AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas fans were still celebrating their
first national championship in 36 years when Vince Young dimmed
their hopes of a repeat.
The dynamic quarterback is leaving for the NFL, forcing Texas to
defend its title with either redshirt freshman Colt McCoy or a high
school recruit who hasn't signed with the Longhorns yet.
Had Young returned for his senior season, Texas might have
started ranked No. 1. The Longhorns have a 20-game winning streak
and return most of their starters.
Without him, Texas figures to be a top 10 team, but won't be
favored to defend its title.
McCoy is the only scholarship quarterback on the roster. He has
a full season of practice -- some with the scout team and some snaps
as the No. 2 -- but has never been under pressure in a college game.
Highly regarded recruit Jevan Snead can't officially sign until
Feb. 1, but plans to enroll in classes this month so he can
participate in spring practice.
Whoever starts Sept. 2 against North Texas will have plenty of
talent to support him. The Longhorns return most of the line and
skill position players from an offense that averaged 51 points per
game last season.
For a little perspective of how tough the job will be: Young was
the top recruit in the country in 2002 and even he didn't start as
a true freshman behind Chris Simms and Chance Mock.
Young didn't get his first start until midway through the 2003
season. He went on to post a school-record 30 wins.
Texas hasn't started the season with a freshman quarterback
since Shea Morenz in 1993. The Longhorns went 5-5-1.
In 1998, Major Applewhite took over the starting job as a
redshirt freshman after the second game, leading Texas to a 9-3
finish. He went on to set several Texas passing records.
At the news conference to announce his departure, Young called
McCoy "a smart quarterback" with a strong arm who has caught on
quickly in team meetings and practice.
"He's already gained the respect of the guys, and like I told
him all year, that's the biggest key," Young said. "You have to
gain the respect of the guys and get them to believe in you. You
don't have to make every play all the time, just be their leader
and their quarterback."
McCoy looked like a confident and sharp passer in Texas' final
open scrimmage before the start of last season. But he's not the
running threat Young was.
Snead is considered more of a dual-threat quarterback. If McCoy
starts, coach Mack Brown will likely retool an offense designed
around Young's ability to break long runs.
Texas is short on quarterback depth because Brown, one of the
top recruiters in the game, couldn't sign one for two years with
Young on the roster.
Big-name quarterbacks Rhett Bomar (Oklahoma), Xavier Lee
(Florida State) and Ryan Perrilloux (LSU) passed on the Longhorns.
Perrilloux had orally committed to sign with Texas last season but
changed his mind.
Bomar redshirted in 2004 and is now the starter at Oklahoma. Lee
and Perrilloux are still fighting for playing time.
Young leaves behind a legacy on the field and in the record
book.
He was 30-2 as a starter and set Texas career records for total
offense (9,167 yards), touchdowns (81) and career rushing
touchdowns by a quarterback (37).
This season, Young became the only player in NCAA history to
pass for 3,000 yards (3,036) and rush for 1,000 (1,050) in one
season. His 4,086 total yards set a school single-season record.
He won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best quarterback
and the Maxwell Award as the top college football player in the
country. He finished second behind Southern California running back
Reggie Bush in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Yet it was Young's stunning Rose Bowl game against USC -- 200
yards rushing, 267 passing and three touchdowns -- that will be
remembered most.
By delivering a national title, he's created a legacy that no
Texas quarterback will be able to match without winning another
one.
"We love Vince," Brown said. "He has done great things for
our program."
Texas begins spring practice Feb. 24.
"Our expectations today remain the same as before Vince's
decision," Brown said. "We are defending champions and will move
forward."