40 Acres Sports

NCAA set to ban text messaging recruits. That sound you hear is Urban Meyer dying a little on the inside.

IGN.com interviews Vince Young about Madden, the curse, and the Titans.

Four months later, Aggies post 10 win season by counting spring scrimmage as a 2006 victory. (It’s been fixed now.)

Here’s a short video of Vince Young’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to announce what everyone already knew, that he was going to be on the cover of Madden 08.

This is just the first couple of minutes from Joystiq where he’s talking about the curse, I’ll get the whole interview off my TiVo tonight and post it.

The full video of the interview is now posted below:

Update: I’m having some trouble getting the TiVo file to work in any video editor after I strip off the DRM. Works in Windows Media Player so I’ll try to upload that version in the morning if I can.

Update 2: Vince’s full appearance has now been uploaded and I replaced the video in this post.

Rice snaps 10-game losing streak against Texas with 7-4 win on Tuesday. Kyle Russell sets Texas home run record.

ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay doesn’t just predict the first round, or even the second round, he’s got a full seven-round mock draft up and available for ESPN Insiders. McShay has a lot of love for former Longhorns, with cornerback Aaron Ross and safety Mike Griffin going in the first round. Guard Justin Blalock and defensive end Tim Crowder then go in the early second round in his prediction.

Those aren’t the only Horns he’s high on, here’s how all the Longhorns faired in McShay’s draft:

Round 1

24. New England – [tag]Aaron Ross[/tag]
The Patriots never act as if they’re handcuffed by needs during draft weekend, but the Asante Samuel situation should increase their interest in this year’s cornerback crop. Ross lacks ideal man-to-man cover skills, but he has the size, instincts and playmaking ability to emerge as a difference-maker in the type of zone-heavy defensive scheme the Patriots run. Ross also can help in the return game, which adds to his value.

26. Philadelphia – [tag]Michael Griffin[/tag]
Although the Eagles certainly could use depth at several different positions, it’s hard to find a glaring weakness at any starting spot on their depth chart. One thing is certain: Philly will not be handcuffed by positions of need in this year’s draft. With that in mind, Griffin is a good value because he brings experience and versatility to the table after notching 250 tackles in his last two seasons at Texas.

Round 2

39. Atlanta – [tag]Justin Blalock[/tag]
42. San Francisco – [tag]Tim Crowder[/tag]

Round 3

92. Buffalo – [tag]Tarell Brown[/tag]

Round 4

106. Minnesota – [tag]Brian Robison[/tag]

Round 7

251. Jacksonville – [tag]Ramonce Taylor[/tag]

I posted a story last night that Vince Young could be the next star on the cover of Madden and this morning the Tennessean confirmed it. Young’s agent Major Adams apparently can’t keep a secret and has confirmed to the paper that Vince will be on the game’s cover.

EA Sports would not confirm that Young would be on the cover. The cover athlete will be revealed officially tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where tonight’s guests include “Madden 2007 [sic] video game cover athlete (to be revealed on the show).”

In an amazing coincidence, Young’s marketing manager said that he’d be in California for the taping of tonight’s Jimmy Kimmel Live but wouldn’t give the reason for his appearance. I am reasonably confident that Vince was not just eliminated from Dancing with the Stars and is not in the band Silversun Pickups.

Congratulations are in order for Vince, and Longhorns/Titans fans can officially start worrying about the dreaded Madden Curse.

IGN.com lists their top 10 picks for who will be on the cover of EA Sports’ Madden 08 video game. Texas ex [tag]Vince Young[/tag] is their number two pick behind LaDainian Tomlinson and deservedly so. Young, who should have been on the cover of last year’s NCAA Football 07, is one of the game’s most marketable young stars. People like Vince and sports fans will buy products he’s involved with (and it’s not just Longhorn fans.) The 2008 cover boy should be announced sometime this week.

Tomlinson definitely has to be the favorite, in the last two years he’s put up two of the best seasons an NFL running back has ever had. LT has all sorts of untapped marketing potential, but maybe there’s a reason he hasn’t done much national stuff despite his superstar performance.

It would be awesome to see Vince on the cover of Madden, but is it actually a good thing? Are VY’s superhuman powers strong enough to overcome the Madden curse? We may get to find out this year.

Related Links

• EA Sports Madden 08 official site
• ESPN: Clues to the Cover
• Wikipedia: The Madden curse
• Vince Young is newest Campbell’s Chunky Soup “Mama’s boy”

The NFL Draft is flooded with talented college tandems, including three pairs of Longhorns.

Texas football commit James Kirkendoll wins basketball All-Star MVP. WR/DB may try to walk onto basketball team.