Colt McCoy – Quarterback for the Texas Longhorns

By Danny Reagan / Abilene, Texas

While watching the game on TBS: (READ from earliest entries below)

FINAL, UT 35, Tech 31: Man, what a game! I hate that my Red Raiders lost, but being a big fan of Colt McCoy - the athlete and the young man - I enjoyed seeing him have a great night.

Great nights for quarterbacks are defined by: 1) your team wins; 2) you throw 4 touchdown passes; 3) you rush for 68 yards and have the longest run of anyone; 4) you get named Player of the Game (Colt's 6th time this year); 5) you throw for 256 yards; and 6) you get interviewed on national TV.

During that interview, Colt was huffing-and-puffing and sounding a lot like Elvis right after the game as a result of his nifty long run that iced the win. He takes none of the credit and gives it all to God and his teammates.

Colt has led his team to come-from-behind victories the last four games.

He's the real deal ... just in case anyone has had any doubts.

6:14, fourth quarter: Probably the key play in the game. Tech went for it on 4th and 15. Harrell came through with a pass that was initially called only 14.5 yards on the field. That held up through the review and the Longhorns got the ball on their own 20.

AND THEN ... the REAL key play of the game. Fumble by Texas. Red Raiders get the ball back on the 'Horns' 25.

AND THEN ... UT holds on fourth down again at their own 15.

8:54, fourth quarter: After Graham Harrell was the only one to stop Graham Harrell with a interception with 10:25 left, the Red Raider defense and a dropped pass that would've put UT down deep in Territory, the Red Raiders got the ball back and started to roll again.

13:24, fourth quarter: Who would've thought Colt McCoy would have more TD passes than Graham Harrell, who is near the top in nationwide statistics. But there was his fourth on 3rd and 5 from the Tech 28-yard line. A pretty throw across his body, showing his arm strength. Texas leads for the first time, 35-31, but I don't think that's the last time the lead changes hands.

End of 3rd quarter: UT defense rises to the occasion and after a punt, the Longhorns have the ball at the 50 yard line. I expect them to grind it out again on the ground. They should really go down deep to Sweed, like Harrell does with his receivers.

1:42, third quarter: Selvin Young's fumble-itis hits again while UT is driving down the field to take the lead. Red Raiders get the ball back on their 25-yard line and dodge a bullet. That makes up for a non-potent offensive series by the the Raiders earlier in the quarter.

7:51, 3rd quarter: A couple of great passes and runs by Colt. A 17-yard run - the longest by anyone on either team all night long - and what looked like a 15-yard run for paydirt which was overturned when it was reviewed. UT had 1st and goal at the one-yard line. That only delayed the inevitable as Selvin Young went over the top for the TD, his fifth of the year. Score: Red Raiders 31, Longhorns 28

12:25, 3rd quarter: UT goes 3 and out and then finally stymies Tech's passing game by sacking Graham Harrell for the first time and Tech has to punt. So much for 100 points in this game. The defensive squads seem to have come out more fired up than their offensive counterparts.

Halftime: UT still hasn't stopped Graham Harrell. With 24 seconds left in the half, he answered Colt's third TD pass with a 30-yarder of his own to take his team to the lockers ahead 31-21. Harrell has completed 25 of 31 passes for 368 yards and 3 TDs. Whew! How about a 100 points in this game? We're on track for that.

FYI: In the first half, Colt was 16-of-21 for 205 yards, 3 TDs and one pick.

2:15 2nd quarter: And just like that ... Red Raiders stop themselves after a great inside screen pass rolling right down the field, a fumble and the very next play Colt's third TD pass of the night - a 45-yarder to Limas Sweed. Wow! 24-21 ... a great game!

4:35, 2nd quarter:UT appears to be waking up. Even though the receivers are dropping some good passes from Colt, his childhood buddy didn't. Jordan Shipley caught Colt's second TD pass of the night, a 29-yarder, and Tech leads by 10, 24-14. Next? A bunch of passes from Graham Harrell.

6:51, 2nd quarter: Field goal by Tech. Well, the UT offense may not be panicking, but the defense might be just a little "nervous" when seeing Graham Harrell across the scrimmage line. Harrell has not had any trouble connecting. The only ones keeping the Red Raiders out of the end zone is their running game, which they inexplicably went to when inside the UT five-yard line two times in a row! Thought sure there would be a third TD pass by Harrell.

11:18, 2nd quarter: A play after Limas Sweed drops a perfect TD pass from Colt, Jones catches one from his quarterback and suddenly there isn't big goose egg on the burnt orange side. Bad news for UT fans is now the powerful Red Raider offense now takes the field again.

Right before the TD, TBS analyst Charles Davis mentioned that Colt McCoy has earned his team's respect over the first part of the season and they have confidence in him and won't panic. At 21-7, maybe they won't.

End of 1st Quarter: Not even close who is the most aggressive team. Tech playing lights out. McCoy is 6-of-8 for 53 yards and that INT that went for 6 for the Red Raiders. Someone must have told the Longhorns that USC lost and it freaked them out. I love a battle of passers. Looks like Mack Brown is going to have to let Colt loose to counter the effective Tech air attack.

1:05, first quarter:Definitely worse start than against the Cornhuskers. McCoy's interception returned for a TD. Raiders lead 21-0.

6:31, first quarter: Deja vu for UT playing someone dressed in red. After a fumble by Jamaal Charles, Tech went right down the field again, taking full advantage of the banged-up defensive backfield of the Horns. Result? Second TD pass by Graham Harrell, this one to Eric Morris. Tech 14, UT 0.

Even though Colt was 5-for-5 in that first drive, UT's start is even worse than it was in Nebraska. The Red Raiders look motivated.

10:15, first quarter: Longhorns' first four plays were completed passes by Colt. Then one running play that didn't go anywhere and then a fifth pass to the Red Raiders' 30-yard line.

12:30, first quarter: Yep, USC lost and Texas Tech is rolling right down the field, getting great pass protection and making first down on a 27-yard pass on 4th down. Red Raiders threatening already. In fact, at 11:54 Tech draws first blood and leads 7-0 on Graham Harrell's 26th TD pass, this one to Shannon Wood.

Minutes before kickoff: Whoa, Nellie! USC might be upset by Oregon State with a minute left in the game. That can only help Texas if they can somehow get past the Red Raiders...and the Trojans don't pull off a comeback.