Message-ID: <19535820.1075848301420.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 05:41:00 -0700 (PDT) From: truorange@aol.com To: truorange@aol.com Subject: True Orange, April 23, 2001, Part 3 of 3 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-From: TruOrange@aol.com X-To: TruOrange@aol.com X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Clint_Dean_Nov2001\Notes Folders\Info X-Origin: DEAN-C X-FileName: cdean.nsf Part 3 of 3 Offensive Line Coach Interview Offensive line coach Tim Nunez says he went into spring football with twin goals of developing better run blockers and finding a left tackle to replac= e All-American Leonard Davis, who was the second player chosen in the first round of the NFL draft Saturday. In an interview last week, he told me he is pleased about the progress his players made in both areas. He said right tackle Mike Williams and right guard Derrick Dockery were outstanding this spring in every area, including run blocking. "Mike Williams had a great spring," Nunez said. "He had as good a spring as any offensive linemen has had since we've been here. He's really light on h= is feet for such a big man, and that helps him, whether he's pass blocking or run blocking. "Derrick Dockery finally was healthy this spring," he said. "That infection he had last season really sapped his strength all season. He fought through it and played as hard as he could, but this spring he was flying around and doing things he couldn't do last year. He was just a different guy this spring and he really did a good job. He and Mike really gave us a strong right side this spring." He said center Matt Anderson "played well this spring. He's a steady hand i= n there." He also said backup Jason Glynn "had a very good spring. He is real= ly athletic. We just need to get him some snaps." Junior Robbie Doane started at left tackle all spring and Nunez said, "I think Robbie Doane is going to be a good football player for us. He needs t= o have a great summer and get stronger in his upper body. He really wants to = be a good player and he'll work hard this summer to get there." He said Doane "has great technique. He really knows what to do. He's just g= ot to get strong enough to do it on a consistent basis." Nunez said one reason Doane might not have been an obvious standout during the spring "was that he was going against a great player. (Defensive end) Kalen Thornton is as hard to block as anybody he'll see during the season. He's special." But the Longhorns also have some other options at left tackle. Blinn Junior College star Alfio Randall has passed the JC exit exam and is on schedule t= o graduate in time to join the team in August, and Dockery also worked some a= t left tackle in the spring and did very well, Nunez said. Two top guards missed the spring. Senior Antwan Kirk-Hughes, a two year starter, was recovering from shoulder surgery and sophomore Tillman Hollowa= y sprained a knee early in the spring and missed the remainder of the drills. When they return, Nunez said it will make it easier to move Dockery to tack= le if the need arises. He said both of them should be totally recovered in plenty of time for the season. How about depth at guard if Dockery moves to tackle? "Bo Baker had a good spring at guard," he said. "We'll continue to work him some at center, but he gives us another good guard. He's really fast. If we had a race, he would be the fastest of the offensive linemen." Nunez said players like Williams, Dockery and Kirk-Hughes have had to play earlier than they should have, since none of them redshirted, but he said those painful early learning experiences should pay off this year. "Mike Williams really improved during last season," Nunez said. "He was playing really well by the end of the season, and he carried that over into this spring." He said Kirk-Hughes' shoulder and Dockery's infection hampered their play last season, but he said they played as hard as they could and should be mu= ch better this season because of their experiences last season. Dockery made great strides this spring, he said, adding that he expects Kirk-Hughes to again be one of the team's top linemen when he returns with his surgically-repaired shoulder. Holloway started several games as a redshirt freshman last year due to Dockery's health problems, and Nunez said he "had to grow up during the season. It's tough to start as a redshirt freshman offensive lineman in thi= s league, but he worked through it and he was just playing so much better by the end of the season." "I'm excited about this group," Nunez said. "They've worked hard to get better and I think they have a chance to be a really strong group this seas= on if they can stay healthy." Head coach Mack Brown said at the end of spring practice the Longhorns were running the ball better than they have the last two seasons. Since he also says he isn't that happy with any of the tailbacks, he obviously feels the line is doing a better job of run blocking. "We worked on it more this spring," Nunez said, "and I think that will pay off this season." One thing that needs to be noted is that the perennial powerhouse teams usually don't start offensive linemen until they are redshirt juniors, whic= h means they are in their fourth year. Exceptional linemen can start earlier, but even they usually spend two year= s backing up before starting in their third year. This coaching staff inherited some talent when it took over, but other than= a talented bunch of seniors, the offensive line talent was pretty bare. Even first-round draft choice Davis spent his first year on defense before the new staff switched him to the offensive line. Texas should be able to begin redshirting most of its offensive linemen thi= s season, but the coaches haven't had that luxury until now. Why? Because, despite their great overall recruiting success, they have bee= n able to sign only three offensive linemen each year until they hit the jackpot with six in their last recruiting class. Kelly Named Basketball MVP Senior shooting guard Darren Kelly was chosen the Texas basketball team's Most Valuable Player by his teammates to highlight the team's banquet. Kelly, who earned USBWA All-District 7 and NABC/Chevrolet All-District 9 second-team honors and third-team All-Big 12 Conference mention, led the te= am in assists (76) and minutes (34.6 mpg) and ranked second in scoring (15.3 ppg) and fourth inrebounding (4.6 rpg) and steals (32). Freshman center Brian Boddicker won the Most Improved Player award. A Big = 12 All-Freshman team selection, Boddicker averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per contest. Senior walk-on guard Yair Harari was named the winner of the Jack Gray Awar= d, presented in recognition of outstanding character, citizenship, academic achievement and contributions reflective of the Texas basketball program. Other awards and their winners: Senior Awards - Harari, Kelly, Chris McColpin Earlene Fulmer 3-Point Attack Award - Maurice Evans LaSalle Thompson Rebounding Award - Chris Owens Jim Krivacs Free Throw Percentage Award - Kelly Johnny Moore Assists Award - Kelly Coaches Award for Most Blocked Shots - Owens Coaches Award for Most Charges Taken - Fredie Williams Coaches Award for Top Screener - Boddicker Spirit Award - Drew Gressett Outstanding Defensive Player - Williams Hustlin' Horns Award - Gressett, James Thomas, Brandon Mouton, Royal Ivey, Boddicker, Jason Klotz Jay Arnette Coaches Award - William Wyatt Coca-Cola Solid Citizen Award - Ivey, Klotz, Thomas. Basketball Aide Moves Up Rob Lanier, 32, the Longhorns' top assistant basketball coach and lead recruiter for the last two years, was named head coach at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., last week UT head coach Rick Barnes said he will try to hire a new assistant soon, adding that he plans to hire another bright young coach who is on his way u= p the coaching ladder. Six of Barnes' former assistants have become college head coaches and that = is because he always hires a bright, young assistant on the way up who also happens to be an outstanding recruiter. Lanier recruited several outstanding prospects for the Longhorns, including most of last season's top freshmen and incoming point guard recruit T. J. Ford. A True Orange Subscription Is The Gift You Can Give Every Year to Your Longhorn Friends A subscription to True Orange is the perfect gift for any occasion for a Longhorn who has everything else. It's only $45 ($35 by e-mail) and I'll send an attractive card announcing your thoughtful gift. The only thing better is a gift of True Orange and the True Orange Fax = =01) and you can give both for just $130 a year ($99 if they take both by e-mail= ). o I am enclosing $45 for a gift subscription ($35 e-mail) o I am enclosing $130 for a gift subscription to the newsletter and the fa= x ($99 e-mail) Name of Recipient Address (& fax no., if applicable) City, State, Zip Your Name Any Message You Want on Card Next Issue May 1 The next issue will be e-mailed May 14, and will include interviews with so= me more of the football coaches, plus more interviews with members of my 25-ma= n list of top junior recruits. I'll have stories on the baseball team, track teams and other news about th= e Longhorn athletic program. Tell Your Friends About True Orange If you like True Orange, be sure and tell your Longhorn friends about it. I can always use more subscribers. 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