Thursday, August 25, 2005
Editor’s Note: This is the sixth of 11 articles previewing Kansas’ competition in the Big 12 Conference. The articles will run every day from now until Sept. 1. Tomorrow the Kansan will look at Nebraska.
It seems like Texas coach Mack Brown’s job is in jeopardy every season. Last year there were several Web sites and newspapers calling for Brown’s head after losing to rival Oklahoma for the fifth straight year.
This season could decide Brown’s fate at Texas. The Longhorns were picked by the media in a preseason poll to win the conference, and expectations in Austin, Texas, are higher than ever before.
Another reason fans are excited about the Longhorns’ upcoming season is because of the team’s thrilling 38-37 victory last season in the Rose Bowl, against Michigan.
Brown has been happy with the aftermath of that Rose Bowl and said it has had a positive impact on the team.
“I have been really pleased with the staff and the student athletes because all of them have taken it as a positive and as a motivator to improve,” Brown said. “Our guys worked harder in the off season than ever before.”
The Longhorns will be led by legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate Vince Young, junior quarterback. Young was put in the national spotlight after his performance in the Rose Bowl.
Young racked up 192 rushing yards and ran for four touchdowns. He also threw for a touchdown and had 180 yards passing, which led to him being named most valuable player in the Rose Bowl.
“He has a chance to be the winningest quarterback in Texas football history, and we are really excited about him going forward,” Brown said. “I think he will be one of the great quarterbacks to ever play college football before he leaves Texas, and I do think he will be an NFL quarterback, and a very, very good one.”
Young will be joined in the backfield by Selvin Young, junior running back. Brown said Selvin Young competed for the starting running back job two years ago, with current NFL player Cedric Benson, and almost won the job before getting injured.
Brown said he expected Selvin Young to take some of the pressure off of Vince Young.
Another player to watch on offense will be Limas Sweed, sophomore wide receiver. Sweed will be the main target for Vince Young and the most experienced player at the position.
On defense the Longhorns will be led by one of the best players in the country, preseason All-American Rodrique Wright, senior defensive tackle.
Wright’s list of accolades is too long to list, but Texas coaches were ecstatic when Wright passed on the NFL and came back to school for his senior season.
“He is ending up his career as one of the great ones to ever play at the University of Texas,” Brown said.
Wright was hobbled by injury much of last season, but is healthy this year.
The linebacking unit is an area of concern for Brown. It will be led by senior Aaron Harris, but after that it is a young group who will try to replace Derrick Johnson, who was a first round NFL pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Texas will get tested early in the season, as it travels to take on Ohio State in the second week of the season. Three weeks later, Texas will contend with its arch rival Oklahoma.
Texas finishes its season with another tough game at Texas A&M.;
If the Longhorns can get past those three games, they could return to the Rose Bowl, but this time playing for the national championship.
— Edited by Anne Burgard
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