 "Photo: Chris Kominczak")
KANSAS CITY - Texas has a new role this season as an underdog in the Big 12 South.
Coach Mack Brown spoke on the last day of the Big 12 media days about how that could be a good thing for his team.
"This is the first time we've been in that role for a while and it seems to be motivating our players to work really hard," Brown said. "These guys on our team that have been on campus the last three years are used to being a top-10 team and this year some people don't think we're going to be able to do that."
The reasons for Texas' underdog status are numerous. For starters, the team plays nine bowl teams from last year, including Missouri and Kansas, which went a combined 24-3. Their schedule also includes a very talented Texas Tech team with record-setting duo of quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree on the road in hostile environment.
"People have us losing a lot of games, or a lot more than we are probably used to," said senior defensive end Brian Orakpo. "I don't know how it feels to be an underdog. It's great motivation for us and we're using it as a tool to help us get better."
Texas also has some big shoes to fill on both sides of the ball. The most publicized is running back, with leading rusher Jamaal Charles departing early for the draft. Senior Chris Ogbonnaya, sophomore Vondrell McGee and redshirt freshman Foswhitt Whitaker will all see playing time at that position.
"I'm excited because all of those guys are very good," said junior quarterback Colt McCoy. "All of them give us something a little different and have different strengths."
Brown said replacing Charles' speed will be hard.
"We don't have anyone that can run a 10.1 100-meter dash like he did," Brown said. "But I think we can have the same type of impact at that position."
Finding an impact wide receiver is another concern. The team lost Limas Sweed and Nate Jones as well as tight end Jermichael Finley. Seniors Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley will be the only veterans on a relatively young corps.
"I'm confident in Jordan and Quan using their speed on the outside," McCoy said. "I think Malcom [Williams] and Dan [Buckner] are big and strong and can line up on the inside. The coaches say Blaine Irby is starting to remind them of David Thomas at tight end."
Frank Okam at defensive tackle is another big loss. But McCoy seems unfazed by the loss of so many proven players.
"We're going to have a lot of young players, but they are all very talented players and I'm excited about them this season," McCoy said. "We'll have plenty of talent."
Texas' poor play last season probably plays some role in the lowered expectations this year. While the team went 10-3, they struggled against weak teams such as Arkansas State and Baylor, had to come from behind to beat Oklahoma State and Nebraska and lost to a Kansas State team that finished with a losing record.
"I think the reason we started so poorly last season was due to the inexperience we had," Brown said. "I also didn't think we handled leadership that well. When we started struggling, our players were pressured to do more and sometimes ended up doing too much."
The result of losing key players, a tough schedule and last season's struggles is Texas being picked by many experts to finish behind Oklahoma and Texas Tech in the Big 12 South.
"People have a reason to be excited about Oklahoma and Texas Tech because they are looking very good," Brown said. "In the preseason it's all a beauty contest though; I feel confident about where we'll wind up come January."
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