SB Nation Dallas - Texas Vs. California, 2011 Holiday Bowl: Longhorns Top Golden Bears, 21-10https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2011-12-29T10:22:11-06:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24052802011-12-29T10:22:11-06:002011-12-29T10:22:11-06:00Holiday Bowl: Texas Takes Advantage Of Five Cal Turnovers
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a> couldn't stop themselves from giving up the game to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> in the 2011 Holiday Bowl. The Longhorns forced five turnovers, one interception and four fumbles, and didn't turn the ball over once, in the process of their 21-10 Holiday Bowl win.</p>
<p>The Longhorns took the ball first and after they ran seven plays for a total of seven yards they punted the ball away to the Golden Bears. On their first drive, California was able to drive 40 yards down the field on 11 plays, setting themselves up for the game's first score, a 47-yard field goal from Giorgia Tavecchio. That's when everything started to fall apart for Cal.</p>
<p>The Longhorns went three-and-out on their next drive and punted the ball back to Cal, but on the fifth play of the drive, quarterback Zach Maynard threw an interception to Texas' Quandre Diggs at the Longhorns' 42-yard line.</p>
<p>Texas wasn't able to take advantage of the interception, though. They went three-and-out again and punted the ball back to the Bears. Cal breathed a sigh of relief but turned around and gave the ball up again. This time it wasn't an interception but a fumble. Maynard scrambled for a four-yard gain but fumbled the ball when he was being tackled. Texas recovered on Cal's 19-yard line. Even though Cal was giving the game away, Texas couldn't take advantage. They were unable to score on the second straight turnover after they missed a 38-yard field goal.</p>
<p>The two teams punted back and forth on three drives before Texas was finally able to get on the board. Half way through the second quarter, the Longhorns sparked their team with a trick play in which wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134587/jaxon-shipley">Jaxon Shipley</a> threw a touchdown pass to quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a> from the four-yard line. Texas took a four-point lead.</p>
<p>After that play, the two teams exchanged punts until the end of the first half.</p>
<p>Cal took back the lead in the first drive of the second half. They marched 69 yards down the field on 11 plays before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77629/isi-sofele">Isi Sofele</a> was able to punch the ball into the end zone from the six-yard line for their first touchdown of the game. They took a 10-7 lead but would not score another point.</p>
<p>The Longhorns answered right back. On the fourth play of their next drive, Ash threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77327/marquise-goodwin">Marquise Goodwin</a> and after a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37905/justin-tucker">Justin Tucker</a> extra point, Texas took a 14-10 lead.</p>
<p>Cal had a chance to battle back but instead of scoring points, they turned the ball over three times in the second half on three fumbles. On the next drive, Golden Bears running back Sofele was hit in the backfield and fumbled on the Texas 47-yard line. The Longhorns recovered but were unable to score any points and punted the ball away after going three-and-out.</p>
<p>The two teams exchanged punts three times again before the Bears turned the ball over for the fourth time. With less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, Maynard was sacked by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114968/adrian-phillips">Adrian Phillips</a> and fumbled in the process. Phillips recovered the fumble and the Longhorns took over on the Cal 44.</p>
<p>This was the turnover that hurt Cal the most because this was the first time that Texas was able to take advantage of a turnover. After a 37-yard rush by Goodwin, the Longhorns were able to score their third touchdown on a three-yard run by Cody Johnson. They took a 21-10 lead and things started to look bleak for Cal.</p>
<p>The two teams exchanged four punts to start the fourth quarter before Cal turned the ball over for the fifth and final time. After Maynard completed a 20-yard pass to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35651/marvin-jones">Marvin Jones</a>, Jones was hit and fumbled the ball on their own 29-yard line. The longhorns recovered and were able to hold on to the ball for the rest of the game and let the clock run out.</p>
<p>Cal only has themselves to blame. It's nearly impossible to turn the ball over five times, without creating any turnovers themselves, and win a football game. It could have been much worse for them too. Texas was only able to convert on one of Cal's five turnovers. Had the Golden Bears eliminated two or three of their five turnovers, including the one in which the Longhorns scored afterwards, and scored a touchdown themselves instead, it's a whole different game.</p>
<p>Hopefully Cal players learn how to hold on to the ball in the offseason to avoid this kind of game in 2012.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/12/29/2668117/holiday-bowl-texas-takes-advantage-of-five-cal-turnoversJason Garrison2011-12-29T00:17:24-06:002011-12-29T00:17:24-06:00Texas Vs. California Score: Longhorns Win Holiday Bowl, 21-10
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<p>It wasn’t pretty, but Mack Brown added another Holiday Bowl victory to his resume as his Texas Longhorns topped the Cal Golden Bears 21-10 in San Diego. The formula was familiar. Texas relied on defense for most of the game, ran the ball frequently especially late, and needed David Ash to make a few plays along the way. He was far from perfect, but Ash hit enough throws and made enough plays to win the game and finish a rare complete game at QB.</p>
<p>The Texas defense did their job, allowing just ten points and a total of 189 yards while forcing four Cal turnovers. They allowed a field goal midway through the first quarter and a touchdown drive on the Golden Bears’ first possession of the second half, but Jeff Tedford’s offense found tough sledding otherwise.</p>
<p>Ash struggled early but did avoid turnovers, unlike Cal QB Zach Maynard to lost a fumble and an interception. Ash scored the game’s first touchdown on a pass from Jaxon Shipley after completing his first two vertical throws in the second quarter. Then, with Texas trailing 10-7 early in the third, he followed three runs with a 47-yard strike to Marquise Goodwin to put the Horns up for good.</p>
<p>The Texas run game also found its legs late. After running for single digit yards in the first half, they reached triple digits in the second with Malcolm Brown and Cody Johnson leading the way. Johnson found the end zone on the Horns’ final scoring drive, converting a Zach Maynard lost fumble after a 37-yard Goodwin run.</p>
<p>Mack Brown’s team finishes 8-5 in a second consecutive trying season and now looks forward to their first conference season without Texas A&M with the hope that Ash and his young offensive line continue to grow in the spring and summer.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/12/29/2667659/texas-vs-california-score-longhorns-win-holiday-bowl-21-10Brett Perryman2011-12-28T21:13:43-06:002011-12-28T21:13:43-06:00Texas Vs. California Score Update: Longhorns Hold 7-3 Halftime Lead
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<p>Texas can’t move the ball offensively as usual, but they’ve shut down the Cal Bears to hold a 7-3 lead at halftime. David Ash has missed throws, but his numbers are actually respectable: 10-15, 86 yards, and he’s stayed away from turnovers. The Longhorns’ normally tough run game hasn’t shown up, though, as Texas freshmen runners Joe Bergeron and Malcolm Brown have combined for just five carries and -1 yard. Ash leads the rushing game with ten yards on four carries.</p>
<p>Ash also has the game’s only touchdown. After he hit Jaxon Shipley and Blaine Irby for 44 yards on two pass plays, Texas ran a reverse to Shipley on 1st-goal from the four. Shipley threw to a wide open Ash, who skated into the end zone. The score answered a 47-yard field goal from Giorgio Tavecchio one quarter earlier. Twenty points should be enough to win this game, as the two teams have combined for just 164 first half yards.</p>
<p>Halftime: Texas 7, California 3</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/12/28/2667373/texas-vs-cal-score-update-longhorns-bearsBrett Perryman2011-12-28T17:50:57-06:002011-12-28T17:50:57-06:00Holiday Bowl 2011, Cal Vs. Texas: David Ash To Start For Longhorns
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<p>When the 2011 Holiday Bowl gets underway on Wednesday night, don't expect to see <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8525/colt-mccoy">Colt McCoy's</a> brother, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114961/case-mccoy">Case McCoy</a>, starting under center for the Longhorns. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown</a> has decided to start freshman quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a> over McCoy, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ChipBrownOB/status/152171208237006848" target="_blank">per Chip Brown</a> of Orangebloods.com.</p>
<p>As Brown's tweet points out, it will be Ash's first start since the Longhorns lost 17-5 to Kansas State on November 19. </p>
<p>Ash has struggled this year when he has played, completing just 56.3 percent of his passes, while throwing for 937 yards, three touchdowns and eight interceptions. Ash has also been sacked 14 times this year.</p>
<p>McCoy has posted better numbers this season, completing 61.6 percent of his passes, throwing seven touchdowns against just four interceptions. </p>
<p>Of course, Mack Brown didn't expect to be starting either this season, as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77301/garrett-gilbert">Garrett Gilbert</a> opened the year as Texas' starting quarterback. Gilbert, though, wound up transferring from Texas in October.</p>
<p>Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. locally in San Diego.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/12/28/2666979/holiday-bowl-2011-cal-vs-texas-david-ash-to-start-for-longhornsJP Starkey2011-12-28T14:19:31-06:002011-12-28T14:19:31-06:00College Bowl Game Picks: Holiday Bowl 2011
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<p>It's been another disappointing season for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a>, but unlike last year, they have an opportunity to end the season on a high note. On Wednesday night, the Longhorns will take on the Golden Bears of <strike>Western New England</strike> California in the 2011 Holiday Bowl in San Diego.</p>
<p>Texas started out the season 4-0 after beating up on cupcakes Rice, BYU, UCLA and Iowa State. The wheels came off the wagon after that, as the Longhorns would go 3-5 to end the season, including losing three of their last four games en route to a disappointing sixth place Big 12 finish.</p>
<p>Conversely, the Golden Bears finished out their regular season on a relatively strong note, winning three of their last four games to gain bowl eligibility. Cal's only loss in their last four games came at the hands of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a>, losing 31-28 in Stanford.</p>
<p>Texas' unsettled passing game, coupled with how both teams have played down the stretch, prevents me from picking them to win. I'll take the Golden Bears in an upset.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-longhorns/2011/12/28/2666329/college-bowl-game-picks-holiday-bowl-2011JP Starkey2011-12-27T10:40:30-06:002011-12-27T10:40:30-06:00Texas AD Wants To Extend Mack Brown's Contract
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<p>With several reports floating around the internet concerning <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown's</a> future in Texas, Longhorns Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds said Tuesday <a href="http://www.statesman.com/sports/longhorns/dodds-seeks-to-extend-browns-contract-2058839.html">that he wants to put those rumors to rest</a>:</p>
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<p>"Continuity is of the essence. It's more about stability than anything else. Mack's comfortable with what he's doing right now," Dodds added. "I think he's very comfortable. He's enjoying it. I've been around him 14 years, and he seems to be into it."</p>
<p>"Everything I know points to him being happy and wanting to do it for a while. He is happy at Texas, and we're happy with him," Dodds said. "The culture is good. He understands Texas. He is the right person to be at Texas for all the right reasons."</p>
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<p>After a disastrous 5-7 season that forced Brown to fire many of his long-time coaching associates and saw his hand-picked successor Will Muschamp decamp for Florida, the long-time Texas coach has repeatedly said the influx of new talent on the coaching staff and the playing field has re-invigorated him.</p>
<p>And while there's little question about Brown's job security in Austin, a new contract extension would be a departure from the system that was in place with Muschamp, where the young defensive coordinator was given the title of "head coach in waiting" under the assumption that Brown would step down within a few seasons.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/12/27/2663768/mack-brown-contract-extension-deloss-doddsJonathan Tjarks2011-12-26T12:44:56-06:002011-12-26T12:44:56-06:00Malcolm Brown, Joe Bergeron Injury Updates: Star Freshmen RB Ready For Bowl Game
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<p>After injuries to their top three RB's -- Fozzy Whittaker, Malcolm Brown and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134591/joe-bergeron">Joe Bergeron</a> -- the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> offense fell apart in the last four weeks of the season.</p>
<p>Texas was forced to lean on their two young QB's, freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a> and sophomore <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114961/case-mccoy">Case McCoy</a>, and the holes in both players' games were apparent without a dependable running game.</p>
<p>But while Whittaker's career in Austin is over, the Longhorns two star freshmen have recovered in time to play in the 2011 Holiday Bowl.</p>
<p>Brown rushed for 707 yards and 5 TD's on 4.4 yards per carry this season, while Bergeron had 454 yards and 5 TD's on 6.6 yards per carry. For Texas coach <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown</a>, <a href="http://www.statesman.com/sports/longhorns/return-of-malcolm-brown-joe-bergeron-may-take-2056582.html">it's hard not to think what the season could have been if his key offensive play-makers had stayed healthy</a>:</p>
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<p>"People will say, 'don't talk about injuries,' Brown said. "But when it's nearly everybody who is touching the ball, it's hard not to."</p>
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<p>With highly-touted RB Johnathan Gray headed to Austin next season, after a high-school career where he shattered nearly every state record, a strong performance against California will be huge for Brown and Bergeron headed into spring football.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/12/26/2662052/malcolm-brown-joe-bergeron-injury-updates-texas-freshman-rb-holiday-bowl-washingtonJonathan Tjarks2011-12-23T14:28:01-06:002011-12-23T14:28:01-06:00Holiday Bowl Odds: Texas A Three Point-Favorite
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<p>Despite getting blown off the field by eventual Heisman Trophy winner <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35519/robert-griffin-iii">Robert Griffin III</a> and the Baylor offense in their last game of the regular season, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> <a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/california-texas-odds-december-28-2011">are -3 point favorites</a> over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a> in the 2011 Holiday Bowl.</p>
<p>While both teams have 7-5 records, Texas did it against a substantially tougher schedule, with wins over a 9-3 BYU team in non-conference play as well as a 6-6 Texas A&M team that was once ranked in the top 10 in the country.</p>
<p>California, meanwhile, played only two non-conference games and feasted on an extremely weak Pac-12 schedule. The Bears have only one victory against a team above-.500 this season, a 34-10 win over the 7-5 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes">Utah Utes</a>.</p>
<p>The teams have one common opponent this season -- 6-7 UCLA. Texas defeated the Bruins 49-20 in Los Angeles, while California lost 31-14.</p>
<p>The Longhorns have struggled against the high-flying passing attacks in the Big 12, but they are well suited to play a Golden Bear team whose offense is built around a rushing attack led by 5'8 190 junior Isi Sofele. Sofele has rushed for 1,270 yards and 9 TD's on 5.5 yards per carry this season.</p>
<p>Texas offense, meanwhile, will be looking for more consistent play from the QB position, as neither freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a> nor sophomore <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114961/case-mccoy">Case McCoy</a> has been able to take firm hold of the job all season.</p>
<p>With neither offense clicking on all cylinders, the odds-makers have set the over/under for the Dec. 28 game at 47.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2011/12/23/2658126/holiday-bowl-odds-texas-longhorns-california-bearsJonathan Tjarks