GLORIOUS!
TEXAS LONGHORNS WIN
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP


Texas QB Vince Young scrambles past three USC defenders.

From ESPN, who seemed to have the best overall article about the game:

Vince Young bounced on his toes, trying to buy himself some time and searching frantically for a way to win a championship.

And then he took off.

With the national title down to a final play, fourth down and 5 yards to go, Young scrambled untouched for an 8-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left and the No. 2 Longhorns stunned No. 1 Southern California 41-38 in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday night.

"Do whatever it takes," Young said.

He did it all -- and made sure that Texas was second no more to USC and its Heisman Trophy twins, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart.

It was the ultimate revenge for Young, the bitterly disappointed runner-up to Bush for the Heisman Trophy last month.

Click here for the rest.

Personally, I think that a national championship beats the Heisman any day of the week--after all, football is a team sport. On the other hand, UT's quarterback Vince Young made an extremely compelling statement that Heisman voters really screwed up this year. Keeping in mind that Young couldn't perform his magic without very solid backup, I'm pretty much on the side of the countless sports writers who are calling his performance in the Rose Bowl the best ever in college football, maybe in all football, maybe in all sports.

That final drive was truly glorious. Actually, UT's last two drives were glorious. When they were down twelve points with only six minutes left, I was fighting an urge to change the channel in disgust. USC's offense had been virtually unstoppable in the second half. Even if we managed to pick up a touchdown, fast, how could we stop them and get the ball back with enough time to score again? How glad I am that I watched it all unfold--that fourth and two call by USC, along with Texas' defense stopping them six inches short really blew me away. Then the offense went to work, and it was over in a minute and a half. Masterful.

When Leinart threw that last incomplete pass and time ran out, it took me a moment to realize that it was over. I turned to Becky, who also went to the University, and said, "I bet Austin's freaking out right now." Seconds later, my older brother, also a Texas Ex, called me from Austin where he lives to share the glory with me. He told me that he was near campus, driving home from where he watched the game: it was hard to hear him through all the horn honking and joyous shouting in the background. Austin was, indeed, freaking out.

And they certainly deserve to celebrate. And so do I. So does my buddy Matt, also a Texas Ex, who sometimes comments here. So does every Longhorn in the world. It's been 35 years since our last national championship--when I arrived at the University back in 1986, those glory days were long gone by; the Longhorns at that point were but a shadow of their former selves. Now, after last night's dramatic victory, we're looking at what I believe is the best team in school history. Never have I been so happy about something that affects my life not at all.

Here's what I'm talking about:


Longhorn fans whoop it up before the game.

If you don't get it, I can't explain it any better than that picture.

Dude! We're the freakin' NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!!

Here are some more stories worth checking out.

From the Austin American-Statesman:

Longhorns win first national championship since 1970

Longhorn victory jolts President Bush from sleep

UT Tower to get No. 1 treatment

Texas Grabs No. 1 Rank After Rose Bowl Win
(This also notes that my current school, LSU, finished with a very respectable #6 ranking.)

A glorious day-after for Horns fans

From the Houston Chronicle:

Texas stuns USC to win Rose
Bowl and national championship

On biggest stage, UT's quarterback steals show

HOOK 'EM 'HORNS!

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