Nov. 8, 2009
Players of the Week
Offensive Honors
Offensive Player of the Game: Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley
Boss Hawg: Greg Smith (six knockdown blocks)
Biggest Contributor: James Kirkendoll and Cody Johnson
Great Play: Malcolm Williams
Defensive Honors
Note: Defense posted nine pressures, 13 hits on the QB and seven sacks.
Defensive Player of the Game: Lamarr Houston and Sergio Kindle
Hard Hat: None
Ball Hawks: Chykie Brown
Special Teams Honors
Special Teams Players of Game: Antwan Cobb and Kenny Vaccaro
Mack Brown
“Last week was a little different with us going out of conference this late in the season but now we get back into conference and the focus turns to our primary goal, winning the Big 12 South. In watching Baylor against Nebraska and at Missouri the last two weeks, they are a much improved team and we’re excited about going up there and playing this week.”
“Nine games into the season, we’re at the point where a lot of our guys are up for post-season honors and I think they’re all very deserving. I told the guys in the team meeting today there will be a lot of talk about individual honors in the coming weeks and that it’s an honor to the team anytime we have a guy on the awards list. The most important thing for all of the honors is that they’re all team awards, and if we keep winning, they’ll be a lot of nice rewards at the end.”
“Colt and Jordan showed Saturday why they’re one of the best passing combinations in the history of college football. They had really special days and clearly should be up for all of the offensive awards out there.”
“Our fans always do a great job following us on the road. With our game being just up the road in Waco and only a few games left in the regular season, I hope to see a lot of burnt orange in the crowd on Saturday.”
NOTABLES
HORNS IMPROVE TO 9-0: Texas started the year 9-0 for the second time in the last five years (joining the 2005 National Championship squad). Prior to 2005, the last time the Longhorns opened the year 9-0 was 1983. In 117 years of football, UT has opened the season 9-0 nine times (1918, 1920, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1977, 1983, 2005, 2009) and two of those have come during the Mack Brown era.
DOMINATING DEFENSE: The Longhorns held UCF to just 151 yards on 57 plays (2.6 ypp), including just 75 on 38 rushes (2.0 ypc). Seventy-five of UCF's total yards came on their final drive with Texas leading 35-3. In the other nine drives on the day, they gained just 76 yards on 43 plays (1.8 ypp). Over the last six games, the Texas defense has allowed an average of 182 total yards per game and hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a game. Overall, UT has given up 58 points in the six games (9.7 ppg), allowing just nine scoring drives (six TDs/three FGs) on 75 possessions (12.0%) and only two second-half scores. The Horns have given up just 1,092 yards on 360 plays (3.0 ypp) in that span.
LEADING THE WAY: Texas ranks among the nation's top 10 in several statistical categories, topping the country in total defense (230.8 ypg) and rushing defense (55.3 ypg). The Horns also rank among the top 10 in kickoff returns (30.4 ypr/2nd), scoring offense (41.0 ppg/3rd), pass efficiency defense (94.61 rating/5th), tackles for loss (8.2 pg/6th), turnover margin (+1.0/7th) and scoring defense (12.4 ppg/8th).
BALANCED ATTACKS: Texas leads the nation in scoring differential. The Longhorns have scored 369 points (41.0 ppg) and allowed 112 (12.4 ppg) for a 257-point (28.6 ppg) advantage. The closest challenger is TCU with a 236-point (26.2 ppg) differential (337 scored/101 allowed) and Boise State with a 229-point (25.4 ppg) differential (373 scored/144 allowed).
McCOY HEATING UP: Over the last three games, Colt McCoy has completed 75-of-94 passes (79.8%) for 910 yards (303.3 ypg) and six TDs (2 INT). That works out to a 177.9 pass efficiency rating. Excluding sacks, he's also rushed for 93 yards on 23 carries (4.0 ypc). He's led the Longhorns to scores on 15 (12 TDs/3 FGs) of 25 drives (60%) in those games.
CLIMBING THE NCAA CHARTS: With 470 passing yards (second-most in UT history, three short of Major Applewhite’s 473 in the 2001 Holiday Bowl) in Texas’ 35-3 win over UCF, McCoy improved his career passing total to 12,179 yards, good for 12th place in NCAA history. His 483 total yards (second-most in UT history to Vince Young’s 506 against Oklahoma State in 2005) in the game increased his career total to 13,553 yards, moving him into seventh place on the NCAA all-time list. McCoy also tossed two TD passes, including an 88-yarder (tied for the sixth-longest pass play in UT history) to Jordan Shipley, to improve his career TD passing total to 102, moving him into seventh place on the NCAA career chart.
HOT HANDS: Over the last three games, Shipley has posted 24 catches for 445 yards (18.5 ypc) and three TDs. He is averaging eight catches and 148.3 yards per game over that stretch.
SHIP’S SEASON: Jordan Shipley is one of just three players nationally to post at least four games with double-digit receptions and one of nine receivers to register at least five 100-yard receiving games. He is one of only two receivers to do both joining Bowling Green’s Freddie Barnes.
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