Monday, August 21, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
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Big 12 Football
Section B · Page 5
Texas shrugs off expectations for new season
By Jason Franchuk sports@kansan.com Kansan sportsswitter
At Texas, where even the position battles are bigger, the most focus will not be on who plays but rather on who does not.
The Longhorns are loaded with talent again this year — maybe too much. Especially at quarterback, where incumbent Major Applewhite and sophomore Chris Simms will vie to lead one of the most talented teams in the country.
Applewhite, a junior, led Texas to a 9-5 record last year and a Cotton Bowl berth, where it was defeated by Arkansas.
The Longhorns' season had more of a roller-
The Longhorns' coaster quality than Six Flags Over Texas. It lost its second game of the season at home to North Carolina State before winning
four in a row against weak non-conference teams and Big 12 Conference foe Baylor. A loss against Kansas State sparked a five-game winning streak — including a win against Nebraska — before the Longhorns lost three in a row to finish the season.
As always, the rich beds of high school talent in Texas have blessed the Longhorns.
The rest of the envious conference might say the Longhorns are groovy, baby. But coach Mack Brown doesn't see any Austin powers yet.
"Right now, there's too many question marks for us to be considered a top 10 team." Brown said. "We're not as good as everybody thinks we are."
The season will be like 1999 in the sense that the Longhorns will spend a great deal of the preseason warding off expectations.
But the team looks great on paper. Applewhite was co-Offensive Player of the Year in the Big 12 Conference last year. Running back Hodges Mitchell was second in the league with 1,343 yards rushed.
Just to show the Longhorns aren't focused on one side of the ball, defensive tackles Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers return after earning First Team All-Big 12 honors last year.
TEXAS LONGHORNS
Coach: Mack Brown, third season. 18-8
Key Players: BQ Major Applewhite, QB Chris Simms, RB Hodges Mitchell, DT Casey Hampton, DT Cory Redding
1999 Record: 9.5, lost to Arkansas 27-6 in Cotton Bowl
2000 Prediction: 10-1,
Fiesta Bowl
The majority, however, will be interested in the offense — specifically quarterback.
Applewhite still is young. Simms, the son of former NFL quarterback Phil Simms, has shown too much prodigal talent to just sit on the bench, especially after an impressive spring. Brown will have to pick a quarterback and hope the team rallies around him. He also knows that having two of the country's top signal callers to choose from is far from a crisis.
For the puzzle to come together, the Longhorns must decide on a quarterback Then, if their special teams don't get kicked around and the entire defense doesn't get injured, Texas may be bustin' open the Tostitos come February
"we'll try not to choose." Brown said. "As much as we let them play it out to prove who's better, it will be very competitive. But there's a lot to worry about on this team right now. Not just that."
- Edited by Amy Randolph
Senior Moran Norris fights for extra yardage against Texas A&M last fall. The Aggies this season hope to overcome off-the-field tragedies and improve on last year's 8-4 record. Kansai file photo
Tragedies holding Aggies back
Texas sets sights on beating Irish in season opener
By Jason Franchuk sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
If football could be the focus for Texas A&M this year, that would be a bonus.
The Aggies went 8-4 last season, a down year for a traditionally strong program. But last year was no ordinary season after 12 were killed in the annual bonfire before the Texas game Thanksgiving weekend. When the 59-foot tower of wood collapsed, so did the Aggies.
"Last year was a very difficult year for the program and the school." Aggies coach R.C. Slocum said.
On top of that, defensive lineman Terry Nichols was killed in a car crash last May.
"We will miss him dearly," Slocum said. "And not just as a football player. More importantly, he was an outstanding person."
Barring more catastrophes, the Aggies should field a team that can improve on last year's 24-0 Alamo Bowl loss to Penn State. The Aggies return eight starters on defense, including
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Coach: R.C. Slocum, 12th season,
102-32-2
Key Players: LB Roylin Bradley, WR Chris Taylor, RB Ja Mar Toombs, SS Michael Jameson, LB Jason Glenn
1999 Record: 8-4, lost to Penn State 24-0 in the Alamo Bowl
2000 Prediction: 8-3, Cotton
2000 Prediction: 8-3, Cotton Bowl
For the puzzle to come together,
the Aggies must put the hardships of
the past year behind them. It all starts with getting off on the right foot in the opener at Notre Dame. A win against the Irish would set the tone. Then, find a new quarterback and run the ball efficiently.
linebacker Roylin Bradley, who had seven sacks
Offensively, Ja'Mar Toombs returns to run the ball after a productive 583-vard season last
y e a r.
Picking a quarter-
back, just
like the
o t h e r
t h r e e
T e x a s
schools, will be the problem. Randy McCown is gone, so Slocum will have three chances to fill the void. Sophomores Nick Farris and Vance Smith and freshman Colby Freeman will compete.
Chris Taylor, an Aggles wide receiver, is not concerned with who starts.
R. C. Slocum Aggies coach
"I always like the pressure of a good opening ballgame. It gives the kids something to focus on."
"All three can play," Taylor said. "It's just a matter of who gives us the best situation to win."
Slocum would rather not shuffle quarterbacks in the opening games, especially with a tough opener at Notre Dame September 2.
This year's team reminds Slocum of his squad two years ago that won the Big 12 championship. Playing Notre Dame is a step in the right direction. Slocum said. The Aggies opened the '98 season against Florida State, so he hopes playing another difficult opening game will translate to postseason success.
"I always like the pressure of a good opening ballgame," Slocum said. "It gives the kids something to focus on."
If only football can be the Aggies' focal point.
— Edited by John Audlehelm
New Red Raiders coach to change offensive system
By Michael Rigg sports@kansan.com Kansas sportwriter
By Michael Rigg
In the spirit of the election year, Texas Tech decided it was not satisfied with the status quo.
Coach William "Spike" Dykes was forced to step down after last season despite guiding the Red Raiders to seven bowls in 13 seasons and routinely knocking off Tech's heavily publicized in-state rivals. His replacement is former Oklahoma offensive guru Mike Leach. But
bare for Leach in his first head coaching position. First, the Red Raiders are loaded at running back. Ricky Williams and Shaud Williams return. Also returning is highly regarded first-year
starter Kliff Klingsbury at quarterback, who will throw to two returning starters — Tim Baker and Derek Dorris — at wideout.
The offensive options please Leach, who was hired mainly on his air-it-out credentials. The Red Raiders ranked 10th in the Big 12 Conference in total offense last season, and Dykes' run-oriented offense came under fire last season. But Leach hasn't had too many problems changing the offense.
"During the spring, we established all the systems," Leach said. "Then, we went back and polished them up. I think execution is the biggest thing."
Players said they liked the new pass offense.
"It will give me a chance to make a long run and will give me fewer carriers, making it easier on my knee," Williams said. "I've always wanted to be that in-between type running back, and now I get that opportunity with the new offense."
Unfortunately, Leach will be forced to deal with an inexperienced defense that returns only four starters. But the new coach has brought a new defensive scheme as well, switching to a
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Coach: Mike Leach, first season
Key Players: RB Ricky Williams, RB Shaud Williams, S Kevin Curtis, QB Kilk Kinsaburv
1999 Record: 6-5, no bowl
2000 Prediction: 6-6, no bowl
For the puzzle to come together, the Red Raiders must adjust to Leach's new system. Leach changed pretty much everything when he arrived in Lubbock, so it may take a while for the players to buy into the changes.
4-3 front. The switch had plenty to do with the fact that safety Kevin Curtis led the team in tackles last season, which made him an All-Big 12 performer. But having a defensive back lead the team in tackles probably isn't a good fit.
"Our setup will be totally different," Curtis said. "I won't make nearly as many tackles, but I'll be blitzing, playing man-to-man and staving in the box."
The Red Raiders also benefit from a soft nonconference schedule. A key game could be September 9 when Texas Tech plays Big West Conference opponent North Texas. The Red Raiders have beaten the Mean Green only once in the schools' past four meetings.
- Edited by Warisa Chulindra
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