Texas Stuns USC to Win National Title

Texas Stuns USC to Win National Title

By RALPH D. RUSSO (AP Sports Writer)
From Associated Press

January 05, 2006 3:55 AM EST
PASADENA, Calif. - Vince Young and Texas are second no more to Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and Southern California. With the national championship down to a final play, fourth down and 5 yards to go, Young scrambled untouched for an 8-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left and the No. 2 Longhorns stunned the top-ranked Trojans 41-38 in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday night.

It was the ultimate revenge for Young, the bitterly disappointed runner-up to Bush for the Heisman Trophy last month.

On a night when he ran for 200 yards and passed for 267 more, Young capped a performance that Texas fans will remember forever by scoring his third TD and running for a 2-point conversion to end Southern Cal's 34-game winning streak and deny the Trojans an unprecedented third straight national championship.

"It's so beautiful," Young said as he received the MVP crystal. "Don't you think that's beautiful? It's coming home all the way to Austin, Texas."

With the two highest scoring teams in the country, many figured it would come down to which team had the ball last. It basically did.

Texas players streamed onto the field with the Longhorns' first outright national title since 1969. Young stood on the sideline in a sea of falling confetti, arm raised toward the crowd, and senior tackle William Winston unfurled a big, white Longhorns flag.

The Longhorns (13-0) won their 20th in a row, overcoming the 38-26 lead USC (12-1) held with 4 1/2 minutes left.

While the Longhorns' band blared "The Eyes of Texas" in front of a sea of burnt orange, the USC players looked startled. Some put their hands to their heads, while others dejectedly took off their helmets.

"Well, we couldn't stop them when we had to," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "The quarterback ran all over the place.

"This is their night," he said. "It's wonderful doing what we've been doing. We didn't get it done."

Said Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart, the Heisman winner a year ago: "I still think we're a better football team. They just made the plays in the end."

Leinart did his part in his final college game while Bush was less than his best. Leinart passed for 365 yards, and his 22-yard TD strike to Dwyane Jarrett put USC ahead 38-26 with 6:42 left.

Earlier, Bush soared into the end zone on a 26-yard run, part of his 82 yards rushing. He also had 95 yards on six catches - and a boneheaded lateral that swung momentum Texas' way in the first half.

"It's been a great run. We've done some special things," Bush said. "I don't think we should be ashamed about anything."

In a game that produced more than 1,100 yards, a defensive stand was key for Texas.

On fourth-and-2 from USC'S 45-yard line with 2:09 left, Carroll gambled. He decided to try to seal the game with his vaunted offense, dubbed by many the best ever in college football, and keep the ball out of Young's hands. But when LenDale White came up inches short, Texas defenders jumped in the air and charged off the field as Young trotted on.

"If you make that first down, you're squatting on the football to win the game," Carroll said. "We just missed it. By what - two inches?"

Young stood in the pocket and passed the Longhorns to a first-and-10 at the 13. After a 5-yard scramble, he misfired on two passes to set up fourth-and-5 at the 8.

The Trojans brought pressure, as they did all night, but Young broke free, found a lane and raced to the right pylon.

The Longhorns erupted. One pounded the turf as he lay face down on the turf, while the shocked Trojans futilely looked toward officials, hoping they'd say Young stepped out of bounds.

USC had one last chance, and it wasn't a good one. On the last play of the game from just beyond midfield, Leinart's pass sailed high over Jarrett's head around the 25.

With two of the most storied programs in college football, teams seemingly destined to decide the national title this season, the Rose Bowl was dripping with pageantry and tradition. Tommy Trojan atop Traveler galloped along the USC sideline. Meanwhile, big ol' Bevo, the Longhorns' beloved steer, guarded the Texas tunnel.

The Trojans think of the Rose Bowl as their home away from home - no team has won the "Granddaddy of Them All" more often. But a Texas-sized contingent of Longhorns fans turned half the hallowed stadium burnt orange and was loud enough to force USC into at least one penalty for delay of game.

Texas led 16-10 at halftime, but being behind after two quarters was nothing new to the Trojans. Four times this season they trailed after 30 minutes and regained control in the third quarter.

And that's what they did again, forcing a punt by Texas and driving 62 yards on seven plays with White finishing with a 4-yard run that made it 17-16 USC.

Young, back at the site of his breakout performance last year against Michigan, responded with a 14-yard touchdown run, reaching a long arm toward the pylon to make it 23-17.

On fourth-and-1 from the Texas 12, White burst through the line for a touchdown, his third of the game that made it 24-23.

On the second play of the second quarter, Bush bolted down the middle for 37 yards with a screen pass, but inexplicably pitched the ball sideways to unprepared teammate Brad Walker. Texas All-America defensive back Michael Huff fell on the loose ball, and Bush came off the field with his hands on his helmet, shaking his head, looking as baffled as anyone by what he had just done.

Texas turned the break into its first points, with Young passing and running into USC territory and David Pino booting a 46-yard field.

When Young went no-huddle, he found tight end David Thomas a couple of times and showed Bush how to pull off a late pitch.

Young went 10 yards on an option keeper, and just before his knee touched turf - or so it seemed - chucked the ball to Selvin Young, who took it the final 12 yards for a score and Texas' first lead, 9-7.

Replays appeared to show the quarterback's knee hitting the ground before he let go of the ball, but with Selvin Young standing way out on the playing field, officials never stopped play for a review.

Less than 2:30 later, Texas was on the board again as Ramonce Taylor, known as Bush Lite around Austin, ran 30 yards to make it 16-7.

Howard Cossell, is that you >?>
dai*ma

Why copy and paste that entire thread down to the title from a website, and you fucked up doing that also because the score jumps around a couple time throught the article and then not even give your comments on the game?

pablo please b more respectful to others, specially torog who didnt do anything but post somthing.
torog i watched the whole game and loved it! i rooted for texas to go all the way, vince young is such a stud and will do great in the NFL i hope. cya later granpappys!

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Originally Posted by sweetnhighz

pablo please b more respectful to others, specially torog who didnt do anything but post somthing.
torog i watched the whole game and loved it! i rooted for texas to go all the way, vince young is such a stud and will do great in the NFL i hope. cya later granpappys!

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I am being respectful... I don't think its very respectful to just copy and paste what other people think and wrote and make it your thread...

okies pablo
i just read it wrong i recon, i love my granpappy so i was just saying.

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Originally Posted by sweetnhighz

okies pablo
i just read it wrong i recon, i love my granpappy so i was just saying.

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:thumbsup: :rasta:

vince young is fuckin unbelievable. Total package for a QB. I burned like 4-5 blunts with my buddies and watched the whole game in my garage, it was mad long, but it was great. If vince young does decide to go to the nfl, where will he go? Houston is gonna take Bush, San Fran took Smith last year, so they won't need a QB. I think he's gonna go to Green Bay, if Favre retires, even if he doesn't i think he's going to Green Bay..

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Originally Posted by spliffstar22

vince young is fuckin unbelievable. Total package for a QB. I burned like 4-5 blunts with my buddies and watched the whole game in my garage, it was mad long, but it was great. If vince young does decide to go to the nfl, where will he go? Houston is gonna take Bush, San Fran took Smith last year, so they won't need a QB. I think he's gonna go to Green Bay, if Favre retires, even if he doesn't i think he's going to Green Bay..

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Yeah he has McNabb's size and Vick's speed and agility... One of the most lethal players i have ever watched single handedly win the game for his team under the most pressure there could have ever been.

THEY WON IT THIS YEAR NEXT YEAR MIAMI WILL BE BACK.....GO CANES

I'm a die hard OU fan, butttttt I was going for Texas. Did ya'll notice at the end of the game the media went to Pete Carroll and Matt Leinart............amazing. But anyway, the Texans better take VY IF he decides to leave, screw Reggie Bush. VY is the best college football player I've ever seen, and it takes a lot for me to say that lol.

My High school team got to play USC the other day.It was on TV too.Copperas Covvveee playa.USC is the horns team right?

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Originally Posted by VoidLivesOn

My High school team got to play USC the other day.It was on TV too.Copperas Covvveee playa.USC is the horns team right?

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lol, sad

Texas Longhorns
USC Trojans

seriously tho last night was a great game. one of the best college football games in 5 years.

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Originally Posted by VoidLivesOn

My High school team got to play USC the other day.It was on TV too.Copperas Covvveee playa.USC is the horns team right?

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lol

I swear to god, maybe its on the internet

They played some big team, cause it was on TV cause my whole god damn school was asking everyone if they watched it.It was some college team.

somewhere on here there is a "college football" thread...from the beginning of the year...where i predicted that UT would win the championship this year...

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Originally Posted by SomeGuy

somewhere on here there is a "college football" thread...from the beginning of the year...where i predicted that UT would win the championship this year...

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Yes You Did... What a callhttp://boards.cannabis.com/showthrea...694#post316694

it was hardly a supride, i live in houston, selvin young went to my highschool, he uesd to smoke weed, i dunno if he still does, his nickname was stoney becuase he was a stoner and he was stone cold and becuase no one could tackle him, he led the district in rushing on varsity as a freshman

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Originally Posted by koshea

it was hardly a supride, i live in houston, selvin young went to my highschool, he uesd to smoke weed, i dunno if he still does, his nickname was stoney becuase he was a stoner and he was stone cold and becuase no one could tackle him, he led the district in rushing on varsity as a freshman

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hahaha yeah...were u a freshman while he was a senior?

yeah its pretty cool driving by the UT tower here at night (here in Austin) because its all lit up and has a 1 on it. Im pretty sure they are going to do it next year since almost none of Texas best players are seniors....and Vince might want that Heisman. Without Reggie Bush the Championship should be cake next year..right now Im betting they will take it again...gotta bump this thread in a year :)

I bet Reggie Bush is going to Houston...

and while were at it...

The Spurs are also going to win the championship this year too...

go Texas!

this game bar far the best Football of 06, the game so intresting from the fouts hafe to the secound, right when you though one team was gonna went the tables turned...

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA,,,,,, all that talk about U.S.C. this and that. All hype. Watching those ego-maniacs walk off the field with their heads hanging in defeat was great. Texas was the better team anyway.LOL

National Champions and ranked #1. I hope Reggie Bush like Texas cause he is gonna be livin in Houston for awhile.

http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.c...ange_well_id=2

Okay, don't know if I missed it, but was I the only one who saw Reggie Bush's huge mistake!? That lateral after that huge run was so stupid. I guess that's what biggest game of your life pressure can do to you. I can't believe he actually tried that lateral, it was so... bush league, I could see that happening in the bush leagues but in the Rose Bowl, to me if he hadn't choked it would have been USC's game.

i c reggie going to the texans, green bay may pick up vince but we have the jets in line as well. any predictions on who will pick up AJ HAWK from OHIO STATE? thats the stud right thurr!

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Why copy and paste that entire thread down to the title from a website, and you fucked up doing that also because the score jumps around a couple time throught the article and then not even give your comments on the game?

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post nazi :)

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Originally Posted by Rarrr

post nazi :)

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Go jump off a bridge

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Originally Posted by pabloescobar209

Why copy and paste that entire thread down to the title from a website, and you f*cked up doing that also because the score jumps around a couple time throught the article and then not even give your comments on the game?

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Howdy pablo,

I was in a hurry at the time,I meant to comment on the game,but got interrupted by real life(phone call and company).

I'm very happy,that the Longhorns knocked the Trojans off their high horse:thumbsup:

Anytime a bunch of snobby,elitist liberals gits taken down a notch or two,it's a good thing !

I wonder,is USC one of them campuses that has thrown the military out ?

Have a good one ....

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Go jump off a bridge

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lol

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Originally Posted by sweetnhighz

pablo please b more respectful to others, specially torog who didnt do anything but post somthing.
torog i watched the whole game and loved it! i rooted for texas to go all the way, vince young is such a stud and will do great in the NFL i hope. cya later granpappys!

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Howdy sweet,

Thanx for yer kind words. :)

I wish that I had watched the whole game,I'm sorry that I missed most of it,but I was having company over and we had other things going on. I can only imagine,that the Trojans are doubly embarrassed,one that they lost-two,that they were beaten by a team of ignorant,redneck hicks from Texas..lol.

Have a good one !