http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/5161576.htmlSept. 25, 2007, 12:30AM
No time for looking back
Kansas State comes to Austin this week, and Texas players remember what happened last year. But revenge is not an issue
AUSTIN — From an injury to starting quarterback Colt McCoy on the opening drive of the game to turnovers and trick plays, nothing went right for the Texas Longhorns in a stunning 45-42 upset loss at Kansas State last season.
By the time the Wildcats fans stormed the field to celebrate one of the biggest triumphs in school history, the Longhorns could have clicked their cleats three times and said, "We're not in the national championship picture anymore."
Ten months later, you won't find "Remember Manhattan" — as in the Little Apple, not the Big Apple — T-shirts being sold on the Texas campus. Co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina said he won't dust off the game tape and show his unit.
Last year won't be the battle cry heading into Saturday's Big 12 opener against Kansas State at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
"
This isn't a revenge game," senior offensive tackle Tony Hills said. "
What happened in the past, happened in the past."
Poster's note: Sure, its not a revenge game. Tony must have been in the locker room when this happened:
http://stage6.divx.com/user/hpnutty/video/1281289/K-State-UT-3rd-quarter-fireworks
On a day of upsets last Nov. 11, the then-No. 4 Longhorns had thoughts of moving up in the Bowl Championship Series standings, which are used to determine which teams play in the national championship game.
Fortunes turned early
And it appeared that way when McCoy scored on a 1-yard run to give the Longhorns a 7-0 lead. But McCoy suffered a neck injury on the play and missed the rest of the game, and the Longhorns found themselves in a shootout minus one of their top playmakers.
"I just remember there were numerous times during the game we had momentum going and, whether it be a play on special teams or defense, we kind of gave it up and could never keep it going," senior linebacker Scott Derry said.
"They (the Wildcats) just kept getting it right back and making big plays."
The Longhorns suffered critical fumbles by Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young and had a punt blocked that led to a score. The secondary was burned for 323 yards, falling for a halfback pass for a touchdown that gave the Wildcats a 28-21 lead.
Behind quarterback Josh Freeman, Kansas State scored three touchdowns in a span of 3:06 in the third quarter.
Down by three touchdowns, Texas battled back but never caught up.
"This is a new year. That was last year," said defensive tackle Derek Lokey, who missed the game with a broken leg. "It's not a game about revenge."
Derry said bigger than the loss to Kansas State was the fallout two weeks later at home against Texas A&M.
The Longhorns could have qualified for the Big 12 Championship Game with a victory, but instead lost 12-7 and played in the Alamo Bowl.
"We had a chance against A&M and let that one slip away as well," Derry said.
A different motivation
Coach Mack Brown said it's not his style to use revenge as a motivational tactic.
"We want to win the Big 12 championship and this is the opening game," he said. "We still haven't played our best game and Kansas State is really good.
"If guys can't get excited about playing the opening conference game, they shouldn't be playing anyway."
This week's game will be an upgrade in competition after the Longhorns narrowly beat Arkansas State and Central Florida and rallied from a 10-point deficit before blowing out tcu.
Kansas State (2-1) had a ranked Auburn team on the ropes in the season opener before allowing two touchdowns in the final two minutes to fall 23-13.
"It gets more serious," Charles said. "A lot of people are trying to win the Big 12 title. We're finished with the open season. Now it's time to handle the real business."
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