NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — It occurred right before one of the biggest drives in Texas football history, a march that gave the Longhorns a national championship and quarterback Vince Young instant immortality.
Texas had the ball at Southern California’s 44-yard line with 2:09 left, down 38-33 to the top-ranked Trojans four years ago. Young stood on the sideline of the Rose Bowl with coach Mack Brown discussing strategy when Young turned to a skinny redshirting freshman holding a clipboard and told him: “Hey, this is pretty special. You’ll be here one day, so be ready.”
We all know what happened next. Young drove the Longhorns toward the end zone and scored the winning touchdown from 8 yards out with 19 seconds to play in their 41-38 victory. Today, that clipboard kid has grown up and is in the same situation as Young, leading the 13-0 Longhorns into the Bowl Championship Series title game.
Is Colt McCoy ready?
Well, he has surpassed Young in one regard. McCoy is the winningest quarterback in major-college history. In four years as a Texas starter, he has won 45 games. One more win and he will erase more disappointment than you can imagine for a player with that kind of resume.
McCoy fell just short of the Heisman Trophy twice, missed a shot at the national championship by one game a season ago and had his worst game of the 2009 season last month in the Big 12 championship game, when the heavily favored Longhorns squeaked past Nebraska 13-12.
One victory tonight, though, and McCoy will be placed in the same sentence with Young and James Street (1969), forever in Longhorns lore.
“What both of them have done is given us a spark,” Brown said of McCoy and Young. “They’ve given us the ‘it’ factor.”
Don’t get too caught up in the Young comparisons, however. Yes, Young missed out on the Heisman and beat the Trojan who won it. Yes, McCoy can do the same with Alabama tailback Mark Ingram standing on the other sideline. And, yes, McCoy was upset — but that’s not what will motivate him tonight.
“I was much more disappointed last year,” McCoy said. “It wasn’t so much my disappointment. It was my team’s disappointment. We didn’t get to play in the Big 12 championship. We didn’t get to play for the national championship. And we lost a game. It would’ve helped a little bit to win the Heisman and bring it back to the team, because it’s truly a team award.
“But this year we have so much more to play for.”
McCoy’s redemption isn’t only on the empty space on his mantle. It’s on the field too. Alabama is a four-point favorite primarily based on the egg that Texas’ offense laid in the Longhorns’ win over Nebraska.
McCoy ran for his life. He threw three interceptions. He was sacked nine times. He nearly blew the game by not getting the clock stopped in time in the final seconds. One second was put back on the clock after he threw a pass out of bounds, and Texas kicked the winning field goal, a 46-yarder.
Was this Texas or Texas State? McCoy and the Longhorns must move up in class and prove themselves against the No. 3 defense in the country, which features All-Americans at nose tackle, linebacker and cornerback.
“We just didn’t catch any breaks, and we didn’t capitalize on our opportunities that were there,” McCoy said of the Nebraska game. “We had several opportunities to kind of put the game away.”
If Texas is going to pull the upset tonight, McCoy must have a game that will be talked about from El Paso to Beaumont until the end of time. He’s capable. He didn’t match last season’s record-setting numbers, but he still chucked it for 3,512 yards and 27 touchdowns, along with 12 interceptions.
However, Texas’ running game doesn’t scare Baylor’s defense, let alone Alabama’s. Freshman Tre’ Newton is the Longhorns’ top rusher with 513 yards. And the Longhorns are down to their No. 3 tight end, junior Greg Smith, who has caught only six passes.
“Our running backs need to show up big,” McCoy said.
Against the two best defenses he faced this season, Oklahoma and Nebraska, McCoy was a combined 41-of-75 passing for 311 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.
Now he plays for a national title against the likes of All-America cornerback Javier Arenas, with nose tackle Terrence Cody and linebacker Rolando McClain chasing him all over the Rose Bowl turf.
“I’m sick of watching film. Every time I turn on the film, they get better and better,” McCoy said of the Crimson Tide. “I fully expect them to be the best defense I’ve ever played against.”
Young has been in touch with McCoy since the Nebraska game. He congratulated him and said to have fun tonight.
McCoy knows that feeling. But now he’s no longer holding a clipboard. Instead, he’s holding history. And tonight he has 3 1/2 hours to make it.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
Colt’s horsepower cut
Tonight against Alabama, Texas QB Colt McCoy will face the nation’s second- ranked defense. Against two other top-10 defenses this season, McCoy struggled:
Team Score Com Att Yds TD Int
Oklahoma 16-13 21 39 127 1 1
Nebraska 13-12 20 36 184 0 3
Totals 41 75 311 1 4
Texas vs. Alabama
At a glance:
When Texas runs the ball: Quick. Name Texas’ leading rusher. Didn’t think so. Freshman Tre’ Newton averages only 39.5 yards a game. He battled a concussion much of the season. Senior quarterback Colt McCoy may have to help, though he has toned it down this season. The Longhorns are going against the nation’s No. 2 rush defense, led by All-Americans Terrence Cody at nose tackle and Rolando McClain at linebacker. Advantage: Alabama.
When Texas throws the ball: McCoy is a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist but must rebound from his worst outing of the season, against Nebraska in Big 12 title game. Texas receivers including Jordan Shipley must get separation from arguably the nation’s best secondary. Tide cornerback Javier Arenas is an All-American, and safety Mark Barron has seven interceptions. Advantage: Alabama.
When Alabama runs the ball: The good news? Alabama’s tailback won the Heisman. The bad news? Alabama’s tailback won the Heisman. A Heisman winner hasn’t won his bowl game in five years. Still, Mark Ingram rushed for 118.6 yards a game in the nation’s best defensive conference. He will meet the nation’s best rush defense, led by linebacker Sergio Kindle. Advantage: Texas.
When Alabama throws the ball: Ingram isn’t the reason Alabama is in the BCS title game. Junior quarterback Greg McElroy surprised many in his first year as starter for the Tide, passing for 2,450 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has only four interceptions. Star wideout Julio Jones has fought injuries for two years but remains dangerous despite his pedestrian numbers. Texas’ secondary is superb. Interceptions by Texas jumped from six last season to 21, with All-America safety Earl Thomas picking off eight. Advantage: Texas.
Special teams: Texas’ Shipley is a terror on punt returns. He averages nearly 13 yards and has returned two for touchdowns. Hunter Lawrence is 22-of-25 on field goals. But the Tide’s Arenas ranks third nationally in punt returns (16.3), and Leigh Tiffin is 29-of-33 on field goals. Neither team is particularly good defending the punt return. Advantage: Alabama.
