McCoy Drums Up Victory for Longhorns

AUSTIN, Texas -- Usually one the most straight-laced and reserved of the Texas Longhorns, senior quarterback Colt McCoy finally stopped to take it all in late Saturday night.

Moments after the second-ranked Longhorns defeated Kansas 51-20 to earn a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game as the South division champs, and after McCoy cemented himself as college football's all-time winningest quarterback, thefour-year starter celebrated with record 101,357 fans who stuck around Texas Memorial Stadium to pay homage.

McCoy jumped into the mode of a normal student overflowing with spirit as he fired off the cannon and then beat storied base drum Big Bertha as the crowd roared even louder.

"I had never hit the drum, I had never shot the cannon," McCoy said with a smile. "I had always wanted to pull the cannon but I was afraid I would get a 15-yard penalty. I guess that was the perfect time to do it."

Indeed it was the night to take it all in and reflect on what had been accomplished and what still lies ahead for the undefeated and mostly unchallenged Longhorns. Off in the horizons are the possibilities of the Heisman Trophy for McCoy and a shot at the programs' first BCS national championship since 2005.

But before obtaining such lofty goals, the Longhorns still have the pressing matter of facing rival Texas A&M in their annual Thanksgiving Day regular season-season finale. They will then have to prepare to face the punishing defense of Nebraska in the Big 12 championship a week later. Any slip-up along the way would almost certainly douse any hopes of a BCS title.

"That's one our goals, we won the South," said McCoy, whose 43 career wins broke the previous record set by Georgia's David Greene. "But our focus right now is going to be on A&M. We only have five days to prepare. I'm totally on A&M, that's where we are headed."

That's typical McCoy, never allowing the moment to overshadow what's ahead.

But Saturday night, the fans who packed into Texas Memorial Stadium weren't going to allow their quarterback to not celebrate what he's accomplished to this point. They stood on their feet and chanted "Colt...Colt...Colt...Colt" as the clock struck 5:52 and it seemed certain they were getting their last glimpse of their quarterback at home.

And to let the moment fester just a little longer, head coach Mack Brown allowed fellow seniors Jordan Shipley, center Chris Hall, guard Charlie Tanner and offensive tackle Adam Ulatoski, along with McCoy to trot out with the offense one last time only to call timeout to remove them to allow them one last ovation.

McCoy seemed humbled by the outpouring of respect and affection, not just for him but for the other 20 seniors playing their final home game.

"I heard it, it was pretty loud," McCoy said of the ovation. "I'm just so thankful. God has blessed me tremendously. I've worked so hard to be at this point, but I know how good a teammates I've had, how good of coaches I've had. I've been blessed and it's really special."

It seemed only fitting that McCoy turned in a career night against the Kansas Jayhawks, connecting on 32-of-41 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns on a night where the Longhorns never struggled and never trailed. McCoy looked especially sharp as he worked the ball into childhood best friend Jordan Shipley (10 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown), while also working in some of the younger receivers like Malcolm Williams (six catches, 103 yards and one touchdown) and James Kirkendoll (eight catches, 86 and two touchdowns).

It was the kind of performance that could very well have McCoy back out front in the Heisman Trophy race. But what is for sure is McCoy's performance lived up to the occasion that saw him become college football's all-time wins leader while also securing his Big 12 Championship Game bid.

"I don't think we could have scripted it any better," Brown said. "With all the pressure on him, he's showing everybody he's in here for a big finish. He was sending a message tonight."

The message was that McCoy and the rest of the Longhorns have accomplished a lot so far, but that their business is far from done.

"What's important to me is winning. We just did what they told us to do," McCoy said. "Before the game I didn't think about. ... I tried not to think about this being my last game in here, letting my emotions get the best of me.

"I just wanted to come out here and play and get better because we've got a long stretch ahead of us still."