Longhorns Around the Web

Each Friday, we'll be offering up a sampling of Longhorn- and Big 12-related sports coverage making its way around the Web.

'09 Awards Watch: Jordan Shipley was named a finalist this week for the Wuerrfel Trophy, awarded to "the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement." Not a bad thing to have on the ol' resume.

The eyes of Texas (security) are upon you: From The Sporting News, a rundown of the security in place at DKR Stadium. "Game day is a much more controlled environment than it used to be. Long gone are the days of taking tickets until halftime, then letting everyone come and go as they please. Bomb-sniffing dogs sweep through before the gates are open."

Texas currently has only one win against a ranked opponent (#17 Oklahoma State). If the conference continues to struggle, the Longhorns could end up having played one of the weakest schedules in recent history among teams that have participated in the BCS Championship Game. Obviously it isn't Texas' fault that Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and the entire North division have underachieved this season, but supporters of schools such as TCU and Cincinnati could have ample right to cry foul, should their teams remain undefeated and miss out on a title opportunity in favor of the Longhorns.

Mack Brown is slated to earn $3,060,500 this season, good for second in the nation. Texas also ranks second in the combined salaries among all assistant coaches, with Will Muschamp and Greg Davis the two highest paid assistants in the Big 12.

This week's pick: The Horns came up just short of covering last week's 36-point line against Central Florida, and are favored by 25 this week over the Bears. Covering at Baylor shouldn't be a problem, as Mack Brown's teams have put up 62, 49, 56, 62, and 31 points in their five trips to Floyd Casey Stadium.

From Brown, always the perfectionist: "Our punt return is not up to our standard. We had one punt return that was decent, but we didn't get close to blocking one. So you come out, and we didn't score on special teams. We didn't get a turnover on special teams. We really lost field position because they had a 50-yard punt and a 70-yard punt, so we've got to do better on special teams. We bragged on them. They were as good as anybody in the country in the last two weeks. As a group, they've dropped off. We do lead the nation in scoring differential. We're averaging 41 points a game and giving up 12. That's why we are undefeated. We are second in the country in kickoff returns. We just need to do a better job."

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