Texas hopes for return to Big 12’s elite this season

Texas running back Jamaal Charles (25) runs with the ball against North Texas on Sept. 2 in Austin, Texas. Charles, who led a running attack that failed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the first times since 1994, looks to help return the Longhorns to t THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, HARRY CABLUCK

AP

Texas running back Jamaal Charles (25) runs with the ball against North Texas on Sept. 2 in Austin, Texas. Charles, who led a running attack that failed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the first times since 1994, looks to help return the Longhorns to t THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, HARRY CABLUCK

By Jim Vertuno
August 24, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas – A bad finish to 2006 made that championship season of ’05 seem like a long time ago for Texas.

The Longhorns lost their final two regular season games and blew a chance to play in the Big 12 title game, leaving this year’s team with the empty feeling that comes when a team doesn’t make it too great.

Ah, but that’s what always makes the start of a new season so enticing at Texas. So much talent, so much hype and such high expectations of championships.

Even coach Mack Brown has passed the point of settling for anything but perfection.

“It used to be we’d win 11 games and everyone was griping and I didn’t understand,” Brown said. “Now we don’t win all the games and I’m the one griping.”

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Texas had its chances last season; the Longhorns were still in the national title hunt in November. Quarterback Colt McCoy was better than anyone expected, and the defense hung together despite giving up way too many big plays.

Then came a neck injury to McCoy, a two-game losing skid and an Alamo Bowl loss. Texas beat Iowa in San Antonio, but the hated Sooners won the Big 12.

McCoy is a big reason the Longhorns are favored to win the South Division. He tied the NCAA freshman record for touchdown passes with 29, and all of his top targets return. The leader among them is senior Limas Sweed, who tied a school record with 12 TD catches last season.

The biggest question is the offensive line, where Texas must replace three starters. The running game dropped off sharply last season as Texas failed to produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since 1994.

Jamaal Charles, hailed as the next great Texas tailback after gaining 878 yards as a freshman on the national championship team, tailed off to 831 yards and scored only seven rushing TDs. He bulked up in the offseason to get over 200 pounds, hoping to better withstand tackles.

Charles has the speed of a world-class sprinter, but Brown wants him to be a tougher runner between the tackles and in the fourth quarter.

Texas opens the season Sept. 1 at home against Arkansas State before hosting old Southwest Conference rival TCU. The first conference game is Sept. 29 against Kansas State. The Longhorns have a favorable schedule with the Wildcats, Nebraska and Texas Tech at home. The annual matchup with Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas is Oct. 6.