It seems like just yesterday when Matt Leinart’s final-desperation downfield attempt fell incomplete and the confetti fell from the sky onto the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. While it was actually four years ago, if you look really close you may realize that this upcoming 2009 season has many similarities to the same team Vince Young led the national championship in 2005.
Before 2005 and 2009:
The Longhorns were up against the best from the Big 10.
2005: Dusty Mangum’s 37-yard field goal as time expired propelled the Longhorns to their first BCS bowl victory against Michigan 38-37.
2009: Quan Cosby’s 26-yard reception with 16 seconds left ended a come from behind win to beat Ohio State 24-21 in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Texas Big 12 schedule looks familiar in both seasons:
2005: The Longhorns welcomed Colorado, Kansas, and Texas Tech while traveling to Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and Dallas for a certain rivalry game.
2009: The Longhorns are set to welcome Colorado, Kansas, and Texas Tech and will travel to Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and Dallas to play this one team.
Other schedule similarities:
Both seasons include opening days against Sun Belt teams from Louisiana — Louisiana-Lafayette in 2005, Louisiana-Monroe in 2009.
The second game of the season involves traveling far north to face very unfamiliar opponents — Ohio State in 2005, Wyoming in 2009.
If the Longhorns were to win the Big 12 South, they would end up in an NFL stadium in Texas for the Big 12 Championship — Reliant Stadium in 2005, Cowboys Stadium in 2009.
Heisman hopefuls:
Both teams had a quarterback who entered the season among the top candidates to win college football’s most prized individual award.
2005: Vince Young was the runner-up for the Heisman in a controversial vote in which Reggie Bush was awarded with the honor.
2009: Colt McCoy was the runner-up in 2008 and with a repeat performance in this upcoming season he will definitely be a front-runner to be in New York City in December.
Quarterbacks who pass and run:
Both teams have that guy whom you want to have the ball at the end of the game. Young and McCoy both led a Longhorn team in rushing yards and passing yards.
2005: Young: 3036 passing yards/ 65.2 completion percentage/ 26 touchdowns/ 1050 rushing yards/ 6.8 yards per carry/ 12 touchdowns
2009: McCoy: 3859 passing yards/ 76.7 completion percentage/ 34 touchdowns (2008)/ 561 rushing yards/ 4.1 yards per carry/ 11 touchdowns (2008)
Can a team have too many offensive weapons?
2005: Jamaal Charles, Romance Taylor, Selvin Young, Limas Sweed, Billy Pittman, Quan Cosby, David Thomas, Henry Melton and Brian Carter.
2009: Fozzy Whitaker, Cody Johnson, Vondrell McGee, Jordan Shipley, Malcolm Williams, James Kirkendoll, Brandon Collins, Dan Buckner and John Chiles.
Number two:
2005: The Longhorns were ranked second in the polls for the entire season until they defeated USC.
2009: We will not know for certain, but it’s likely that Texas could be No. 2 in the preseason polls.
Experience up front:
All players protecting the quarterback have been Longhorns for a long time.
2005: The starting offensive line featured two seniors, Jonathan Scott and Will Allen, and three juniors, Justin Blalock, Lyle Sendlein, and Kasey Studdard.
2009: The starting offensive line is expected to feature three seniors, Chris Hall, Charlie Tanner, and Adam Ulatoski, and two juniors, Kyle Hix and Michael Huey.
National Championship location:
2005-2006: Pasadena, California - Rose Bowl
2009-2010: Pasadena, California - Rose Bowl
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