40 Acres Sports

Hopefully can get going after a disappointing 4 years in Buffalo.

It wasn’t officially announced, but when freshman Jerrell Wilkerson left the UT football team in December it wasn’t because of playing time issues. The San Antonio Express-News has a nice article on Wilkerson and how he’s handling going from high school kid to UT football player to father.

“I know a lot of people had hopes and expectations, but I had some responsibilities as a man that I felt I couldn’t take care of when I was up there (in Austin),” Wilkerson said this week. “My football career is definitely not over. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss it.”

Rough situation but it sounds like he’s trying to do things the right way. Certainly not the most important thing, but hopefully he gets back on the football somewhere field soon. He’s a gifted athlete and he can use that to create opportunities for himself off the field.

Video of very good interview from Dallas’ NBC5.

With this and Culpepper and Brees on the move, Vince falling Arizona doesn’t sound too bad.

A sportswriter who has actually spoken with Vince thinks he’s mature and ready for the NFL.

In an exclusive interview earlier today on SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket, Texas Rangers’ owner Tom Hicks announced that on opening day the Texas Rangers will honor the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns, with [tag]Mack Brown[/tag] and [tag]Darrell Royal[/tag] throwing out the first pitches.

This comes on the heels of the Rangers going after Roger Clemens, a former Texas Longhorn himself. I wonder if this is just one more tactic in trying to lure the indecisive Roger Clemens to the Rangers?

I can’t wait for the reverse pass back to Colt McCoy for the TD at the end of the movie.

I got chills watching this again yesterday. Hearing the crowd erupt is just awesome, much better than the barely awake play-by-play from Keith Jackson:

Be sure to also check out his videos of the infamous VY pitch to Selvin Young touchdown and the final play of the game. I may have had a better view at home watching it in HD, but man I wish I could’ve been there.

(Videos from hookem81 on Orangebloods)

Update on Colt McCoy and Jevan Snead’s progress behind center.

Mack Brown announced yesterday that running back [tag]Ramonce Taylor[/tag] would be excused from spring workouts so he can focus on academics. He’s not ineligible, but it sounds like he was headed down that path and Brown is trying to do what’s best for Taylor and the team now. “I felt like he needed to focus on his academic work,” Brown said. “He can now go work with [academic adviser] Brian Davis and his staff. We want him to have full focus on that, and we want him to understand it’s important for us that he do his work.”

Spring practice isn’t too important for most veterans, but if Taylor was hoping to earn his share of carries in a crowded backfield he’ll share with Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young in the Fall he needs to prove he could be an every down back. He needed to work on running more North/South and becoming a true running back instead of just a ridiculously talented athlete. Missing the spring won’t just effect Ramonce, RB/DE Henry Melton will be seeing a lot more time on the offensive side of the ball in Taylor’s absence. I was really looking forward to seeing what the physical freak could do chasing down quarterbacks instead of getting three carries a game buried in the running back depth chart.

Definitely a disappointment as Longhorn fans are expecing a lot out of Taylor next season and this will be a set back for him on the field. Hopefully the time off will allow him to get his studies in order so that he’s eligible in the fall.