College Confidential

Texas WR Collins arrested in Pflugerville

With his teammates in California trying to win a national championship, Texas wide receiver Brandon Collins _ who was ruled academically ineligible in August and has not played this season _ has created a long-distance distraction.

Collins was arrested Saturday in Pflugerville, according to a report by KVUE-TV in Austin, and faces two first-degree felony charges _ engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated robbery. Collins was free on bond today after posting a $35,000 bond, the station reported.

According to the report, Pflugerville police said they arrested Collins in connection with an alleged aggravated assault in a McDonald’s parking lot. The initial complaint arrived at 2:36 a.m. Saturday, according to police records. A man said he had been robbed at gunpoint and the assailant fled in a silver Chrysler Sebring convertible.

When police stopped a vehicle matching that description, Collins, 20, was driving. Two other passengers were in the car: Ashton Collins, 25, and Marcus Caruth, 19. Police said the victim identified Caruth as the man who robbed him.

While the car was stopped, police found a loaded pistol and a small amount of marijuana.
Texas officials have yet to comment on Brandon Collins’ arrest. Collins, a Brenham High School graduate, had 35 catches for the Longhorns as a sophomore during the 2008 season.

_ Jimmy Burch

For McCoy, Heisman disappointment means "Game on" in Pasadena

Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis is hoping Heisman history repeats itself when it comes to Longhorns’ quarterbacks. If so, the ’Horns soon will be collecting their second BCS crystal football in a four-year span. But that’s a big “if.”

The background: In 2005, after then-Texas quarterback Vince Young finished second in Heisman balloting to USC running back Reggie Bush, Davis sent a text message to Young. Essentially, Davis told his QB that he was “my Heisman winner.” Young responded: “Game on.”

A few weeks later, Young followed up by outshining Bush -- the Heisman recipient -- in a Rose Bowl showdown for the national championship. Young racked up 467 total yards and scored the winning touchdown with 19 seconds remaining to give No. 2 Texas a 41-38 victory over No. 1 USC.

The follow-up: When current Texas quarterback Colt McCoy finished third in balloting for the 2009 Heisman Trophy on Dec. 12, Davis sent a similar message to McCoy, saying he was Davis’ choice to win the award that went to Alabama running back Mark Ingram -- the offensive catalyst of the team the Longhorns will face in the Jan. 7 BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

McCoy’s response mirrored the message Young sent four years earlier: “Game on.”

Davis shared the story today at a news conference in Austin, adding that he hopes history will repeat itself with a Texas triumph in Pasadena as well. McCoy said he was aware of Young’s response in 2005 and considered it appropriated four years later.

“I answered the way I felt,” said McCoy, who finished second to Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford in the 2008 Heisman balloting. McCoy said his runner-up finish in 2008 was “a lot more disappointing” than his third-place finish in 2009 because of what remains on the table for this year’s team.

“We still have a lot to play for, so I wasn’t upset,” McCoy said. “The national championship has always been the main thing for me. The only disappointing thing (about the Heisman) is that I couldn’t bring it home for my teammates. We’ve always considered it a team award.”
_ Jimmy Burch

Texas WR Chiles to return against Alabama

Texas receiver John Chiles (ankle), a Mansfield Summit graduate who has missed the team’s last two games, is “back to 100 percent” and will play against Alabama in the BCS National Championship game, coach Mack  Brown said today. Chiles has caught 34 passes this season for 319 yards and three touchdowns.

Brown also said leading receiver Jordan Shipley (106 catches, 1,363 yards, 11 TDs) is back to full speed after being “limited” in the Nebraska game by a turf toe injury.

Texas will hold its final pre-Christmas practice Tuesday in Austin. After a holiday break, workouts resume Dec. 27-29 in Austin, followed by another break before the team meets Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif. to begin game-week preparations.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas adds Monroe, Scott to roster for BCS title game

AUSTIN _ Texas’ roster for the BCS National Championship Game expanded today by two players, when coach Mack Brown reinstated kickoff returner/tailback D.J. Monroe and safety Christian Scott was cleared academically to compete against Alabama.

Monroe, a redshirt freshman, has averaged 35.8 yards per return this season, with two touchdowns. But he has missed the Longhorns’ last three games after being suspended indefinitely following a Nov. 15 arrest for driving while intoxicated in Hays County, south of Austin.

The DWI charges were dropped last week. Brown said Monday that, after a Sunday discussion with Monroe, he considered a three-game suspension adequate punishment and decided Monroe “has a right to play in the national championship game” when No. 2 Texas (13-0) meets No. 1 Alabama (13-0), Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif. As a tailback, Monroe also has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in limited duty (20 carries, 110 yards).

Scott, a sophomore, was declared academically ineligible in August by the NCAA for failing to make satisfactory progress toward degree requirements. But he passed enough hours during the fall semester to regain his eligibility status. And, with the fall semester concluded, NCAA officials approved his appeal to play against Alabama.

Brown said Scott, who was in the mix to start during fall drills, is expected to contribute on special teams but coaches are “not sure how much involvement he can have” on defense after spending the season practicing with the scout team. Brown said Scott will play on all special-teams units except the field-goal and PAT protection units.

Scott (6-foot-1, 209 pounds) is considered one of the hardest hitters and top run defenders among the Longhorns’ defensive backs. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said Scott will practice at safety for the foreseeable future. Whether or not he takes the field against Alabama in that capacity “will depend on the next seven or eight practices,” Muschamp said.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas takes care of Mack Brown

Texas coach Mack Brown was approved for a raise Wednesday by the University of Texas System Board of Regents.

According to the school:

Brown's contract still runs through the 2016 season. For the current year, he will receive $3 million in salary, plus a one-time $2 million service payment payable on Feb. 1, 2010. The amended contract makes the annual
service payment permanent for the remainder of his contract. Brown will continue to receive an annual $100,000 increase as stated in his original contract. Brown¹s buy-out provisions were also changed, should UT choose to terminate him without cause.

McCoy won't get shut out in Heisman balloting

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy learned today that he has at least one vote he can count on for the 2009 Heisman Trophy. McCoy said Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman winner from Oklahoma, has told him he will cast his ballot for McCoy. McCoy and Bradford have become close friends during the past year. And all Heisman winners are part of the voting process.

That means Tim Tebow, the 2007 Heisman winner, also has a vote this year. Now word yet on whether Tebow will cast his ballot for McCoy. Or for himself. Or someone else.

_ Jimmy Burch  

Big 12 supervisor of officials explains wacky ending

After finishing a post-game press conference Saturday night in Cowboys Stadium, a livid Nebraska coach Bo Pelini huddled with Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe to discuss the controversial conclusion to Texas' 13-12 victory over the Cornhuskers.

During his press conference, Pelini said he never got an adequate explanation about why a second was put back on the clock after time apparently had expired with the Cornhuskers leading, 12-10, after an incompletion by the Longhorns. With time enough for a final play, Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence booted a game-winning, 46-yard field goal as time expired to send No. 3 Texas (13-0) to the BCS National Championship Game, against No. 2 Alabama (13-0).

Walt Anderson, the Big 12 coordinator of football officials, said the video review of the play showed the incomplete pass hitting the ground -- thereby stopping the clock -- with one second remaining.

"Right away, TV sent us a shot where we had the flight of the ball," Anderson said. "They superimposed the clock and so it's by rule a question as (to) when the ball touches something, there is time on the clock. And there was. There was a second left, so we put it back up."

Anderson said the play was reviewable "because it involves a clock error at a critical time in the game."

In explaining the situation, Anderson said: "With clock situations there are always going to be some delays, which is ... one of the reasons why instant replay was (implemented) ... You wanted to have the opportunity to utilize instant replay to correct an obvious error."

_ Jimmy Burch

McCoy wins 2009 Unitas Award

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has been selected as the winner of the 2009 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation’s top senior quarterback. Officials at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation announced the result today.

McCoy, who holds the NCAA record for career victories by a starting quarterback (44), leads the nation in completion percentage (71.8) and has a touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio of 27-9 heading into Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington between the third-ranked Longhorns (12-0) and No. 21 Nebraska (9-3).

In a statement released by school officials, McCoy said he was “pretty speechless” when informed about the honor, which will be presented Dec. 11 in Baltimore _ the night before the live announcement of the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner in New York.

“With all the great quarterbacks around the country, it’s definitely humbling to be picked as the winner,” McCoy said. “What a great honor it is to receive an award named after Johnny Unitas, one of the greatest football players ever.”

McCoy is the first Texas player to win the Unitas Award, which began in 1987. Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell was the 2008 recipient.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas QB Colt McCoy selected as Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has been selected as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in balloting by league coaches. McCoy, a senior, is a finalist for the 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and a leading contender for the 2009 Heisman Trophy.

McCoy, who leads the nation in completion percentage (71.8), has thrown for 3,328 yards with 27 touchdowns and nine interceptions heading into Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game between No. 3 Texas (12-0) and No. 21 Nebraska (9-3) at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

McCoy joins Texas coach Mack Brown on the list of individual honorees selected today by league coaches. Brown was named the 2009 Coach of the Year, an honor he also received in 2005.

The third primary individual honoree was Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who was selected as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Suh, a senior, is a finalist for multiple national awards and joined McCoy as the only unanimous selections on first-team ballots cast by league coaches.

Other individual honorees announced today include:
-- Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung, offensive lineman of the year.
-- Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh, defensive lineman of the year.
-- Texas A&M RB Christine Michael, offensive freshman of the year.
-- Missouri DE Aldon Smith, defensive freshman of the year.
-- Kansas State WR/KR Brandon Banks, special teams player of the year.
-- Iowa State DB David Sims, defensive newcomer of the year.
-- Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas, offensive newcomer of the year.

_ Jimmy Burch

Brown named Big 12 coach of the year by peers

Texas football coach Mack Brown has been selected as the 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year, league officials announced today. Brown, who also won the honor in 2005, was selected in balloting by fellow coaches.

Brown has led the third-ranked Longhorns (12-0) to a berth against No. 21 Nebraska (9-3) in Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. With last week's 49-39 victory over Texas A&M, the Longhorns became the first team in school history to post a 12-0 regular-season record.

Although the 2005 Longhorns finished 13-0 and won a national championship under Brown, that team played only 11 regular-season games. 

During Brown's 12-year tenure, Texas has won or shared the South Division title six times. The Longhorns have advanced to the Big 12 title game in 1999, 2001, 2005 and 2009. Texas heads into Saturday's matchup against Nebraska with a 16-game winning streak and a 25-1 mark in its last 26 games.

With 12 wins this season, Texas has won 10 or more games in nine consecutive seasons. That is the nation's longest active streak of seasons with double-digit victories and ranks second to Florida State (14) on the all-time list. The Seminoles' streak of seasons with 10 or more victories stretched from 1987-2000.

_ Jimmy Burch