 "Photo: Erik Reyna/The Daily Texan")
Colt McCoy’s 269-yard, three-touchdown performance against Missouri was a sign to many that the Texas quarterback had returned to 2008 form.
Even Texas coach Mack Brown went so far to say, “We’ve got the Colt of old back now,” after the Longhorns’ 41-7 win.
But that doesn’t mean the senior has nothing left to improve on. First on the list: cutting down on interceptions. McCoy has thrown an interception in each of Texas’ seven games, giving him eight on the year after throwing just seven in all of 2008.
His interception against the Tigers came early in the second half when Missouri linebacker Sean Weatherspoon cut underneath Texas receiver Malcolm Williams’ route for an easy pick.
Still, McCoy and offensive coordinator Greg Davis weren’t too unhappy with the miscue because McCoy made the correct read. It’s the ones where he doesn’t that make Davis red in the face.
“I get upset when we’re going the wrong place or when there’s a force ... when he’s trying to force a ball into [receiver Jordan] Shipley,” Davis said.
By Texas’ count, McCoy has had just two interceptions that weren’t tipped or the result of an outstanding play by a defensive player.
“We’ve had four balls go right through guys’ hands and there happened to be a defender right there behind him, and it falls into their hands,” McCoy said. “Those are unlucky.”
Part of the reason is the Texas offense itself, McCoy said. With multiple receivers running quick, short routes, a small mistake can have big repercussions.
“I don’t like that at all, but there’s a difference between interceptions that are your fault and then there’s also some where you can’t do anything about it,” McCoy said.
The ‘Goon Squad’ is out
Lamarr Houston upset a few of his teammates when he made public that the Texas defense has dubbed itself the “Goon Squad.” But since the senior defensive tackle came up with the nickname last season, he felt that he had the right to divulge the information.
“It was a secret, but they can go hit the sheets,” Houston said, laughing.
He was inspired by the movie “The Goonies.”
“It’s just a pack of guys who are good friends and really close just trying to do whatever they can to survive through that whole movie,” Houston said. “That’s kind of how we are.
We’re just a really tough, rugged, blue-collar group who does whatever we can to survive.”
BCS talk
Rather than cut his players off completely from the hype that surfaced when the Bowl Championship Series rankings were announced last week, Brown spelled it all out for the Longhorns.
He goes over the biggest games each week and even breaks down games in which teams were upset, highlighting the importance of showing up each and every week.
The Longhorns learned a tough lesson last year about how much impact the BCS can have after a controversial tiebreaker determined the Big 12 South champion by using the BCS rankings. Brown wants his team to make sure that no computers or logarithms will be needed when the regular season is over.
“We want to control our own destiny,” tailback Fozzy Whittaker said. “You can’t ever relax and get too comfortable with yourself.”
McCoy, Shipley named semifinalists
McCoy and Shipley were named as semifinalists for the national awards for the top player at their respective positions.
McCoy is one of 15 candidates for the Davey O’Brien Award, which names the top quarterback in the nation. He was a finalist for it last season. Vince Young won the award in 2005.
Shipley is one of 10 candidates for the Biletnikoff Award, which names the nation’s top wide receiver. Texas has never had Biletnikoff winner, though Quan Cosby was named a finalist last season.
