Texas wins Big 12 South, rips Kansas
November 22, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)—Colt McCoy set an NCAA record with his 43rd career victoryas a starter, passing for 396 yards as No. 3 Texas wrapped up the Big 12 Southtitle with a 51-20 victory Saturday night over a Kansas and embattled coach MarkMangino.
McCoy, playing his final home games, improved to 43-7 in his career as astarter, breaking the record he shared with former Georgia quarterback DavidGreene (2001-2004).
Texas (11-0, 7-0) secured its first division title since 2005, with aThanksgiving game at rival Texas A&M left to play before the Big 12 championshipon Dec. 5 against Nebraska.
McCoy threw four touchdown passes, two to James Kirkendoll.
Kansas (5-6, 1-6) dropped its sixth straight, adding to a miserable week andseason for Mangino. University officials have confirmed they are investigatingMangino over allegations of emotional and verbal abuse of players, fuelingspeculation he may be fired.
The defeat only compounds Mangino’s troubles. The 2007 coach of the year is50-47 in his eighth season and could still lead the Jayhawks to a third straightbowl game for the first time in school history with a win over Missouri nextweek.
McCoy’s big night and two more games to shine on national television couldgive his Heisman Trophy hopes a big late-season boost. He has 23 touchdownpasses this season with 2,996 yards.
Unlike other games when Texas was winning big and McCoy watched the fourthquarter from the sideline, he stayed in against Kansas until late to say a finalgoodbye to the home fans.
With about six minutes left, the Texas-record crowd of 101,357 chanted“Colt! Colt!” and he hugged coach Mack Brown, saluted the fans and pointed atthe sky before jogging into the huddle.
Texas then called a timeout and he and receiver Jordan Shipley walked offthe field together to a thunderous cheer and ovation. The roommates haveconnected for 28 touchdowns.
After the game, most of the crowd stayed to watch as McCoy and Texas’ otherseniors high-fived fans in the front row. The players went to the corner of theend zone and fired the cannon that notes Longhorns touchdowns. McCoy poundedthree times on the “Big Bertha” bass drum before leaving the field.
McCoy was a redshirt freshman watching Vince Young led Texas to the Big 12title and its first undisputed national championship in 36 years in 2005. Hisfirst win came back on Sept. 2, 2006 when he threw a 60-yard touchdown pass onthe second attempt of his career.
Back then, the Longhorns went to a no-huddle offense in part to keep himfrom getting intimidated by the seniors on the offensive line.
In his final home game, McCoy’s fifth pass was the 41-yard scoring strike toKirkendoll when he lofted the ball behind two defenders as the receiver streakeddown the sideline.
Kansas put up some of the best numbers of the season against the nation’stop-rated defense. Jayhawks quarterback Todd Reesing passed for 256 yards.Dezmon Briscoe had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
But this was McCoy’s night.
He connected with Shipley for a score right after McCoy got popped hard on ascramble. The 68-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Williams came on the first playafter Kansas had cut Texas’ lead to 27-13.
McCoy did just about everything in this one. He rushed for 29 yards and evenpunted a pooch kick in the third quarter.