On biggest stage, UT's quarterback steals show
They won because they have the best player on earth. In the end, it's that simple.
There's no argument about Vince Young. There won't be again. He's different. He has competitive fires others don't have. He has physical gifts others can't begin to match.
He's why the Texas Longhorns are college football's new national champions. He's why they believed they would win all along. He has made his greatness their greatness.
His legend is secure. With his Longhorns trailing by 12 points in the fourth quarter, Young put the national championship game on his back and rallied the Longhorns to a 41-38 victory Wednesday night in the Rose Bowl.
At the end, the Longhorns stormed onto the field, celebrating wildly and madly.
Mack Brown, who had heard for so long how he couldn't win the big one, won the biggest a head coach can win.
"It's really, really special," Brown said. "It was really surreal when you're down by two scores and you still think you're going to win. We never, ever thought we'd lose the ballgame. Our team never gave up."
Texas won two other undisputed national championships — in 1963 and 1969. Both of those teams were coached by Darrell Royal.
Brown wanted Royal here for this moment. They've grown close in Brown's eight seasons. They swap stories about the pleasures and pains of coaching a big-time program.
For USC, it was the end of an amazing era. For quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush, it was one of those nights they believed would never come.
They'd been invincible for 34 games and 45 of 46. They believed this time would be no different.
USC's 34-game win streak ended abruptly. So did the Trojans' attempt to win a share of a third straight national championship. USC lost because of Young. He did it with his arm and with his feet. More than any of those things, he did it with his will.
This game featured the last two Heisman Trophy winners — Leinart and Bush.
Young is better than either of them by a wide margin. He scored 14 points in the chaotic final moments. He ran 17 yards for a touchdown with 4:03 left. He ran 8 yards for the game-winner on fourth down with 19 seconds remaining. And he ran for a two-point conversion.
"He's one of the great players to ever play college football," Brown said.
Young got a final chance after USC failed to convert a fourth-down play with 2:09 left. Young promptly led a 56-yard touchdown drive.
When he was done, he'd run for 200 yards and passed for 267 in one of the most amazing performances of all time. He carried the Longhorns both emotionally and physically. He was rightfully named the game's Most Valuable Player.
"He's an extraordinary football player," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "He's so fast. He's big. He probably made us miss 11 tackles."
The Trojans had learned to thrive on pressure. They'd stared it down and spit in its eye.
Not this time.
That's the problem with a championship game, especially one featuring two teams who've accomplished so much. Both teams believe in destiny. Both teams believe they can will the outcome.
In a game that fulfilled every expectation, a game that featured two heavyweights punching and counterpunching, two teams who simply refused to give in to exhaustion and tension, the Longhorns were better.
Texas got a final crack at victory with 2:09 remaining, 56 yards from the goal line. Young completed three straight passes. He ran for 7 yards and then 5 more. He missed a throw into the end zone.
Then with 26 seconds remaining, and Texas facing a fourth-and-five at the USC 8-yard line, Young took the snap and ran right, into the end zone to win it.
The evening didn't begin this way. Aaron Ross fumbled a punt after USC's opening possession, and the Trojans drove 46 yards for a 7-0 lead 2:33 into the game.
And then USC did something stupid.
The Trojans had a 7-0 lead and were about to make it 14-0 when they handed Texas a break.
Bush, who had a quiet night despite 82 rushing yards and 95 receiving yards, caught a short pass from Leinart and was weaving through the Texas defense. He gained 37 yards to the Texas 19, then inexplicably attempted to lateral to a teammate.
The Longhorns recovered at their 19-yard line, and Texas dominated the remainder of the half and got in position to win at the end.
Another Texas hero was defensive back Michael Griffin, who made a spectacular interception in the end zone late in the half.
Texas led 16-10 at the half. It was only the eighth time — the fifth this year — USC has trailed at halftime during its 34-game winning streak.
The Trojans answered quickly in the second half. LenDale White scored twice in the third quarter, and when Bush sprinted 26 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, USC seemed to have the game in hand.
USC didn't have Vince Young. Texas does. He's 30-2 as a starter. His legend is secure. He's the best player on the best team in his sport.
richard.justice@chron.com
There's no argument about Vince Young. There won't be again. He's different. He has competitive fires others don't have. He has physical gifts others can't begin to match.
He's why the Texas Longhorns are college football's new national champions. He's why they believed they would win all along. He has made his greatness their greatness.
His legend is secure. With his Longhorns trailing by 12 points in the fourth quarter, Young put the national championship game on his back and rallied the Longhorns to a 41-38 victory Wednesday night in the Rose Bowl.
At the end, the Longhorns stormed onto the field, celebrating wildly and madly.
Mack Brown, who had heard for so long how he couldn't win the big one, won the biggest a head coach can win.
"It's really, really special," Brown said. "It was really surreal when you're down by two scores and you still think you're going to win. We never, ever thought we'd lose the ballgame. Our team never gave up."
Texas won two other undisputed national championships — in 1963 and 1969. Both of those teams were coached by Darrell Royal.
Brown wanted Royal here for this moment. They've grown close in Brown's eight seasons. They swap stories about the pleasures and pains of coaching a big-time program.
For USC, it was the end of an amazing era. For quarterback Matt Leinart and running back Reggie Bush, it was one of those nights they believed would never come.
They'd been invincible for 34 games and 45 of 46. They believed this time would be no different.
USC's 34-game win streak ended abruptly. So did the Trojans' attempt to win a share of a third straight national championship. USC lost because of Young. He did it with his arm and with his feet. More than any of those things, he did it with his will.
This game featured the last two Heisman Trophy winners — Leinart and Bush.
Young is better than either of them by a wide margin. He scored 14 points in the chaotic final moments. He ran 17 yards for a touchdown with 4:03 left. He ran 8 yards for the game-winner on fourth down with 19 seconds remaining. And he ran for a two-point conversion.
"He's one of the great players to ever play college football," Brown said.
Young got a final chance after USC failed to convert a fourth-down play with 2:09 left. Young promptly led a 56-yard touchdown drive.
When he was done, he'd run for 200 yards and passed for 267 in one of the most amazing performances of all time. He carried the Longhorns both emotionally and physically. He was rightfully named the game's Most Valuable Player.
"He's an extraordinary football player," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "He's so fast. He's big. He probably made us miss 11 tackles."
The Trojans had learned to thrive on pressure. They'd stared it down and spit in its eye.
Not this time.
That's the problem with a championship game, especially one featuring two teams who've accomplished so much. Both teams believe in destiny. Both teams believe they can will the outcome.
In a game that fulfilled every expectation, a game that featured two heavyweights punching and counterpunching, two teams who simply refused to give in to exhaustion and tension, the Longhorns were better.
Texas got a final crack at victory with 2:09 remaining, 56 yards from the goal line. Young completed three straight passes. He ran for 7 yards and then 5 more. He missed a throw into the end zone.
Then with 26 seconds remaining, and Texas facing a fourth-and-five at the USC 8-yard line, Young took the snap and ran right, into the end zone to win it.
The evening didn't begin this way. Aaron Ross fumbled a punt after USC's opening possession, and the Trojans drove 46 yards for a 7-0 lead 2:33 into the game.
And then USC did something stupid.
The Trojans had a 7-0 lead and were about to make it 14-0 when they handed Texas a break.
Bush, who had a quiet night despite 82 rushing yards and 95 receiving yards, caught a short pass from Leinart and was weaving through the Texas defense. He gained 37 yards to the Texas 19, then inexplicably attempted to lateral to a teammate.
The Longhorns recovered at their 19-yard line, and Texas dominated the remainder of the half and got in position to win at the end.
Another Texas hero was defensive back Michael Griffin, who made a spectacular interception in the end zone late in the half.
Texas led 16-10 at the half. It was only the eighth time — the fifth this year — USC has trailed at halftime during its 34-game winning streak.
The Trojans answered quickly in the second half. LenDale White scored twice in the third quarter, and when Bush sprinted 26 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, USC seemed to have the game in hand.
USC didn't have Vince Young. Texas does. He's 30-2 as a starter. His legend is secure. He's the best player on the best team in his sport.
richard.justice@chron.com
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