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Tuesday, October 21, 1997

Longhorns still searching for answers

By CHIP BROWN

Associated Press

AUSTIN - Texas coach John Mackovic, tired of being asked why he didn't call more plays for Big 12 rushing leader Ricky Williams in the Longhorns' 37-29 loss to Missouri, said Monday his play-calling shouldn't be questioned.

"If you're asking a question about calling plays, just save all of your time," Mackovic told his weekly news conference.

"Don't question the play calling. Play callers call plays. I think Ricky had a generous number of runs based upon the number of plays we had."

Williams ran 23 times for 235 yards against Missouri, an average of 10.2 yards per carry. The Longhorns threw the ball 40 times, completing just 15 for 149 yards. Last week, Williams ran 40 times for 223 yards in a 27-24 victory over Oklahoma.

"When we fell behind and had to throw the ball, we threw a lot more passes. A lot of those passes were called trying to make something happen at the very end of the game. But I thought Ricky had the ball a good amount of the time," Mackovic said.

Six games into the season, the Longhorns say they still have no idea why they've stumbled to a 3-3 start and given one team after another reasons to tear down goalposts.

After the Longhorns' first loss to Missouri in 10 meetings - dating to 1916 - fans in Columbia, Mo., took just a few seconds to rip down their goalposts.

Two weeks earlier, Oklahoma State fans mobbed their goalposts after a 42-16 triumph over Texas.

"We've got to change attitudes, wills and desires," said Texas quarterback James Brown, who took blame for the team's recent troubles.

"As I go, so goes the team," Brown said. "Completing 15 of 40 passes is just awful."

The Longhorns, 1-2 in the Big 12, face Colorado (3-3, 1-2) at home Saturday.

Last year, Texas opened 3-3 and then lost to Colorado before winning five straight games and going on to defeat Nebraska for the Big 12 championship.

This year, players say the team's confidence isn't the same.

"Last year, we would play a great game and maybe lose by a field goal," said tight end Steve Bradley. "This year, we're not playing well in our losses. There's just not much fire in us. It seems like we're just trying to get through the games."

On Saturday, kicker Phil Dawson, perhaps the team's most dependable player, missed a point after touchdown, had another PAT blocked and failed on field goal attempts of 43 and 48 yards.

Dawson, who has been nagged by hamstring, groin and hip flexor injuries, blamed his misses on a poorly sodded field. Mackovic said Dawson would undergo an evaluation to see if the injuries have worsened.

Players say they haven't given up on the season and hope to turn things around.

"We could go 8-3 and still end up in San Antonio (for the Big 12 title game)," said center Ryan Fiebiger. "We know some people are unhappy, but we're not giving up."

Before the season, many had projected the Texas-Colorado game to impact the Big 12 title race and possibly the national championship.

"Now it's a battle for improvement and trying to get seasons turned around," Mackovic said.

Texas fans have expressed outrage about the Longhorns' season and many have called for Mackovic's job in letters to the editor and in calls to radio shows. The Colorado game will mark the team's first home appearance since a 66-3 drubbing by UCLA on Sept. 13.

"I hope our fans can respond to the team," Mackovic said. "I know a lot of people are unhappy that we're not undefeated and in the driver's seat, but this team still belongs to the school and to our fans." Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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