During the timeout Brown laid out the massive stakes to his defense: "You stop this fourth-down play, we're going to win the national championship." "...and with 19 seconds left, Young got it done with his wheels, gliding the final eight yards to a touchdown bigger than all of Texas." |
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TWAS THE NIGHT OF THE ROSE BOWL
Twas the night of the Rose Bowl and
all through the land,
All the Longhorns were stirring, even the band.
The tickets were purchased
for the game, room, and air,
In hopes that Saint Vincent
would soon be there!!
The fans were tailgating from their truck beds,
While a vision of a championship danced in their heads.
And Bevo in his bridle, and me in
my cap
Had just popped a cold one before the first snap.
When out on the turf there
arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter!!
My eyes fixed on the tunnel, and the thundering herd;
The roar of the fight song; I sang every word!!
They ran to the end zone, and knelt
to their maker,
Giving thanks for TEXAS, and the victory later!!
When, what to my wondering
eyes should appear.
Coach Mack in his glory, THE HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR!
And our hero from Houston that I haven't seen since;
I knew in a moment it must be Saint Vince!
More rapid than eagles his posse
they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name!
Now, THOMAS! Now, TAYLOR! Now,
PITTMAN and SWEED!
On, CHARLES! On, GRIFFIN! ROSS, HUFF and McGEE!
To the top of the world for a championship crown!
Now dash away, dash away, to a TEXAS touchdown!
They fought with fury! They fought
with might!
They fought like champions on this championship night!
Oh! The bombs they flew, and
the holes blew open,
The Longhorns ran the ball just as we were hopin'.
The defense attacked, and oh, they played hard!
Stopping the Trojans, in their own back yard!
Macks eyes how they twinkled, his
dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, the crystal ball he did carry!
He embraced his coaches, he embraced his team!
And The Eyes of TEXAS we all did sing,
A season that will live forever in lore;
COME EARLY, BE LOUD, STAY LATE, WEAR ORANGE!!
By Jake Veyhl
Daily Texan Staff
PASADENA, Calif. - Vince Young led the Longhorns to their first ever Rose Bowl appearance and victory last season with a 10-point fourth-quarter rally.
Apparently that wasn't enough drama.
Staring at a fourth and five with Texas down 38-33 and a little more than 20 seconds left in the game, Young went through three passing progressions then scrambled right and trotted eight yards into the end zone to propel Texas to a 41-38 victory before 93,986 fans at the Rose Bowl.
Young rallied the Longhorns from a 12-point deficit with less than seven minutes remaining and led the Texas earned its fourth national title in football and its first since 1970.
Young topped last year's Rose Bowl performance of 192 yards rushing, 180 yards passing and four touchdowns. He completed 30 of his 40 passes for 267 yards and rushing 19 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns. The redshirt junior won his second consecutive Rose Bowl MVP award and helped head coach Mack Brown win his first national championship.
Texas' defense jumped out of the gate with three plays and out but Aaron Ross fumbled the ensuing punt, allowing USC to recover and drive for the game's first touchdown.
Texas responded with 16 consecutive points in the second quarter.
David Pino got the Longhorns on the board by nailing a season-long 46-yard field goal 21 seconds into the quarter. Then, with USC driving on the next possession, safety Michael Griffin nabbed a Matt Leinart pass on the end zone sideline and tapped his left foot for a touchback.
Texas responded with a seven play, 80 yard scoring drive that ended when Vince Young rushed to the left then, while falling down, pitched the ball to Selvin Young for the Longhorns first touchdown. David Pino missed the extra point, giving Texas a 9-7 advantage.
Texas kept rolling with their no-huddle offense after forcing a USC punt. Young engineered a four-play, 51-yard drive capped by Ramonce Taylor's 30-yard counter run.
The Trojans managed a field goal before halftime and narrowed the gap to 16-10.
Points came at a premium in the first half but the nation's two most explosive offenses found a rhythm in the second.
USC put up 28 second-half points on the Longhorns, but the Texas defense came up with a big stop when it needed it most. Trojans coach Pete Carroll decided to go for a crucial fourth and two situation inside of three minutes remaining. The Longhorns held LenDale White, who rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns on the evening, to only one yard and turned the ball over to Young and the Longhorns' offense.
