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Texas ranked sixth in 2008 college football spring game attendance. Nebraska and Alabama are the top two.

Fanatic Cornhusker faithful pay $95 for spring game tickets. Nice devotion, but that’s idiotic. It’ll be just as boring as every other school’s free spring scrimmages.

Horns hold off Nebraska 70-66 at the Erwin Center. Blew huge early second half lead but hold on to win and Big 12 lead.

1. Oklahoma

   
   

   I’m not 100% behind Sam Bradford as a top quarterback but he’s definitely good enough to lead this team. They lost several good players early to the NFL Draft, but they’ve got talent and running back DeMarco Murray is a stud.

2. Texas

   
   

   Too many question marks to be ranked any higher this early, but early practice reports from this spring are encouraging. If the Horns’ secondary and linebackers improve and flourish under coach Will Muschamp they’ll be my conference favorite.

3. Texas Tech

   
   

   I struggled deciding between Tech and Missouri, but I ended up placing the Red Raiders third thanks to a slightly better defense and a love for pirates and Michael Crabtree.

4. Missouri

   
   

   I don’t trust Gary Pinkel, I think he lucked into last year’s success and was tempted to put the Tigers much lower. Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin could be poised for a huge season, but their defense leaves a lot to be desired.

5. Nebraska

   
   

   I think the Cornhusker players will play with a new enthusiasm after being rescued from Bill Callahan’s regime. Marlon Lucky is a very talented running back and coach Bo Pelini’s return should immediately improve the defense.

6. Colorado

   
   

   This is a team I’m really not sure about. They could go either way, either compete for the Big 12 North or completely suck. They lost a couple of good linebackers but if QB Cody Hawkins makes plays and Darrell Scott is as advertised they could compete.

7. Texas A&M

   
   

   I think this is a transition year for the Aggies and new head coach Mike Sherman. I think he’s a step up from Fran but I’m not sure he’s the longterm solution. The defense should be improved under new coordinator Joe Kines, but losing Yemi Babalola off the offensive line hurts bad.

8. Kansas State

   
   

   I like quarterback Josh Freeman a lot but the two other guys that killed the Horns the last two years (particularly Jordy Nelson) are gone. Ian Campbell is a beast on defense.

9. Kansas

   
   

   Welcome back to reality Kansas fans, though I still think the Fightin’ Manginos are headed in the right direction. They don’t have the same season they did in 2007 but they’re going to be a contender in the Big 12 North again soon if Mangino stays.

10. Iowa State

    
    

    Other than a win over rival Iowa last season the Cyclones and former Texas coach Gene Chizik had a rough 2007. Chizik reportedly has things headed in the right direction and two conference wins late last year might be an indication of that.

11. Oklahoma State

    
    

    The only coach in the Big 12 I think less of than Mizzou’s Pinkel is the Cowboys’ Mike Gundy. They’ve had more talent in previous years and not done much with it, this is a down year and they’ll finish near the bottom and Gundy won’t be back in 2009.

12. Baylor

    
    

    I think bringing in Art Briles was a genius move by Baylor. It is going to take a couple years for him implement his scheme and bring in his type of players, but he’s got a chance to turn the Bears into a Texas Tech caliber team. They’ll suck this year.

CFN takes another look back at 2007 season in the Big 12. Nice capsules on all the teams.

It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty, but the Longhorns came back from down 14 and then barely held on in the final minutes to knock off Nebraska 28 - 25. The victory takes the Horns to 7 - 2 on the season and puts them back in the discussion for a Big 12 title shot. The game wasn’t sealed until Texas was (finally) able to recover an onside kick and pick up a critical first down that allowed them to run off the last two minutes from the clock.

ESPN highlights of the game are below:

Jamaal Charles had the biggest game of his career with 290 rushing yards, with a whopping 216 of those coming in the fourth quarter including three long touchdown runs. His big day took him over the 1,000 yard mark for the season.

The game will be re-aired by ESPN Classic on Sunday morning at 8 a.m.

Will it be 2003 all over again for the Horns? Zone read unveiled against Nebraska in 2003, do we see any new wrinkles this year?

Nebraska newspaper writer thinks Colt McCoy will pick apart Blackshirts in Texas win and win big over Nebraska.

DE Aaron Lewis is probable for Nebraska game. I thought his elbow injury was going to keep him out a lot longer. Great news.

I’ll be surprised if Bill Callahan survives the weekend after Nebraska’s blowout loss to A&M. I knew Nebraska was terrible but didn’t expect A&M to score almost 40.

Texas beat Nebraska 5-4 this afternoon. Since the Aggies had won their game earlier in the day, the Horns knew they were out of the hunt for a spot in the Championship Game. I saw some chatter on different sites saying the Horns should throw the game so the Aggies couldn’t make it, either. If you ask me, throwing a game is always a bad idea. And, there’s no way in the world Coach Garrido would allow one of his teams to do such a thing. Can you imagine? People are funny.

Anyway, the Horns played well enough. Adrian Alaniz got the nod and did not have his best outing of the year. He gave up 3 runs (1 unearned) in 3 innings on 4 hits (all singles) with 1 strikeout, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter. Austin Wood replaced Adrian on the mound at the start of the 4th and sat down the first 11 batters he saw. Wow. The 12th batter reached on an error by Chais Fuller at ss. Chais had lost a ball in the sun in the first inning and then let one roll under his glove in the 7th; rather uncharacteristic for Chais. When the 4th batter of the 7th reached on an infield single, the Horns sent Randy Boone to the mound and he got the next batter to fly out to cf to end the threat. He struggled a bit in the 8th, though. After getting a couple of quick outs, he gave up back-to-back singles. On the 2nd hit, Kyle Russell tried to scoop up the ball and throw in one motion. Sadly, he missed the ball, ran past it a bit, and could not gather it up. The runner from 2b scored and the batter reached 2b. Randy then walked the next two batters to load the bases! Ack. The next batter hit a high-bouncer right in front of the plate that Preston Clark fielded; he stepped on home plate to end the inning. Nebraska argued that the ball was foul to no avail.

Texas scored one in the 1st, one in the 2nd (a solo shot by Preston Clark, his 8th dinger of the year), and 2 in the 3rd (when Jordan Danks and Kyle Russell reached on back-to-back walks and then both scored). Luckily, they scored a 5th run in the top of the 8th when Chance Wheeless reached on a single and was driven home a few batters later on a 2-out single by Chais Fuller.

The Horns made a few mental errors and have some things they need to work on before the Regional starts on Friday. But, they also did some things very well. Austin Wood had a great outing on the mound and got the win. Chance Wheeless went 4-for-4 with 2 driven in and a run scored. Jordan Danks went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored. And Chais Fuller managed to do well at the plate, despite his fielding problems, going 2-for-4 with a run driven in.

As usual, more details are available on the game report on my page.

Did Nebraska’s Marlon Lucky overdose? Thankfully the kid is okay.

RB Brandon Jackson is leaving Nebraska early. Could be second round day pick.

Big game this morning for the Texas Longhorns in some frigid weather up in Lincoln. The result of this game against Nebraska won’t have much impact on Texas’ goal of a Big 12 title but it certainly has national implications. One of Texas’ toughest remaining games and the Longhorns need as many quality wins as they can get to get some BCS computer love and rise in the rankings. Hook ‘em!

• Sweet, the game is in HD. I didn’t think it was going to be. ABC has been much better this year.
• What are Musberger and Davie standing in front of? Is that just a green screen with footage from the crowd behind them? It sure was weird looking.

First Quarter

• YES!! Big return by Quan Cosby on the game’s opening kickoff takes it back close to 80 yards. It was a short and low kickoff. The guys on both sides are bundled up and it makes them look pretty slow out there.
• Some sort of end around to Jordan Shipley didn’t work at all. No need for that down on the damn five yard line at all. Crap.
• Tough looking angle for the field goal but Greg Johnson knocks in the short field goal. Horns get points but that’s a missed opportunity.

Texas 3, Nebraska 0

• Let’s see if the Horns can do a better job on the kickoff. Hunter Lawrence did a good job last week putting them in the end zone. And he kicks it out of bounds and gives Nebraska good field position. Come on freshman!
• The Shipley play actually had an opening other than the one linebacker who spotted him hiding behind the line early. Just doesn’t seem like a smart play call to pick up short yards. Have confidence in your guys to get 5 yards.
• Aaron Lewis in the game early instead of Brian Robison. Rumors had Robison in a boot this morning around the hotel. Hopefully we’ll see him later.
• Picture of Limas Sweed instead of Marlon Lucky.
• Scott Derry makes a good play on 3rd and short but can’t keep the running back short of the first down.
• There’s Robison in there on a long 3rd down. Might not be 100% and might only be available for passing situations. Tim Crowder gets in there and gets a big sack. Big play by the defense early to get the offense the ball back.
• I think it’s weird that Dr. Pepper is using a song about masturbation for their commercials.
• Vince Young at the game after all. Heard he wasn’t going to be there.
• Longhorns open the game with 4 runs before the first pass. Colt McCoy has a guy open on a deep out but overthrew the pass.
• Terrible job by McCoy. Set up the quick screen to Cosby and McCoy tries to throw it sidearm while backpedaling and doesn’t get the ball to his receiver.
• Derek Lokey just blows up his man and gets in the backfield as the RB takes the hand off.
• Bad job on the ball and even worse tackling by Deon Beasley. Then Michael Griffin knocks him off the tackle and the NU receiver runs 63 yards for the TD.

Texas 3, Nebraska 7

• Offense is not looking good so far. Starting out about the same as we did last week. Just antsy out there or something.
• Selvin Young can’t hesitate when he’s block on the QB draw. McCoy doesn’t have the speed to hesitate and still make plays. Just go block someone.
• I don’t think the football players live in Jester anymore. I know my senior year at least some of them had moved into the new San Jacinto Hall.
• Seems like all Greg Davis thinks McCoy can do is throw to heavily covered WR screens.
• Damn the wind must be blowing. Johnson looked like he got off a good punt but it went absolutely nowhere.
• Robert Killebrew is down and they’re looking at his knee or ankle. Sergio Kindle in the game for him.
• Lewis is looking like a player for us for the long term. He could end up at either defensive end or tackle but he looks solid.
• The Horns punt return team backs up the offense big time.

(more…)

Part 2 discusses strengths and weaknesses, future expectations, and Mack Brown.

I’m not sure how many of you caught the Alamo Bowl between Nebraska and Michigan last night but it was a great game that ended in an unbelievable play.

Eight laterals by Michigan as they attempt to make it 65 yards on the final play of the game. The entire Nebraska team comes onto the field about halfway through the play to celebrate what they think is a victory. One more lateral by the tight end to Steve Breaston at the end and we might have had a play they’d be talking about for years and years.

You really have to see it to believe it, one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen on a football field.

Click here to watch the play. (Note: Video playback requires Flash Player 8.)