Tag: Mack Brown

Texas Football: Top games to rewatch during quarantine

We’ve compiled a list of the best Texas football games to relive during the quarantine.

Do you miss watching Texas sports?

While there are no live sporting events present on our televisions due to the Coronoavirus (COVID-10) outbreak, we’ve compiled a list of the best Texas Longhorns football games to relive during the quarantine.

Other than the 2006 Rose Bowl where quarterback Vince Young scrambled for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to defeat the University of Southern California, it’s tough to rank the most exciting outcomes when there are many to choose from.

Here are just a few of our favorites.

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Best recruiting classes in Texas football history

Several highly-rated recruits have had successful collegiate careers at Texas since 2000, but which class belongs at the top?

There’s been numerous highly-rated recruits who have had successful collegiate careers at the University of Texas since 2000. In fact, head coach Tom Herman has been able to close out the past few cycles with a top ten class in the nation.

Former head coaches Mack Brown and Charlie Strong have been the only others to steer the incoming freshman during that time period. Texas legends Vince Young, Colt McCoy, Cedric Benson, Jordan Shipley, Roy Williams, and many others have to be taken into consideration as the best players to wear the Texas uniform over the past 20 years.

We’ve already taken a look at the highest-rated individual recruits of all-time to play at Texas, but does that automatically include them among the best overall class? Not quite. Just as underrated prospects can surprisingly take the world by storm, high school superstars can sometimes flop at the collegiate level.

Therefore this is not a look to re-grade old classes based on college production, but to remember the top overall classes at the time courtesy of 247Sports Composite.

No. 1 – 2002

Coach: Mack Brown

Five-star players: 4

Four-star players: 13

Summary: Vince Young. With a rare perfect rating as a recruit, Young led the Longhorns to eventually win the 2005 National Championship. Young, Rod Wright, and and Justin Blalock were Consensus All-Americans out of this class. Brian Robison, Aaron Ross, David Thomas, Lyle Sendlein and Selvin Young were also contributors to the Longhorns most impactful class since 2000.

No. 2 – 2010

Coach: Mack Brown

Five-star players: 5

Four-star players: 16

Summary: According to 247Sports Composite, this was the No. 2 overall recruiting class in the nation at the time. It’s still to this day one of the highest-rated classes of all-time. Jackson Jeffcoat (All-American) and Jordan Hicks were the top-rated players in the 2010 class, it also included quarterback Case McCoy and wide receiver Mike Davis, who was a two-time member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list. Unfortunately, for as high as this class was graded, it under performed on the field as a whole.

No. 3 – 2012

Coach: Mack Brown

Five-star players: 2

Four-star players: 20

Summary: This was the No. 2 overall class nationally at the time, led by running back Johnathan Gray and defensive tackle Malcom Brown. A whopping 20 four-star recruits is quite an impressive haul, although very few players portrayed those same expectations onto the field.

If you were to take the ratings off of the table and strictly go by production on the field, our top classes would look much different.

No. 1 – 2002

As you saw above, this is by far the best recruiting class that Texas has had, both from a prospect grade standpoint as well as production on the field.

No. 2 – 2001

Many of the recruits in this class became the foundation for the National Championship team. It included one of the best running backs to ever play at Texas, Cedric Benson. Michael Huff and Aaron Ross also had successful collegiate careers. Other notable names from the 2001 class are Quan Cosby, Derrick Johnson, and Cedric Griffin.

No. 3 – 2005

For what Colt McCoy brought to the Texas program, he must be included in nearly any all-time discussion. Jamaal Charles and Jeremichael Finley joined McCoy in this class to put together one of the best offenses in Longhorns history.

No. 4 – 2004

Jordan Shipley and Brian Orakpo were the two primary recruits out of this particular class, but their play on the field spoke volumes. Shipley continues to hold several all-time records at Texas, while Orakpo was a monster bull-rushing defensive end.

 

Former Longhorns Head Coach Mack Brown’s Message to Bob Stoops Ahead of XFL Debut

The XFL season officially kicked off on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s game former head coach Mack Brown delivered a messaged to Bob Stoops.

Former Longhorn wide receiver Jerrod Heard is getting ready to make his XFL debut for the Dallas Renegades. Heard will be playing for longtime rival head coach Bob Stoops. Ahead of their game against the St. Louis Battlehawks, former head coach Mack Brown had a message for Stoops and the Renegades.

“Bob, good luck this season. Football is better with you on the sideline. Go get ’em man and have fun. Good luck.” – Mack Brown in his message to Stoops

The Renegades will kickoff their season against the Battlehawks live from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The game is set for a 4:00 pm CST kickoff and can be seen on ESPN.

UNC commit Dontavius Nash discusses Michigan interest, impact of Chris Partridge’s departure

Gastonia (N.C.) Hunter Huss 2021 four-star safety Dontavius Nash, a North Carolina commit, was impacted by Chris Partridge’s departure.

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Ever since Dontavius Nash received an offer from Michigan on Dec. 11, the Gastonia (N.C.) Hunter Huss 2021 four-star safety has been recruited by safeties coach Chris Partridge.

Partridge and Nash were developing a relationship that began when the former Wolverine assistant expressed interest.

“They can see me coming in as one of the better safeties and stuff like that,” Nash said. “They like my style of play. They just want to build a relationship right now.”

But Partridge is no longer on the coaching staff in Ann Arbor.

Highly regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country, the assistant on head coach Jim Harbaugh’s team since 2015 accepted a co-defensive coordinator spot at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin on Jan. 2.

For Nash, a North Carolina commit since June 15, Partridge’s departure has halted his relationship with Michigan.

“Oh, uh, it changes things a lot,” Nash said. “That’s the only coach that talked to me.”

The loss of Partridge to the Rebels has altered Nash’s perspective on the Wolverines.

“At this point, I’m just now hearing about coach Partridge,” Nash said, “so I don’t know (how interested I am).”

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Nash’s primary and secondary recruiters from North Carolina are running backs coach Robert Gillespie and co-defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, respectively.

The 2021 prospect has continued to build relationships with head coach Mack Brown, his recruiters and those on the roster in the secondary.

Nash’s best friend, Belmont (N.C.) South Point 2020 three-star wide receiver Ray Rose, signed with North Carolina in the December early signing period.

“We are close, so he just helped me a lot when I took visits,” Nash said, “made me feel better, made me feel like I’m at home.”

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The 6-foot-2, 170-pound safety has offers from North Carolina, Michigan, Penn State, Appalachian State, Auburn, Coastal Carolina, Duke, East Carolina, Georgia, Louisville, Maryland, UMass, NC State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

Despite being committed to Brown’s program in Chapel Hill, Nash said he’s not shying away from interest from other schools – including Michigan.

“It’s just something that me, my grandparents and coaches have been talking about,” he said. “It’s just something we’ve been talking about.”

More than anything, leaning on his grandparents and high school coaches for support, Nash understands the need for a top-notch education.

That’s part of the reason he picked North Carolina, and it’s why Michigan was a school that sparked his interest when the staff offered in the middle of December.

“Honestly,” Nash said, “I want to go to a school where if I don’t make it to the NFL, then I’m going to have a good education.”

So where is Nash at with Michigan following the departure of Partridge?

“Honestly, I don’t really know right now,” Nash said. “It’s something I have to think about.”

And does Nash plan to take a visit to Ann Arbor?

“It’s just something I talk to my coaches and grandparents about, so we aren’t really sure,” he added. “We haven’t thought about it yet.”

Even though Nash said most defensive backs don’t prefer to tackle, the East Coast prospect said he prides himself in the ability to cover and tackle as the complete package for a safety at the Division I level.

“I can play anywhere,” Nash said. “That’s what I think is special about me. I can move around and still make plays.”

Nash is ranked No. 249 in the 2021 class, No. 8 at the safety position and No. 14 in North Carolina, according to the 247Sports composite.

Contact/Follow @WolverinesWire/ @EvanPetzold

Tom Herman Makes Texas Longhorns History

Head coach of the Texas Longhorns Tom Herman made history for the school Tuesday night in San Antonio.

When the Texas Longhorns came calling before the 2017 season for Tom Herman, the school was hoping that he could rekindle some of their magic they had lost since the days of Mack Brown and before him the legendary Darrell K. Royal.

After going 22-4 in two seasons where Herman led teams were perfect at home (14-0), against AP ranked teams (6-0) and against power five conference teams (5-0). It was feeling a bit like Texas made the right hire in terms of putting the Longhorns back on the map in the college football landscape.

While the Longhorns have made some strides, it feels like they are just on the brink of getting to where they want to be. Their recruiting classes have been some of the best in the nation so this year is likely going to be a season that really puts the pressure on Herman to get his guys to win the conference and fight for a National Title.

Even though there have been some growing pains, with the Alamo Bowl victory, Tom Herman became the first head coach of Texas to win his first three bowl games since 1942. He has a ways to go to match the likes of Royal or Brown but Herman is on the right road.

Texas Coaches in First Three Bowls:

Tom Herman (3-0)

Dana Bible (2-0-1)

Blair Cherry (2-1)

Fred Akers (1-2)

John Mackovic (1-2)

Mack Brown (1-2)

Darrell K. Royal (0-2-1)

 

Former coach Mack Brown wins bowl game with North Carolina

UNC faced off against the Temple in the Military Bowl. Coached by former UT head coach Mack Brown, they got their first bowl win since 2013.

After 15 seasons as the head coach of the Longhorns, Mack Brown was let go. Taking some time off and working as a studio analyst with ESPN, Brown was out of coaching for five years. He took the North Carolina job at the end of the 2018 season and has turned the program around.

After gaining bowl eligibility and dancing with his team in the locker room, the Tar Heels faced off against the Temple in the Military Bowl. Led by freshman quarterback Sam Howell, UNC demolished the Owls 55-13, getting their first bowl win since 2013.

After two straight seasons of nine losses in 2017 and 2018, Brown has come in and instantly changed the culture at North Carolina. With this being his second stint with the school, they are used to winning with Brown, getting 10 wins three times.

Ending the season at 7-6, the bowl win is the highlight of the Tar Heel season. The second best moment came when they nearly defeated now ACC Champions Clemson, but came up short on a two-point conversion.

UNC will be a dark horse candidate in the ACC next season and they have Mack Brown to thank for that. As Longhorns Wire’s Head Coach of the Decade, watching Brown succeed is always good to see.

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Texas Longhorns of the Decade: Head Coach

In the final look at the football team throughout the decade, Longhorns Wire highlights the coach of the decade.

In our final post for our decade series, we finish with the head coach. During the decade the Texas Longhorns football compiled a record of 70-57, not exactly the standard of excellence that many expected in Austin. They could add one win or loss to that number when they play the Alamo Bowl on December 31st.

During this decade the Longhorns had three head coaches. That is the most head coaches in a decade span since the 1990-1999 seasons in which Texas also had three men leading the football team. Tom Herman currently holds a record of 24-15 and 2-0 in bowl games.

Charlie Strong joined Texas in 2014 but lasted just three seasons in which his teams lost seven games each and every season. Strong was 16-21 during that time and was never fully received in Austin but as they say winning cures all. In his lone bowl appearance, Texas came up on the losing end.

However the man who gets the honor as best head coach of the decade is Mack Brown. Brown took over as head coach for the Longhorns in 1998, replacing John Mackovic who coached Texas for six seasons. Brown stayed in Austin until 2013 enjoying 16 seasons where Texas rose to the top in most cases. He brought the Longhorns their first National Championship since 1981. The Longhorns would play for another title in 2009.

During his four-year run to begin the decade, Brown had a record of 30-21. His bowl record was 2-1. In his final game as the head coach, Brown’s Longhorns lost in the Alamo Bowl. The Longhorns won at least eight games in three of those four years. Even though it was on the back end of his career, Brown still did enough to be coach of the decade.

Top Five Football Moments Of The Decade

While it may have been a rough decade for the Longhorns, there still was some good moments. Here are the top five moments of the decade.

While it may have been a rough decade for the Longhorns as far as the win column goes, there still was some good moments for Texas. Picking up wins against Oklahoma, top 10 opponents, in some bowl games, and ending a rivalry on a high note, even during the lowest time of the program’s history, they have produced some magic.

Having three coaches since 2010, Mack Brown, Charlie Strong, and Tom Herman have each been in charge for at least three years. Brown was fired after the 2013 season, marking the end of a 15 year period for Texas. Strong got three years from 2014-2016, but all three seasons ended in seven losses. Tom Herman has returned Texas to a bowl game in all three years in charge, but still has some work to do.

Texas has had a mix of success and failure throughout the 2010s, but the moments have no doubt made fans believe they can return to the level they should be at. Here are the top five moments of the decade for the Longhorns:

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WATCH: Former Longhorn Mack Brown celebrates after gaining bowl eligibly

UNC defeated arch-rival NC St. gaining bowl eligibility in Mack Brown’s first season. He celebrated with the team in the locker room.

When Texas fired Mack Brown in 2013, he was just four years removed from winning the Big 12 and making a national championship appearance. In those four years, he never got back to double-digit wins, with his best record being 9-4. After being fired, Brown took some time to work in the media, working with ESPN as a studio analyst.

Five years after being let go from Texas, Brown was hired by the school where he started his Power 5 head coaching career, North Carolina. He inherited a mess, with the program losing nine games two years in a row. Brown had three 10 win seasons while at UNC, but they had only had one since he left in 1998.

The Tarheels defeated in-state arch-rival North Carolina State 41-10 on Saturday, gaining bowl eligibility in Brown’s first season as the head coach. He rightfully celebrated with the team in the locker room after the game.

With North Carolina being bowl eligible, people have started to wonder if they could match up with Texas in the Camping World Bowl. Even Camping World’s CEO Marcus Lemonis said it would be a good game.

If the Tar Heels and Longhorns were to meet in the Camping World Bowl, not only would there be a reunion with Mack Brown, but it would be the first time the schools have met since 2002. Brown has turned the UNC football program around and has a chance to become a consistently good team in the ACC.

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