Double Coverage 12-07-2011

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The Daily Texan Presents:

Vol. 6, Issue 14Dec. 7, 2011

ON HOLIDAYTHE LONGHORNS HAVE EXTRA

TIME TO PREPARE FOR THEIR HOLIDAY BOWL APPEARANCE. THEIR EXTRA PRACTICES WILL HELP THEM IN THE LONG RUN.

PG. 4

THROUGH THE LENS

THE DOUBLE COVERAGE STAFF LOOKS AT THE MOST TELLING

PHOTOS FROM THE SEASON.PG. 6

BCS BOWL GAMESTHE CHAMPIONSHIP SYSTEM IS CLEARLY FLAWED, BUT THE BCS GAMES THIS SEASON PROVIDE A FEW INTERESTING MATCHUPS.PG. 8

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2 Wednesday, December 7, 2011

EDITOR’S NOTE

Cover Illustration: Ryan Edwards, Above: Mary Kang| Daily Texan staff

THE DAILY TEXAN PRESENTS:

VOLUME 6, ISSUE 14 • 2011 EDITION

HEISMAN FINALISTS

AWARDS TO WATCH

9

8

11 BOWL GAMES TO WATCH

Double Coverage Editor……………Sameer Bhuchar Design Editor…………………….Simonetta NietoPhoto Editor…………………………Ryan EdwardsCopy Editor……….....……Sydney FitzgeraldIssue Designer...............Martina GeronimoWriters……....................................Trey Scott............................................Austin Laymance...............................................................Christian Corona…………...........................…...............Nick Cremona................................................................Lauren Giudice ..................................…......…...............Chris Hummer …………………....................…….....Wes Maulsby

page

theLINEUPBOWL PREPARATIONThe Longhorns get 15 extra practices before the Holiday Bowl, and the coaches plan on using that time to prepare for next year as well as their matchup against California.

4

MORE TO BUILDTexas’ motto for rebuilding this season was “brick-by-brick,” but that construction process went slower than expected this year, and there is still a ways to go.

5

The Double Coverage photographers take a look back on pivotal visual moments throughout the year.

6 A LOOK BACK

You’ve heard it before. Texas has seen its fair share of ups and downs this season. Though it only notched two more wins than last year, there were obvious improvements and glaring weaknesses. For us at Double Coverage, it was extremely insightful to watch the team go through its growing pains as we went through them ourselves. Throughout the year we’ve tried our best to provide the most comprehensive football coverage we could for Texas football fans, and it has been a privilege and an honor to try to serve you readers in this way. I hope that you continue to read Double Coverage next fall and in the seasons to come and thank you for your continued support.

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3Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Texas’ motto for rebuilding this season was “brick-by-brick,” but that construction process went slower than expected this year, and there is still a ways to go.

So here we are. 7-5 and a trip to the Holiday Bowl. It feels good and un-derwhelming at the same time.

� e bid is both a re� ection of an accomplishment and a let down. All year, my columns have acknowledged that Texas did things right, it rebuilt with realistic expectations. Its seniors mentored the team, while particular freshmen grew up throughout the course of the season. But still, there is that persistent nagging feeling that Texas still never reached its potential.

The GoodDon’t get me wrong, there are

a number of reasons to feel con� -dent about this team heading into the bowl game and next season. � e � rst sign of excitement for the team to come is the secondary. Texas may be losing a few play-ers to graduation and possibly the NFL, but with returners like Car-rington Byndom, Quandre Diggs and Adrian Philipps who torment-ed wide recievers and quarterbacks

all season, Longhorn fans can be con� dent in this unit next year.

Texas running game is another aspect of the team that found some success to build on. � e team aver-aged 210 rushing yards per game, thanks in part to the rise of Mal-colm Brown and Joe Bergeron. However, the numbers are a little in� ated as Texas couldn’t put to-gether a complete run game in the � nal three games of the season due to injury. However, if Brown and Bergeron are fully recovered by the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28th, we may catch a glimpse of what next season’s run game can do, es-pecially since the Bears’ defense is statistically similar to most Big 12 defenses. � e Longhorns will also add running back Johnathan Gray, 2011-12 Gatorade National Foot-ball Player of the Year, into the mix so Texas isn’t short of talent in its ground attack.

Texas will also have a pair of solid wide receivers moving forward with Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis. With a productive o� season, they could mature to be the next “Quan Cosby-Jordan Shipley” tandem circa 2008.

The BadIf you are like me, and are also

battling this cognitive dissonance as you re� ect on the year, perhaps it’s because the negatives of the season are so glaring that it’s hard to say Texas has a clear, positive trajectory moving forward.

� e Longhorns badly need a quar-terback. Texas had three di� erent starters throughout the season, and still doesn’t know who the best man for the job is moving forward. With Garrett Gilbert out of the mix, Texas will likely go with Case McCoy, but he never made a strong argument that he deserves it. He had four turnovers against Baylor and still can’t throw the deep ball. Both McCoy and Ash showed signs of promise, but until they � gure out a way to fuse two hu-man beings together, their individual strengths are not good enough to make defenses quiver.

Texas is also in trouble of losing a lot of talent to the NFL and gradu-ation. And while that is a great ac-complishment for the players, it will be tough for Texas to immediately replace talents like Emmanuel Acho, Keenan Robinson, Kheeston Randall

and even Justin Tucker, who bailed Texas out on multiple occassions with his golden boot.

The BowlIf history is any indicator, Case’s

older brother won the MVP in this bowl four years ago during another “rebuilding” season by Texas stan-dards. California, however, boasts a good pass defense that barely gives up 200 yards a game. For Texas to not only win, but instill con� dence

in its fan base moving forward it will need to see Case McCoy man-age a full, 60-minute game. In many ways, this is his chance to tie down the starting job for next season. � e Longhorns need a win fueled by a display of his ability and leadership, because the perception between a 7-6 season and an 8-5 one is mark-edly di� erent, and I know a win would do wonders to rid Longhorn fans of the con� icted feelings that currently dwell in the bottom of their guts.

Hard to say if season was success or not

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff

Case McCoy will have to elevate his play in the Holiday Bowl to give Texas a feeling of security at the position moving forward.

By Sameer BhucharDaily Texan Columnist

Hard to say if season was success or not

44


A� er a disappointing end to the regular season that saw Texas lose three of its last four games, the Longhorns need as much practice time as they can get.

With an invitation to play California in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 28, a young Texas team will get 15 additional practices to continue rebuilding a program that was at the top of the college football world two years ago.

Texas is 12-12 since the 2009 season, when UT lost to Alabama in the BCS National Champion-ship game. � e Longhorns are still developing new o� ensive and defensive schemes this year, so an extra three weeks with � rst-year coordinators Manny Diaz and Bryan Harsin will ben-e� t Texas in the long run.

“It’s another two and a half weeks of practice opportunities and a chance, for us as coaches, to continue the investment in

the future of our football team and our program,” said Diaz, who joined the defensive sta� in January. “Every one of those practice days is invaluable. We know that we will see the results down the line.”

� e Longhorns missed out on a chance to get better during the bowl season in 2010, a 5-7 mark le� them ineligible for post-sea-son play. � e lack of extra reps on the practice � eld stunted the team’s growth, leaving UT scrambling to prepare for 2011.

“Football is a hard sport to get better at unless you are playing football,” Diaz said. “We have 15 days in the spring, and then we don’t really see them again until August. You can do condition-ing drills and things like that, but you can only play football during the season.”

Now, the Longhorns have a chance to continue their “brick-by-brick” rebuilding plan as they prepare for a trip to the West Coast to play Cal. And for a team with two thirds of its play-

ers with less than two seasons of experience, bowl preparation is a valuable tool. For the true freshmen and redshirts who haven’t seen much action, the extra snaps can be the di� erence between a productive upcoming season or a mediocre one.

“It really is a great opportu-nity for them to catch the eye of the coaches and get their foot in the door before spring ball starts,” said tight end Blaine Irby, a senior who also played in the Holiday Bowl in 2007. “I remember when I was younger, feeling like it was a great oppor-tunity to showcase how you play football and your talents. It is a great way for our younger guys to really improve on their tech-nique and to improve on the little things.”

Texas, though, won’t get back on the � eld until � nal exams end.

“We need time to reset,” said freshman cornerback Quandre Diggs. “But once practices get going, all the guys are going to

be upbeat and ready to go.”Once they resume practice,

the Longhorns will spend the � rst week of bowl preparation working to correct the mistakes that plagued them over second half of the season: o� ensive con-fusion, turnovers, blown cover-ages, missed assignments. Before the Longhorns can turn their at-tention to the Golden Bears, they need to get back to basics.

Still, the extended season can give Texas a push not only this

year, but also in the future — if UT can start another 12-year streak of bowl games.

“If I am in this program for four or � ve years as a player, then I have had four more months of practice over the course of my career to improve,” said Diaz, who will coach in his 11th bowl. “So that when I leave here, I have had almost an entire other season of practice to get better as a football player. � at is vital for us.”

Bowl prep will allow team to invest in future

Dec. 24: Team Day at Sea World

Dec. 25: Team Day at the San Diego Zoo

Dec. 26: Luncheon with Navy and Marine Corps

Dec. 27: Battle of the Bands at the San Diego Convention Center

Dec. 28: Holiday Bowl vs. California Golden Bears

Though the Longhorns have 15 additional practices, the bowl season is a time for relaxation too. Here is what the team will do during its week in San Diego.

Longhorns’ Holiday Bowl Schedule:

Visitdailytexanonline.com/sports/doublcoverage

for more

By Austin LaymanceDaily Texan Sta�

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All season long, Texas has talked about the “brick by brick” approach it’s taken to rebuilding the football program. After going 7-5, the Long-horns aren’t laying the bricks as quickly as some might like.

With a revolving door at quar-terback, injuries hitting the running backs hard down the stretch and youth spread out across every unit, seven wins can seem like quite an accomplishment, especially in a con-ference as loaded as the Big 12. But many fans expected a record more than seven victories, especially with all the new talent and revamped coaching staff following the 5-7 de-bacle in 2010.

“It’s headed back in the right direc-tion,” said head coach Mack Brown. “I think the Big 12 was the hardest it’s been, since I’ve been here, in 14 years. I’m excited about getting to the bowl game and getting No. 8, and having a fresh start next year. I think we’ll be back in the mix.”

The Longhorns made significant strides this year, discovering legitimate running threats in freshmen Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron and watch-ing a defense inexperienced at several spots turn into one of the 15 best in the nation. Brown and Bergeron missed multiple contests while ham-pered by turf toe and hamstring inju-

ries but proved they can provide the foundation for an effective rushing attack in the years to come. Gatorade Player of the Year Jonathan Gray, the crown jewel of Texas’ top-ranked re-cruiting class, should contribute in the backfield as well.

“I saw enough good things that we have to build on,” Brown said. “I really disrupted everything in the program this year, starting with the strength program to offense to defense to the kicking game. The kids have been resilient and they’ve done a good job. They just need to finish with their eighth win.”

But five-loss seasons aren’t normal-ly cause for celebration on the Forty Acres. Without an established start-ing quarterback or a backfield that could stay healthy throughout the year, the Longhorns stumbled more often than they’re used to. Losing to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State – two national title contenders – came as no surprise, but not many fans though Texas would fall to Missouri, Kansas State and Baylor.

“I wouldn’t say it was a great year,” said freshman defensive back Quan-dre Diggs. “We’re 7-5, but it’s better than last year. All we can do is build off of this. Texas is going to be back on the rise and be back on top in the next few years.”

All four of Texas’ quarterbacks made headlines this year. Connor Wood transferred to Colorado before

the season began and Garrett Gilbert decided to transfer to SMU midsea-son while David Ash and Case McCoy wrestled over the starting quarterback job. Both squandered opportunities to separate themselves and with three-time state champion Connor Brewer coming in next season, along with dual-threat quarterback Jalen Over-street, the position behind center is still in a state of flux. Meanwhile, Mc-Coy’s and Ash’s teammates maintain their confidence in them.

“They can win big,” said junior wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. “We have to maintain our faith in them. They’re growing up day by day, showing great leadership. It’s hard to come out there and be the brain of the team.”

Texas’ depth chart is stacked with freshmen and sophomores, 13 of whom occupy starting positions. 18 true freshmen played for the Long-horns this year, a testament to the outstanding recruiting class Brown reeled in and how badly his team needed an infusion of new talent. With another excellent group of prospects set to come to Austin next year, Texas is setting itself up for a bright future.

“I’m excited about the youth we have on this football team,” said de-fensive coordinator Manny Diaz. “As a coaching staff, I think we see where this movie ends. There’s no panic button.”

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Freshman quarterback David Ash (14) and running back Malcolm Brown (28) celebrate Brown’s rushing touchdown. The Texas offense will build around Brown’s dynamic ability next year.

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Foundation set, Horns need more ‘bricks’By Christian CoronaDaily Texan Staff

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6 Wednesday, December 7, 2011 7Wednesday, December 7, 2011

throughthelensAs the season wore on, the Longhorns saw young running backs and receivers emerge, quarterbacks shuffle, NFL-talent prosper and dramatic finishes. The Double Coveragephotographers chose to examine this through visuals.

Photos byElisabeth Dillon, Trent Lesikar, Tamir Kalifa, Lawrence Peart Daily Texan Staff

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6 Wednesday, December 7, 2011 7Wednesday, December 7, 2011

throughthelensAs the season wore on, the Longhorns saw young running backs and receivers emerge, quarterbacks shuffle, NFL-talent prosper and dramatic finishes. The Double Coveragephotographers chose to examine this through visuals.

Photos byElisabeth Dillon, Trent Lesikar, Tamir Kalifa, Lawrence Peart Daily Texan Staff

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Entering the season as the Heisman favorite, Luck put up solid numbers but was never able to take over as the main guy for the award. He passed for 3,170 yards this season, completing 70 percent of his passes. He threw 35 touchdown passes to only nine interceptions this season but never made the leap that was expected of him. Traditionally, the Maxwell Award winner does not win the Heisman Trophy, which doesn’t bode well for Luck, but he still had a season in which he did nothing to lose the award, he just never outright won it either.

Maxwell Award for Collegiate Player of the Year Andrew Luck, Quarterback, Stanford

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AWARDSTOWATCH— By Wes Maulsby | Daily Texan Staff

BCS games intrigue, leave room for debate, must include playo�

By Trey ScottDaily Texan Columnist

Maxwell Award for Collegiate Player of the Year

A � nalist for the Heisman trophy, Richardson rushed for 1,583 yards this season, which was good for No.5 in the nation while leading the SEC. He set a single-season school record for rush-ing touchdowns with 20 this season, and � ts the award mold of the best player on one of the best teams in the nation. His main competition is LaMichael James out of Oregon and Monte Ball from Wisconsin. James led the naiton in rushing this season and is looking to join Ricky Williams and Darren McFadden as the only two time winners of the award. Ball, meanwhile, led the nation in scoring with 32 touchdowns for the Badgers.

Doak Walker for Best Running BackTrent Richardson, Runningbak, Alabama

Thorpe Award for Top Defensive BackDavid Amerson, Cornerback, North Carolina State

Amerson leads the nation in interceptions this year with 11, getting almost one every game. He only had four games without an interception and had three games in which he recorded two, all of which were wins. He is in the top 10 in the nation in passes defended and had one pick-six against Virginia to seal the game. Only a sophomore, he will have more chances to win the award, which, like Hightower, could hurt him considering that upperclassmen usually take the award. If this is the case, watch out for a pair of SEC defenders to take it in either Mark Barron of Alabama or Morris Claiborne of LSU.

The best player on the best defense in the nation, Hightower is a solid choice for this award. He was the one calling the plays and making the shifts for the nation’s No.1 defense. He also led Alabama in tackling this season with 79, including eight tackles for loss and three sacks. He also recorded his only interception of his career this season against Tennessee. A finalist for many awards this season, Hightower has a chance to win many of them, but the one thing going against him for the Bednarik is the history of the award going to seniors. The last non-senior to take the award was Penn State’s Paul Polslusznay in 2005, the first of two wins for him. If this is the case, watch out for Devon Still, another Penn State senior at Defensive Tackle.

Bednarik Award for Best Defensive Player Dant’a Hightower, Linebacker, Alabama

It’s time for another year of sec-ond-guessing the computers and begging for a playo� . A� er so many years though, we should be used to controversy and a lack of clarity when it comes to these bowl games — such as, if Alabama wins, every-body loses. For better or for worse, here are a few slightly sarcastic and very judgemental thoughts on this year’s BCS schedule.

Allstate BCS National Championship: No. 1 LSU vs. No. 2 Alabama Jan. 9

� e match-up we’ve all been hoping against. If you’re into touchdowns, stay away. If you’re into � eld goals, this is your thing. Seriously though, what’s the point of playing this game? LSU is clearly the best team in the nation, it has already beat Alabama and is the champion of the universe’s best conference. If Alabama wins, then you’ve just got big problems be-cause LSU will surely be the Asso-ciated Press champs and the season series will have been split. � at’s a tie, right? It’s time for a playo� .

Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon Jan. 2

� is might be as intriguing a bowl game in the last 10 years. You’ve got the power of Wisconsin against the speed of Oregon. You’ve got two of the nation’s best running backs — the Badgers’ Montee Ball and the Ducks’ LaMichael James. You’ve got two talented quarter-backs in Russell Wilson and Dar-ron � omas. You know what else you got? A game that should be far more exciting than the one at the top of this page. If the BCS ever made a good decision, it was this one.

Tostitos Fiesta: Stanford vs. Oklahoma State Jan. 2

Somebody call Truman and Sta-lin because we’ve got an arms race. Wow, that’s literally the worst joke I’ve ever told. I feel like the Alabama kicker right now. Somebody slap me. However, the Andrew Luck-Brandon Weeden should be the best quarterback battle of the sea-son. Luck’s in the running for the Heisman Trophy and Weeden was too before his Cowboys lost a heart-breaker to Iowa State — their only one of the season. � us, the biggest cry for a playo� this year was made by those one state north, who can’t believe that Alabama gets its second shot at LSU without letting anybody else take a turn.

Allstate Sugar: Michigan vs. Virginia Tech Jan. 3

Now we’re getting to the yawn-ers. Virginia Tech loses by 28 points to Clemson in the ACC Champion-ship game and still backs itself into a BCS bowl. Blame Houston, I guess, for losing $17 million and losing to Southern Miss last week. Michigan is led by Denard “Insert overused nickname here” Robinson, who can’t throw worth a lick but runs like a scatback: on 208 attempts this year, Robinson has rushed for 1,163 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Discover Orange: West Virginia vs. Clemson Jan. 4

For years, the Orange Bowl has been a joke. You’ve got the Big East Conference and its automatic quali-� er to blame for that, but we’re lucky this year that it’s West Virginia who emerges from that mess and not Cin-cinnati, Louisville or Rutgers. � e Mountaineers have a fun o� ense to watch and will be in the Big 12 in the near future, so this is a good look at them. Clemson has a dynamic pass-and-catch pair in Tajh Boyd and Sam-my Watkins but, ACC Championship game not included, has a history of under-performing in big games.

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— By Nick Cremona | Daily Texan Staff2011HEISMANWATCH

1Robert Gri� n III QB BaylorWeek 14 vs. Texas- Passing: 15/22 (68.2%) for 320 yards, 2 TD 1 INT Rushing: 12 carries for 32 yards, 2 TDSeason Stats- Passing: 267/369 (72.4%) for 3,998 yards, 36 TD 6 INT Rushing: 161 carries for 644 yards (4.0 ypc), 9 TD

Remember all that talk by the Longhorns’ defense about how RGIII wasn’t going to win the Heisman against them? Well, he may have done just that last week. Against what proved to be a pretty tenacious Texas defense in the second half of the season, Gri� n executed and came out with yet another big win. In the last � ve games Gri� n has scored no less than three touchdowns and has only tossed two interceptions. The 9-3 (6-3) mark that Gri� n has led the Bears to marks the most suc-cessful season from Baylor in decades. It’s not likely that Gri� n will return for his senior season after the arcade-like numbers he put up this year. However, he has an excellent chance of becoming the only Bears’ player to ever win the Heisman.

2Trent Richardson RB AlabamaWeek 14- DNPSeason Stats- Rushing: 263 rushes for 1,583 yards (6.0 ypc), 20 TD Receiving: 27 receptions for 327 yards (12.1 ypc), 3 TD

All of the BCS imperfections aside, the rematch between Alabama and LSU should be another game that is decided by the slimmest of margins. Whenever the nation’s top o� ensive and defensive lines clash, you can’t help but � x your eyes on the action. Richardson has been one of the most consistent backs in the nation throughout this year, scoring at least once in every game but one — against LSU. He’s also among the na-tion’s leading rushers and like many other juniors, will likely forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft. In the end, Richardson’s numbers may not stack up as well, but he has put this team on his back the entire year and is easily the most important o� ensive player for the Tide.

3Andrew Luck QB StanfordWeek 14- DNPSeason Stats- Passing: 261/373 (70.0%) for 3,170 yards, 35 TD 9 INT Rushing: 43 carries for 153 yards, 2 TD

Luck wasn’t able to sway voters any more this past week as Oregon and UCLA duked it out for the Pac-12 title, but his Heisman chances haven’t been squelched quite yet. Head coach David Shaw has been campaigning for Luck ever since the season came to a close two weeks ago, and he’s showing no signs of easing up, either. It’s a shame that the Heisman isn’t given out after the conclusion of bowl season because Luck could have a career night in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State. While Luck was the clear favorite to win the Heisman throughout most of the year, he sort of leveled o� as the season drew to a close and allowed both Gri� n and Richardson to garner more attention. Luck threw six interceptions in his � nal � ve games, including two in a crucial loss to Oregon.

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4Montee Ball RB WisconsinWeek 14 at Michigan State- Rushing: 27 carries for 137 yards (5.1 ypc), 3 TD Receiving: 3 receptions for 7 yards, 1 TDSeason Stats- Rushing: 275 carries for 1,759 yards (6.4 ypc), 32 TD Receiving: 20 receptions for 255 yards (12.8 ypc), 6 TD

It’s crazy to think that the hype surrounding a player from Baylor has overshadowed one of the greatest single-season performances of the past decade. Well, at least Wisconsin fans know about it. Ball now owns a couple Badger all-time records, including most rushing touch-downs in a season (32), most points scored in a season (230). His 38 total touchdowns also rank � rst on the Badgers’ all-time list, a record previously held by the always entertaining Ron Dayne. Ball is also the nation’s leading rusher and scorer this season. The next closest player on the scoring list this year is Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein with 156 points. Stat-wise, Ball may have the most impressive resume; it’s not easy running for 30-plus touchdowns, especially in the Big Ten.

Tyrann Mathieu CB LSUWeek 14 vs. Georgia- 4 solo tackles, 4 punt returns for 119 yards (29.75 avg.), 1 TDSeason Stats- 71 total tackles (54 solo), 2 sacks, 2 INT, 6 forced fumbles (4 recovered), 4 total TD (2 fumble returns, 2 punt returns)

This is one player that opponents must absolutely dread playing against. Mathieu has an innate sense for not only ripping the ball away from his o� ensive counterparts, but also putting the ball in the endzone after he’s separated it from a player. He’s been nicknamed “Honey Badger” for his ferocious defensive skill-set and his ability to completely change a game in an instant. Nevermind his play on defense, Mathieu is a top-notch punt returner with a nose for sparking big returns. More than once this season Mathieu has brought his team to life after a lengthy punt return. He may not take home the Heisman this season, but for the sheer excitement he’s provided this year he deserves the invite to New York. Give Mathieu one more year under head coach Les Miles and he could be much higher on this list at the end of next season.

44

- Passing: 267/369 (72.4%) for 3,998 yards, 36 TD 6 INT Rushing: 161 carries for 644 yards (4.0 ypc), 9 TD

Remember all that talk by the Longhorns’ defense about how RGIII wasn’t going to win the Heisman against them? Well, he may have done just that last week. Against what proved to be a pretty tenacious Texas defense in the second half of the season, Gri� n executed and came out with yet another big win. In the last � ve games Gri� n has scored no less than three touchdowns and has only tossed two interceptions. The 9-3 (6-3) mark that Gri� n has led the Bears to marks the most suc-cessful season from Baylor in decades. It’s not likely that Gri� n will return for his senior season after the arcade-like numbers

Tony GutierrezAssociated Press

Michael ConroyAssociated Press

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Overall 10-2BIG 12 (6-2)

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1111


“

QUOTESTONOTE

“It actually � ts right into my Christmas plans. I usually go out there to spend some time with my nephews and my brother. So it’s going to be a great trip for us.”

With Texas A&M leaving the Big 12 at the end of the school year, here’s how Texas’ players view the end of one college football’s greatest rivalries.

Quandre DiggsFreshman corner back

““� is will be our � � h trip to the

Holiday Bowl, but none of the guys on this team have had a chance to play in one, so I’ve told the kids that this will be one of the best bowl experiences they’ll ever have.”

Mack Brown Head coach

“Blaine Irby

Senior tight end

“I remember going back there in ’07 when we played against Arizona State. � ey treat the teams real nice, and it is a fun atmosphere. San Diego is a great town, so it should be fun.”

— By Chris Hummer | Daily Texan StaffGAMESTOWATCH

Overall 10-2BIG 12 (6-2)

Overall 12-0SEC (8-0)

AT&T Cotton BowlCowboy Stadium, Dallas

Friday Jan. 6th, 7 p.m. TV: FOX

No. 8 Kansas State No. 6 Arkansas@Overall 10-2

SEC (6-2)Overall 9-3Big Ten (5-3)

Capital One BowlCitrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.Monday Jan. 2nd, 12 p.m.

TV: ESPN

No. 9 South Carolina No. 20 Nebraska@Overall 10-3Big Ten (7-1)

Overall 10-3SEC (7-1)

Outback BowlRaymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, Fla.

Monday Jan. 2nd 12 p.m. TV: ABC

No.17 Michigan State No. 16 Georgia@Overall 12-1C-USA (8-1)

TicketCity BowlCotton Bowl, Dallas

Monday Jan. 2nd 12 p.m.TV: ESPNU

No. 19 Houston No. 22 Penn State@Overall 9-3 Big Ten (6-2)

� is game is a matchup of two teams that were snubbed in the BCS process this season. Arkansas, only two short weeks ago was a potential national title game participant, and Kansas State has had one of the best seasons in program history, losing only two games all year to the two squads from the “Sooner State.” Both schools probably should have made it into a BCS game instead of Virginia Tech and Michigan State, but the Cotton Bowl isn’t bad. � e Razorbacks feature one of the best aerial attacks in the nation, putting up 307.8 yards per game through the air. � eir passing attack is spearheaded by quarterback Tyler Wilson, who fans will remember as the leader of Arkansas’ comeback against Texas A&M earlier in the year. � eir only two losses of the year also happen to have come from the pair of teams competing in the national title game, LSU and Alabama, so this will be a tough team to knock o� . Kansas State is a quality team though, and they have proven it all season scratching and clawing their way to a top-10 ranking, and a 10-win season. � ey have come through in the clutch, winning a one-point a� air against Baylor and a triple overtime slugfest with the Aggies.

South Carolina has had a turbulent season thus far. Early on in the year the Gamecocks lost star running back Marcus Lattimore to a season-ending injury, that could have made lesser teams quit, because the � ow of their o� ense ran solely through their bruiser of a back. � ey didn’t quit though, even working through the dismissal of their senior quarter-back Stephen Garcia from the team to � nish the season with 10 wins, and an appearance in a top-tier bowl. South Carolina accomplished this largely because of its defense that stepped up to the challenge, allowing only 18.8 points a game. � e Gamecocks will be going up against a team that is very similar to themselves, in the form of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. � e Corn-huskers had their � rst season ever as a part of the Big Ten, and overall it was successful. � ey won nine games and � nished the sea-son ranked in the top 20. Like the Gamecocks they lean heavily on their run, averaging 224 yards on the ground. � ey are also paced by their defense which allows a respectable 22.8 points a contest, despite going up against Big 10 o� enses for the � rst time. Expect a smash mouth game as these two teams’ strengths on both sides of the ball clash.

Michigan State had the unfortunate fate of being a school that failed to make a BCS game largely because of losing its conference championship game, and an idle team similar to them — Michigan — bene� ted. While the Spartans should probably be playing in one of the four big games, their loss is to the advan-tage of the Outback Bowl, because they are talented. � eir defense is one of the best in the country and holds teams to only 17.5 points a game, keeping them in any contest they are a part of. If the game gets close, the team knows they can rely on senior quarterback Kirk Cousins to deliver in the clutch. Geor-gia also competed in a championship game last weekend, but their experience was much di� erent. � ey were overwhelmed by LSU in 32-point loss. � e Bulldogs are still very good though, their only defeats on the year came to three teams ranked in the top 12, and they were rolling before playing LSU. Much like the Spartans, they rely on an above-average defense, and a star quarterback as their recipe for success, and usually Aaron Murray and the defense � nd the right ingredients to pull out a win. It will be an intriguing game that features two strong defenses and smart quarterbacks trying to � gure out how to beat them.

Houston and Penn State are two of the most the most talked about programs in the country this season, and neither story has a very good end to it. Penn State is su� ering the ill e� ects of one of the worst scandals in college football history, and on top of that they were destroyed in their last game of the season by Wisconsin, with a spot in the Big 10 title game on the line. Houston’s last game did not go much better, as they lost out on an undefeated season, a con-ference USA championship, and the school’s � rst ever BCS birth by falling in a shocker to Southern Mississippi. To make matters worse they were grossly outplayed. Despite the ter-rible � nishes to the schools’ seasons, the teams really are very good and, interestingly for fans, feature exact opposite styles of play. � e Cou-gars sling the ball around the � eld, and move it quickly giving them the top ranked o� ense in the nation, putting up points at a 50-a-game clip. � e Nitty Lions’ calling card on the other hand comes on the defense side of the ball, where they give up they give up only 15.7 points a contest, good for � � h in the country, but then again what else would you expect from “Linebacker U?” Opposites will meet when these two teams take the � eld.

Double Coverage 12-07-2011

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