Texas
(8-3 record; Mack Brown, 1st season) |
Mississippi State
(8-4 record; Jackie Sherrill, 8th season) |
School's Bowl Record: 17-18-2
Coach's Bowl Record: 6-5
Last Bowl Appearance: January 1997 Fiesta Bowl (lost to Penn State 38-15)
Record in Cotton Bowl: 9-9-1 (Last appearance 1991, lost to Miami 46-3) |
School's Bowl Record: 21-11-2
Coach's Bowl Record: 18-9-1
Last Bowl Appearance: January 1995 Peach Bowl (lost to NC State 28-24)
Record in Cotton Bowl: First appearance |
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Offensive Stud |
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Ricky Williams, RB, Sr. (361 carries, 2,124 yards, 27 TDs): Just the Heisman Trophy winner and all-time leader in career rushing yards
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James Johnson, RB, Sr. (236 carries, 1,383 yards, 12 TDs): Very quietly led the SEC in rushing
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Defensive Stud |
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Aaron Humphrey, DE, Jr. (10 sacks): Team leader in sacks; coaches' third team All-Big 12
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Edward Smith, DE, Sr. (127 tackles, 12 sacks): First team All-SEC, led the conference in sacks
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Player to Watch |
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Wane McGarity, WR, Sr. (59 catches, 1,097 yards, 9 TDs): All-Big 12 first team member quietly had a great year in the shadow of Williams
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Kevin Prentiss, WR, Sr. (38 catches, 681 yards, 3 TDs): Return specialist showed off his skills with an 83-yard punt return TD against Tennessee in the SEC title game
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Key Stats |
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11th in the nation in total offense (470.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (36.2 points per game)
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Ranked 20th in the nation in total defense, allowing 312.9 yards per game.
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Surprise Stat |
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Led the Big 12 in passing offense at 266.4 yards per game
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The Bulldogs are 7-0 in day games, just 1-4 at night (the only night win being against Ole Miss on Thanksgiving).
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1998 Turning Point |
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Ricky Williams breaking Tony Dorsett's career rushing mark in the same game that the Longhorns upset their in-state rivals Texas A&M on a late field goal..
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After getting little respect all season, the Bulldogs upset Arkansas on a last-second field goal. That win helped propel them to the SEC title game.
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Key to Victory |
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Letting Ricky Williams put up his normal gaudy numbers. |
Shutting down Ricky Williams
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Outlook |
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A fitting way for Williams to end his career - playing in the stadium that made Doak Walker such a star. He'll face a good Mississippi State defense but should run wild all the way to the NFL.
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If Johnson is healed from his late-season injuries, the Bulldogs have a shot. Otherwise, they could be seeing Williams finish his college career with a huge bang.
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