Cbz40
The Grand Poobah
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Posted on Fri, Nov. 25, 2005
Eyes of Texas
By JIMMY BURCH
Star-Telegram STAFF WRITER
AUSTIN -- Tarell Brown, like most of his Texas teammates, has sampled his share of disappointment during his college career.
Brown, a junior, has suited up for a blowout loss to Oklahoma (2003), a shutout loss to Oklahoma (2004), a home loss to Arkansas (2003) and a Holiday Bowl meltdown against Washington State (2003).
None of those setbacks, said Brown, triggered anything close to the anguish the second-ranked Longhorns (10-0, 7-0 in Big 12) would feel today if they let their undefeated record and Rose Bowl dreams slip away as 27 1/2 -point favorites against rival Texas A&M (5-5, 3-4) in College Station.
How might Brown respond on the day after a loss to these Aggies?
"I would just stay asleep that morning," Brown said. "I'd want to stay asleep forever."
To prevent that from happening, Texas players said they will draw on past emotions as they prepare to face an A&M team seeking to end a five-game losing streak against a hated rival. These Longhorns, after all, walked a mile in the Aggies' shoes back in October, when Texas ended a five-year losing streak to Oklahoma with a 45-12 victory.
Understanding the emotions the Aggies will carry into Kyle Field, said free safety Michael Griffin, will help the Longhorns combat them.
"A&M has the advantage," Griffin said, sizing up the emotional fury the teams will carry into a contest with bowl-or-bust implications for the Aggies. "Their season's on the line. Their guys think they're backed into a corner, so they're going to fight to get out. We have to be prepared for that, and I think we will because we know how they feel. OU had beaten us five years in a row, and we know the type of effort it took to turn that around."
Understandably, A&M coach Dennis Franchione is playing the anything-is-possible card, reflecting on past upsets in a rivalry loaded with them.
Franchione even had Jacob Green, a former A&M defensive end, talk to current Aggies about the 1979 game, when a 5-5 A&M team stunned No. 6 Texas 13-7 and knocked the Longhorns out of a Sugar Bowl matchup against Alabama, the eventual national champion.
The last time Texas arrived in College Station with a guaranteed berth in the Big 12 championship game, in 1999, the Longhorns lost 20-16. Likewise, the last time A&M took the field with a South Division title assured, the Aggies fell 26-24 in 1998.
Texas defensive tackle Rod Wright predicted the "mental thing" will work today for the Longhorns, just like it used to work against them when facing the Sooners.
"This game, for us, is a different kind of swagger," Wright said. "You feel like, 'We've beat these guys for five years. We own them.' It's all on us, just like it is every week. If Texas plays Texas football, we'll win our sixth in a row."
If not, Tarell Brown could become the deepest sleeper this side of Rip Van Winkle.
ONLINE: texassports.com
IN THE KNOW
TEXAS KEYS TO THE GAME
Plunder the secondary: Texas A&M ranks last in the nation in pass defense (318.9 yards per game). The Longhorns have the receivers to exploit this shortcoming. Plus, a big passing day on national TV could do wonders for the Heisman Trophy campaign of QB Vince Young.
Establish early momentum: Upsets occur when underdogs hang close, allowing their confidence to grow as the game unfolds. A fast start eliminates that, plus it would silence A&M's loud home crowd.
Protect the ball: Texas A&M has one of the league's best turnover margins (plus-6). Texas can't be careless with the ball, giving the Aggies' offense plenty of short-field scoring opportunities.
-- Jimmy Burch
Turning the tables
A look at some upsets in the history of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry that included heavy favorites or conference/division championship teams:
Year Favorite Title-winner Result
1999 Texas Texas A&M, 20-16
1998 A&M A&M Texas, 26-24
1995 A&M Texas Texas, 16-6
1984 Texas N/A A&M, 37-12
1979 Texas N/A A&M, 13-7
1957 A&M N/A Texas, 9-7
1951 Texas N/A A&M, 22-21
1940 A&M A&M Texas, 7-0
IN THE KNOW Turning the tables
A look at some upsets in the history of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry that included heavy favorites or conference/division championship teams:
Year Favorite Title-winner Result
1999 Texas Texas A&M, 20-16
1998 A&M A&M Texas, 26-24
1995 A&M Texas Texas, 16-6
1984 Texas N/A A&M, 37-12
1979 Texas N/A A&M, 13-7
1957 A&M N/A Texas, 9-7
1951 Texas N/A A&M, 22-21
1940 A&M A&M Texas, 7-0
IN THE KNOW Turning the tables
A look at some upsets in the history of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry that included heavy favorites or conference/division championship teams:
Year Favorite Title-winner Result
1999 Texas Texas A&M, 20-16
1998 A&M A&M Texas, 26-24
1995 A&M Texas Texas, 16-6
1984 Texas N/A A&M, 37-12
1979 Texas N/A A&M, 13-7
1957 A&M N/A Texas, 9-7
1951 Texas N/A A&M, 22-21
1940 A&M A&M Texas, 7-0
Eyes of Texas
By JIMMY BURCH
Star-Telegram STAFF WRITER
AUSTIN -- Tarell Brown, like most of his Texas teammates, has sampled his share of disappointment during his college career.
Brown, a junior, has suited up for a blowout loss to Oklahoma (2003), a shutout loss to Oklahoma (2004), a home loss to Arkansas (2003) and a Holiday Bowl meltdown against Washington State (2003).
None of those setbacks, said Brown, triggered anything close to the anguish the second-ranked Longhorns (10-0, 7-0 in Big 12) would feel today if they let their undefeated record and Rose Bowl dreams slip away as 27 1/2 -point favorites against rival Texas A&M (5-5, 3-4) in College Station.
How might Brown respond on the day after a loss to these Aggies?
"I would just stay asleep that morning," Brown said. "I'd want to stay asleep forever."
To prevent that from happening, Texas players said they will draw on past emotions as they prepare to face an A&M team seeking to end a five-game losing streak against a hated rival. These Longhorns, after all, walked a mile in the Aggies' shoes back in October, when Texas ended a five-year losing streak to Oklahoma with a 45-12 victory.
Understanding the emotions the Aggies will carry into Kyle Field, said free safety Michael Griffin, will help the Longhorns combat them.
"A&M has the advantage," Griffin said, sizing up the emotional fury the teams will carry into a contest with bowl-or-bust implications for the Aggies. "Their season's on the line. Their guys think they're backed into a corner, so they're going to fight to get out. We have to be prepared for that, and I think we will because we know how they feel. OU had beaten us five years in a row, and we know the type of effort it took to turn that around."
Understandably, A&M coach Dennis Franchione is playing the anything-is-possible card, reflecting on past upsets in a rivalry loaded with them.
Franchione even had Jacob Green, a former A&M defensive end, talk to current Aggies about the 1979 game, when a 5-5 A&M team stunned No. 6 Texas 13-7 and knocked the Longhorns out of a Sugar Bowl matchup against Alabama, the eventual national champion.
The last time Texas arrived in College Station with a guaranteed berth in the Big 12 championship game, in 1999, the Longhorns lost 20-16. Likewise, the last time A&M took the field with a South Division title assured, the Aggies fell 26-24 in 1998.
Texas defensive tackle Rod Wright predicted the "mental thing" will work today for the Longhorns, just like it used to work against them when facing the Sooners.
"This game, for us, is a different kind of swagger," Wright said. "You feel like, 'We've beat these guys for five years. We own them.' It's all on us, just like it is every week. If Texas plays Texas football, we'll win our sixth in a row."
If not, Tarell Brown could become the deepest sleeper this side of Rip Van Winkle.
ONLINE: texassports.com
IN THE KNOW
TEXAS KEYS TO THE GAME
Plunder the secondary: Texas A&M ranks last in the nation in pass defense (318.9 yards per game). The Longhorns have the receivers to exploit this shortcoming. Plus, a big passing day on national TV could do wonders for the Heisman Trophy campaign of QB Vince Young.
Establish early momentum: Upsets occur when underdogs hang close, allowing their confidence to grow as the game unfolds. A fast start eliminates that, plus it would silence A&M's loud home crowd.
Protect the ball: Texas A&M has one of the league's best turnover margins (plus-6). Texas can't be careless with the ball, giving the Aggies' offense plenty of short-field scoring opportunities.
-- Jimmy Burch
Turning the tables
A look at some upsets in the history of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry that included heavy favorites or conference/division championship teams:
Year Favorite Title-winner Result
1999 Texas Texas A&M, 20-16
1998 A&M A&M Texas, 26-24
1995 A&M Texas Texas, 16-6
1984 Texas N/A A&M, 37-12
1979 Texas N/A A&M, 13-7
1957 A&M N/A Texas, 9-7
1951 Texas N/A A&M, 22-21
1940 A&M A&M Texas, 7-0
IN THE KNOW Turning the tables
A look at some upsets in the history of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry that included heavy favorites or conference/division championship teams:
Year Favorite Title-winner Result
1999 Texas Texas A&M, 20-16
1998 A&M A&M Texas, 26-24
1995 A&M Texas Texas, 16-6
1984 Texas N/A A&M, 37-12
1979 Texas N/A A&M, 13-7
1957 A&M N/A Texas, 9-7
1951 Texas N/A A&M, 22-21
1940 A&M A&M Texas, 7-0
IN THE KNOW Turning the tables
A look at some upsets in the history of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry that included heavy favorites or conference/division championship teams:
Year Favorite Title-winner Result
1999 Texas Texas A&M, 20-16
1998 A&M A&M Texas, 26-24
1995 A&M Texas Texas, 16-6
1984 Texas N/A A&M, 37-12
1979 Texas N/A A&M, 13-7
1957 A&M N/A Texas, 9-7
1951 Texas N/A A&M, 22-21
1940 A&M A&M Texas, 7-0