40 Acres Sports

Fran Fraschilla on Rick Barnes’ transformation at Texas. Discusses his change from control freak to coach who let’s his player’s have freedom.

Former Horn Kendal Briles to join father Art’s Baylor staff. Not sure what position he’ll be in.

Colt McCoy and Jamaal Charles in top 15 on CFN’s early 2008 Heisman contenders list. Lots of Big 12 players near the top.

The Longhorns easily handled [tag]Rice[/tag] Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston to continue the unbeaten start to their 2007-08 season. The team is now 9-0 on the season (the team’s best start since 1981-82) and if they can get past two more tough games in December then they have a chance to make it into conference play undefeated.

Wooden Award candidate [tag]DJ Augustin[/tag] and [tag]AJ Abrams[/tag] each scored 18 points against the Owls. [tag]Damion James[/tag] chipped in another 18 points and added an impressive 17 rebounds. James’ play is a very good sign for the Horns, a third scoring option and a monster on the glass could mean for a longer tourney run this March.

Next up for the team will be Texas State on Saturday (12/15) at 5pm. No TV so show up at the Erwin Center and support your Horns in person.

Related Links

• AP story
• Postgame notes

The Texas Longhorns held their annual football banquet Friday night (photos) where they honored team members for their accomplishments on and off the field. Though fans and recruits do attend, the event is definitely a night for the players to look back on the season and to honor the careers of the outgoing seniors.

Quarterback [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] and running back [tag]Jamaal Charles[/tag] were deservedly named the team MVPs. McCoy didn’t have as good of a season as he did his freshman year but he definitely is the player that made this team go (when it went anywhere). Charles was also named Darrell K. Royal Most Valuable Offensive Player while the Mike Campbell Most Valuable Defensive Players were [tag]Brandon Foster[/tag] and [tag]Marcus Griffin[/tag].

In a team vote [tag]Dallas Griffin[/tag], [tag]Tony Hills[/tag], and [tag]Derek Lokey[/tag] were honored with the D. Harold Byrd Leadership Award. Also, in a shocking development quarterback McCoy was given the Outstanding Quarterback Award.

In a move that infuriated Internet Coaching and Motivational Experts [tag]Rashad Bobino[/tag], [tag]Scott Derry[/tag], and [tag]Robert Killebrew[/tag] shared the honor of being the team’s Outstanding Linebackers. I’m not sure what else you can really do though as no linebacker really deserved the honor and it would be pretty embarrassing to not hand out an award for the position.

A list of all the award winners is after the jump.

(more …)

Texas knocked out of NCAA volleyball tournament. Former UT coach Mick Haley and USC top the Horns in 3 games.

Two Texas A&M football players have been arrested for an alleged armed robbery in College Station on November 29th. Less than a week after their upset of the Longhorns, offensive lineman Yemi Babalola and defensive end Brandon Joiner (allegedly) decided it would be a good idea to break into an apartment, wave a gun around, and (allegedly) steal pot from a drug dealer. Seriously.

From the DMN…

According to a College Station police report, officers responded to an armed robbery call at the Callaway Villas Apartments. A resident said two black men entered the apartment and struck the person who opened the door.

A second resident ran upstairs and escaped through a window. The first resident and a friend were bound with tape while one of the assailants pointed a semi-automatic handgun in their faces.

Babalola was charged with aggravated robbery and possession of marijuana. Joiner’s charges include marijuana possession, possession of Ecstasy, and possession of hydrocodone. (Purple drank?)

No, this isn’t a case of the pot calling the kettle black. This is a case of the kettle calling the pot black because the pot wouldn’t shut up the last time the kettle had some guys arrested.

This is not a UT or Texas A&M problem, this is a problem in programs across the country. I’m not sure what’s causing young men to give up very promising futures, but this arrest and the Andre Jones/Robert Joseph/James Henry garbage definitely appear directly tied to drugs. Babalola had actually become a very solid player the last two seasons and was likely just a year away from being a mid-round NFL draft pick and a very rich young man.

These kids are giving it all away to get high.

Connor Atchley’s growing confidence is helping him on the court. If he stays within himself he can definitely be huge for this year’s team.

No. 3 Volleyball advances to NCAA Regional final with win over Florida. Horns will face No. 5 USC on ESPNU at 3pm on 12/8.

SI’s NFL Class of 2007 Hidden Gems. Brian Robison and Selvin Young make their top five.