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Friday, October 24, 1997

Colorado, Texas fighting for their lives

By CHIP BROWN / AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN (AP) -- As this season began, Texas versus Colorado was supposed to be a key Big 12 battle with national championship ramifications.

Now, Saturday's game is a showcase of two of the biggest disappointments in college football fighting for their lives.

The Longhorns (3-3, 1-2 Big 12), once ranked as high as No. 11, saw their season go south after a devastating 66-3 loss at home against UCLA on Sept. 13. Since then, there have been losses to Oklahoma State (42-16) and last week's debacle at Missouri (37-29).

Rumors have been circulating that Texas boosters are pitching in $1 million to buy out coach John Mackovic's contract and get rid of him.

While providing no ringing endorsement of Mackovic, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds told his staff this week that there was no validity to rumors that the coach is on the way out.

"I'm getting some e-mail, some letters and I'm sure there's more out there than what I'm getting," Dodds said. "We should be doing better than we are -- I'm not denying that -- but we just have to fight through it."

As for the Buffaloes (3-3, 1-2), losses to Michigan, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State sent them tumbling from the Top 10 out of the rankings.

Colorado, however, is coming off its best game of the season, a 42-6 victory over Kansas. The Buffaloes are a five-point favorite to beat Texas.

"I think people thought the teams would come in with a little bit better records," said Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel. "The fact of the matter is we are both struggling to get back to where we feel we belong."

Mackovic, realizing the UT faithful are restless, made a plea to fans at his weekly news conference. This will be the first home game since Texas lost to UCLA, a game in which the stadium was half empty by halftime.

"I hope our fans can respond to the team," he 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 the fans."

Both teams have struggled in all phases of the game and have quarterbacks failing to live up to expectations.

Colorado's John Hessler has thrown twice as many interceptions (10) as TDs (5).

But with Texas 107th (of 112) in the nation against the run, Colorado running back Herchell Troutman could become the focus of the offense.

Texas, which has rarely struggled offensively in Mackovic's pro-style attack, has failed to lead after the first quarter of any game this year.

Quarterback James Brown has been in a funk, completing just 44 percent of his passes, partly because the Longhorns' receiving corps has failed to come close to replacing the likes of departed wideout Mike Adams or All-America tight end Pat Fitzgerald. Texas' only deep threat, Wane McGarity, is out with a knee injury.

That has placed all the offensive load on junior running back Ricky Williams, the nation's second-leading rusher (162.8 yards per game).

He's had back-to-back 200-yard performances over the past two weeks.

"Colorado is a 4-3 team that presses the line of scrimmage, so I would expect they will bring their safeties up to stop Ricky," Mackovic said.