Big Games For Beginners

judgment day

Wideout Reggie Williams became the first Washington receiver since the restoration of freshman eligibility in 1972 to start in his first game as a Husky, and he wound up catching 55 passes for 973 yards and three touchdowns. Still, Williams hadn't played against an All-America cornerback until he faced Texas senior Quentin Jammer in the Holiday Bowl. At 6'1", 200 pounds with a bulging upper body, Jammer lives up to his surname by intimidating receivers with a forearm or two as they come off the line. He loves press coverage and lined up only one or two yards from Williams on nearly every snap. However, Jammer gave up three inches and 15 pounds to Williams, who was often the aggressor. In the third quarter Williams drove Jammer to the grass before making a 13-yard reception. Williams's longest catch—a 22-yarder in the second quarter—came when he slanted away from Jammer and took off into the hole left by blitzing safety Dakarai Pearson.

Williams finished with five catches for 62 yards and a verbal bouquet from Jammer. "He was probably the best receiver I faced this year," Jammer said. "When I tried to be a little more physical, he got physical with me. He's light years ahead of a regular freshman. He said that he's only going to be in college for three years [before going to the NFL]. I believe him."

what jitters?

Whether it was nerves because he was making his first college start, playing near his hometown just outside Houston or suffering the effects of an upset stomach, Texas A&M freshman cornerback Byron Jones (left) didn't look ready as the Aggies prepared to take on Texas Christian in the Galleryfurniture.com Bowl. Once the game began, though, Jones played as if he had started all season, intercepting three passes and helping to keep the Horned Frogs' offense from getting on track in A&M's 28-9 win. Jones, who played sparingly in the regular season, moved into the starting lineup after sophomore Sean Weston hurt his knee in practice. "From Day One we knew that Jones would help us," Aggies coach R.C. Slocum said after the victory.

That statement annunciated a significant shift in coaching philosophy. Over the previous three seasons Slocum had played only 12 true freshmen, but this year he softened his stance after watching three freshman receivers make significant contributions for Texas in 2000. Slocum started five freshmen against TCU, and one other came off the bench. But none played a more significant role than Jones, who returned his interceptions for a total of 77 yards, including one he ran back 15 yards to the Horned Frogs' one-yard line, and was named the bowl's MVP.

There's no honor in making the All-Reprimand Team

A bunch of bowl participants were charged with breaking team rules—or, in some cases, the law. Of the 19 players in the lineup below, 13 were starters, including Rex Grossman (left), who broke curfew but came off the bench in the second quarter and led Florida to scores on six straight possessions.

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