FROM THE REAL ART SPORTS DESK:
TEXAS PLAYS LIKE A CHAMPION; LSU DOES NOT

From the Austin American-Statesman:

Texas wins Big 12 title with 70-3 romp over Buffaloes

HOUSTON — The best things in college football came by the dozens to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday:

•They won the Big 12 Conference championship in overwhelming fashion, defeating Colorado 70-3, in Houston's Reliant Stadium.

•They improved to 12-0 for the first time in school history.

•They wrapped up a dozen roses and a trip to their first Bowl Championship Series national championship game — a return trip to the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.

"A lot of people said last year we were coming back," Longhorn coach Mack Brown said of his team's two consecutive trips to Pasadena. "Now we are."

Brown's team was handed the Big 12 championship trophy on the field after the game — along with a massive bouquet of roses.

The only drama Saturday came after the game, when the second-ranked Longhorns awaited the outcome of the UCLA vs. Southern Cal game to learn their Rose Bowl opponent.

USC, ranked No. 1 in the polls all season and in the current BCS standings, is seeking its third consecutive national title. Texas, which last claimed a national title in 1970, is seeking its fourth in school history.

The BCS bowl lineup will become official at 4 p.m. Central time Sunday. Texas' place in the national championship was secured a lot earlier than that.

Before an overwhelmingly burnt-orange crowd of 71,107, Texas jumped on Colorado (7-5) from the start, forcing a Buffalo fumble on the game's opening drive. Colorado would go on to turn the ball over four times as it suffered the worst loss in Big 12 championship history.

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Not much to say here. The game was every bit as lopsided as the score indicates. Indeed, I called my wife, who was at work, early in the third quarter, and while we were talking, for less than ten minutes, Texas scored three touchdowns. In fact, if you put together the last ten minutes of the second quarter with the first ten minutes of the third quarter, you see how utterly dominating the 'Horns were today: they got seven touchdowns in twenty minutes of game time. Somehow the word "rout" just doesn't do justice. This was a massacre of Biblical proportions. I actually felt kind of sorry for the Buffaloes by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. But this is what I wanted to see, Texas making a very loud statement, especially after the embarrassingly close game against Texas A&M last week.

But USC, the 'Horns' opponent for the national title game at the Rose Bowl in January, also made a statement today: they beat a much better opponent, 11th ranked UCLA, almost as convincingly, 66-19. It's going to be a good game between these two college football giants. I hope the Longhorns are ready.


Texas quarterback Vince Young relishes the victory (photo courtesy of ESPN)

On the other hand, my other college team didn't fare so well. From the AP via the Baton Rouge Advocate:

Injuries sink LSU's championship hopes

ATLANTA (AP) -- LSU began its Saturday gameday routine believing it still could win the national championship. By the end of the day that belief - and the No. 3 Tigers' hopes for a Southeastern Conference title - were lost in a wave of injuries and penalties.

With the 34-14 loss to No. 13 Georgia, LSU may have to settle for a repeat trip to the Georgia Dome for the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl. Another option is the Cotton Bowl, which is believed to be favoring Alabama but could reconsider and pick LSU.

The SEC championship game loss to Georgia already appeared certain when quarterback JeMarcus Russell left the field late in the third quarter with an injured left shoulder. The Bulldogs led 24-7, a shocking score for LSU, considering it had spent its season playing close game after close game.

LSU also lost receiver Early Doucet with an ankle injury in the second quarter.

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Not much to say here either. I didn't get to watch this one because I had to go to the theater for tonight's performace of Big Love, but I was keeping track of it online. It seems that Georgia had the game in hand pretty early on. For a short time at the start of the second quarter, when the Tigers were only down by a touchdown, it looked like we had a chance, but no such luck. It looks like this season's Tiger magic has worn off. Really, given how they've performed this year, with such close victory margins, numerous turnovers, and generally sloppy play, I'm surprised they've only got two losses. I suppose I should be thankful for what they've accomplised. After all, this part of the state has been in hurricane hell for months--10-2 really ain't so bad.

And there's no shame in not making the BCS. Texas, for instance, kept out by OU again and again, has posted some pretty cool and dramatic victories in second tier bowls. The Tigers still have one more to go, and I bet they play well.


Louisiana State University quarterback JaMarcus Russell
grimaces in pain after being sacked in the third quarter (AP Photo)

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