40 Acres Sports

It’s been rumored for a while, but football has officially added Ole Miss as a future opponent. The Horns will face the Rebels in 2012 and 2013.

Vegas oddsmakers have Texas as 39 point favorites over [tag]Arkansas State[/tag] tomorrow night so winning shouldn’t be a problem. But the Horns will need more than just a victory to be satisfied. Here are the three keys for the game:

1. Don’t get anybody hurt

The game against Arkansas State is essentially a glorified scrimmage so the number one goal for the game has to be come out as healthy as possible. The Horns have already been bitten by the injury bug this fall and have a tough game next week against TCU, if another wide receiver goes down I might have to suit up.

2. Let [tag]John Chiles[/tag] play with the first offense

Since a redshirt is no longer an option, Chiles has to log a few minutes with the first team offense before the game is a laugher. Mack Brown said there would be no QB rotation but that doesn’t mean we can’t throw him out there for a few special plays to showcase his talents. Colt McCoy is no veteran either and needs enough work to make sure he’s ready for week two, but Chiles needs more than just garbage time snaps.

3. Seriously, don’t get anybody hurt

Did I mention this already? Get the first teamers rolling, give them a chance to come out for a series or two after halftime, and then get them the heck out of there.

[tag]Selvin Young[/tag] went undrafted last April but he’s now officially the Denver Broncos’ number two running back behind Travis Henry. Denver coach Mike Shanahan announced Friday after another strong preseason performance from Young that Mike Bell and Cecil Sapp, the former second and third-string running backs, would both be moving to fullback.

Selvin Young has apparently pulled a Mike Bell.

Much to the chagrin of Mike Bell.

Unemployed in the hours following the 2007 draft, Young went from football oblivion to gaining 91 yards last week in the Broncos’ third preseason game, to No. 2 on the tailback depth chart this week…

When Henry and Hall also went down with leg injuries, the Broncos had no choice but to give Young a chance in the next exhibition against Cleveland.

Seventeen Young carries later, coach Mike Shanahan was gushing about the rookie’s speed and pleased with the possibility he may have discovered another hidden tailback gem.

After their first two preseason games I honestly thought there was no chance Young made the roster. He got virtually no meaningful carries and it looked like he wasn’t going to get much of a chance to show what he could do. He got his chance and ran with it, literally. With Henry banged up Selvin could be getting some solid carries in week one against Buffalo.

Great news for a former Horn who worked his butt off while he was here. Congrats Selvin.

Kirk Bohls’ predictions for the 2007 football season. Pretty positive outlook for once.

With the first official depth chart released for the [tag]Arkansas State[/tag] we can officially do our first second guessing of the 2007 season. Let’s complain examine the defensive side of the ball first:

It’s just Arky State so I’m not going to get to worked up over anything on this depth chart. It’s the first game of the year so I think guys who have been here longer are going to have the edge over the young guys who have only been on campus a month. It’ll be interesting to see if the freshmen and sophomores battling for spots can show enough against ASU to see increased time against TCU.

Statesman profile on Blake Gideon. Kid isn’t highly rated but I think he’s got everything you look for in a safety.

I still get chills watching this…

(via)

Matt over at SportsCrack has set up a Yahoo College Football Pick’em group that we’ve decided to latch onto. The weekly winner will get a free SportsCrack t-shirt and there’s a overall prize as well. Here’s the details from Matt:

Every week we will have a different winner. The winner each wins a free SportsCrack or Drinklikeachampion shirt of their choice.

If there is a tie then the shirt will carry over to the next week and whoever wins that week gets two shirts.

All selections must be made no later by Thursday of each week, 5 minutes before the first game of the week.

Whoever has the most points at the end of the season wins $100 worth of Sportscrack merchandise.

The league is called Sportscrack League.
ID # is 27510
Password is sportscrack

Good luck and join fast, the group max is 50 people and feel free to invite other college football fans.

Pick’em is a blast and you’ve got a chance to win some more t-shirts so it’s definitely worth signing up.

Also a reminder that our ESPN fantasy football league will have it’s live draft tonight at 9:45 PM, don’t forget or you’ll be starting Michael Vick at quarterback.

To honor Lady Bird Johnson, LBJ, and the Johnson family the Longhorns will wear a bluebonnet decal on their helmets for the upcoming season:

During the 2007 season, Texas Football will wear special wildflower helmet stickers to honor President Lyndon B. Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson and the Johnson family, head coach Mack Brown announced Monday.

“Because President Johnson has meant so much to our state, our country and our University, and Lady Bird is our First Lady who we just lost, and the Johnson family who has meant so much to all of us, we are going to put a wildflower in their honor on the back of our helmets for the full year,” Brown said.

Not exactly the most manly sticker I’ve ever seen but it’s a nice gesture to a family that has meant a lot to the university, the state of Texas, and the country. Relatively small little sticker though maybe if it was off to the left of the number it would stand out a little less. I’m sure the ABC announcers will mention it the first few games and then we’ll all forget it’s even there.

Plus, the last time we wore a flower on our uniforms things worked out alright. If that happens again I’m sure we’d all be fine if the 2008 uniform was covered in daisies.

Texas defense is in good hands with Duane Akina, especially if linebackers step up.