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	Uniform discussion among UT fans 
	 
	Nov. 30, 2000 
	 
	
	[IMAGE]Chip Brown, who covers UT football for The Dallas Morning News, 
answers your questions about the bowl picture, UT's quarterback situation, 
Chris Simms, next year's potential stars and more. Inside UT Football appears 
on Thursdays. 
	
	 
	E-mail questions to Chip: chipbrown@dallasnews.com 
	
	
	 
	Listen to Chip Brown talk about the Longhorns 
	on DallasNews.com's Colleges site 
	
	
	
	Chip Shot 
	 
	
	I received several responses to an e-mail from a reader last week regarding 
UT's uniforms and whether the Longhorns should change them. Here are some of 
the responses ... 
	
	  
	
	One of your recent respondents indicated that UT needed to alter their  
uniforms. I just wanted to go on record as thinking they are the  classiest, 
coolest uniforms in the country! I admit to being biased, but  love the 
simple, non-busy look of the all-white uniforms. I also have no  problem with 
the color of the burnt orange as the person suggested. The  white helmets 
with the simple, yet very distinguished longhorn emblem is as  pronounced as 
the "star" on the Dallas Cowboys' helmet. While I agree with him about the 
black shoes, I think any changes to "individualize" or  otherwise change 
their "look" would be a move in the wrong direction. - Rick Peurifoy 
	
	 I was interested in John Pharr's comments about the UT uniforms. Having been 
at UT in the 1960s, I have seen the changes in the uniforms come and go. I 
certainly think the best uniforms were in the 1969 season (perhaps influenced 
by a national championship?). These were burnt orange jerseys (sans 
individual name on back and "TEXAS" on the front), with the plain white pants 
and orange stockings. The white uniform still had the orange stockings but 
the jersey was white. You may remember that Fred Akers brought the 
"candy-striped" pants (ala OU) and added the "TEXAS" to the jersey. 
Personally I like the jersey, but think the return of the orange stockings 
would add something to both uniforms, but particularly the road white. One 
amusing memory when Darrell Royal was questioned about the plainness of the 
uniforms; his response was that these are "work clothes" and not intended to 
be fancy. I agree with you that the helmet is very distinctive and goes back 
a long way. I recall there was an orange single stripe in addition to the 
Longhorn in the early 1960s, but it didn't add much. Keep up the good work. I 
always enjoy your newsletter. - Tom Thornell 
	
	 Ignore all that guff about the Longhorns uniforms. I think they are among 
the sharpest anywhere. If we change the helmets, then we look like a high 
school team. What that guy needs to remember for away games is that we are 
orange and white. Period. So what if it doesn't have too much color? I hope 
we stay exactly the same. Remember when Tennessee changed their uniforms and 
added orange pants? They looked like a bunch of ice cream men on the field. - 
Russell Phillips 
	
	
	
	 
	Longhorn Q & A 
	 Q: Can you give us a look at the bowl picture? 
	 ?? Sandy Martin 
	
	 BROWN:  Texas accepted an invitation to the Holiday Bowl on Wednesday and 
will face either Oregon State or Oregon. It will be Oregon State if the 
Beavers don't get a BCS berth. It will be Oregon if the Beavers do get a BCS 
berth. If OU beats Kansas State, look for the Wildcats to go to the Cotton 
Bowl. Nebraska would go to the Alamo Bowl; Iowa State would go to the 
Insight.com Bowl; Texas A?would go to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport and 
play former coach Jackie Sherrill and Mississippi State; and Texas Tech would 
go to the galleryfurniture.com Bowl.  
	?
	
	
	
	
	
	
	[IMAGE] 
	Chris Simms  
	
	Q: I'm very happy for Chris Simms, but what should we expect from him now? It 
seems that he would be less inclined to redshirt, although one could argue 
that he might like the opportunity to showcase for more than one year. Still, 
since he finally got the chance to show what he can do without getting yanked 
after five passes, a redshirt seems like a reach. If he doesn't redshirt, 
what is 
	
	the best guess for Texas QB in 2001? I know that you get asked this every 
week, but with the new development following the A?game, it seems that we are 
starting fresh in this story. 
	?? Kyle Moore 
	
	 BROWN:  Simms' big-time performance against A?adds all kinds of new wrinkles 
to the landscape for 2001. My best guess is Simms will get the start for the 
bowl game and we'll be back in the same situation we were heading into this 
season. Major Applewhite's knee injury (this time to his right knee) again 
gives UT coaches a reason to go with Simms, not only now but heading into the 
spring and next fall. Mack Brown said on Monday that he wouldn't rule out a 
rotation again. But one would have to think after the sluggish start the 
offense suffered with a rotation this year that the coaches would be 
reluctant to do that again. Despite breaking nearly every passing record at 
Texas, Applewhite didn't look as sharp as he has in the past during his last 
outings before getting injured. Simms would seem to have everything going his 
way. The coaches finally saw what they were hoping to see from Simms earlier 
this season. Now that they've seen it, you would have to think that they want 
to start getting more experience for the guy who will lead them the next two 
years (not stick with a guy who only has one season left). I'm not saying 
that's fair. But it seems like it might be the way the UT coaches would 
think. But we won't know how the QB situation for 2001 will shake out until 
next fall, most likely. 
	?
	
	
	 Q: Seems like with the receivers and the talent at TE returning, UT could 
have three receivers every down and teams would have their hands full. Do you 
think B.J. Johnson and Sloan Thomas will see more playing time from now on? 
Did they just blossom during the A?game? Otherwise, why haven't they seen the 
field more? 
	?? A.B. 
	
	 BROWN:  Texas will probably be a multiple offense again next season, but you 
could certainly argue that UT should use more three-receiver sets next year 
with one tight end because of the overwhelming talent the Longhorns will have 
back at those positions. There is sentiment on the UT coaching staff that the 
fullback position was pretty average this season. So the coaches will take a 
strong look at Will Matthews this spring at FB. At 6-3 and 235, he has the 
size. He is also quick with good hands. If Matthews doesn't add significant 
oomph to the FB position, it could be argued that UT should try to use more 
one-back sets and get its WR talent on the field. But we'll see. UT coaches 
did a nice job of adjusting this season to a two-back, two-receiver set after 
they realized they were overwhelming their young receivers (with too many 
formations and too many quarterbacks). Now that the receivers can probably 
handle more of the playbook, look for UT to be as multiple and complex an 
offense as possible next season. B.J. Johnson finished the year as the team's 
second-leading receiver, so he saw the field plenty. Sloan Thomas was the one 
who had it tough because he had to learn all of the wide receiver positions 
and be ready to fill in at any of them. So he was slowed by the learning 
process and then had to fight for playing time with Montrell Flowers and 
Brandon Healy. Healy is a senior, so he'll be gone next year. Flowers should 
be worried about his playing time with Thomas lurking. 
	?
	
	
	 Q: Who are some of the players to watch heading into the spring who are 
either redshirting or transferred? 
	?? Bart Fields 
	
	 BROWN:  Chris Simms on Monday said that the two receivers who run the 
sharpest routes in practice are redshirt freshman Tony Jeffery and transfer 
Kyle Shanahan (the son of Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan). Simms said 
both will really help the team a lot next year. Jeffery is 6-2 and trying to 
bulk up from 170 pounds. Shanahan is 6-3 and trying to bulk up from 170 
pounds. But both have shown great hands in practice. The first two names that 
jumped off of Mack Brown's lips when asked about players to watch in bowl 
practice and spring practice were redshirt freshman LBs Austin Sendlein and 
Rashad Thomas. With Texas losing four linebackers after next season (De'Andre 
Lewis, Everick Rawls, Marcus Wilkins and Tyrone Jones), Brown said some new 
faces will have to play a bunch in 2001 to be ready to become starters at 
linebacker in two years. 
	?
	
	
	 Q: I'm a little concerned about our running backs. Next year's crop looks 
mighty inexperienced. We never seemed to be able to run up the middle 
consistently this year. Who would you figure has the best shot at being an 
inside bruiser? What role will our fullbacks play?  
	?? Russell Phillips 
	
	 BROWN:  It's the biggest question mark on an offense that should be 
absolutely loaded next season. I know the line loses tackles Leonard Davis 
and Cory Quye, but Robbie Doane and Mike Williams should be able to take over 
at tackle nicely. Mack Brown also said that redshirt freshman OT Lionel Garr 
has lost about 30 pounds (from 360 to 330) and looks good. So with a line 
that should continue to improve, the Longhorns just need a back who can run 
behind it. Brown said he challenged all the backs to step it up as Hodges 
Mitchell gets ready to finish his eligibility. Coaches want Victor Ike, Kenny 
Hayter and Ivan Williams to toughen up and grow up. Coaches have told those 
three that Sneezy Beltran and possibly Cedric Benson will get a shot next 
year because those three all had a shot this year and failed to produce 
consistently. 
	?
	
	
	
	
	
	
	[IMAGE] 
	Sloan Thomas  
	
	Q: With Sloan Thomas emerging like he has, is there enough room at wideout 
for Artie Ellis next season? 
	 ?? Frank Seles 
	
	 BROWN:  Don't be surprised to see Artie Ellis at tight end next season. At 
6-3 and more than 200 pounds, he is a bit undersized but could add the 
weight. His speed would give Texas the sure-handed, deep-threat tight end 
they are trying to establish with Bo Scaife. It may be a longshot, but don't 
be surprised. 
	
	?
	
	
	 Q: While watching the A&M-UT game, I noticed that UT received the ball at 
the opening kickoff and the second-half kickoff. And UT got the wind at its 
back in the 4th quarter. How did this happen, and if A?won the toss, why 
would the Aggies choose to defer, give UT the ball at both kickoffs, and go 
into the wind in the 2nd and 4th quarters? 
	?? Ryan M., Austin 
	
	 BROWN:  Texas A?won the toss at the beginning of the game and chose the wind 
at its back, giving Texas the ball into the wind in the first quarter. The 
Longhorns then got the choice of the ball or the wind in the third quarter 
and took the ball into the wind. 
	?
	
	
	 Q: Is there any chance that Mack Brown will ever hire a special team coach. 
UT lost at least two games last year due to problems on special teams. This 
year the Longhorns would have been 10-1 and possibly on their way to a BCS 
game had it not been for a blocked punt that was run back for a touchdown 
against Stanford. With money apparently not being a factor, I really do not 
understand why Brown doesn't break down and hire some specialized help.  
	 ?? Don Stevenson, Huntington, Texas 
	
	 BROWN:  I think Mack Brown is sticking with his current plan, which is to 
divide all the special teams duties among his assistant coaches. 
	?
	
	
	
	
	
	
	[IMAGE] 
	De'Andre Lewis making the tackle  
	
	Q: Coaches always talk about senior leadership and how important it is for a 
winning team. We've had some great players in the past like Robert Brewer and 
James Brown whose on-field performances may have been surpassed by their 
off-field contributions. I think we're losing a lot of leadership this year 
when Casey Hampton and Hodges Mitchell leave. Of the returning players, who 
does it look like will step up as team leaders next year? 
	?? Keith Heugatter 
	
	
	 BROWN:  On defense, Mack Brown said he'll look for Cory Redding and De'Andre 
Lewis to take over as leaders after losing Casey Hampton, Shaun Rogers and 
Greg Brown. On offense, UT will look to its quarterback, its young receivers 
and linemen such as Antwan Kirk-Hughes of Waxahachie for leadership. 
	?
	
	
	 Q: What seniors will be missed the most heading into next season? 
	?? Steve Beauchamp 
	
	 BROWN:  The obvious ones are Casey Hampton, Shaun Rogers, Greg Brown, Hodges 
Mitchell and Leonard Davis. But the one that may be missed the most is Kris 
Stockton. He kicked several game-winning field goals two years ago and has 
done nothing but continue to break records since. He has been an afterthought 
because he has been so automatic on field goals. He has also done an 
excellent job of punting this season. Matt McFadden, a redshirt freshman, 
will handle the kicking duties next year. And at punter, redshirt freshman 
Justin Smith will compete with a junior college transfer who has committed to 
the Longhorns for next year. That will be a huge question mark for Texas to 
answer next season. 
	?
	
	 Q: Who do you pick in the Kansas State-OU game? Seems like OU is missing its 
October magic. I'd have to take OU in a close one, 28-24. Heupel isn't great, 
but he has that winning magic that would be great for a conservative offense 
in the pros. 
	?? Andrew Bowen 
	
	 BROWN:  I, too, think Oklahoma will pick it up just in time to continue its 
Shock the World season. Heupel has to lead his team to victory and produce 
some impressive numbers if he has any hope of winning the Heisman. The votes 
are almost due and Chris Weinke is gaining momentum. 
	?
	
	
	 Q: Can you give us an update on the men's and women's basketball teams? 
	?? Lucius Thornton 
	
	 BROWN:  The men's team has gotten off to a nice start with solid victories 
over Navy, California and Indiana - any of which could help the Longhorns 
down the road at tournament time. The Longhorns suffered a blowout loss to 
Duke in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT, but coach Rick Barnes was able 
to prove a point to his team about being intimidated. As of Tuesday night's 
game with UT-San Antonio, Barnes had three freshmen in the starting lineup - 
point guard Royal Ivey, small forward Brandon Mouton and center James Thomas. 
Duncanville's Brian Boddicker has gotten increased minutes at forward. Chris 
Owens has been a shot-blocking force, and transfer Maurice Evans is the 
team's leading scorer, and is starting to hit a better percentage from the 
floor. The men's team doesn't have another test until Dec. 9, when the team 
plays at South Florida. Other games worth watching or getting tickets for 
include home games against Illinois (Dec. 23) and Utah (Dec. 30). The women's 
team has also gotten off to a nice start, with its only early-season loss 
coming against Purdue. The women's team is relying on several newcomers, 
including freshman forwards Stacy Stephens and Annissa Hastings. The team is 
also relying heavily on sophomore Tai Dillard. So both teams are young with a 
lot of upside. 
	
	
	
	
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