The U.S. Winter Olympic roster was released on Tuesday and as you might expect the state of Texas will not be well represented in Vancouver.  There are four Texans on the US roster out of approximately 211 athletes.  You can find four summer Olympians swimming in the same lane at any Longhorn Aquatics practice at UT’s Jamail Swim Center.

One of the the four should grab a lot of headlines.  Speed Skater Chad Hedrick from the Houston area won three medals in 2006 including gold in the 5000 meters.  What makes Hedrick even more appealing to follow is that his top rival isn’t from some Eastern European country, its American teammate Shani Davis and its not a real friendly rivalry.

The other Texans going to Vancouver are Bobsledder Justin Olsen from San Antonio and short track speed skater Malone Jordan from Denton.

There would have been a 4th, but veteran Bobsledder Todd Hays (Del Rio, TX)was forced into sudden retirement after suffering a head injury while training in Europe.  I remember being in Salt Lake City in 2002 when Hays caused quite a stir in his pre-Olympic press conference.  Performance enhancing drugs was a hot topic and Hays decided to make a point by dumping an entire back-pack full of energy bars and drinks provided to athletes free of charge in the Olympic village.  Hays went on to say he was not totally certain that these products wouldn’t lead to a positive test.  Hays went on to win a silver medal in the four man bobsled competition.

Games begin on February 12th right here on NBC.

College baseball practice begins on Friday and the Longhorns open the season with the big bullseye on their back.   Baseball America just announced their pre-season poll with Texas #1 ahead of Virginia, defending champ LSU, CS-Fullerton and Rice.  Its the 6th time in the 30 years of this poll that Texas has been the pre-season #1.

Horns are coming off a runner-up to the Tigers. Last time that happened was 2005 when they followed their championship series loss to Fullerton with the national title over Florida.

The biggest reason for the ranking is the pitching staff led by Sophomore Taylor Jungmann who was brilliant in their game 2 win over LSU in the championship series.  Junior’s Chance Ruffin and Cole Green are also pre-season All Ameircans.

Horns open the season at home against New Mexico on February 19th in the first of 3 games against the Lobos.  This marks Augie Garrido’s 13th year at Texas and his 41st year overall as a head coach.

In sports, we work nights and weekends. Therefore, having to be at work before 7:00 in the morning on a Sunday is not the easiest thing to do. But what makes it worth the morning grumbling and sluggishness is watching someone cross a finish line.

5500 people crossed (and are crossing) the finish line at the 3M Half Marathon today. The winner is a UT Pan-Am graduate, 28-year-old Westly Keating. He finished in 1:03:22. The women’s winner was Hirut Mandefro of Ethopia, who finished in 1:14:24.

As a non-runner, the amazing thing to watch is the look on people’s faces as they cross the finish line. It’s cheezy, but you’re sharing someone’s victory, and no matter how big or small that is, it’s something to appreciate. Plus, the feeling is pretty contagious and you get the idea later that you can tackle something big. I tackled a cinnamon roll. It was large.

All joking aside, being a sports reporter is about appreciating victories. And it was nice to see hundreds of victories in person today.

I wrote my first web story for football today, usually i’m just giving my opinion and so before you read this know how much of a competitor Colt is, how much he deserved this award and how INCREDIBLY lucky he is to have a fiance like Rachel. That might have been his biggest victory to go forward in his life with someone who makes him better and really pushes him not to settle. and if you question how bad he wanted to play, you need to check yourself at the door. he wore his pads just so if any feeling whatsoever he would’ve played. colt has played sick, hurt and basically beat up all year so if you’re thinking that….you need to back up and rethink it. so here’s the story…

Texas QB Colt McCoy wins Manning award as nations top QB.—only award named after the completion of bowl games

The images of Colt McCoy being injured on the 4th play from scrimmage against Alabama in the National Championship game are fresh on the minds of all Texas fans. Thursday’s award highlighted a busy week for McCoy who’s currently in California rehabbing his injured shoulder. Monday was a huge day fro the future of Colt. The day started in Alabama where renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrews told Colt there wasn’t any structural damage and would be back at 100% after 2 weeks of rehab. The good news continued into the day as Colt decided where he was going to rehab and hired an agent. Then later in the evening flying back to Austin, Colt decided to make sure his long time girlfriend would be with him as he headed into the next phase of his life. Colt proposed to Rachel Glandorf at DKR Memorial Stadium using the Godzillatron to pop the question. Rachel said yes and so Monday was a big yes day for Colt. “”she pushes me to be the best I can be, and doesn’t let me settle for anything less. I know I’m a better player on the field because of her and am truly blessed.”

Talking football on this mornings conference call with reporters Colt talked about a myriad of things. He’s prepared for the combine and knows how hard he’s worked to get where he is and how hard he will work to be the best he can in the NFL. Tells anyone who questions his toughness to ask his teammates. Colt’s 45 wins is the NCAA record for wins and he has been injured only once but still played the following week and the bowl game when he was a freshman.

In case your wondering why he was still suited out during the second half o the game, the answer is he wanted to play. The doctors told him to shower up and get in street cloths but colt wanted to stay dressed out just in case the feeling came back in his arm so he could play. He ended the conference call by saying how much President Obama’s call to Coach Brown lifted his spirits; proud of his team and especially Garrett Gilbert/ extremely grateful no surgery was required; and that his best football days are ahead of him.

To his doubters he says comments that he could’ve played were extremely “hurtful” and found them to be “bad things to say” but that he and his teammates know that if he could’ve been in there, he would’ve played if his right arm had feeling and the rest of his body was numb.

The trip back from Los Angeles gave me more than ample time to think back on what had happened the last week. The while line starts to blur, the sunrise becomes the sunset and in between so many thoughts. I would say that what sticks out in my mind is game day. If you know me you know I can go thru a thousand thoughts in a second. The first hug was from Ricky Williams, how awesome it was to see him and just see his smile that let’s you know how much fun he’s having playing football. The second was from Chris Simms, his actual first time in burnt orange on the sidelines since he left so many years ago. You could just tell it was time for Chris to come back and feel comfortable in a place that spewed so much hate toward him and for him to feel okay. Both Sally and I agreed it was past time, but the right time for him to return. Selvin Young went out of his way to come over and say hello and tell me about his restaurant he was opeing in Houston. Selvin is one of those solid people you meet in life. Looking at all of the former NFL players you could feel the sense of pride and love they had for each other and for the football team that had become their second family. One by one the hugs between all of the former players and fans said it all and set the stage for the game. I could go on and on about this but I think Vince Young said it best on the field when he said “I am very blessed”.

The game showed everyeone what this team is all about. Everyone at the gas stations along the way and even the Border Patrol agents at the check points said if Colt had stayed in Texas would’ve smashed them….we will never know but the perception is larger than reality in this case. I think what it does show is that on the big stage, Colt is a difference maker and this experience may help him down the road in say the Super Bowl for instance. For Garrett Gilbert it showed him that as a freshman with limited experience was really onely a couplf of plays away from winning the trophy. So that should make Longhorn fans rest easy about GG’s confidence and trust me, I bet he’s the type that will work his butt off to get back on that stage and win it.

I know that Greg McElroy’s dad said he would’ve crawled to Austin to play at Texas, today he’s at WalMart showing off his National Championship trophy. I might need to sit and talk with the Zen master Augie to figure all of this out.

After six days in Southern California, primarily Newport Beach, we finally made it out to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Wednesday.  It is without question the most beautiful setting for a Football game.   The two teams came through for a quick look around and team picture in front of the stadium.  No usual pre-game walk thru, the brand new turf will remain untouched until game day.  It has been a long week of seemingly endless interviews, but today was a shot of adrenaline, being at the stadium and realizing the game is now within site. 

I have the unique opportunity to pull double duty with Longhorn football, not only covering it for KXAN-TV, but my view from the sidelines for the Longhorn Radio Network.  I’ll switch hats tomorrow evening and join Craig Way and Keith Moreland for the broadcast in what can only be described as a privledge. I can’t imagine anything topping the ‘05 Championship game finish when Vince ran right past me for the game winning touchdown.  But then again, who would have thought three years ago Colt McCoy would lead this team back to the Championship Game.  Hope its a fun one.

There have been some geat moments here in Sunny Cali. Mack Brown showed the national media why he’s been one of the most successful recruites and ocaches in the past ten years. If this team wins tomorrow night, then everyone who’s played for this program since 2002 will have a championship ring. Hope you’re enjoying the YouTube videos and web pictures. I feel like there is so much to talk about it would take a year to write down the emotion of the past week. I’ll try to gain some perspective so I can give a good perspective later tonight. Right now, just like the football team, it’s time to prepare to cover a national championship game. Make sure we have all the equipment we need and be ready for anything that happens.

There will be one winner and one disappointed — because in this gaem the loser isn’t really a loser but a team that wasn’t the best on this day. The winner you hope will show grace and dignity to the sport

What a week, what an awesome thing to be able to report on a game that so many of these kids have dreamed about….it truly is the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

There is nothing like media at the BCS Championship game to see players true personalities come out.  Jordan Shipley reluctantly walked to his podium and sat politely answering questions even though he would have rather been running stairs at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.  While Shipley admitted he doesn’t have much interest in the media part of the game, he understands he has a platform that most kids his age don’t and he is never afraid to express how blessed he feels about his career at Texas. 

On the other hand the Acho brothers were eating it up.  Junior defensive end Sam and Sophomore linebacker Emmanuel seemed joined at the hip for the hour, playing off of eachother like they were identical twins. 

This also marks the last time the players will be available for interviews until the game is played. 

On Wednesday the coaches take center stage with one final pre game news conference. 

While the weather has been way colder than normal around the country, it has been warmer than normal out here. Temperatures were in the mid 70’s on Tuesday, but that golf course right behind our hotel might as well have been a 1000 miles away. 

Texas defensive coordinator joked on Sunday that Colt McCoy showed up on campus at 175 pounds from tiny Tuscola (pop. 714 according to Colt) and told Davis he wanted to be the best he ever coached.  Davis kind of laughed.  Now he might be ready to cry as they prepare for McCoy’s final game as a Longhorn.  Davis said that Colt is constantly watching film and preparing any way he can to make sure that he is ready for he described as a possibly the best team he has ever faced in the Crimson Tide.  Davis said that not only will Texas miss Colt, but college football will miss Colt “college football needs more Colt McCoy’s,” said Davis at Sunday’s press conference. 

When senior Center Chris Hall was asked about how he avoids getting caught up in being the underdog to Alabama Hall said he just doesn’t watch TV or read the paper.  Instead Hall is concerning himself with an Alabama defensive front that may be better than Nebraska anchored by Terrence “mount” Cody, their 364 pound nose tackle.

On tuesday the Texas defense will take center stage as will the Alabama offense led by their first ever Heisman winner in running back Mark Ingram.

After a Saturday at Disneyland, then Downtown Disney for fun and games at the ESPN Zone, its a little more business on Sunday.  First formal press conferences go down on Sunday morning.  Texas will have offensive coordinator Greg Davis along with Colt McCoy, Jordan Shipley, Tre Newton, Adam Ulatoski, and Chris Hall available to the media.  The theme will no doubt be how will Texas fare against Alabama’s vaunted defense after struggling against the likes of Oklahoma and Nebraska?  No doubt Texas has a plan, and no doubt they won’t tell us.  

On the flip side Alabama will have defensive players like All-American linebacker Rolando McClain and mammoth nose tackle Terrence “Mount” Cody on hand to turn the tables and explain how they will try and stop McCoy, Shipley and the Texas.  No doubt they have a plan and no doubt, they won’t tell us. 

Should be fun though, a story line or two will emerge that we’re not expecting and thats what we’ll run with. 

By the way, ran into Will Muschamp outside of the ESPN Zone on Saturday evening.  While his two little boys were having the time of their life running around, you could tell the Texas Defensive Coordinator would have much rather been locked up in a room watching film than dodging Mickey and Goofy.  Oh well, that Dad job never goes away.

Its another sunny morning here in Newport Beach, so lets get to work?