 
Ross awarded Game Ball by Master Coaches Survey
ATLANTA -- Texas senior CB Aaron Ross has been honored with the Master Coaches Survey Game Ball for defense for games played on Oct. 7. Each week, the 17 Master Football Coaches award an MCS Game Ball to an offensive, defensive and special teams player of the week, along with one offensive and one defensive coordinator. It is Ross' second national honor of the week after already being named the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. He was also tabbed Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Ross played a key role in halting any hopes of an Oklahoma fourth quarter comeback attempt in UT's 28-10 victory over the Sooners. His three takeaways (two interceptions/one fumble recovery) in the fourth quarter against the Sooners were the most ever in a quarter by a UT player. Ross' three-yard, fourth-quarter fumble return of an OU lateral pass provided Texas' final points and margin of victory. He added a pair of interceptions on the Sooners' final two drives. Ross had eight tackles (five unassisted) and helped hold OU star receiver Malcolm Kelly, who ranked 10th nationally with 94.8 receiving yards per game coming into the contest, to just 31 yards on two catches. One of the leaders on Texas' defense that ranks seventh nationally in total defense (243.2 ypg) and fifth in scoring defense (10.8 ppg), Ross leads the Horns with four interceptions, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles on the year. He also ranks second in tackles with 43 (30 solo). Ross, who tied the UT record with his third career punt return for a TD earlier this year, ranks 16th nationally with in punt returns (13.8 ypr). For his career, Ross has 166 tackles (115 solo), eight interceptions, 23 PBUs in 43 career games. In addition to Ross, the Master Football Coaches also awarded MCS Game Balls to Tennessee offensive linemen Arron Sears and Eric Young, Clemson defensive lineman Gaines Adams, Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen and California defensive coordinator Bob Gregory. The Master Coaches Survey, an advisory poll comprised of 17 former college football coaches, includes 11 College Football Hall of Fame Members and represents five national championships and over 3,000 victories combined. Based on the MCS system, the voters review all of the relevant game tapes following each week of competition, discuss each teams' performance during a weekly conference call, then establish a ranking of the Top 25 teams. The MCS Top 25 can be found on the MCS website , including a breakdown of how the coaches voted. As part of their selection process, the coaches not only attend games across the nation, but spend countless hours reviewing the DVDs of the previous weekend's match-ups. Through this extensive process, the expert panel of coaches also selects the top players and assistant coaches who will be awarded MCS Game Balls each week.
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