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Part 3 of 3
Pre-Season Practice Schedule Coach Mack Brown has announced the full pre-season football practice schedule, but he stressed that all times and dates are tentative and could be changed. Here's the full schedule of practices that will be open to the public: Monday, August 6 - Freshmen report Tuesday, August 7 - Freshmen practices 10:30 a.m. & 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 8 - Freshmen practices 9:15 a.m. & 5 p.m. Thursday, August 9 - Varsity reports, no practice Saturday, August 11 - First full-team practices 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. Sunday, August 12 - Practice 3 p.m. Monday, August 13 - Practices 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 14 - Practice 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 15 - Practices 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. (afternoon practice first one in full pads) Thursday, August 16 - Scrimmage 3 p.m. at Royal Memorial Stadium Friday, August 17 - Practices 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. Saturday, August 18 - Scrimmage 9 a.m. at Royal Memorial Stadium Sunday, August 19 - Media Day/Fan Appreciation Day 2-3:20 p.m., autographs 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday, August 20 - Practices 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 21 - Practice 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 22 - Practice 9 a.m., scrimmage 6 p.m. at Royal Memorial Stadium Thursday, August 23 - Practice 3 p.m. All practices will be at Frank Denius Field at 26th & Red River and all scrimmages will be at the stadium. As I reported earlier, Brown is having more early morning and late evening practices when the team practices twice daily, and is having only one practice on days the team works during the hottest part of the day. He said he is trying the new approach in an effort to avoid some of the early-season problems that have led to upset losses the last two years to North Carolina State and Stanford. He said players need to be shape, but they also need to avoid having tired legs when the season starts. Subscribe To The E-Mail/Fax Service to Get Scoops on Early Practices & Recruiting ! Save Big As An Internet Subscriber ! Whether you live close to Austin or far away, the True Orange E-Mail/Fax Service is the way to keep up with Longhorn football and Longhorn recruiting - instantly. It has at least 99 timely faxes a year, primarily about football and football recruiting. To subscribe, send your check to True Orange, Box 26530, Austin, Texas 78755, and copy or clip the coupon below and fill in the blanks. If you want it mailed, or by E-Mail, just include the right numbers. o I'm enclosing $99 for the 99-fax package for the next year o I'm enclosing $130 (an $11 saving) to renew my subscription to True Orange and to subscribe to the 99 faxes. o I'm enclosing $79 for the 99-fax package for the next year by E-Mail (a $20 saving) o Here's $110 to renew my subscription to True Orange and to subscribe to the 99 faxes by E-Mail (a $31 saving) o Here's $99 to subscribe to True Orange via the Internet and to subscribe to the 99 faxes by E-Mail (a $42 saving) Name Fax No. (or E-Mail or mailing address) The Blue Chips Here's my updated list of the state's top 100 junior prospects. The ones above the * * * * at each position are my Fabulous 50. Commitments and early commitments are listed. The Top 100 Recruits Quarterback (9) Vincent Young, 6-5, 200, 4.5, Houston Madison (UT, FSU, Mia, LSU, Tenn) Reggie McNeal, 6-3, 180, 4.4, Lufkin (A&M Commitment0 Billy Don Malone, 6-2 1/2, 4.7, Paris North Lamar (UT Commitment Austin Flynn, 6-2, 180, 4.6, Deer Park (Colo, Syr, ISU, Ark, Pur) Jamie Beeghley, 6-2, 190, 4.6, Midland Christian (TT, A&M, Colo, ND) * * * * Chad Schroeder, 6-1, 165, 4.45, Austin Westlake (Purdue Commitment) Noah Allen, 6-3, 180, 4.7, Pearland (Oklahoma Commitment) Wes Bankston, 6-3, 200, 4.7, Plano East (LSU, A&M, OU, LSU) Jeff Ballard, 6-2, 195, 4.6, Friendswood (A&M, TT, Bay, Ky, UCLA) Running Back (9) Albert Hardy, 5-11, 225, 4.5, Galena Park (UT, ND, Mich, Neb, LSU) Paul Mosley, 6-2, 210, 4.4, Austin Anderson (Neb, Az, Bay) * * * * Phillip Fuller, 5-10, 185, 4.4, Irving Nimitz (OU, A&M, LSU, Colo, Fla) Selvin Young, 5-10, 190, 4.5, Jersey Village (OU, FSU, OSU, PSU, UT, Mich) Quinton Broussard, 5-10, 190, 4.4, The Colony (ND, Iowa, Wis) Jerome Lewis, 5-10, 170, 4.4, Carrollton Turner (OU, Ark, Kan, NW, Duke) Greg Gold, 5-10, 190, 4.4, Irving (Northwestern Commitment) Scott Ballew, 5-11, 185, 4.42, Austin Westlake (Stan, UT, Wis, Cal) Dominique Owens, 5-10, 185, 4.45, Fort Bend Kempner (A&M, UT, Neb, LSU, FSU) Tight End (5) Eric Winston, 6-6, 275, 5.0, Midland Lee (A&M, UT, ND, Mich, Neb, Mia) David Thomas, 6-3, 215, 4.7, Wolfforth Frenship (UT Commitment) * * * * Gabriel Hall, 6-4, 225, 4.7, Lubbock Coronado (TT, A&M, OU) Chad Jorgensen, 6-6, 220, 4.8, San Marcos Baptist (A&M, Bay, TCU) Maurice Bouldwin, 6-4, 240, 4.8, La Grange (OU, UT, Az, TCU) Wide Receiver (12) Robert Timmons, 6-2, 190, 4.4, FM Marcus (UT, Tenn, A&M, Mia, USC, KSU) Anthony Wright, 6-3, 210, 4.5, Klein Forest (UT, A&M, LSU, Mia, FSU) Damien Collins, 6-3, 195, 4.4, Dallas Bryan Adams (Tenn, UT, Colo, OU, FSU) Biren Ealy, 6-4, 195, 4.48, Cypress Falls (LSU, UT, A&M) J. T. Perry, 6-2, 180, 4.4, Allen (West Virginia Commitment) Wardell Starling, 6-3, 190, 4.55, Fort Bend Elkins (Baseball) * * * * Travis Wilson, 6-2, 190, 4.5, Carrollton Creekview (A&M, Mich, ND, Colo, TCU) J. C. Hunter, 6-1, 180, 4.5, Baytown Lee (OU, KSU, A&M, UT, Pur) James Elliott, 6-4, 185, 4.5, Sonora (ND, LSU, KSU, TCU) Xavier McGuire, 6-5, 212, 4.6, Dallas Carter (OU, GT, Mia, LSU, Ala) Dustin Miksch, 6-0, 167, 4.4, Round Rock Westwood (UT Commitment) Chad McCullar, 5-10, 170, 4.5, GP North Shore (Az, A&M, FSU, UT, LSU, PSU) Offensive Line (11) Justin Blaylock, 6-3, 330, 5.0, Plano East (UT, OU, Mich, FSU, Neb, A&M) Bob Morton, 6-4, 300, 5.2, McKinney (Notre Dame Commitment) Brett Valdez, 6-4, 310, 5.2, Brownwood (UT Commitment) Jeff Lebby, 6-5, 275, 5.1, Andrews (Oklahoma Commitment) Tony Ugoh, 6-5, 275, 5.0, Spring Westfield (UT, OU, Fla, Ark, A&M, Tenn, GT) Neale Tweedie, 6-5, 255, 4.9, Allen (UT Commitment) * * * * Josiah Vinson, 6-4, 290, 5.1, Irving (ND, Stan, GT, KSU, A&M, OU) Kyle Williams, 6-6, 260, 5.2, Dallas Highland Park (OU, A&M, USC, Stan, UCLA) LaQualon McDonald, 6-3, 330, 5.3, Waco (A&M, OU, LSU, FSU) Cody Douglas, 6-3, 320, 5.3, LaMarque (A&M Commitment) Steven Brent, 6-3, 265, 5.0, Georgetown (Neb, TCU, SMU) Defensive End (9) Travis Leitko, 6-6, 250, 4.7, The Woodlands (ND, UT, Stan, Mich, A&M, NW) Larry Dibbles, 6-2, 275, 4.8, Lancaster (OU, ND, UT, UCLA, USC, FSU) Dontriel Coates, 6-3, 270, 4.8, Anahuac (UT, Ky, Ark) Hosea Atkinson, 6-4, 230, 4.6, Houston Washington (FSU, Mich, A&M, LSU) Tully Janszen, 6-4, 260, 4.8, Keller (OU, UT, A&M) * * * * Dale Dixson, 6-3, 265, 4.8. Garland (ND, LSU, OU, A&M, Bay) Nick Owino, 6-2, 225, 4.7, Alief Elsik (UT, A&M, LSU) Danny Ellis, 6-3, 260, 4.7, Cleveland (A&M, OU, LSU) Corey Ford, 6-4, 240, 4.8, Dallas Skyline (A&M, Fla, UT, FSU, Bay, SMU) Defensive Tackle (8) Rodrique Wright, 6-5, 315, 5.0, Alief Hastings (UT, A&M, OU, KSU) Earl Anderson, 6-3, 265, 4.8, San Marcos (UT Commitment) Marco Martin, 6-3, 310, 4.8, Mesquite (FSU, UT, A&M, Tenn, Neb) Joseph Edwards, 6-2, 260, 4.9, Dayton (LSU, OU, UT, A&M) * * * * Tauren Brown, 6-4, 265, 4.8, Katy Cinco Ranch (Fla, UT, OU, A&M, UCLA, ND) Quintin Echols, 6-3, 275, 5.0, Fort Worth Wyatt (Tenn, GT, OU, A&M) Fred Jackson, 6-4, 280, 5.0, Hallsville (OU, Iowa, Az, Wash, Syr, TCU) Brian Patrick, 6-4, 270, 5.0, Pasadena Sam Rayburn (Texas A&M Commitment) Outside Linebacker (9) Marvin Byrdsong, 6-3, 235, 4.6, Longview (A&M, LSU, Ark, UT, FSU) Garnett Smith, 6-2, 221, 4.54, Arl. Lamar (OU, UT, Tenn, FSU, USC, Mia) Glenn Jackson, 6-2, 220, 4.6, Carrollton Turner (ND, OU, A&M, UT) Jimmy Morris, 6-2, 205, 4.6, Dallas Skyline (A&M, OU, ISU, TCU, USC, Bay) Kelvin Flood, 6-2, 210, 4.6, Dallas Kimball (WV, A&M, Fla, LSU) * * * * Nurahda Manning, 6-2, 222, 4.7, Bay City (A&M, LSU, UH) Ed Jackson, 6-3, 215, 4.6, LaMarque (A&M, UT) Pagitte McGee, 6-1, 210, 4.6, Tyler (A&M, OU, UCLA, KSU, UT) Kellen Tillman, 6-2, 202, 4.5, Plano West (OU, FSU, LSU, A&M, WV) Inside Linebacker (6) Aaron Harris, 5-11, 225, 4.7, North Mesquite (UT, A&M, LSU, OU) Brian Robison, 6-3, 243, 4.6, Splendora (UT Commitment) Roman Taylor, 6-0, 230, 4.7, Diboll (UT, A&M) Archie McDaniel, 6-1, 215, 4.7, Bay City (A&M, LSU, UH) * * * * Micah Woods, 6-0, 230, 4.7, Houston Sterling (LSU, PSU, KSU, Ky, Tenn) Andy Matakis, 6-3, 225, 4.6, CC Flour Blu ff (A&M, UT, PSU, Pitt, UCLA) Cornerback (6) Ricky Wilson, 5-11, 176, 4.4, Port Arthur Lincoln (FSU, UT, OSU, Fla, LSU) Michael Hawkins, 6-1, 180, 4.4, Carrollton Turner (Colo, OU, Mich, Fla, WV) Donald Burgs, 6-0, 180, 4.4, Houston Madison (UT, A&M, Colo, Mia, OU) * * * * Willie Andrews, 5-10, 170, 4.4, Longview (A&M, Tenn, Ala, UT, OU, Bay) Kendrick Muckelroy, 6-0, 180, 4.4, Hallsville (OU, A&M, LSU, Neb, TCU) Vance Washington, 6-0, 170, 4.4, Hstn Clear Brook (Colorado Commitment) Safety (7) Vickiel Vaughn, 6-2, 183, 4.5, Plano West (ND, Neb, UT, A&M, Ark) Brodney Pool, Houston Westbury (LSU, Kan, UT, ASU, UCLA) * * * * Bam Harmon, 6-1, 180, 4.5, The Colony (Basketball) David Lott, 6-1, 175, 4.5, Aldine Eisenhower (A&M, FSU, UT, LSU) Matthew Melton, 6-0, 180, 4.5, Tyler (A&M, UT, ND, Neb, Ala) Matt Fawley, 6-0, 200, 4.5, Richardson Pearce (LSU, UT, A&M, ASU, Neb) Thomas Wright, 6-0, 180, 4.5, Sweeny (LSU, A&M, OU, UT, Neb) Athlete (9) Edorian McCullough, 5-11, 175, 4.3, N Garland (OU, UT, A&M, FSU, Mich, LSU) L'Tydrick Riley, 6-4, 218, 4.5, Crockett (A&M Commitment) DaBryan Blanton, 5-11, 165, 4.3, Forney (A&M. LSU, Ark, LSU, UT, ND, Mia) Brandon Grandberry, 5-11, 175, 4.46, Crowley (A&M, OU, Wis, Tenn, ND) David Lofton, 6-3, 185, 4.5, Plano West (Stan, UT, Neb, Ala, Wash) Clint Haney, 5-11, 190, 4.27 Smithson Valley (UT Commitment) * * * * Paul Thompson, 6-4, 190, 4.6, Leander (Oklahoma Commitment) LeKeldrick Bridges, 6-1, 175, 4.3, Dallas Hillcrest (NC, Ark, LSU, OU) Jamar Ransom, El Paso Andress (OU, UCLA, Wis, Stan, PSU, ASU) * * * * The 25 "Difference Makers" These are Texas' top 25 juniors, in my opinion, and I have seen all of them play, either on tape or in person: 1. DT Rodrique Wright, Alief Hastings 2. QB Vincent Young, Houston Madison 3. DT Earl Anderson, San Marcos (UT Commitment) 4. DE Travis Leitko, The Woodlands 5. QB Reggie McNeal, Lufkin (A&M Commitment) 6. RB Albert Hardy, Galena Park 7. DE Larry Dibbles, Lancaster 8. Ath Edorian McCullough, North Garland 9. LB Aaron Harris, North Mesquite 10. OLB Marvin Byrdsong, Longview 11. LB Garnett Smith, Arlington Lamar 12. TE Eric Winston, Midland Lee 13. S Vickiel Vaughn, Plano West 14. OL Justin Blalock, Plano East 15. DT Marco Martin, Mesquite 16. CB Ricky Wilson, Port Arthur Lincoln 17. LB Brian Robison, Splendora (UT Commitment) 18. C Bob Morton, McKinney (Notre Dame Commitment) 19. WR Robert Timmons, Flower Mound Marcus 20. Ath L'Tydrick Riley, Crockett (A&M Commitment) 21. DE Dontriel Coates, Anahuac 22. Ath DaBryan Blanton, Forney 23. OL Brett Valdez, Brownwood (UT Commitment) 24. LB Roman Taylor, Diboll 25. CB Michael Hawkins, Carrollton Turner * * * * Out-of-State Prospects These out-of-state prospects say they are considering Texas: DT Kasey Studdard, 6-2, 265, 4.8, Highlands Ranch, Colo (UT, Colo) DE Chase Pittman, 6-5, 255, 4.7, Shreveport Evangel (UT, LSU) WR Marquis Johnson, 6-3, 195, 4.4, Champaign, Ill. (UT, Ill, Mich, Mia, Colo, MSU) DE Bryan Pickryl, 6-6, 230, 4.6, Jenks, Okla. (UCLA, UT, OU, ND, Neb) TE John Doucette, 6-2, 240, 4.8, New Orleans St. Augustine (Ark, Mich, Mia, UT) DE Zack Latimer, 6-4, 220, 4.5, Aurora, Colo., Gateway (Mia, Fla, Colo, ND, UT) True Orange Observations Texas' specific problems on offense, defense and special teams were addressed in the lead story, but I think there are two general areas, one on offense and one on defense, where improvement must be made for the team to finish in the top 10 for the first time since 1983. Offensively, the Longhorns were a feast-or-famine team in all the big games last year and even in some of the ones that wound up being laughers. I am referring to their problem with three-down possessions. In the rout of the Aggies, for example, Texas had one first down in the entire first half before exploding for four touchdowns in the third quarter. That's a bunch of three-and-outs. In the Oklahoma debacle, Texas made one first down while the Sooners were scoring six touchdowns to put the game on ice early. In the bowl loss to Oregon, Texas fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, had two long, back-to-back scoring drives to start the second quarter, but had minus yardage on its other second-quarter possession and then had only two first downs in the entire third quarter when the Ducks came from behind to start taking control. I could cite more examples, but you saw the games and you know the team had a problem with too many three-down possessions in a row in the losses and in some of the victories. Three-down possessions also hurt the defense because the defenders wind up being on the field too long with little opportunity to rest. One seldom mentioned reason Josh Heupel was such an effective quarterback for OU was that he almost always moved the team for a first down or two, even on drives that fizzled out. That kept his defense fresh and gave it a long field to defend. The Longhorn defenders, conversely, frequently had to defend very short fields. Let's hope the team is better at consistently moving the ball this year. Defensively, the Longhorns ran man-for-man defenses a lot more than zones. I know a couple of pro coaches who tell me the most effective pass defense is one that keeps the opponents guessing about the coverage. The hiring of Duane Akina as secondary coach, coupled with Mack Brown's stated desire to mix up the pass coverage, should help in that area. Another problem with man-for-man is that teams like OU frequently have a pickoff man to block a cornerback and that can leave the cornerback's guy wide open. Still another negative against using all man-for-man is that zones are usually more effective on long yardage plays because the zone can be used to keep the defenders from getting deep quickly. That was one reason the Longhorn defense gave up so many third-and-long plays last season. Let's hope that improves this year, too, and a more diversified coverage would help a lot. Four UT Games Already on TV The Longhorns first three games and the regular-season finale at Texas A&M will be televised. The most recent one to be announced is the Sept. 22 game at Houston. ESPN2 had picked it for an 8 p.m. national telecast. That is very good news because the game will be played in Robertson Stadium, which seats only slightly more than 30,000. The Sept. 1 opener against New Mexico State will have a 6 p.m. kickoff and will be televised nationally by the Fox Network. The Sept. 8 game against North Carolina also will be televised. That's the good news. The bad news is that it is set for an 11 a.m. kickoff. ABC will televise the game regionally. Let's hope it's a cloudy day, because the sun will keep the stadium very hot unless some cloud cover is available. If Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds and his party gave up their plush box and sat out in the stands with the regular folks for the Carolina game, I don't think we would have many mid-day kickoffs in September in the future. The A&M game on Nov. 23 in College Station, will be televised nationally by ABC at 11 a.m., too, but that won't pose a heat problem in late November. It will pose a problem on where the Longhorn teams stays the night before the game because I don't think Mack Brown will try College Station again after the problems last time around. The Aggies won't have that problem in 2002 when they come to Austin for an 11 a.m. game because visiting teams can count on Austin hotels to protect them from harassment like annoying phone calls all night, no pre-game meal and all the other little annoying things that happend to the Horns in College Station last year. ABC has worked out a deal with the Big 12 to televise the Texas-Texas A&M and Nebraska-Colorado games for the next four years, with Texas and A&M getting the 11 a.m. kickoffs and Nebraska and Colorado getting the 2:30 p.m. kickoffs for the first two years, then switching times for the next two years. Times for the remaining seven regular season games will be set later, and most starting times won't be known until the television networks exercise their options 12 days before each game. Here's the complete schedule: Sept. 1 New Mexico State, 6 p.m., Fox national TV Sept. 8 North Carolina, 11 a.m., ABC regional TV Sept. 22 at Houston, 8 p.m., ESPN2 national TV Sept. 29 Texas Tech Oct. 6 vs. Oklahoma at Dallas Oct. 13 at Oklahoma State Oct. 20 Colorado Oct. 27 at Missouri Nov. 3 at Baylor Nov. 10 Kansas Nov. 23 at Texas A&M, 11 a.m., ABC national TV Horns Get Dutch Basketball Star Sydmill Harris, a 6-6, 190-pound shooting guard for The Netherlands National Team, has enrolled as a freshman at Texas and is eligible to play for the UT basketball team this year. Harris averaged 7.5 points in his first season with the national team after leading the Dutch Junior National Team in scoring for four seasons. Longhorn players who have been working out with Harris report he lives up to his reputation as a super shooter with outstanding range. Two top juniors who are being nationally recruited, also are strongly considering Texas. They are Brad Buckman, a 6-8, 230-pound forward from Austin Westlake, and Rashad Anderson, a 6-5 shooting guard from Lakeland, Florida. Buckman and Anderson have shot to the forefront of the top national juniors with outstanding play in AAU ball this summer. Buckman averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds last season and Anderson averaged 24 points a game.. T. J. Ford, the great point guard prospect who is a freshman at Texas this year, has been diagnosed with a chronic spinal condition stemming from abnormal openings in the spinal column that the spinal cord runs through. Originally, surgery was planned to correct it, but team doctors and Ford and his family decided not to have surgery at this time. He has played and starred with the condition for several years. He has resumed working out. (I might have put the two shorties below in one of the earlier parts. If so, I apologize) Stephens Makes National Team UT sophomore Stacy Stephens was one of 12 top players aged 19-and-younger who made the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team. Stephens, a 6-1, center-forward, was one of the team's top rebounders and got 10 boards in the final game in the Junior World Championships in the Czech Republic to help the USA team win the bronze medal with a 6-1 record. Slugger Commits to UT Brent Clevlen, 6-1, 185, 4.5, of Round Rock Westwood, one of the state's top junior baseball hitters, has committed to play for Texas. Clevlen, who also is a fine quarterback in football, hit .455 and blasted 11 home runs last season after hitting .515 as a sophomore. He also had offers from several other top baseball schools, including Baylor, Rice, Texas A&M, Houston and Tulane. A True Orange Subscription Is The Gift You Can Give Every Year to Your Longhorn Friends A subscription to True Orange is the perfect gift for any occasion for a Longhorn who has everything else. It's only $45 ($35 by e-mail) and I'll send an attractive card announcing your thoughtful gift. The only thing better is a gift of True Orange and the True Orange Fax - and you can give both for just $130 a year ($99 if they take both by e-mail). o I am enclosing $45 for a gift subscription ($35 e-mail) o I am enclosing $130 for a gift subscription to the newsletter and the fax ($99 e-mail) Name of Recipient Address (& fax no., if applicable) City, State, Zip Your Name Any Message You Want on Card Next Issue August 13 The next issue will be e-mailed August 13 and will include the early practice reports and comments from the coaches about how their players are coming along. I'll also have a lot of recruiting news, as usual, and will publish my class chart, including any position changes or players leaving. I want to subscribe. I am enclosing $45 for the next year, which will include 26 issues. A two-year subscription is $85. For a one-year subscription via E-Mail, send $35. Name Street Address or Box Number or E-Mail Address City, State and Zip Code Remit to True Orange, P O Box 26530, Austin, TX 78755 Foreign Rates Available on Request. Phone 512-795-8536 E-Mail Address: truorange@aol.com I want to give a gift subscription to True Orange. I am enclosing $45. Please send an appropriate gift card. For a gift subscription via E-Mail, send $35. Name of Person Receiving Gift Street Address or Box Number or E-Mail Address City, State and Zip Code Your Name
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