 "Photo: Jason Sweeten")
LINCOLN, Neb - Aaron Ross will be the first one to admit the he had "bad eyes" when Nebraska caught Texas with its shoes untied.
Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan saw that his offense was able to successfully execute a few toss sweeps earlier in the game and noticed that the Longhorns secondary was "over-pursuing" to step up and force the run. Conventionally, he chose to go back to the sweep with 4:54 left in the game. Only this time, when running back Marlon Lucky got the pitch, he pulled up and threw a 25-yard touchdown to an open Nate Swift, who was so open, it looked like he had placed a restraining order on the Longhorns secondary.
"It was my fault. The receiver did a great job pretending like he was blocking," Ross said. "I came down to force on the run, and they beat us deep."
That sent Husker nation into a snow-drenched frenzy, as the Cornhuskers took a 20-19 lead in the fourth quarter.
But Ross wasn't about to let that mind-freeze be the defining moment of his final game at Memorial Stadium. Just when the Longhorns chances of pulling out the victory seemed as bleak as the weather, he made the type of play that was reminiscent of how the rest of his season has gone - full of memorable big plays.
After Texas punted, Nebraska faced a third-and-3 at their 36 and the clock nearing the two minute mark. Texas didn't have any timeouts left, so a first down by Nebraska would have all but sealed the victory for the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska could have milked the clock even more had they decided to run the ball - something the Cornhuskers had done better than anyone in the Big 12 this season heading into the game. But the Cornhuskers were nowhere near their 207.7 rushing yards per game average. Texas had held them to only 38 yards. So Callahan elected to put the ball in the air. Quarterback Zac Taylor rolled out to his right and found receiver Terrence Nunn open with the chains behind him and victory in his grasps just as soon as he hit the ground.
He hit the ground alright, but not before the front side of Ross' helmet had jarred the ball loose.
"I hit it with my helmet, and I was aiming for it," said Ross, of his third forced fumble. "I've always been told if you put your head on the ball, it will likely come out."
Marcus Griffin recovered the fumble, and the rest was money for the Longhorns.
Quan Cosby makes a 14-yard catch with 97 seconds left, but he fumbles, only to be bailed out by offensive guard Kasey Studdard at the Nebraska 22. Four plays later, kicker Ryan Bailey kicks a 22-yard field goal with 23 seconds left to win the game.
None of that, mind you, would have happened had it not been for Ross' caused-fumble.
"Some guys just make game-changing plays," said Texas coach Mack Brown, who once again promoted Ross for Thorpe Award consideration. "He did the same thing against Oklahoma."
Ross had two interceptions and a fumble returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Sooners on Oct. 7, which helped Texas to a 28-10 victory.
Taylor heaved two desperation attempts into the end zone as time expired, but to no avail.
Texas escaped Nebraska with its sixth victory over the Cornhuskers in seven games since the Big 12 was formed in 1996.
"Victory was more or less swept away on that third-down play," Callahan said.
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