The Texas Longhorns won their fourth straight bowl game and finished the year with at least ten wins for the seventh straight year. After the disappointing of T+1, this one feels great! Kudos to Mack Brown and the entire Texas coaching staff for getting the players ready over the last five weeks. The Horns dominated a quality Pac-10 opponent by winning the turnover battle, rushing the ball effectively, and playing stifling defense against both the run and the pass.
On offense, Colt McCoy made some nice plays with his feet and was accurate through the air as well, and Jamaal Charles got loose early and gained over 100 yards for the seventh time this season.
Arizona State got some garbage yards and two late touchdowns after the outcome was clear, but, through three quarters, the Texas defense executed as well as they have all season. The Texas d-line was completely unblockable. The Sun Devils had negative rushing yards for most of the game and couldn’t keep Rudy Carpenter upright on passing plays. Trash talking Rudy didn't even make the full four quarters.
Overall, Texas was the hungrier team, the team with swagger, and the team that executed their game plan more effectively. Of course this season will be remembered more for what wasn’t accomplished than what was, but this sure is a nice way to close out the 2007 football season.
PB will be back near a computer tomorrow. Look for much more in the coming days about his Holiday Bowl experience, a more in-depth breakdown of the game, and a complete season recap.
Post your own Holiday Bowl comments here.
Hook ‘Em!
--AW--