40 Acres Sports

Last night the Texas Longhorns went to Madison and took down a [tag]Wisconsin[/tag] team that had only lost eight home games in the last seven years. [tag]AJ Abrams[/tag] and [tag]Damion James[/tag] led the team to a 74-69 win with 21 points and 15 rebounds respectively. Watch video highlights below:

Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley will be back catching Colt McCoy passes next year

As expected, Texas wide receiver [tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag] has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. After missing his first two seasons due to injuries to his knee and then hamstring, Jordan was almost assured of getting the extra year but the NCAA sometimes works in mysterious ways. His return means Heisman runner-up [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] will have his favorite target back for another run at a title and more postseason honors.

[tag]Quan Cosby[/tag] will be gone to the NFL but now Shipley, [tag]Brandon Collins[/tag], [tag]Malcolm Williams[/tag], and [tag]James Kirkendoll[/tag] will all be back. The youngsters grew up a lot this season and if Williams or [tag]Dan Buckner[/tag] step up outside next year’s receiving corps could be even better than this season. Add a tight end and a running threat to one of the country’s top offenses and Texas fans should be pretty excited about the numbers that will be put up in 2009.

The official press release from the university is posted below:

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas’ request for a sixth year of eligibility for WR Jordan Shipley was granted by the NCAA on Monday, Longhorn head coach Mack Brown confirmed. That means Shipley, who missed the entire 2004 and 05 seasons due to knee and hamstring injuries, will return as a senior in 2009.

“It is definitely a blessing to be able to play one more season at Texas,” said Shipley. “This is such a great place, and I’ve had an unbelievable experience. Obviously, it started slow due to the injuries, but I couldn’t be happier with the NCAA’s decision to give me one of those years back.”

Shipley was named third-team All-America after posting 79 receptions for 982 yards (12.4 ypc) and 11 TDs in 2008. His 79 receptions rank second on UT’s single-season list, the 982 yards rank fifth and his 11 TDs are third. Shipley’s 6.6 receptions per game are tied for 18th nationally and his 81.8 yards per game rank 29th. He also returned both a punt and a kickoff for a TD during the season, becoming just the fourth Longhorn to do so in a career.

“We’re really excited for Jordan and our team that he’s been granted a sixth year,” Brown said. “It was so disappointing for him as he fought through injuries and wasn’t able to play his first two years, but he never wavered. He continued to work hard and stayed positive through it all and has become a tremendous player for us. His efforts should inspire those who are going through tough times, that if you stick with it, you can overcome that adversity.

“Jordan’s a great student and athlete who also is a tremendous role model in the community. He is a guy who represents everything that is good about college football, so he certainly is deserving of being rewarded by getting the year back.”

For his career, Shipley has recorded 122 receptions (No. 8 on UT’s all-time list) for 1,628 yards (No. 9 on UT’s all-time list) and 20 TDs (T-No. 2 on UT’s all-time list) during his 39-game career (20 starts). He set a UT record by catching a TD pass in eight consecutive games to open 2008, bettering Limas Sweed’s seven-game streak in 2006, and has caught a TD pass in 11 of his last 15 games.

Former Texas running back [tag]Cedric Benson[/tag] had career highs today with 171 yards and 38 carries for the Bengals against the Browns. No touchdowns and his longest run (46 yards) actually ended with him fumbling the ball but Benson’s running was huge for Cincinatti today and helped them win their first road game of the season. He looked like the big tough workhorse he was when he was with Texas today and could be back on track if he continues to run hard on the field and stay out of trouble off of it.

Watch video highlights.

A great Texas defensive effort wasn't enough

The Texas Longhorns lost their second game of the year Saturday afternoon 63 – 67 to [tag]Michigan State[/tag] in Houston. The Horns led most of the game, but without a point guard capable of creating for himself and his teammates the team struggled to score down the final stretch. Once leading 60 – 58, the team scored only three points over the last five and a half minutes. [tag]Justin Mason[/tag] had a couple of chances to win or tie the game in the final minute of the game but missed two three-point attempts.

Starting guards [tag]AJ Abrams[/tag] and Mason combined to score only 12 points in the loss, and backups [tag]Dogus Balbay[/tag] and [tag]Varez Ward[/tag] went scoreless despite getting more minutes than normal when Mason went down for an extended period with an injury in the first half. Abrams in particular struggled to find his shot throughout the game, held to a season low eight points and without a three-point field goal for the first time this year.

One bright spot in the loss was the play of [tag]Gary Johnson[/tag] in a return to his hometown of Houston. Johnson had a game-high 20 points on 8-12 shooting from the floor and 4-4 from the free throw line.

The last game for Texas of 2008 will be this Tuesday night on ESPN2 versus [tag]Wisconsin[/tag].

Game Statistics

Related Links

• Game recap
• Game stats
• Game notes

Okay he doesn’t suck, but Tennessee Titans’ current starting quarterback Kerry Collins isn’t better than average either. Peter Bean of Burnt Orange Nation takes a Music City Miracles article where they finally realized that Collins wasn’t actually having a “fantastic” season and does an excellent job stating the obvious: The Titans need to start playing Vince Young and do it in a hurry.

Texas head coach [tag]Mack Brown[/tag] discussed bowl practices and other topics with the media at the first official press conference since the regular season ended on Thursday. The Statesman has posted the video, watch below:

Word from Orangebloods sources is that the coaches and players are fired up and practices are spirited and the team will be ready for [tag]Ohio State[/tag] in January. Could be bad news for the Buckeyes if the Horns are both prepared and pissed.

Texas volleyball fell to Stanford in a five-set showdown

The University of Texas volleyball team fell in the National semifinals to the Stanford Cardinal.  Stanford won the final game 15-13 in the final set.  For the first time in 27 years a team overcame a 0-2 deficit to reach the NCAA title game.  It will be the third title game appearance in a row for Stanford.

The Longhorns looked good early with superstar [tag]Destinee Hooker[/tag] leading the way.  No team in the nation has an answer for Hooker’s ability to get up in the air.  Throughout the night Stanford put up to three people up for the block only to see Hooker go over the top for the kill.

Stanford was off early, but caught fire in the last three sets.  Texas struggled with communication on sets and on defense.  The experience of the Stanford squad proved to be too much for the young Longhorns.  Texas only has two seniors in their rotation so expect another long run next year.

Stanford will now play the winner of [tag]Penn State[/tag] versus [tag]Nebraska[/tag].  Penn State won the title against Stanford last year 3-2.  Penn State has swept every game since.

Ivan Maisel and Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com talk about the upcoming Fiesta Bowl match-up between the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes. Will Texas be able to get motivated for the game after a disappointing end to the season? Will OSU’s Terrelle Pryor be able to shine on a national state, or will Texas QB [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag] outplay him both passing and running the football?

Shaun Rogers was selected to his 3rd Pro Bowl

The NFL Pro Bowl rosters for the AFC and NFC were announced and two Longhorns were on it. Dallas guard [tag]Leonard Davis[/tag] and Cleveland defensive tackle [tag]Shaun Rogers[/tag] have both been selected to make return trips to Hawaii. This is Rogers’ third Pro Bowl selection, his first two coming after the 2004 and 2005 seasons when he was with Detroit. Big Leonard made his first Pro Bowl last year in his first season as a Cowboy.

Congrats to a couple of big former Longhorns.

Over the last several days Texas football players [tag]Colt McCoy[/tag], [tag]Brian Orakpo[/tag], and [tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag] have brought in several All-American honors. Orakpo in particular has brought in four such honors including a first team AP All-American award today. Check out the list of honors below:

[tag]Colt McCoy[/tag]

• Second team AP All-American
• First team Football Writers (FWAA) All-American
• First team Walter Camp All-American

[tag]Brian Orakpo[/tag]

• First team AP All-American
• First team Football Writers (FWAA) All-American
• First team Walter Camp All-American
• AFCA Coaches’ All-America

[tag]Jordan Shipley[/tag]

• Third team AP All-American