Texas and Big 12 Capsules: QB Gilbert had clear path to take over at Texas
AUSTIN (AP) — Garrett Gilbert has hardly played since high school and in his only meaningful college game, he threw four interceptions as Texas lost the national championship to Alabama.
When Gilbert takes the field Saturday to lead No. 5 Texas against Rice, he will be replacing a quarterback who won an NCAA-record 45 games as a starter. And he'll do it with the full faith and confidence of Longhorns coaches and fans who believe he's the guy to keep them chasing national titles.
Chalk it up to his NFL family pedigree, a standout high school career and maybe that two-touchdown performance in the second half against the Crimson Tide back in January.
"(It) probably has given him a pass here, until he plays as a starter," coach Mack Brown said. "We all forget he's starting his first game on Saturday."
Brown's message to the guy following Colt McCoy?
"Win," Brown said. "That's all that matters.
"We can get into all those stats and all those other things but if you win the game, then you can move on to game two and that's it. If you lose the game, then you take a huge step back, then you're all over the place, starting over and trying to find out what is wrong."
The son of former NFL quarterback Gale Gilbert won two Texas state championships at nearby Lake Travis High School. He was one of the highest-rated quarterbacks in the country when Texas signed him in 2009, fully expecting he would take over for McCoy this season.
Gilbert got the role with minimal competition, a testament to his talent — and the program's lack of depth at the position.
From 2000-2006, Chris Simms, Vince Young and Colt McCoy all had to beat out others for their jobs. Simms battled Major Applewhite. Young at first rode the bench behind Chance Mock. McCoy had to fend of Jevan Snead, who eventually transferred to Mississippi.
The competition for playing time sharpened their skills while simultaneously creating vigorous — and sometimes nasty — debate among fans. Gilbert hasn't had to go through any of that.
The depth chart was cleared for Gilbert before he even got to campus. Texas didn't sign a quarterback in 2008, backup John Chiles moved to wide receiver and Gilbert was the only QB recruit in 2009.
As a freshman, he quickly rose to No. 2 over junior Sherrod Harris, who had shown no signs he could some day be the starter. Gilbert's playing time was minimal until he was tossed into the fire of the BCS championship game.
The first half was nearly a disaster and Gilbert's second interception was returned for a touchdown. The second half looked much better.
Gilbert got more confident with every play. His passes were sharper, he made better decisions and Texas rallied to within 24-21 before two late Alabama touchdowns put the game away.
Gilbert followed that with a good spring scrimmage that confirmed for Brown that he was Texas' future.
But what if Gilbert gets hurt or simply isn't as good as expected?
Texas is revamping its offense and Gilbert will likely take a lot of snaps under center, something he hasn't done since peewee football. Gilbert said he likes the change but notes the difficulty of having to learn new tricks to read a defense.
Texas has few options if he struggles.
Harris left the team on the eve of training camp, so freshmen Case McCoy (Colt's brother) and Connor Wood are the only backups. McCoy is listed as No. 2 and Wood will likely redshirt provided Gilbert or McCoy don't get injured.
Gilbert says he'll be nervous when he takes the field Saturday, even against a 30-point underdog like Rice. Texas has beaten Rice by an average score of 52-10 in four meetings since 2005.
"I've never played a football game where I didn't get a little bit nervous," Gilbert said. "I can't wait for it."
Gilbert, who has approached his new role with casual confidence, seemed unfazed when he met with reporters early in the week. He joked with teammates and talked about the music on his iPod. He mostly likes country.
His first start won't include the comforts of home, but it will be in front of a pro-Texas crowd. The game at Reliant Stadium in Houston figures to draw about 70,000, many wearing burnt orange. It will be Texas' first season opener on the road since 1995.
"He's got a lot on his plate right now. I'm sure his head will be spinning some by Saturday," Brown said. "I think it's a good challenge for this team to go on the road and have to play an opener out of their comfort zone for the first time."
Senior wide receiver James Kirkendoll has little doubt about Gilbert's potential for greatness. That second half against Alabama showed true grit, he said.
"How many other players have been in that situation?" Kirkendoll said. "He's a great player. With a little experience and confidence, the sky is the limit for him."
Texas without freshman LB Tevin Jackson
AUSTIN (AP) — Texas freshman linebacker Tevin Jackson is ineligible to play and can't enroll in school because he has not yet been cleared by the NCAA.
The university said in a statement Thursday that an issue with Jackson's high school transcript has kept him from being ruled eligible.
University officials "will continue to pursue getting the issue resolved in order for Jackson to enroll." But if the situation isn't resolved quickly, he'll be unable to enroll this semester and won't be eligible to play for the Longhorns.
The 6-foot-2, 230 Jackson, from Garland, was an All-State at linebacker in 2009.
Price in must win situation at UTEP
EL PASO (AP) — It's win-or-else time for Mike Price. And he knows it.
After a collection of six mostly lackluster seasons at Texas-El Paso — the Miners went to back-to-back bowl games in Price's first two years but haven't won more than five games in a year since — Price sees the writing on the wall about his future here. He said he thinks this year's team may offer the best shot at a winning season he's seen in a while.
"We need to win; we need more wins and I know that," Price said. "I don't think I could have a better team than we do this year. We've got great potential and good enough athletes."
So the pressure is on for Price's upperclassmen, a group he says is showing more leadership than he's seen in a long time. He pointed specifically to quarterback Trevor Vittatoe and running back Donald Buckram, two seniors.
The Miners may have dodged a bullet this week: Buckram was carted off the practice field Wednesday after injuring his left knee during a non-contact drill, but an MRI showed no ligament damage.
Vittatoe sees this season much the way Price does: win or go home.
"We don't want to be the only class to not have a winning season," Vittatoe said. "We just want to go out and be remembered as having a great last season and winning a lot."
Price said he's seen a change from nearly every player on the team, including Vittatoe, who he said "made an attitude adjustment."
The starting quarterback said some of those changes include being a more vocal leader on a team with 11 returning starters and a completely new defense, and taking more time to make better passes.
"My focus in my first two season being a starter was that I really took what the defense gave me," Vittatoe said, adding that he spent far too much time last season trying to make a big play instead of focusing on first downs. "Now I'm going back to where I started."
Vittatoe and Buckram said the key to this season, besides having a solid defense that puts the team, may be in discipline doled out teammate to teammate.
After a recent afternoon practice, a sweaty and tired-looking Buckram said it's no longer acceptable for a player who drops a ball or misses a tackle to shrug it off. Instead, there are push-ups and wind sprints to be done.
"We're not putting up with getting stuff wrong," Buckram said. "Last year, if a receiver dropped a ball they would just walk to the huddle. They do that this year and they do 10 push-ups. If a running back gets a wrong read we don't walk back to the huddle we get disciplined for it."
It seems simple enough, a disciplined team tends to perform better on the field. But Price said player-on-player accountability is something new for the Miner locker room and is likely to be have a big impact on the future of the season, which the Miners open with a visit from Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.
Not that all the discipline has been handled by the players: Last month, Price said Travaun Nixon, once listed as a starting cornerback, will miss the opener and backup receiver Marlon McClure will miss UTEP's first two games for violating unspecified team rules.
As for his own future, Price says he's not ready to retire but he knows the choice isn't always in the hands of the coach.
"I'd like to go out on a roll and pass the torch to someone," Price said without naming who is idea of a replacement would be.
-- Alicia A. Caldwell
UTEP RB Buckram injures knee
EL PASO (AP) — Texas-El Paso running back Donald Buckram has a bruised knee and may be able to play against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Saturday's season-opener for both teams.
Buckram was carted off the field during practice Wednesday, a scary sight for the Miners.
Team spokesman Jeff Darby said Thursday that an MRI showed that Buckram did not suffer any ligament damage and coaches will decide at game time whether he can play.
Buckram was all-Conference USA as a junior in 2009 and was one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back. The 5-foot-10, 195-pounder from Copperas Cove rushed for 1,594 yards and 18 touchdowns in 259 carries and caught 30 passes for 453 yards and three TDs.
Big 12 News
Iowa State holds off Northern Illinois 27-10
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Alexander Robinson rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns and Iowa State beat Northern Illinois 27-10 Thursday night
Austen Arnaud added 265 yards passing and a TD run for the Cyclones (1-0), who raced out to a 17-0 halftime lead. Iowa State's offense stalled much of the second half, but its new-look defense held the Huskies (0-1) to just 249 yards of offense.
Robinson's 63-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter put the Cyclones ahead 14-0. Northern Illinois pulled within 17-10 midway through the fourth quarter, but Robinson's 5-yard touchdown run with 5:05 left put the game out of reach.
Quarterback DeMarcus Grady threw three interceptions for Northern Illinois, which fell to 4-10 against the Big 12.
The Cyclones looked set to cruise to an easy and encouraging win against the preseason favorites in the MAC's West division, but the Huskies sprung to life early in the second half.
Northern Illinois quickly drove to Iowa State's 2-yard line on their first series of the third quarter. But Iowa State's defense, which only had three returning starters, buckled down and held the Huskies to a 19-yard field goal that made it 17-3.
Iowa State sophomore Jake Knott had two interceptions, and the first pick bailed the Cyclones out deep in their own territory late in the third quarter. Daniel Kuehl's shanked punt gave the Huskies a short field, though, and Grady's touchdown run with 8:51 left made it 17-10.
The Cyclones put the pesky Huskies away on their next drive. Arnaud found Collin Franklin for a 34-yard reception, and a personal foul on a failed third-down conversion gave Iowa State new life.
Robinson followed with his second TD of the night, and Knott's second pick set up Grant Mahoney's 23-yard field goal with 2:37 left.
Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill had three choices at quarterback, and few knew Grady had won the job until he trotted onto the field.
Grady showed promise running the ball, with 54 yards on 14 carries, but he was just 14-of-29 passing for 93 yards.
Chad Spann had 80 yards rushing for the Huskies.
Iowa State opened the scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by Arnaud late in the first quarter, which came after his apparent 53-yard TD run was called back for illegal procedure.
Iowa State safety Zac Sandvig, in for the suspended David Sims, picked off Grady to open the second quarter. On the next play, Robinson ran through a massive hole up the middle and shook off a few late tackles to make it 14-0. The 63-yard run was the third-longest of Robinson's career.
Cyclones appeared set to cruise into halftime until Tracy Wilson intercepted a tipped Arnaud pass and brought it back to the Iowa State 23. But Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads burned a pair of timeouts icing Michael Cklamovski on a 33-yard field-goal try and it worked, as Cklamovski hooked it left.
Arnaud, who spent the offseason tweaking his throwing motion, was 27-of-36 passing but threw a pair of interceptions.
Though it was only the opener, this was a crucial win for the Cyclones given how tough their schedule looks to be. Iowa State plays four preseason top 10 teams, starting with next week's trip to No. 9 Iowa.
The rival Hawkeyes figure to be a much tougher test than the Huskies.
-- Luke Meredith
Wort brings British flair to No. 7 Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Football is king where Oklahoma linebacker Tom Wort is from. Just not American football.
Wort's father would regularly bring footballs back to England from his business trips to the U.S., feeding his son's obsession with the game played an ocean away. Wort would promptly get them confiscated by the headmaster. No room for that at recess.
"I'd be playing around with it on the playground, I'd be playing catch and he came and took it away from me because he said that because of the point, if it hits someone, it might hurt them," Wort said.
Wort kept inflating the $2 footballs his dad would bring home and kept playing the sport with his friends. He's finally found a much more football-friendly place to do it.
On Saturday night, the British-born Wort is expected to play for the first time for No. 7 Oklahoma, starting against Utah State at middle linebacker in place of the injured Austin Box in a debut that was delayed a year by an injury of his own.
STATS LLC doesn't keep complete stats on college football players born outside the U.S., but he is one of at least five active Division I players born in England. One who will be on the opposite sideline: Tariq Polley, an offensive lineman who started eight games for Utah State last season.
Wort sports a mohawk like another Oklahoma middle linebacker, Brian Bosworth, famously did some years ago. And like Bosworth, Wort can't wait to get on the field and get started.
"He'll be wanting to run in the stands and hit somebody. So, look out if you're in the first or second row," coach Bob Stoops said. "I think (the challenge) will be to get him to calm down and just see things, understand the schemes and responsibility and play with some discipline there."
Even in England, football was in Wort's blood. His father, Brian, played running back and then offensive guard for an amateur team for about 10 years before giving it up when Wort was a toddler. He's got pictures of his son dressed up in his old gear at about that age, and Wort remembers discovering his dad's helmet and shoulder pads in the garage later on and giving it a try.
It turned into a bonding experience. Wort would stay up past his bedtime to watch some of the NFL games that were broadcast in England at the time, with his father helping to teach him the rules of the game.
"I just liked the game," Wort said. "From the first day I saw it, I liked it."
He just never got to play it. Living south of London in a town called Crawley, Brian Wort never came across an organized youth league. Instead, it was just Tom and his pals trying to learn how to throw a spiral like the quarterbacks they saw on TV.
"It literally was backyard football," Brian Wort said.
It wasn't until Wort was in eighth grade and his father's job working with the Schlitterbahn water parks relocated the family to Rhode Island that he got to play American football for real. His father remembers that Tom didn't care much about what school he'd be attending or the house where the family would live.
"The one thing that he wanted to know was, 'Where is the local football team and how do I sign up?'" Brian Wort said.
It didn't take long for Wort to pick up the game, and a subsequent move to the San Antonio area for his junior year of high school suddenly turned him into a sensation on the recruiting trail. Letters started flooding the family's mailbox, with Oklahoma among the early ones to arrive.
After visiting only three schools, Wort signed on with the Sooners and arranged to arrive early. He went through spring practice last year as a freshman and had impressed coaches when a right knee injury just before the opening game knocked him out for the season.
He'll wear a brace on his surgically repaired knee.
"We really are waiting for Saturday and if he does play, it's going to be unbelievable to see him out there," his father said. "As much as we've encouraged him, he's worked so hard for so many years to get to this stage."
And as the NFL continues to expand its reach with an annual game in London, Wort said it's in the back of his mind that maybe someday he can help "bring football back over to kids in England." Even now, he'll occasionally get Facebook messages from players in England who are following his career.
The tattoos on both of his biceps show his love for his homeland, with one showing a royal coat of arms and the other the country's patron saint.
"I want to keep it close to me," Wort said. "Being out here, being away from my family, I'm not going to forget where I came from."
-- Jeff Latzke
Charge dropped against Oklahoma St. player
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — A possession of a controlled substance charge has been dismissed against Oklahoma State safety Victor Johnson but he still faces accusations of obstructing a police officer and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Court records show the misdemeanor count was dropped Wednesday and an Oct. 18 disposition hearing was scheduled for the remaining charges.
Johnson was arrested in July after university police responded to a suspicious odor complaint at his apartment. Officers said they found marijuana after obtaining a search warrant.
Johnson's attorney, William Baker, said a woman made a statement to authorities that she was responsible for the marijuana and Johnson didn't have it in his possession. Payne County District Attorney Rob Hudson says Johnson also tested negative for marijuana when he took a drug test shortly after his arrest.
The Tulsa World first reported the story on its website.
Nebraska loses 2nd linebacker to preseason injury
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has lost a second linebacker to injury after Will Compton hurt his foot during practice.
Coach Bo Pelini announced Compton's injury Thursday, and said the sophomore would be sidelined indefinitely and likely miss Saturday's season opener against Western Kentucky.
Compton's injury will be evaluated more over the next few days. Pelini did not say which foot Compton hurt.
Last month, Nebraska lost linebacker Sean Fisher for the year with a broken leg. Both Fisher and Compton were expected to compete for playing time this year.
Nebraska also said sophomore offensive lineman Brandon Thompson will miss Saturday's game because of injury, but the team did not say what Thompson's injury is.
Suh leading ex-Huskers into state hall of fame
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Standout defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and seven other Huskers will be in Lincoln to join the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Suh won the Outland, Lombardi, Nagurski and Bednarik awards and was a Heisman finalist for his play last season.
Because of his national recognition, Suh didn't have to wait the minimum 10 years to be considered for selection.
Joining him will be former Huskers Dan Alexander, Steve Lindquist, Todd Millikan, Ed Periard, Bob Pickens, Carlos Polk and Chris Spachman.
From smaller Nebraska colleges, new Hall of Fame members will be Mike Sallier of Doane College and Noland Urban of Nebraska Wesleyan.
All 10 will be inducted Friday and honored at Memorial Stadium when Nebraska plays Western Kentucky on Saturday.
Related News
Quizz looks forward to starting season in Texas
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Athletes often refuse to connect specific numbers to their goals for any given season, in fear they may not be able to live up to their own hype, or that they might jinx themselves.
Not Jacquizz Rodgers.
Oregon State's junior running back says he's aiming to score "25 plus" touchdowns this season and run for at least 1,500 yards, although he hasn't quite come up with an exact yardage yet. He'll have it in his head by No. 24 Oregon State's opener against No. 6 TCU at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday.
"I feel stronger and more confident than ever," he said.
Quizz, as he is universally known, may seem cocky in his predictions but he's got a history with the Beavers that seems to indicate he might not be that far off.
As a freshman, Quizz burst onto the landscape with 1,253 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 29 passes for 247 yards and another score. Not only was he named the Pac-10's freshman of the year, he was also the first freshman to become the conference's offensive player of the year.
Last season he had 1,440 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. He caught 78 passes for 522 yards and he even threw a 14-yard scoring pass out of Oregon State's wildcat formation — affectionately known as the "Wild Beaver" formation.
At just 5-foot-7, Quizz has become adept at hiding behind bigger offensive linemen and confounding opposing defenses by popping out of unexpected places for big gains.
He's been overachieving since high school in Texas. Quizz was known as "Mr. Touchdown" at Lamar Consolidated High School. He was awarded the AP's inaugural Texas prep player of the year award after rushing for 2,402 yards and 43 touchdowns as a senior.
While big college recruiters summarily dismissed Quizz as too small, the Beavers were targeting him. Oregon State already had older brother James, now a senior. The brothers turned out to be quite a coup.
James Rodgers, a flanker, is 5-foot-7 like his brother but equally speedy. He had a stunning 2,328 all-purpose yards last season and scored 10 touchdowns.
James is key to his team's trademark fly sweep. Along with Quizz's success at the Wild Beaver, Oregon State has become known for it use of gimmicky — but effective — offensive plays.
Quizz suggested there might be new tricks for the Horned Frogs.
"We've got some surprises. We've been working on a couple of things," he laughed. "It might come out at TCU, it might not. Maybe."
The Rodgers are inviting 20 or 30 family members and friends to the game. And yes, for Jacquizz, there is an element of 'I'll show Texas' to his mindset.
"I try to go into every game and just play my best and try to perform great," Quizz said. "But it would be a good thing to go home on a big stage and just have a great game."
Oregon State went 8-5 last season, tied as runner-up in the Pac-10 behind conference champion Oregon. The Ducks' victory in the Civil War denied Oregon State its first trip to Pasadena since 1965. The Beavers went on to lose to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl, 34-20.
Quizz has helped turn the national spotlight on Oregon State, while at the same time raising expectations for himself.
He is considered by many to be a Heisman Trophy contender, and possibly the best running back in the country behind reigning Heisman winner Mark Ingram of top-ranked Alabama. Ingram is sitting out of the Crimson Tide's opener against San Jose State on Saturday because of a knee injury.
But while he's brimming with confidence, Quizz is all about the Beavers and the team's success. There's a sense he'd rather have a Rose Bowl crown than the Heisman.
"I feel like this is the year because it's set up perfectly," he said. "You're playing two top 10 teams (at TCU on Saturday and at Boise State on Sept. 25 ) and the Pac-10 is wide open. So if you just focus, you can grab it because it's right in front of you. You just have to do what you're supposed to do."
-- Anne M. Peterson
