Stoops, University of Oklahoma; Jim Tressel, Ohio State University; and Kyle Whittingham, University of Utah.

The Football Championship Subdivision (Division I- AA) finalists are, in alphabetical order: Mike Ayers, Wofford College; Henry Frazier III, Prairie View A&M University; Mickey Matthews, James Madison University, Jerry Moore, Appalachian State University; and Danny Rocco, Liberty University.

The Division II finalists are, in alphabetical order: Chuck Broyles, Pittsburg State University; David Dean, Valdosta State University; Danny Hale, Bloomsburg University; Chuck Martin, Grand Valley State University; and Bill O'Boyle, Chadron State College.

The Division III finalists are, in alphabetical order: Greg Debeljak, Case Western Reserve University; John Gagliardi, St. John's University; Larry Kehres, Mount Union College; Dan MacNeill; SUNY Cortland; and Mark Speckman, Willamette University.

"These finalists represent what is great about college football," said Greg Gordon, Liberty Mutual senior vice president of Consumer Marketing. "Today we recognize 25 coaches who understand that how you win is every bit as important as winning itself, and who are revered by their fans for exhibiting characteristics of sportsmanship, integrity and responsibility."

2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Winner Selection Between Dec.12 and Dec. 22 college football fans are once again invited back to www.CoachoftheYear.com to cast their vote for the winner. On the site, fans have the opportunity to review bios and fan testimonials supporting each finalist before they make their selection and enjoy episodes of "Coach's Corner" which offer Archie Manning and Kirk Herbstreit's perspectives on the latest topics in college football.

To ensure candidates are evaluated fairly and measured against the specific values of responsibility and integrity, a Selection Committee composed of College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches and the national media will also cast votes for the winners. Fan votes account for 20 percent of each coach's final score while the College Football Hall of Famers and national college football media account for 55 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

The 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winners will be announced on ESPN during halftime of the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Between the Hashes: Trick or Treat?

MACK BROWN AND the Longhorns most certainly did not understand the question when they answered “trick”.

The college football gods were more than happy to oblige Bevo with a trick for the ages—beat four teams ranked No. 11 or higher over a 22-day stretch, a quartet that entered their contest against Texas with an aggregate record of 25-1.

Texas won their first five games by a combined score of 236-57, winning three times by the score of 52-10. But respect was not easily earned, not in the post-Vince Young Era in Austin. That would not come until they knocked off the then top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry in Dallas.

Colt McCoy, the Heisman Trophy frontrunner, embodies the perfection that is Texas football in 2008. The quarterback from Tuscola, Texas owns a ridiculous 81.8 completion percentage. Every deep pass seems to have just enough touch to get past the defender, whether it hits the outstretched 6’3” Malcolm Williams in the hands (versus Missouri) or lands softly in the waiting arms of a tumbling Quan Cosby (versus Oklahoma St.). Heck, even when he fumbles the snap, McCoy simply scoops it up and completes the pass, as if the fumble was part of the harmonic series.

Last week against Oklahoma St., for the first time all season, McCoy missed a note.

The junior signal caller threw his first interception of the season in Texas Memorial Stadium. It was the second time in the third quarter he found a member of the Cowboys. An interception on the previous possession was negated because of a personal foul penalty. On the ensuing drive, McCoy fumbled the football with the Longhorns in field goal range.

Was this just a blip in their run to a second national championship under Mack Brown? Will it be a character builder they can flash to when facing adversity again? Or is it a sign they are vulnerable this week when they travel to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech?

NO TEAM HAS received a sweeter treat this fall than the Penn St. Nittany Lions. Did anyone leave last week’s game in Columbus believing Penn St. was the best team in the country? They took advantage of an offensively challenged Buckeyes squad led by a true freshman quarterback, whose fourth quarter fumble was a season saver for Joe Paterno’s bunch.

This was Penn St.’s first win in Columbus since joining the Big Ten, and it was preceded by their first win over the Michigan Wolverines in nine tries dating back to 1997.

Michigan of course is going to miss a bowl for the first time since 1974. The one up and coming team in the Big Ten, 7-1 Minnesota, isn’t even on docket for the Nittany Lions.

Joe Pa need not apologize. The Hall of Fame coach has led four teams that finished undefeated and never got the opportunity to compete for a championship (1968, 1969, 1973, 1994). So, we won’t ask Paterno about fair.

GOING ON THE road in the SEC has never been a treat. That will be an understatement when it comes to Alabama’s Nick Saban making his much anticipated return to Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers. How do you say “trick or treat” in Cajun?

The Crimson Tide started out the season by knocking out the No. 9 Clemson Tigers for the season and went “between the hedges” and took care of the Georgia Bulldogs. They have defeated hated rival Tennessee on the road and survived tough tests from Mississippi and Kentucky. But the deed, which in ‘Bama is always win a national championship, is far from done. Even if they survive their trip to the Bayou, the Tide will roll into the SEC Championship game with a one-loss Georgia or a one-loss Florida standing in their way.

Photo Credit: University of Texas Athletics, SEC Sports Media

Colt McCoy named O'Brien Quarterback of the Week

FORT WORTH, Texas (October 13, 2008) - The Davey O'Brien Foundation has named Colt McCoy of the University of Texas the O'Brien Quarterback of the Week for week seven. McCoy currently ranks first in the O'Brien Fan Vote, and Longhorn fans are encouraged to continue the support for McCoy by visiting www.VoteOBrien.org and casting their vote. The top three candidates in the Fan Vote will automatically be added to the Semifinalist list announced October 27.

A record crowd of 92,182 filled the Cotton Bowl Stadium to watch McCoy lead the Texas Longhorns to a 45-35 victory over top-ranked Oklahoma. Texas trailed the Sooners until the fourth quarter when the battle between the Red River rivals intensified. McCoy proved his ability to execute under pressure with his success in third down conversions, the most notable of which came in the fourth quarter with a 37-yard completion to wide receiver Jordan Shipley resulting in a touchdown on the next play.

"It was a game when every time somebody made a play, the other team would get more excited," Texas Head Coach Mack Brown said in post game comments. "It was one of the greatest football games I've ever seen."

McCoy's efficient play and consistent accuracy this season are reminiscent of previous Longhorn quarterback and 2005 O'Brien Winner, Vince Young. McCoy went 28-of-35 on Saturday, completing 80 percent of his passes for 277 yards and no interceptions.

"The most important thing for me to do was to get a win. That was the main goal," McCoy said after Saturday's game when asked about post season awards. "To be able to execute Coach Davis' plan was awesome."

Brown echoed the sentiments when he said, "There are not individuals on the team, not guys who talk about themselves. It's been about 'this team' from day one."

McCoy, a 6-foot-3 junior, has thrown for 1,557 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. His 68 career touchdowns are the most thrown by a Texas Longhorn, surpassing the previous record held by Major Applewhite. After defeating the top-ranked Sooners, Texas now holds the number one position. This marks the first time the Longhorns have exited the Red River Rivalry game with an undefeated record since 2005 when they went on to win the Rose Bowl and earn a National Championship Title. McCoy and his team now set their sites on Chase Daniel and the Missouri Tigers, who they will host at home this Saturday in Austin.

The O'Brien Quarterback of the Week is determined by a subset of the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee. The subset of the committee is chaired by Verne Lundquist (CBS Sports) and consists of Dennis Dodd (CBS SportsLine), Ivan Maisel (espn.com), Joe Schad (ESPN/ABC), Dick Weiss (New York Daily News) and Kelly Whiteside (USA Today). This subset will select the quarterback of the week based on their performance during the prior weekend's game, taking into consideration individual statistics, contribution to team performance, strength of opponent, etc.

The O'Brien honors the nation's best college quarterback of the year. Currently all 119 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks are candidates for the award until Semifinalists are announced on October 27. Finalists will be announced November 24. The 2008 Winner will be announced December 11.

About The O'Brien Fan Vote

Fans can now register and vote for The O'Brien Fan Vote online at www.VoteOBrien.org to show their support for their favorite college quarterback. Fans will be able to choose from any of the 119 FBS quarterbacks beginning on Tuesday, September 2, leaving room for the possibility of a quarterback who is not on the Watch List to win the award. The top three quarterbacks who garner the most votes will be added to The O'Brien Semifinalist List, and the Fan Vote will then count as 5% in determining the Finalists and Winner. The 2008 Winner will be announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing December 11 on ESPN. The recipient will be honored February 16, 2009, at the 32nd Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Fans can also download an interactive "widget" at www.DaveyOBrien.org/FAN/fan_widgets.asp featuring a voting link and the ability to post and share on Web sites, social networks and blogs.


Fans can show their support by adding The O'Brien Facebook application to their Facebook Profile. The new application can be found by searching O'Brien Fan Vote and clicking the applications tab or at http://apps.new.facebook.com/daveyobrien/.

About The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award®

The O'Brien honors the nation's best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O'Brien aims to help instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate. The O'Brien is overseen by the Davey O'Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation has given away more than $750,000 in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

Game of the Week: Oklahoma vs. Texas

THE ANNUAL showdown between the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) and the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 1-0 Big 12), also known as the Red River Rivalry, goes all the way back to 1900. Texas leads the all-time series (57-40-5), although the Bob Stoops-led Sooners have reversed the trend in recent times by winning six of the last eight contests. This year’s game will be held at the neutral site of the Cotton Bowl, as it has been since 1929. While OU is routinely dominating opponents with a quick-strike, no-huddle offense that puts up points in very rapid fashion, Texas features a stifling defense that has surrendered only five touchdowns so far this season. Something simply has to give.

When the ‘Horns Have the Ball

FOLLOWING A sub-par season in 2007, former Big 12 offensive freshman of the year, quarterback Colt McCoy, has bounced back in grand style this seaso, passing for 1,280 yards along with 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions. In many ways, McCoy has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Vince Young, in the way he seemingly pulls victory from the jaws of defeat. The junior already has already registered five fourth-quarter and three second-half comebacks in his career. In addition to being visibly stronger than last season, McCoy is also showing improved mobility along with better judgment by curtailing his tendency to throw into coverage. Vondrell McGee, Cody Johnson, Chris Ogbonnaya and Foswhitt “Fozzy” Whittaker form the Longhorns’ four-headed rushing attack. Ogbonnaya—the senior of the group—is the team’s designated third-down specialist and best blocker. In last week’s 38-14 trouncing of Colorado, the 6’1”, 225 lb. back had his best day as a collegiate, scoring twice while gaining 71 rushing yards on nine carries along with 116 receiving yards on six receptions. Although none of the quartet offers the game breaking skills of last year’s lead man, Jamaal Charles, they all do their share to contribute. McGee, in particular, shows signs of being a complete back that runs with balance, good speed and cut-back ability. The only knock on him is his less-than-ideal size at 205 lbs. At wide out, seniors Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley are a dynamic duo that have combined to catch 56 passes for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns less than halfway through the year. Cosby is a paragon of consistency, who has recorded a least one reception through 36 consec-utive games. The 25-year-old former minor-league baseball player is an acrobatic deep threat, who also serves as a dynamic kick returner. His counterpart, Shipley, is a top-notch route runner with solid run-after-catch ability out of the slot position. The offensive line is led by fifth-year guard Cedric Dockery, who’s strong, physical and quite athletic for a 320-pounder.

OVERLOOKED BY many during the off-season, OU’s linebacking corps has taken the college world by storm with the exceptional play of Ryan Reynolds, Travis Lewis and Keenan Clayton. As the leader of this unit, Reynolds has made a quantum leap, becoming an omnipresent force in the tackling department. In his past two games, the physical defender has racked up 24 tackles while maintaining perfect technique and lining up his two partners in crime. Clayton is just oozing with potential thanks to the former safety’s instincts and speed utilized to track down ball carriers. Weakside backer Lewis is a former running back with 4.3 speed, who’s using his remarkable athleticism to mask his inexperience at his new position. The 6’2”, 232 lb. San Antonio native has really come on as one of the team’s best pass rushers. Defensive end Jeremy Beal is a weapon that coordinator Brent Venables enjoys using as a chess piece by lining him up in a three-point stance, as well as dropping him in underneath coverage. Beal’s versatility poses a myriad of problems for opposing teams in their pre-snap reads. Defensive end Auston English is another Sooner that can rush the quarterback, as evidenced by his 2.5 sacks in the season opener versus Chattanooga. At the tackle position, Gerald McCoy is an invaluable component despite not putting up big numbers. His effectiveness in tying up blockers and freeing up teammates has drawn comparisons to former Sooner and current Chicago Bear Tommie Harris. In the secondary, the 6’3” Nic Harris is a king-sized strong safety blessed with the speed and intelligence to constantly be around the ball. Overall, the Sooner defense has surprised many with the way they’re generating pressure with four linemen, all of which have played a key role in preventing the secondary from getting torched so far this season.

When Boomer Sooner Has the Ball

THE SOONERS’ high-octane attack has been nothing short of a nightmare for defenses. Due to their high-flying passing game, this big red machine churns out 49.6 points-per-game. The general of this point-scoring brigade is signal caller Sam Bradford. The soon-to-be 21-year-old is a tall passer (6’5”) that can not only put extraordinary power behind his throws, but also provide excellent touch. His uncanny method of reading defenses makes him a superior decision maker, and the Heisman Trophy candidate is second in the nation in passer rating. OU’s fantastic four at receiver are Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, Ryan Broyles and Quentin Chaney. Among the wide outs, Iglesias’ star has shone the brightest. If his sure-handedness wasn’t enough, the senior is also very quick off the line of scrimmage, but doesn’t shy away from making catches in traffic. His do-whatever-it-takes work ethic combined with his field-stretching speed make him one of top receivers in the country. The shifty Broyles has tremendous running skills after the catch and does a fine job of making people miss. If that weren’t enough, tight end Jermaine Gresham is arguably the best player at his position. The pass-catching phenom is averaging 29.5 yards per touchdown. The scary thing is, OU’s offense would be even more terrifying to opposing defenses is they had a fully healthy DeMarco Murray. The speedy tailback has yet to fully recover from off-season knee surgery, and his breakaway speed and ability to cut on a dime, while still impressive, are only going to increase as the season goes on. Chris Brown is the short-yardage back with the requisite toughness and vision to gain tough yards in crucial moments. The Sooner offensive line is a physical group featuring four seniors that average 6’5”, 311 lbs. Guard Duke Robinson is the best lineman in the Big 12, the classic road grater. Left tackle Phil Loadholt is a massive individual with long arms and powerful hands that make him a force in the run game. Steady, center Jon Cooper leads the team with 55 takedowns.

BROUGHT IN to inject life into a moribund defensive unit, coordinator Will Muschamp has infused his players with a new attitude. The antics of the animated 37-year-old have had an especially profound effect on the Longhorns’ defensive line, which is one of the most aggressive fronts in the country. Nose tackle Roy Miller along with ends Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton form an athletic bunch that do an excellent job of shutting down the run. The extremely powerful Miller is the one who holds the point of attack. In addition to benching 500 lbs., the senior is extraordinarily quick and disruptive. The explosive Orakpo is the team’s workout warrior, who started his collegiate career at 210 lbs. and has since added 50 lbs. of muscle while maintaining eight percent body fat. “Rak” uses his brute upper-body strength and lethal first step to wreak havoc in the opponent’s backfield. Orakpo has registered six sacks in his first five games, as well as 14 pressures. Melton is a technically sound lineman, who’s also an impressive athlete in his own right. Roddrick Muckelroy is the face of Texas’ linebacker corps. This year, the 6’2”, 230 lb. has come of age in terms of leadership and performance. In addition to leading the team in tackles with 40, the determined defender has also strung together dominant performances. UT’s secondary remains the weakest part of this unit. Corners Ryan Palmer and Chykie Brown have held their own, but have never faced the level of receivers they’re about to encounter. They will occasionally be left in man-free coverage on blitzes, which places the onus on safeties Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon to cover the deep middle, an area which Bradford will likely look to exploit.

Final analysis

UT’S SECONDARY will not be able to account for Oklahoma’s plethora of targets in the passing game. Iglesias, Johnson, Broyles, Chaney and Gresham will be too much to handle with Bradford at the controls behind an impenetrable offensive line. The Sooners may not jump out to one of their typical fast starts, but in the end they’ll force enough breakdowns in coverage to walk away with the win.

Prediction: Oklahoma 34 Texas 22

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department, University of Texas Athletics

McGee accounts for 4 TDs, Aggies beat No. 13 Texas

By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - No secrets here. Another win over Texas probably won't be enough to save Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione's job.

Franchione's likely finale at least provided a fun day for the Aggies' faithful, a 38-30 victory over the 13th-ranked Longhorns on Friday.

With a seemingly inspired performance - maybe for Franchione, but more likely the pride of beating their hated rival - the Aggies (7-5, 4-4 Big 12) have consecutive victories over Texas for the first time since 1991-94 under Franchione's predecessor, R.C. Slocum.

Stephen McGee threw for a career-high 362 yards with three touchdowns and scored on a hard-driving run. Holder T.J. Sanders got his only career TD when he capped A&M's 95-yard drive with a 5-yard TD run on a fake field goal and the defense forced three turnovers (two fumbles, interception) by Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.

Texas (9-3, 5-3), which after its first 0-2 conference start since 1956 had won five straight games, still has an outside shot of making it to the Big 12 championship game if 10th-ranked Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State on Saturday.

For Franchione, his satisfaction will have to come from beating Texas twice. There have been no Big 12 titles, and his 32-28 record over the past five seasons is far from what was expected when he took over in Aggieland - especially for the $2 million a year he's scheduled to make through 2012.

A 12-7 victory last year that kept Texas out of the Big 12 title game seemed to bolster the coach's future, and fend off the anti-Franchione sentiment.

This one appears to be too late for Franchione, coming after four losses the previous five games and his secretive, pay-for electronic newsletter.

Mike Goodson ran 12 times for 72 yards and caught six passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns for the Aggies. McGee was 25-of-36 with two interceptions.

McCoy was 17-of-32 for 229 yards. Jamaal Charles ran 17 times for 92 yards, with an 8-yard TD the play after Brandon Foster's 38-yard interception return in the third quarter.

Two touchdowns in the final 7:36 weren't enough for the Longhorns, who now have to wait and see what happens Saturday. If the Sooners lose, there will be a three-way tie for the Big 12 South lead and the division representative for the league title game would be determined by which team is higher in the next BCS standings.

In late September, Franchione acknowledged that his personal assistant was sending inside information to boosters who paid $1,200 a year to get the e-mails. School officials admonished the coach for the private newsletter and said the embarrassing episode would be a factor in deciding whether he returns next season.

Athletic director Bill Byrne has repeatedly said that he would sit down with Franchione and evaluate his future at the end of the season. With a bowl game likely, the timing of that meeting is uncertain.

Still, Franchione was downright giddy on the field Friday.

With the Aggies up 17-0 right before halftime and Texas lined up for a field goal, Franchione called timeout just before the snap and then had a huge grin on his face. The Longhorns were going to fake the kick, hoping to duplicate A&M's success the previous drive, but the play was ruled dead and they then settled for Ryan Bailey's 27-yard field goal.

Then in the fourth quarter, Franchione was jubilantly jogging and waving first down for the Aggies after Kellen Heard forced the second fumble by McCoy.

Sanders, the seldom-used senior listed as a backup quarterback, put the Aggies up 17-0 when he took the snap and placed the ball briefly on the ground. He then picked it up and swept around right end on A&M's only fake field goal try this season.

McGee scored on a 6-yard keeper late in the third quarter, when he was hit at the 4, again at the 2 and kept driving until he was in the end zone for a 24-10 lead.

Quan Cosby returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a TD, but the Aggies quickly answered at the start of the fourth quarter when McGee threw a 44-yard TD to Goodson.

After Texas went three-and-out, McGee threw a 66-yard TD pass to Earvin Taylor for a 38-17 lead.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: Texas A&M Media Relations Office

THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #5 TEXAS LONGHORNS

BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CO-FOUNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS




2006 RECORD: 10-3; BIG 12: 6-2
Won Alamo Bowl vs. Iowa 26-24
LOCATION: Austin, Texas
STADIUM: Memorial (85,123)
HEAD COACH: Mack Brown
OVERALL: 179-96-1 (23 seasons)
AT TEXAS: 93-22 (9 seasons)

The Horns missed becoming the first program to win consecutive Big 12 Championships, despite knocking off the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Shootout for the second straight year. Colt McCoy was a big reason why they did not miss a beat for most of the season and an injury (pinched nerve in neck) to their signal caller played a role in their late season losses to Kansas St. and Texas A & M, as the Longhorns put up a season low seven points against the Aggies. They lost several players to the National Football League, especially on defense, but with highly touted recruits waiting in the wings -- there is no reason to expect them to take a step back.

WHEN THE HORNS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Greg Davis (10th Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7
KEY LOSSES: Selvin Young, Justin Blalock, Kasey Studdard, Lyle Sendlein

You would think matching the freshman record for touchdown passes in a season would answer all the critics and while Colt McCoy certainly proved any doubters about his ability to play big time college football wrong, this season he has a new question to answer. Can he stay healthy? McCoy is not the biggest quarterback around and put on 10 pounds this off-season. If he stays on the field, the Horns have a chance against any opponent they face. Helping his transition into the starting rotation was Limas Sweed, a big target with reliable hands, who is complimented well by Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley and Billy Pittman. Sweed is an All-American candidate, which is what those in Austin hope tight end Jermichael Finley, their immensely talented tight end, will eventually develop into. How good the running game is will affect McCoy as well, as they need Jamaal Charles to display more of the promise he showed as a freshman after an uneven sophomore campaign. The line is young, meaning senior Tony Hills must step up as the leader.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Limas Sweed (SR), 2) Jermichael Finley (SO), 3) Tony Hills (SR), 4) Jamaal Charles (JR), 5) Cedric Dockery (JR), 6) Billy Pittman (SR), 7) Colt McCoy (SO), 8) Adam Ulatoski (SO)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Duane Akina (3rd Season)/Larry Mac Duff (1st Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Aaron Ross, Tim Crowder, Michael Griffin, Brian Robison, Tarell Brown

Texas is well stocked with speed on defense and the new combo at defensive coordinator will look to do a better job of taking advantage of that fact, nevertheless it all starts upfront where few programs can match the tackle rotation of Frank Okam, Derrick Lokey and Roy Miller that Texas employs. Playing behind them is an even deeper linebacking corps, with at least six players competing for playing time, as unproven sophomores Roddrick Muckelroy and Sergio Kindle could give the upperclassman a run for their money. With their top two pass rushers off to the NFL, expect Brian Orakpo and Aaron Lewis, a pair of juniors, to bust loose this season. The secondary also had three players who heard their name called draft weekend from a pass defense that finished 99th in the country – good thing they had three future pros or who knows how bad they might have been. One intriguing prospect is the once highly touted Drew Kelson who will take a crack at playing safety, where his size/speed combo may be best used.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Frank Okam (SR), 2) Roy Miller (JR), 3) Drew Kelson (SR), 4) Brian Orakpo (JR), 5) Roddrick Muckelroy (SO), 6) Aaron Lewis (JR), 7) Robert Killebrew (SR), 8) Marcus Griffin (SR), 9) Derrick Lokey (SR), 10) Scott Derry (SR), 11) Sergio Kindle (SO)

THE SCHEDULE

Rivals old and new. They played the Texas Christian Horned Frogs 69 straight years from the late 1920’s to 1995 before joining the Big 12, encompassing the roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, World War I and II, Vietnam and the end of the Cold War. However, since then they have not crossed paths and wouldn’t you know that in all likelihood they will meet as ranked opponents, making TCU their toughest out of conference opponent. Within the Big 12, they have their first week of October matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners, a game that usually decides the Big 12 South, as well as their season finale against the A& M Aggies, who last season derailed their BCS hopes with an upset in Austin.

PIVOTAL POINT

Bounce back seasons. The Horns managed to reach double-digit figures in wins once again despite some disappointing individual performances, as well as significant injuries. Now with so much talent off to the league where they play for pay, Mack Brown needs those players to rebound in 2007. McCoy’s injury down the stretch of the season had a lot to do with the Horns November losses, which cost them the Big 12 Title. Staying in the backfield, they need Charles to have the breakout season that was expected of him in ’06, with Cedric Dockery coming back to the line after missing half of the season to injury. On the defensive side of the ball, Kelson looks to finally fulfill his potential, in addition to the return of Lokey and Muckelroy, as the team defense suffered when they went down with injuries.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

Talent is never an issue with a Mack Brown coached team or with one of the most legendary programs located in the heart of recruiting country, however having said that, they have only won one Big 12 Title under Brown, while the hated Sooners have won four in the last seven years. Brown got over the “can’t win the big one” hump when they won the National Championship over Pete Carroll and USC in 2005, however this is “a what have you done for me lately” industry, so nothing less than a title is expected. Are they good enough to reach that lofty standard? Sure, however it says here they will fall just short once again. If they do win the Big 12, we could see a rematch against the Men of Troy in January.

Check back tomorrow to see who is #4 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown