 
Horns conclude next-to-last week of spring drills
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas went through a spirited practice including some controlled scrimmage work as the Longhorns ended their 11th of 15 practices of spring drills Friday. Head Coach Mack Brown cut the practice short so that the team and coaches could watch the telecast of the Longhorn basketball team's game with Xavier in the NCAA Sweet 16 in Atlanta. "I thought it was a good practice," said Brown. "We hit hard, and the defense and the offense continue to alternate who wins a practice. We're not where we want to be, but I feel really good about the things we have accomplished." But Brown made sure that the practice ended by 5:15 so that the players and the assistant coaches would be able to get something to eat and land in front of a TV set. "I told them that their assignment was to watch the game and pull for their fellow student athletes. It didn't take any coercing. We have a bunch of fans of each other around here. We're really proud of what Rick Barnes and the team has accomplished, and one of the great things about Texas is the way our student athletes support each other." As far as the spring drills are concerned, Brown said the Longhorns are progressing with the new defensive system, and are headed toward a goal of developing a system which will include playing a lot of players. "We are trying to find the best 22 guys," he said, "but what we really want is to be able to play at least two teams and be two deep at every position." Brown continued to be pleased with the work of both Vince Young and Chance Mock. "Vince has had a really good spring," he said. "He is throwing the ball much better, and we all know what he can do when he runs." He was also pleased with the leadership he's getting from seniors Derrick Johnson on defense and Cedric Benson on offense. "Those guys are playing like all-Americans, and they haven't taken a lazy step," he said. "We have seen them take responsibility, and that's a good thing." The Longhorns will take the weekend off and return to work on Monday. Next week's four practices will conclude with the annual Spring Game on Saturday night at 8 p. m. in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will be part of the Spring Jamboree, sponsored by Time-Warner Cable, and it will follow the running of the Texas Relays across the street in Mike A. Myers Stadium. The weekend will be highlighted by a football letterman's reunion, which will feature a golf tournament on Friday at Circle C Golf Club in Southwest Austin and a dinner Friday night in the Centennial Room of the Stadium.
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