Message-ID: <26908648.1075854691013.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 01:09:00 -0700 (PDT) From: eric.bass@enron.com To: mballases@hotmail.com, luis.mena@enron.com, victor.guggenheim@enron.com, jackson.logan@enron.com, ami.chokshi@enron.com, denver.plachy@enron.com Subject: Inside UT Football: September 28, 2000 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-From: Eric Bass X-To: mballases@hotmail.com, Luis Mena, Victor Guggenheim, Jackson Logan, Ami Chokshi, Denver Plachy X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Eric_Bass_Dec2000\Notes Folders\Sent X-Origin: Bass-E X-FileName: ebass.nsf ---------------------- Forwarded by Eric Bass/HOU/ECT on 09/28/2000 08:08 A= M=20 --------------------------- "Inside UT Football"=20 @newsletters.dallasnews.com on 09/28/2000= =20 12:15:00 AM Please respond to "Inside UT Football" Sent by: newsletters@newsletters.dallasnews.com To: "Inside UT Football Subscribers"=20 cc: =20 Subject: Inside UT Football: September 28, 2000 [IMAGE] =09 [IMAGE] =20 =09 =09 =09[IMAGE] =09 =09 =09Bring on the Big 12=20 =09=20 =09Sept. 28, 2000=20 =09=20 =09 =09[IMAGE]Chip Brown, The Dallas Morning News' Texas writer, answers your= =20 questions about the offense, Hodges Mitchell, the quarterbacks, Oklahoma=20 State, Texas-OU start time and much more.=20 =09 =09=20 =09E-mail questions to Chip: chipbrown@dallasnews.com=20 =09 =09 =09=20 =09Listen to Chip Brown talk about the Longhorns on =09dallasnews.com's Colleges site=20 =09 =09 =09 =09CHIP SHOTS=20 =09=20 =09 =09Ricky Williams will be on hand Saturday to remind Longhorns fans what it= was=20 like when UT could run the ball. Williams' No. 34 jersey will be retired ju= st=20 prior to the Longhorns' entrance and the coin toss for Saturday's 11 a.m. B= ig=20 12 opening kickoff against Oklahoma State. Only one other UT jersey has bee= n=20 retired and it belongs to the school's only other Heisman Trophy winner -= =20 Earl Campbell's No. 20.=20 =09 =09 UT officials wanted to do this last year, but Texas didn't have a home = game=20 when Williams' New Orleans Saints were off. This week, the Saints have a by= e.=20 =09 =09 Just a refresher, Williams left Texas with 21 NCAA records and 46 UT=20 records. Among his 15 NCAA career records that still stand are his 7,206=20 all-purpose yards, 11,200-yard rushing games and 6.2 yards per carry. His= =20 6,279 rushing yards, 72 rushing touchdowns and 75 total touchdowns rank=20 second on the NCAA all-time career lists.=20 =09 =09 Williams claimed the NCAA rushing titles in 1997 and 1998 and was the N= CAA=20 scoring leader in 1997.=20 =09 =09 This came in from one of the readers this week: =20 =09 =09 Just wanted to let you know that a multimedia (CD-ROM) tribute to Ricky= =20 Williams has been available for almost a year. It contains video showing=20 Ricky breaking about 10 records, a panoramic tour of the UT football=20 facilities, Ricky Williams personal scrapbooks, his rings and trophies in 3= D,=20 and a few other notable features. Unfortunately the company that produced t= he=20 CD-ROM (called Run Ricky!) has gone out of business due to the fact the NCA= A=20 would not allow the company to release the title during the summer. But the= =20 CD-ROM is still available at the Texas co-op and Longhorns Ltd. at=20 DKR-Memorial.=20 =09 =09 =09 =09=20 =09Longhorn Q & A=20 =09 Q: What is the start time for the Texas-Oklahoma game?=20 =09 ?? Sanford Gaines=20 =09 =09 BROWN: The Texas OU-game is 11 a.m. Oct. 7 at the Cotton Bowl in Dalla= s.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09[IMAGE]=20 =09Ivan Williams =20 =09 =09Q: Last year, the coaches raved about Ivan Williams and almost took off = his=20 redshirt. Now, a year later, he hasn't gotten a sniff at real playing time = at=20 tailback. What happened to tailback by committee? It seems like we could us= e=20 a bigger back (given the lack of blocking prowess by the O-line).=20 =09?? Bob Nance=20 =09 =09 =09 =09 BROWN: Good question. The coaches took a good look at everyone in the= =20 Houston game. They came away thinking that Kenny Hayter needs some more=20 carries. They still think that Ivan Williams is developing the toughness=20 needed to run in college. In the Louisiana-Lafayette game, coaches thought = he=20 was running tentatively.=20 =09 =09Just as an aside, Hodges Mitchell says the running game is going to cut = loose=20 this week. He says this season has been just like last season. For three=20 games, the running game has been Nikes stuck in glue. But he says this week= =20 is the week. If it is, there would be no better confidence-builder than to = do=20 it against the nation's top rushing defense. OSU is giving up just 30.3 yar= ds=20 per game rushing this season. (Texas is fourth nationally against the run,= =20 yielding 47.0 ypg). I think it will be tough sledding for the UT RBs this= =20 week. Should be a good passing game, though.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: Many of us who discuss this frequently still question the play-calli= ng on=20 offense, and feel that Texas can never win a national championship with Gre= g=20 Davis as offensive coordinator. Any comments?=20 =09?? Reggie Reeves=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Davis is not the problem. His offenses routinely rate among the= =20 nation's best in either rushing, passing or total offense. This season, UT = is=20 fourth nationally in pass offense (366.5 yards per game). The running game= =20 stinks. But he has gotten the passing game to the top with a quarterback=20 rotation that appears to have kept both Major Applewhite and Chris Simms fr= om=20 peaking and with receivers who are barely old enough to shave.=20 =09 =09Davis is in constant contact with Gary Kubiak of the Denver Broncos. The= =20 Broncos are considered one of the most cutting-edge offenses in the NFL.=20 Davis is constantly tapping into Kubiak and trying to bring in new wrinkles= =20 to the UT offense. I don't know if anyone works harder than he does. Plus,= =20 the quarterbacks love him. Even if they don't love this rotation, they love= =20 him. I have seen no signs that this rotation has eroded that relationship. =09 =09Davis is solid. In fact, if there is a UT coach who could leave the staf= f in=20 the near future for a head job or head coordinator job in the NFL, it's Gre= g=20 Davis.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: In your first newsletter I asked you why is everyone so excited abou= t=20 this year's team when they showed last year that they could not run the=20 football. Against the big boys, you better have more balance. You replied= =20 that the line is one year older and should be better. No, Chip, sorry, but= =20 they are less than a year older since they struggled at the end of the seas= on=20 with running and picking up blitzes. Now, not to say I told you so, but it = is=20 still a serious problem that you sports writers overlooked and got too caug= ht=20 up in the QB hype and the great receiving corps. Shame on you.=20 =09 =09Maybe that offensive line is not as great as you guys thought? I see UT = going=20 8-3 this year and hanging around at 15th, which is where they should be. Th= ey=20 are still young and not hungry enough as evidenced by poor starts against= =20 really bad teams. Horn fans and sportswriters need to be a bit more patient= =20 this year and take off their blinders. Maybe being a sportswriter during my= =20 days at UT helped me see through the hype. Hook'em! =20 =09?? Larry, Dallas=20 =09 =09 BROWN: I thought this offensive line would be much better than it's sh= own=20 this season, but I wouldn't give up on them. Everyone saw UT's third=20 possession against Houston in which Leonard Davis and Derrick Dockery - two= =20 guys I think have to take leadership roles on that line - allowed a DE to g= o=20 untouched right between them and stuff the running back for a 6-yard loss.= =20 =09 =09This kind of play should be a deep concern for UT coaches. Dockery has b= een=20 sick, and is still trying to regain weight lost while out with an infected= =20 cyst. Davis has struggled to get chemistry with Dockery's backup, Tillman= =20 Holloway. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis says the line tends to play bett= er=20 in the second half than it does in the first half because it takes a while= =20 for them to get on the same page and see what the defense is doing. That,= =20 however, may be too late against a good team.=20 =09 =09The old adage goes that you have to have a senior-laden offensive line t= o=20 have any real chance at a national title or Top 10 success. So far, that=20 appears to be true. Texas' O-line has just two seniors (Leonard Davis, Cory= =20 Quye), two juniors (Antwan Kirk-Hughes, Matt Anderson) and a sophomore=20 (Derrick Dockery). =20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: How frustrated is Chris Simms with his lack of playing time? In the= =20 off-season I kept hearing about how most of the players were really impress= ed=20 with the passing abilities of Simms. Are any of the players now questioning= =20 why Chris is not playing more than he is?=20 =09?? Jeff Weaver, Dallas=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Simms said this week that the rotation is difficult. But player= s=20 have not chosen sides. Simms says there are times when he makes a mistake a= nd=20 would love to go back in and correct it, even though his rotation is up and= =20 Major Applewhite is coming in. The questions for both guys are constant.=20 =09 =09Simms also said there are times when he knows it's his last series befor= e=20 Applewhite comes in, and it's third-and-17 and he's tempted to throw a deep= =20 pass to try to make something happen and stay in the game. Against Houston,= =20 he had a situation like that and opted to throw a 6-yard route to B.J.=20 Johnson, the safer choice. "It was the smarter thing to do," he said.=20 =09 =09My theory was that the coaches would try to get Simms as much playing ti= me as=20 possible in the first four games to show what he can do. And then, come=20 Oklahoma, the coaches settle on one QB. After the OSU game, I think the=20 coaches need to settle on one guy for awhile and give credence to the=20 hot-hand policy Brown said he would employ this season. The question is, wi= ll=20 Simms get enough snaps to show he deserves to be that guy? Right now, coach= es=20 have tended to lean on Applewhite whenever it's crunch time.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09[IMAGE]=20 =09Major Applewhite =20 =09 =09Q: Major Applewhite has become the red-headed straight-A student who is= =20 having to contend with the jock favored son. Mack Brown has to appease alum= s=20 and parents (Simms') who want to see Phil Simms' son as UT's QB. I think wh= at=20 is being done is a ... (I have to say it) ... a Major Injustice.=20 =09 ?? A "Major" Longhorn fan from Dallas=20 =09 =09 BROWN: I think there is a misconception out there that Phil Simms is= =20 constantly calling Mack Brown, demanding that he give Chris more playing=20 time. Or that Mack Brown made some deal with the Simms family, assuring=20 everyone that Chris would get playing time. None of that is true.=20 =09 =09According to Chris, the only assurance he received is that he would be= =20 allowed to =20 =09 =09compete for the starting job. So far, that's what's happened. Now, whet= her=20 Chris continues to make the most of his playing time and shows that he=20 deserves to get substantial minutes remains to be seen.=20 =09 =09It's hard to argue with Applewhite's results so far this season. Here's = a=20 breakdown of their stats: Applewhite is 49 of 87 passing (56.3 percent=20 completion rate) for 729 yards with 6 TDs and 3 interceptions. He has a QB= =20 rating of 142.57. Simms has completed 19 of 36 passes (52.8 percent) for 25= 7=20 yards with three TDs and three interceptions. His QB rating is 123.58. But= =20 Brown is not trying to appease Simms as much as he is trying to see what=20 Simms can do.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: Is the quarterback rotation hurting the UT offense?=20 =09?? Sara McFadden=20 =09 =09 BROWN: I asked Major Applewhite if he was playing up to his ability th= is=20 season. He said no. I asked him if Chris Simms was playing as well as he=20 could. Applewhite said no. If one or the other was given the QB job until h= e=20 lost the hot hand, you wonder if there might be some more rhythm to this=20 offense. But it's almost impossible to know.=20 =09 =09The players say it doesn't matter who is playing QB, they're both solid.= It=20 is hard to argue that Major shouldn't be the man. All he's done is win and= =20 break records. Simms is still adjusting to college ball and not being "the= =20 man" for the first time in his competitive life. Every time he has walked= =20 onto a football field, he's been Phil Simms' kid and the top choice to play= =20 QB. Now, he's battling with a guy who has Major results.=20 =09 =09I thought that the rotation was hurting the offense. But offensive=20 coordinator Greg Davis justifiably pointed out to me that UT has passed for= =20 more yards through three games this year than it did last year. So I decide= d=20 to break everything down in the passing game, comparing UT's offense throug= h=20 three games this year to the first three games of 1999. While Texas has mor= e=20 passing yards (986 in 2000 to 940 in 1999) and more TD passes (9 in 2000 to= 7=20 in 1999), the combined completion percentage of both QBs is down (55.3 in= =20 2000 to 61.6 in 1999). UT also has more interceptions this year (6 in 2000 = to=20 1 in 1999). And one of those picks was returned for a touchdown.=20 =09 =09I tend to think Applewhite's numbers would be much better if he were all= owed=20 to start and stay in. Of course, Simms would have better numbers, too, if h= e=20 got to play most of the game. But by sharing, I think both of their=20 production is down. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to this=20 rotation. We'll see how long everyone can keep a positive attitude about=20 this. Davis said Tuesday he could see the team rotating both quarterbacks a= ll=20 season long. =20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: What is the source of greater confusion for the O-line: opposing=20 defenses' tactics or Texas' own offensive scheme? In other words, is the= =20 offense too complex so that they don't know their assignments or are they= =20 simply being outplayed? =20 =09 ?? Rowell Rogers, Denton, Texas=20 =09 =09 BROWN: The offensive linemen, quarterbacks and coaches all say that th= ey=20 have seen a slew of junk defenses through the first three games. Coach Mack= =20 Brown said Louisiana-Lafayette, Stanford and Houston did not use defensive= =20 schemes that they had shown in previous games.=20 =09 =09Brown's contention is that other teams can make their season by beating = UT,=20 so they gamble and throw a bunch of risky blitzes at the Longhorns. Against= =20 Stanford, UT wasn't good enough to make the Cardinal pay. So, according to = UT=20 personnel, the defenses have been new. Now that it's the fourth game of the= =20 season, one would think there are only so many defenses the O-line hasn't= =20 seen. The excuses are running out.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09[IMAGE]=20 =09Ricky Brown =20 =09 =09Q: It appears to me that Texas really misses the blocking of Ricky Brown= ,=20 both in the running game and in the blitz pick-up. Who is Texas recruiting = to=20 replace him? I don't question Matt Trissel's effort, but he just doesn't se= em=20 to be getting it done for Texas. =20 =09?? Bart Jacobs=20 =09 =09 BROWN: The coaches are recruiting a fullback named James Buchanan of= =20 Sarasota, Fla., Cardinal Mooney, who is also being pursued by Florida State= =20 and Florida. But they are happy with Matt Trissel. They say he's young and= =20 needs a little more time to get adjusted to the fullback position after=20 excelling at linebacker in high school. Mack Brown considers Trissel a lead= er=20 on the offense despite his status as a redshirt freshman. He's had some=20 botched blocking assignments, but so have all the other backs.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: Despite a visit from the nutritionist during the off-season, and a m= uch=20 publicized weight loss, the offensive line still appears overweight and slo= w.=20 What is Jeff Madden doing the rectify this problem? If this problem=20 persists, =20 =09 =09might Texas be looking to hire a new strength coach? I know Madden is a = good=20 friend of Mack Brown's, but production has to be the bottom line, and right= =20 now, it appears Madden isn't getting it done. I enjoy your newsletter. Than= k=20 you for your time.=20 =09?? James Taglienti=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Madden is someone I consider UT's secret weapon. He's much more= than=20 a coach for this team. He works their bodies and minds and can be credited= =20 with getting this team to believe that it could beat Nebraska back in 1998.= =20 The players love and respect him even though he works them to the ground.= =20 None of the breakdowns so far this season can be attributed to Madden.=20 Physically, the players are in good shape. Their problems are mental. Madde= n=20 is one of the most valued members of the staff. ? =09 =09 Q: Are there any hopes for a national championship considering the loss= to =20 Stanford?=20 =09?? Liddy Newsome=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Anything is possible. Texas would need Nebraska to remain=20 undefeated, and then hope the other top 10 teams pick up a loss or two. If= =20 Texas could go unbeaten the rest of the way and beat an undefeated and No. = 1=20 Nebraska in the Big 12 title game, the Longhorns could possibly get lucky a= nd=20 end up in the Orange Bowl. But that is about as long a shot as Ricky Willia= ms=20 suiting up for UT this Saturday.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: I have heard a lot about how much talent Chance Mock has. How does h= is =20 talent compare to that of Chris Simms? If he wouldn't have redshirted, coul= d=20 he have beat out Chris or possibly Major Applewhite as the main guy?=20 =09?? Brett Holmes=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Not a chance. No pun intended. Mock asked to redshirt because h= e has=20 much to learn and wants to step in after Simms and Applewhite move on.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: I think Hodges Mitchell is a good kid, with a good pedigree ... and= =20 there's the rub. Is Coach Brown too in love with this kid? Is he doing an o= ld=20 friend a favor by keeping this kid in the game? He had a decent season last= =20 year, especially coming out of the shadow of Ricky Williams, but I have see= n=20 nothing this year that suggests anything close to that this season.=20 =09 =09I cannot blame the O-line and here is why: For a prototypical "scat-back= ,"=20 Hodges seems to run to traffic. There were several plays last week where a= =20 quick step one way or the other would have gotten him to more open field.= =20 Instead he would run right into the defense. Does he just not have the=20 "vision" required of a good running back? I cannot believe that he is that= =20 much better than the other running backs on the roster. Are the rest that= =20 bad? There has to be more to the story.=20 =09?? Roy Cassas=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Mitchell apparently needs to be pushed to the brink of losing h= is=20 job to really find traction. Last year, he was on the verge of losing his j= ob=20 to Victor Ike when he started to really cut loose on the way to 1,300 yards= =20 rushing and 300 yards receiving. He says he is ready to cut loose, again (i= n=20 the fourth game, just like last year). The problem is, Texas is playing=20 Oklahoma State this week, who has the nation's No. 1 defense against the ru= n.=20 Last year, Mitchell broke a couple draws on Oklahoma State and ran for 149= =20 yards. We'll see if he can shake the slump he's in. Otherwise, look for Ike= =20 and Kenny Hayter to start getting more of the load.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: In your most recent "Inside UT Football" you mentioned that stations= on=20 the UT football network are listed on the texassports.com Web site. I have= =20 another suggestion for people such as me who live in other parts of the=20 country, or overseas. I have found that all (I think) NCAA top 25 broadcast= s=20 are carried on http://sports.yahoo.com/. They carry all NFL radio broadcast= s=20 as well. One of the beauties about this site is that if you don't like one= =20 set of announcers you can usually switch over to those who carry the opposi= ng=20 team. As my grandson would say, "And that's really cool." I enjoy your week= ly=20 newsletter very much. Keep it up. =20 =09?? Bud Sloan, Reno, Nev.=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Thanks for sharing, Bud. Hope this helps some other folks.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: Why does Coach Mack Brown reject criticism with cynicism, yet accept= =20 praise with zeal? To illustrate my point, Coach Brown became terse while=20 citing fans as "... being negative and openly critical ..." (i.e., four=20 losses in five games, 100 net yards rushing in five games, a probable QB=20 controversy and lest we not forget, yet another blocked punt). Conversely,= =20 Coach Brown will devour praise with carnivorous delight! Coach Brown cites= =20 the team's emotional psyche as "... being fragile," yet Coach Brown fueled= =20 this euphoria in the players during spring drills and prior to the season.= =20 =09 =09Is it not the coach's responsibility to provide stability to the team's= =20 mental and emotional state? Is Coach Brown's tenure paralleling the turbule= nt=20 and volatile path taken by rival coach Jackie Sherrill at Texas A=02?(no eg= os in=20 that one!) during the 1980s? =20 =09?? David Newburn=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Mack Brown says all of his responses to criticism are simply to= help=20 his players and protect them from getting unfairly ripped. Brown is very=20 sensitive to criticism. If someone criticizes the running game, he reminds= =20 them that the passing game is rated No. 4 nationally. When someone question= s=20 the quarterback rotation, he tells people to be positive instead of negativ= e=20 and contends that the players are fine with it - only the media is not. I= =20 honestly think that Brown tries to see everything in such a positive light= =20 that he becomes personally offended at criticism and negative thinking. He= =20 forgets that people are deeply, deeply passionate about their team. That=20 people get mad, really mad, when their team loses a game it shouldn't. Or= =20 worse, when the team plays really lousy in losing a game it shouldn't (see= =20 Stanford).=20 =09 =09I think Brown also believes that because he is so forthcoming in public= =20 appearances and with the media and has done so much to restore the traditio= n=20 to UT, that he feels betrayed when fans or the press criticize parts of his= =20 team. He wants fans to rally behind their team, no matter what, and be the= =20 first to pick up the team when it's down. Not pile on.=20 =09 =09But people are going to get angry when his team gives up five sacks, get= s 10=20 penalties and gives up another blocked punt for a TD. There is no question = he=20 is still adjusting to the intense scrutiny that comes with being at Texas.= =20 When his team loses a game it shouldn't and plays terribly in doing so, he= =20 will always hear it from the fans and the press, whether his team is young = or=20 not.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: Why do you suppose the Longhorns are throwing so few really long pas= ses=20 this year? It seems to me doing so would open up the running game like it w= as=20 when Ricky Williams was playing.=20 =09?? Will Vernon=20 =09 =09 BROWN: They need some more time. The young receivers need a little mor= e=20 time to adjust. But I do think that with the athleticism of the young=20 receivers, you will see more short routes that turn into long gains. Once R= oy=20 Williams, Sloan Thomas and B.J. Johnson develop some comfort in this offens= e,=20 I think you'll see more long pass plays.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: I just have two questions that have been frustrating for me this yea= r.=20 The first deals with punt returns. I can respect Coach Mack Brown wanting t= o=20 have an experienced player returning punts in order to avoid mistakes, but= =20 why bring in so much talent and speed if you aren't going to use it? Why do= es=20 Hodges Mitchell continue to return punts?=20 =09 =09He is too much of a dance-around, east-west runner to be successful in t= he=20 kicking game. I realize he averaged close to 10-yds a return Saturday, but= =20 his average was more a product of Houston's poor field position. We need a= =20 gamebreaker returning kicks. If you trust the freshmen to play significant= =20 minutes, why not trust them with the return game?=20 =09 =09Secondly, why do we pull Casey Hampton on third-down passing situations?= =20 Hampton is a load and usually gets double-teamed. Why would you pull your= =20 All-American in a situation like that? In their nickel defense, shouldn't= =20 they push Shaun Rogers outside and leave Hampton in the middle?=20 =09?? Jeff Wilson=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Brown trusts Mitchell not to get tight and muff a punt return i= n=20 front of 80,000 people. That's not the greatest criteria, in my opinion. I= =20 would like to see Nathan Vasher back there personally, just to see what he= =20 can do. Vasher has been fearless in everything I've seen him do. Mitchell= =20 hasn't shown breakaway moves yet. If we don't see it soon, it might be time= =20 to give someone else a shot.=20 =09 =09They take Hampton out on nickel situations because they think that Shaun= =20 Rogers is the better pass rusher from the tackle position. There has been n= o=20 talk about moving Rogers to end in pass-rush situations. =20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: Coach Mack Brown appeared to be auditioning for the head coach job a= t the=20 University of Oklahoma in the last minutes of the Houston game. Apparently= =20 unsatisfied with a 40-0 lead and two minutes to go, the Horns unloaded a lo= ng=20 pass from the arm of Chris Simms who hadn't been able to do anything all=20 night. Just when everyone was ready to run the clock out, Brown, or Simms= =20 (whoever was in charge), elected to do whatever necessary to humiliate our= =20 guests even more by rubbing their noses in it. I, for one, was not very pro= ud=20 of being a Texas-ex for the last two minutes of that game. Texas football= =20 traditions took a hard blow in that Switzer-like move. Shame.=20 =09?? Jim Ball, Class of '57, Big Sandy, Texas=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Mack Brown says he had Simms throwing late in the game to get= =20 experience and live snaps because there could come a time in the future whe= re=20 Texas needs to move the ball late in a game to win, as it needed to do=20 against Stanford.=20 =09 =09The pass into the end zone to Sloan Thomas in the waning seconds was a= =20 checkoff that Chris Simms made. Mack Brown said he wished that Simms hadn't= =20 done that. But Simms actually made the right read. Simms said he bobbled th= e=20 snap or it would have been a touchdown.=20 =09 =09There was a huge outpouring of criticism for having Simms pass the ball = when=20 UT needs experience running the ball. What better time to work on running t= he=20 ball than at the end of the game? There is an argument to be made there. Ma= ck=20 Brown said his team got criticized for not being able to hold onto the ball= =20 and run out the clock after taking a lead at the end of the Stanford game.= =20 Now, he says he's being criticized for moving the ball at the end of the=20 Houston game.=20 =09 =09"We get hammered either way," Brown said. He added that he wasn't trying= to=20 run it up on Houston for the chop block that led to Shaun Rogers' injury, a= nd=20 he wasn't trying to pay back the Cougars for what John Jenkins used to do i= n=20 running it up. He said the team was just working to get better.=20 =09? =09 =09 =09 Q: What happened to Sneezy Beltran, the much-heralded running back out = of =20 Abilene High?=20 =09?? Eddie Alvarado=20 =09 =09 BROWN: Beltran has asked to redshirt this season.=20 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 If you received this newsletter from a friend and would like to subscri= be,=20 sign up at: Newsletter Registration=20 =09 =09To find or change your password, modify your account, or unsubscribe fro= m=20 this newsletter, go to: Newsletter Registration =20 =09 =09Questions? Comments? Suggestions? =20 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 =09 (c) Copyright 2000 The Dallas Morning News=20 =09=09[IMAGE]=09 =09=09=09 =09=09=09 [IMAGE] =09=09=09 [IMAGE] =09=09=09 [IMAGE] =09=09=09=20