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Tuesday, September 22, 1998
Texas coach concerned about toll of losses
By OWEN CANFIELD AP Sports Writer
Back-to-back poundings at the hands of nationally ranked opponents
have taken a physical and, perhaps more importantly, emotional
toll on the Texas Longhorns.
It's something coach Mack Brown says has him "really concerned"
as he goes about the task of repairing the damage.
"It's my job to get my head back up and go back and work
as hard as I can this week, as a role model to my assistant coaches
and players, to let them know they better not get down,"
Brown said Monday during the Big 12's weekly coaches teleconference.
The Longhorns (1-2) lost 48-7 to Kansas State on Saturday,
one week after losing 49-31 to UCLA. The Texas defense had a tough
time in both games, just as it did in the opener against New Mexico
State.
The Longhorns rank 98th nationally against the rush, dead last
(112th) against the pass and 109th in total defense. They figure
to get another test this week with Rice, which runs the option.
Brown said he's beyond the point of making personnel changes
on defense. Instead, he plans to hold "tryouts" each
week.
"The guy that performs the best in practice will play
during the ball game, so we may be making decisions as late as
Thursday," he said.
The game of football, he said, involves "taking crises
and turning them into positives. We've had two crises and it's
time to get those turned around."
One team that turned things around last week was Baylor, which
defeated then-No. 20 North Carolina State, 33-30. The Bears needed
a shot in the arm after going 2-9 last year and then losing their
opener to Oregon State.
"What Baylor accomplished is just what can happen on a
weekly basis in this league, with the caliber of teams,"
Kansas coach Terry Allen said.
Baylor coach Dave Roberts said the victory was huge for his
program, but came up short of calling it a possible turning point
in the season.
"Every game's big for us because of the schedule,"
he said. "We just have to try to improve this week and see
if we can't get a little better."
---
CORBY'S COMPLAINT: Following Missouri's 35-14 loss to No. 1
Ohio State, quarterback Corby Jones questioned the decision to
pass so infrequently. He was just 6-of-11 passing for 20 yards.
"I think we would have done better if we would have mixed
it up," he said.
Coach Larry Smith had no apologies for the game plan. He said
neither the coaches nor the players have enough confidence in
the passing game at this point.
"They (the players) say they do, but they don't,"
Smith said. "I watch 'em practice. I'm not going to call
things that I don't have confidence in."
And about Jones' comments?
"If he's upset, he should come talk to me."
---
SHIFTY WILDCAT: Kansas State's David Allen has returned three
punts for touchdowns this season, including a 93-yarder against
Texas on Saturday. What's the secret?
"He doesn't have the greatest speed in the world, but
he has great vision, changes directions extremely well,"
coach Bill Snyder said. "He's kind of an old throwback in
that he sets up blocks really well.
"He'd be the first to tell you this, he's not going to
have the successes he's had if not for the other 10 guys on that
unit. I'm equally proud of them."
---
THE OTHER RICKY: The nation's leading rusher is Ricky Williams.
Not the tailback from Texas, but the one from Texas Tech.
Williams, a sophomore, is averaging 221 yards per game through
the first three games. That's far more than coach Spike Dykes
would have expected, although he doesn't seem too surprised by
what has transpired.
"First of all, he's got no ego and he's got a great work
ethic," Dykes said. "He's not beating his drum for anything,
not running for any office. He's just playing football. It's sort
of easy to play football if you're not tooting horns all the time."
Texas' Ricky Williams, held to 43 yards by Kansas State, is
now averaging 139 per game. That's fourth-best in the league and
No. 8 nationally.
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