Alamo Bowl

First match-up of ranked teams.  After three games in the day and the MSU game coming up around 2am, I had zero interest in this one.

#23 Texas vs. #13 Oregon State

Hey, no coaching changes.  But player changes galore for Texas, suspending two players a week or so back and then sending quarterback Case McCoy and another player home for violating team rules.

The roster shake up seemed to have the Longhorns on their heels in the first half, leaving them down 20-10 at the half.  It could have been worse as the Beavers settled for a couple field goals.

Second half, the Alex Okafor show.  Second half beast mode for defensive players has been a growing theme through these games.  The Texas defensive lineman finished with 4.5 sacks (a new Alamo Bowl record!), leading the team that sacked the Oregon State QB 11 times.  Okafor, like Kyle Van Noy from BYU and the Estonian kid of SMU, made a lot of money thanks to this performance.

Back to the Texas QB situation.  David Ash, who replaced McCoy (Colt's little brother), rallied the Longhorns in the fourth quarter.  This is when I turned the game back on after watching an episode of Boardwalk Empire.  I'm just starting to get into the HBO show.  Moves kind of slow but captures the period.

Anyhow, Ash hit for a touchdown pass with a couple minutes to play to give Texas their first lead of the game and it stuck.

Oregon State did have one more shot but their QB continued to get pummeled into the turf in San Antonio.

Texas 31  Oregon St. 27

Game notes:

-A whole lot of orange in San Antonio. 

-Great security there in the Alamodome. At least the guy kept his clothes on.

-Players make out with the bowl swag, one of the best hauls of any game:  Apple iPad mini, Fossil watch, $100 Best Buy gift card, panoramic team photo, Schutt mini helmet.  I'd like to find one of these bowl game mini helmets on ebay.

I had Oregon State in this one, drifting to .500.  Need the Spartans to win in Tempe.  I'm sure their offense will look razor sharp...