SBNation.com - Holiday Bowl 2011, Texas Vs. Cal: Longhorns Clamp Down In 21-10 Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2011-12-29T10:22:56-05:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24020732011-12-29T10:22:56-05:002011-12-29T10:22:56-05:00Texas Turns Focus To 2012 Recruiting Class
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<p>Fresh off a 21-10 win over Cal, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> turn their attention to recruiting. And Texas readers are fortunate to have a tremendous Longhorns resource in <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com" target="_blank">Burnt Orange Nation</a>. And Wescott Eberts of BON joins us to talk Texas football recruiting. In typical fashion, Texas is battling Alabama for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2011/12/28/2666358/college-football-recruiting-alabama-texas-battle-top-class" target="_blank">top recruiting class</a>. Again. Texas currently sits at 25 commitments, and almost all of them are stars. Take it away, Wescott:</p> <p>After the Texas recruiting juggernaut managed to survive the Great Coaching Purge following the 2010 season with only one 2011 prospect decommitting, the revamped staff had to turn quickly to the recruiting trail already behind on evaluations for the upcoming class, all while beginning to forge a slightly different staff take on how to handle the process.</p>
<p>The first obvious change came with the commitment of Scottsdale Chaparral (AZ) quarterback Connor Brewer before the first Junior Day, a rarity given that Texas hasn't officially offered before the Junior Days in years. More traumatic was the following change -- Texas received only three committments at the first Junior Day in February, normally a recruiting bonanza for the Longhorns that netted 13 pledges in 2010, with six more by the end of February. It was shocking enough to spark concerns about a potential<a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/2011/2/14/1992370/texas-first-junior-day-recap-black-christmas" target="_blank"> sea change in recruiting</a>, perhaps as a result of 5-7.</p>
<p>With some strong efforts by Brewer as a recruiter, however, the Longhorns were able to establish the offensive foundation for the class by landing speed (<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Thomas Johnson</a> of Dallas Skyline) and height (Austin's own Cayleb Jones) in the receiving corps, a once-in-a-generation running back talent in Johnathan Gray, and a potential cornerstone along the offensive line in the massive but raw Pearland Dawson offensive tackle Kennedy Estelle.</p>
<p>So while the commitments trickled in more slowly than in previous years, the Longhorns mostly secured major in-state prospects like Brenham defensive tackle Malcom Brown and DeSoto guard Curtis Riser and did some solid evaluations of players like man-child Mansfield defensive end Hassan Ridgeway, a young-for-his-age physical specimen just now coming into his own as a senior, and Dallas Bishop Dunne defensive tackle Alex Norman, now a quick, playmaking machine inside at defensive tackle after shedding 60 pounds during his high school career.</p>
<p>And unlike previous years, however, the Longhorns held some spots in the class through the fall to continue evaluations during the football season. With the increased flexibility, the new coaching staff decided to take a rare path for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/115256/mack-brown">Mack Brown</a> to land some instant impact players -- heading to the junior colleges, a major philosophical change for the long-time Texas coach. Former SEC coaches Bo Davis and Sacey Searels returned to their old SEC stomping grounds to land offensive tackle Donald Hawkins and defensive tackle Brandon Moore, both of whom are expected to fill major roles next season.</p>
<p>The JUCO commitments came in the midst of a late-season flurry that saw the Longhorns land six commitments in a matter of days in early December, four of whom had previously been committed to other schools, including top 15 players in the state like Athens athlete Kendall Sanders, a former Oklahoma State commit, and Mineral Wells safety Adrian Colbert, a former Baylor commit.</p>
<p>Instead of relaxing late in the recruiting process, the Texas coaches are now spending their time scouring the state and re-evaluating any and all prospects.</p>
<p>There are several other committed prospects Texas continues to pursue, but they won't be as easy to poach as taking kids from Oklahoma State or Baylor.</p>
<p>Louisiana defensive end Torshiro Davis could fill the final need in the class with his speed off the edge, but Lousiana kids don't often de-commit from LSU. And while the Longhorns reportedly made up some ground with jumbo five-star defensive end Mario Edwards when he took his official visit for the football banquet, whether Texas can keep the Florida State commit in Texas and away from Oklahoma or Florida still seems like a difficult proposition.</p>
<p>Another prospect wide receivers coach Darrell Wyatt continues to pursue is the freak of nature known as Springfield Hillcrest (MO) wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. It's presumed that the Longhorns trail leaders Oklahoma and Arkansas, though staff changes could be hurting the Hogs.</p>
<p>On the flip side, the Longhorns appear to be fading in the recruitments of elite Geismar Dutchtown (LA) safety Landon Collins and Tempe Corona Del Sol (AZ) offensive tackle Andrus Peat, with neither currently scheduled to make an official visit to Austin.</p>
<p>Still, however Texas ends the class, it's one that will be in consideration with the best in the Mack Brown era as the new staff continues to stockpile young talent in Austin. The talent isn't quite elite at defensive end, linebacker, or cornerback, but the depth and playmaking on offense combined with the four talented defensive tackles will ensure that Alabama has some work to do to move past Texas atop the rankings for the best class in the country.</p>
<p>The Longhorn recruiting juggernaut forges ever forward, still at full steam ahead.</p>
<p><i>For more on Texas recruiting, visit<a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/section/Recruiting" target="_blank"> Burnt Orange Nation</a>. </i></p>
<p><a data-lang="en" data-show-count="true" class="twitter-follow-button" href="https://twitter.com/SBNRecruiting">Follow @SBNRecruiting on Twitter</a>.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2011/12/29/2668004/texas-football-recruiting-commits-2012Bud Elliott2011-12-29T10:16:01-05:002011-12-29T10:16:01-05:00Texas Vs. California Recap, Holiday Bowl 2011: The Numerical
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<p>The stats that mattered in Texas' 21-10 win over California in the Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl, from California's turnovers, to Texas' recruiting misfires, to Manny Diaz's ferocious defense.</p> <p><b>5</b>: Turnovers committed by California, four of the fumble variety. Texas allowed just 195 yards, forced five turnovers (worth 21.8 equivalent points, as defined <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/varsity-numbers/2009/varsity-numbers-talks-turnovers" target="_blank">here</a>), sacked Zach Maynard six times ... and won by 11? This should have been a complete massacre. But Texas' own offensive limitations, along with quality defensive play from the Golden Bears, meant only 255 yards for the Longhorns and only a handful of scoring opportunities.</p>
<p><b>9</b>: Three-and-outs. Texas had five, and Cal had four; plus, two other Cal drives ended within three plays because of a turnover. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/28/2659556/holiday-bowl-2011-preview-california-texas" target="_blank">As I mentioned in the preview</a>, fans of strong defense would probably enjoy the hell out of this game. I hope they did, because fans of offense, sustained drives, etc., didn't have much going for them in this one.</p>
<p><b>9.9</b>: Average gain of the nine Texas plays involving Marquise Goodwin. The track star rushed twice for 33 yards (including a 37-yarder that set up the game's final touchdown) and caught three of six passes for 49 yards and a four-yard touchdown on a pass from receiver <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134587/jaxon-shipley" class="sbn-auto-link">Jaxon Shipley</a>.</p>
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<p>The major problem for Texas: their other 50 plays gained just 176 yards, an average of 3.5 per play. Still some work to be done in Austin. And let's just say that while quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash" class="sbn-auto-link">David Ash</a> was not completely awful yesterday -- 14-for-23 passing, 142 yards, one touchdown, two sacks, 20 yards in six carries and, most importantly, no turnovers -- he also wasn't very good. If he were more accurate on deep balls, he would have twice found Goodwin on long bombs, and he undershot a couple of shorter passes as well. Let's just say that <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OSU/article.aspx?subjectid=93&articleid=20111229_93_B1_CUTLIN986207&rss_lnk=231" target="_blank">the timing of this article</a> wasn't tremendously friendly to Texas. The Longhorns saw <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35519/robert-griffin-iii" class="sbn-auto-link">Robert Griffin III</a> as only an "athlete," not a quarterback, and they didn't recruit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37738/andrew-luck" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrew Luck</a> or Darron Thomas. Ouch.</p>
<p><b>13</b>: Tackles for loss made by Texas. For as iffy as Texas' offense was (and will continue to be), defensive coordinator <span class="sbn-auto-link"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116750/manny-diaz">Manny Diaz</a></span> earned his keep in his first year in Austin. The Longhorns were solid last year, but struggled a bit in the big-play and passing downs departments. Not this year, and not last night. Four different Texas defenders ended up with at least two tackles for loss -- <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8522/keenan-robinson" class="sbn-auto-link">Keenan Robinson</a> (2.5), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114976/jordan-hicks" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Hicks</a> (2.5, with 1.5 sacks), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114980/jackson-jeffcoat" class="sbn-auto-link">Jackson Jeffcoat</a> (2.5, with two sacks) and safety <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77308/kenny-vaccaro" class="sbn-auto-link">Kenny Vaccaro</a> (two). They are bigger, stronger and faster than you, but they always have been; this year, they were smarter, too. And at least temporarily, their 109 tackles for loss are the most in the country for the 2011 season. Cincinnati (107), Houston (102) and LSU (98) still have bowl games to play.</p>
<p><b>170</b>: Receiving yards pulled in by Cal receivers <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35651/marvin-jones" class="sbn-auto-link">Marvin Jones</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113629/keenan-allen" class="sbn-auto-link">Keenan Allen</a>. Their face-off with star Texas corners <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134595/quandre-diggs" class="sbn-auto-link">Quandre Diggs</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114970/carrington-byndom" class="sbn-auto-link">Carrington Byndom</a> was basically a draw -- they caught 17 of 23 passes (good) at 7.4 yards per target (mediocre) -- but a) Diggs still picked off a pass and broke up two others, and b) Texas negated any advantage these two derived by repeatedly wiping out Maynard before he could even get a pass away. (It is fun noting, by the way, that including eight rushing yards by Allen, the Allen-Jones duo gained 178 yards ... and the rest of the Cal offense gained 17.)</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/29/2667927/holiday-bowl-texas-cal-score-statisticsBill Connelly2011-12-28T23:52:55-05:002011-12-28T23:52:55-05:002011 Holiday Bowl Final Score: Texas Defense Strong In 21-10 Win Over Cal
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<p>The Cal Bears turned the ball over five times -- four fumbles and a pick -- as Texas defensive coordinator <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116750/manny-diaz">Manny Diaz</a> dialed up the pressure, leading to a 21-10 Longhorn victory in the 2011 Holiday Bowl. Texas sacked Cal quarterback Zach Maynard five times while limiting the Bears to just 10 points and one yard net rushing in a somewhat dominant win.</p>
<p>Cal kicker Georgio Tavecchio got the scoring started, putting the Bears on top 3-0 with a 47-yard field goal in the first quarter. In the second, Texas broke out a trick play deep in Cal territory as wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134587/jaxon-shipley">Jaxon Shipley</a> found quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a> for four yards and a touchdown. At the half, Texas held a 7-3 lead, with each defense asserting itself in the first 30 minutes.</p>
<p>After Isi Sofele gave Cal a 10-7 lead five minutes into the second half, it was all Longhorns. The defense clamped down and continued forcing turnovers while the offense did just enough to get Texas out in front and keep it there. Just under two minutes after Cal took the lead in the third quarter, Ash answered with a 47-yard strike to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77327/marquise-goodwin">Marquise Goodwin</a> for the score, putting the Longhorns on top for good.</p>
<p>Texas added one more touchdown for good measure on the first play of the fourth quarter, coming on a four-yard Cody Johnson touchdown. The Texas defense forced one more turnover, a fumble, as Cal tried to claw back into it late in the fourth quarter, sealing the win and running out the clock on the ensuing possession.</p>
<p>For more on the Longhorns, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.burntorangenation.com">Burnt Orange Nation </a>and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.barkingcarnival.com">Barking Carnival</a>. For a view from the Bears' side, head over to California Golden Blogs.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/28/2667552/2011-holiday-bowl-final-score-texas-vs-calBrian Floyd2011-12-28T23:09:42-05:002011-12-28T23:09:42-05:002011 Holiday Bowl Score: Texas Extends Lead Over Cal, 21-10
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> are in firm control of the 2011 Holiday Bowl, taking a 21-10 lead over the California Bears at the start of the fourth quarter. This score came about as a result of sloppy play by Cal quarterback Zach Maynard, who fumbled the yet again in this game.</p>
<p>Texas' <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114968/adrian-phillips">Adrian Phillips</a> delivered the sack that caused the Maynard fumble and recovered the ball. On the first play of Texas' drive, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77327/marquise-goodwin">Marquise Goodwin</a> made his way 37 yards down the field, going Cal's 44-yard line to the seven. Cody Johnson picked up the final yards on two plays, ending it with a four-yard run for the increased lead.</p>
<p>The Cal offense has been lost for most of the game and the Texas defense has proven to be quite an effective killer of points this game.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Cal Golden Bears visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/" target="_blank">Cal blog California Golden Blogs</a>. For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/" target="_blank">Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation</a>. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/21/2578147/college-football-bowl-games-2011">2011 college football bowl game</a> coverage.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/28/2667419/holiday-bowl-2011-score-texas-calRuss Oates2011-12-28T22:34:59-05:002011-12-28T22:34:59-05:00Cal Vs. Texas Score: Bears, Longhorns Exchange Touchdowns To Start 3rd Quarter
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a> offense appears to have woken up at the start of the third quarter of the 2011 Holiday Bowl. Zach Maynard led the Bears down the field for a touchdown and a temporary 10-7 lead. The Texas Longhorns then struck back with a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a> 47-yard touchdown pass to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77327/marquise-goodwin">Marquise Goodwin</a>, taking a 14-10 lead.</p>
<p>The drive didn't start out promising once a six-yard pass gain was moved back 10 yards as a result of a 10-yard holding penalty on Cal. But then Maynard completed three passes for a total of 50 yards during the middle of the drive. Mayard's final completion of the drive, a 10-yard reception by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113629/keenan-allen">Keenan Allen</a>, set up <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77629/isi-sofele">Isi Sofele</a> for the six-yard touchdown run.</p>
<p>But the lead was short-lived. Malcolm Brown and Ash ran for 29 yards before the long touchdown pass to Goodwin. Offense is alive and kicking in the second half.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <ncaa-football>Cal Golden Bears visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/" target="_blank">Cal blog California Golden Blogs</a>. For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/" target="_blank">Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation</a>. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/21/2578147/college-football-bowl-games-2011">2011 college football bowl game</a> coverage.</ncaa-football></i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/28/2667330/texas-vs-cal-score-holiday-bowlRuss Oates2011-12-28T21:48:38-05:002011-12-28T21:48:38-05:00Holiday Bowl 2011 Halftime Score: Texas Leads Cal, 7-3, In Snoozefest
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<p>The 2011 Holiday Bowl has had little excitement in the first half, and it shows in the score. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> lead the California Bears, 7-3, at halftime. This game has so far been a huge letdown after the exciting game that was the Military Bowl just a few hours ago.</p>
<p>All of the exciting plays came on Texas' second-quarter scoring drive and they all centered on quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a>. Ash completed two passes for a total of 44 yards and then caught a four-yard touchdown pass, the only touchdown of the half.</p>
<p>Cal kicked its first field goal in the first quarter, but it took a second try to get it done. The first was waived off due to an illegal formation. However, ESPN didn't realize the flag had been thrown and cut to a commercial break, making <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/52068/giorgio-tavecchio">Giorgio Tavecchio</a> wait several minutes to attempt the field goal again.</p>
<p>At halftime, neither team has reached 100 yards of total offense. Cal has 71 and Texas is close with 96. One hundred sixty-seven total yards of offense does not making for an exciting game, obviously.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../ncaa-football/2011/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a> visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/" target="_blank">Cal blog California Golden Blogs</a>. For more on the Texas Longhorns visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/" target="_blank">Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation</a>. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/21/2578147/college-football-bowl-games-2011">2011 college football bowl game</a> coverage.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/28/2667294/holiday-bowl-2011-halftime-score-texas-calRuss Oates2011-12-28T21:29:24-05:002011-12-28T21:29:24-05:00Cal Vs. Texas Score: Longhorns Take 7-3 Lead On David Ash Reception
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a> breathed life back into the 2011 Holiday Bowl with a bit of trickery on the scoring drive that gave the team 7-3 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a>. With the running game not working, the Longhorns have relied on quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134590/david-ash">David Ash</a> to move the ball down the field by throwing the ball. But in the scoring play, Ash pitched the ball to his running back who then got it into the hands of wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/134587/jaxon-shipley">Jaxon Shipley</a>. Shipley then completed the play by completing a four-yard touchdown pass to Ash.</p>
<p>Ash was 2-of-2 on the drive with completions of 14 and 30 yards. The 30-yarder went into the hands of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8536/blaine-irby">Blaine Irby</a> and brought the ball to the four-yard line.</p>
<p>This has been all the excitement in an other wise boring game so far.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a> visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/" target="_blank">Cal blog California Golden Blogs</a>. For more on the Texas Longhorns visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/" target="_blank">Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation</a>. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/21/2578147/college-football-bowl-games-2011">2011 college football bowl game</a> coverage.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/28/2667184/cal-vs-texas-score-update-holiday-bowlRuss Oates2011-12-28T20:38:37-05:002011-12-28T20:38:37-05:00Holiday Bowl 2011 Score: Cal Strikes For 3-0 Lead In 1st Quarter
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<p>The 2011 Holiday Bowl has been marked so far by long stretches of nothing, but then punctuated by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/52068/giorgio-tavecchio">Giorgio Tavecchio</a> kicking one field goal twice. The first attempt was called back as a result of an illegal formation, but Tavecchio connected on the second one to give the California Golden Bears a 3-0 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a>. Tavecchio needed to wait until the game came back from a television timeout to attempt the second field goal.</p>
<p>Cal almost didn't get the chance to put points on the board, but keen eyesight and a review allowed Cal to retain the ball. Texas punted and it appeared that the Cal returner had muffed the catch, allowing Texas to regain possession. However, it was ruled that Texas illegally touched the ball on the play, giving Call the ball (but not until after a lengthy talk on the field and then a look at the video).</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a> visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/" target="_blank">Cal blog California Golden Blogs</a>. For more on the Texas Longhorns visit SB Nation's <a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/" target="_blank">Texas blog Burnt Orange Nation</a>. Also stay tuned to SB Nation's <a href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/11/21/2578147/college-football-bowl-games-2011">2011 college football bowl game</a> coverage.</i></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/28/2667139/holiday-bowl-2011-score-update-texas-calRuss Oates