UT can re-do image with Rose win
06:32 PM CST on Wednesday, December 29, 2004
So much appears to be on the line for Texas in Saturday’s game against
Michigan in the Rose Bowl. There’s Mack Brown’s reputation with the
national media, Cedric Benson’s opportunity to move to No. 4 all-time on
the NCAA rushing list (he needs 129 yards), Vince Young’s national
coming-out party and Derrick Johnson’s last stand, wearing his old No.
11.
There’s the rarity of playing in the Rose Bowl, Greg Davis’ shot at
redemption after last year’s Holiday Bowl and this year’s Oklahoma loss
and the chance to validate votes in the final BCS standings.
It’s Dick Tomey’s last game as assistant head coach and possibly Mike
Haywood’s last game as running backs coach/recruiting coordinator.
In short, the Rose Bowl will be one of those unique opportunities for
Texas to change public perception. As Benson said, “We have to win this
game to once and for all quiet those critics who say Texas is soft and
undeserving. You can’t erase those labels unless you win big games –
over and over again.”
Q: What are the details of Mack Brown’s new contract?
Carl, Dallas
BROWN: Brown’s contract was extended from 2009 to 2014 and will
pay him $2.159 million in 2005 with a minimum of $100,000 raises each
year through the life of the contract. Brown earned $2.059 million this
season. Brown’s coordinators will also go from $230,000 per year to
$250,000, said athletic director DeLoss Dodds, adding that the other
assistants will also receive raises. (The assistants, by the way, will
receive 9 percent of their salary as a bonus for making the BCS this
season, while Brown gets a $50,000 bonus.)
•••
Q: Why does Texas keep giving Mack Brown raises when the guy has
never won a conference title and can’t beat Oklahoma?
Ted, New York City
BROWN: Notre Dame and LSU put out feelers to see if Brown might
be interested in their jobs, and Brown has been a cash cow for the
Longhorns. Games are sold out, UT is on television and contributions to
the program have never been better. On top of that, Texas is averaging
nearly 10 wins a season under Brown, putting them in the top 10 on a
regular basis. “Let’s say Mack took a pro job or left to do something
else,” athletic director DeLoss Dodds said. “I looked at my options, and
I didn’t like it.”
•••
Q: Has there been any trash talk between Texas and Michigan this
week?
Barbara Stallings, Detroit
BROWN: The comments making the most ripple were those by Vince
Young and Cedric Benson questioning the speed of Michigan’s front seven.
Michigan players have not retaliated, although linebacker Roy Manning
said the team is rested, so he doubts anyone will be slow Saturday.
Michigan linebacker LaMarr Woodley, probably the Wolverines’ best hope
at containing Young, said of facing Young and Benson, “It’s not a real
big challenge.” Michigan players are tired of hearing about how they’ve
struggled against running quarterbacks (Michigan State’s Drew Stanton
ran for 80 yards and Ohio State’s Troy Smith ran for 145). So you figure
one long run by Vince Young will have those guys doubting themselves.
For the most part, though, the talk has been tame.
•••
Q: Which team does it benefit if there’s rain at the Rose Bowl?
Marva, Longview, Texas
BROWN: It probably benefits Texas because it’s easier to run in
the rain than to throw in the rain. And a lot of Michigan’s success has
come throwing the ball to All-American Braylon Edwards. While showers
were forecast for Saturday early in the week, there’s now an increasing
chance that the rain may lift Saturday.
•••
Q: With the Miami Dolphins hiring Nick Saban this week, has Ryan
Perrillioux given any new information regarding where he's going to
play? Also, I had read quite a while ago that Perrillioux and Fred Rouse
had pledged to play together at the same school and was curious if they
were still sticking to their word?
Charlie, Duncanville, Texas
BROWN: Perrilloux, the touted QB from Louisiana, appears to have
cooled on LSU but now has visits lined up to Miami and Florida State. I
think he and Fred Rouse, a touted receiver from Florida, are talking and
will probably have some impact on where each other goes. But it’s
impossible to predict with this kid because, like I’ve written, I’ve
heard he is absolutely coming to Texas and he is absolutely not coming
to Texas. His host on his visit was Vince Young, who said he and
Perrilloux had a great time. So we’ll see.
•••
Q: What’s Texas going to do with a log jam at running back next
season?
Mike, Dallas
BROWN: Right now, all the coaches are looking to Selvin Young as
the heir apparent to Cedric Benson. They’ll look at the freshmen like
Jamaal Charles and Henry Melton, but those guys have to learn all the
protections and nuances of the offense. They won’t be playing until
mid-season, if that. The focus will be on Young with Ramonce Taylor
filling in as a versatile running back/receiver.
•••
Q: Based on your story this week about Vince Young, his numbers
compare favorably to Michael Vick in Vick’s only two years of college.
So why isn’t Young getting the same love as Vick? Doesn’t Young project
as a better NFL quarterback than Vick because he’s bigger (6-6, 225)
than Vick (6-0, 215)?
BROWN: Vince Young isn’t getting the love Vick received because
Vick led his team to the national title game in the 1999 season as a
redshirt freshman and led the nation in pass efficiency that year
(180.37). That grabbed everyone’s attention that Vick was a big-game
player. Young has not performed well in Texas’ biggest game. He has five
turnovers in two OU losses, including two critical fumbles this season.
So Young must show he can deliver the goods on the biggest stages –
starting with the Rose Bowl on Saturday – to start getting the love Vick
got. I think he will, and I think starting next season you’ll start
seeing the comparisons to Vick. If he beats OU next year and Texas is
still undefeated, he’ll be the Heisman frontrunner because he’s so
exciting, explosive and a fresh, new name with a good story to tell.
•••
Q: Why is Dick Tomey leaving Texas to go rebuild San Jose State?
That’s a terrible job, especially at his age of 66.
Matt, Houston
BROWN: Once you’ve been the boss for 24 years as a head coach,
you want to be the boss all the time. Tomey couldn’t get the head
coaching blood out of his system and likes rebuilding projects. That’s
what he faced at both Hawaii and Arizona and left both places as the
all-time winningest coach at both schools. San Jose also has a direct
flight to Hawaii, where he and his wife, Nanci, have a house. So it gets
him closer to home.
•••
Q: How have practices gone in California? Does Texas seem
focused? How does Texas stack up with Michigan?
Louis, Fort Worth
BROWN: All the players and coaches say practices have gone well,
that players are focused and hungry with something to prove. I think
Texas matches up well with Michigan, especially UT’s offense against U
of M’s defense. UT has the speed advantage, and the Wolverines haven’t
seen anything like Vince Young and Cedric Benson. They can simulate it
all they want in practice, but Young and Benson are two of the best at
what they do. You can be in perfect position and still miss those guys.
Michigan plays a lot of man pass coverage, which is a huge liability
against a running team, so they’ll probably have to change up and play
more zone. The success of Michigan’s offense – which should remind some
of a more conservative OU with its versatility - is all predicated on
whether Texas can get pressure on freshman quarterback Chad Henne. If
Henne has time to throw, he’ll pick Texas apart with All-American
receiver Braylon Edwards. If Henne gets rattled and Texas can contain
freshman running back Michael Hart, it could be a UT rout.
•••
Q: What’s your prediction for the game?
Stella Wingo, Los Angeles
BROWN: I think Texas will move the ball and score on Michigan.
The funny thing about the Wolverines is that they are more dangerous
when they throw. But they only seem to throw once they’re behind. So
it’s interesting. Michigan will do everything it can to establish the
run and pop a pass here and there to Braylon Edwards. If Michigan gets
behind, they’ll be looking for Edwards on almost every play. So it will
be a good challenge for Texas. But with Derrick Johnson and the big boys
up front, the Longhorns should take care of business, 34-10, as Vince
Young has a huge day and becomes a national star.
