College Confidential

Three players won't start for Cal

Thomas DeCloud, DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan will not start today due to violation of team rules.

Sophomore Brett Johnson will make his first career start at free safety in place of DeCloud. Senior Sam DeSawill replace Jackson at wide receiver for his second career start while senior Lavelle Hawkins will start for Jordan at receiver.

Don't be surprised if DeCloud, Jackson and Jordan are only out for a few plays, though.

-- Keeli Garza

Boo, penalties

Third holding penalty on TCU's right tackle tonight, negating yet another great offensive play. This time, the flag called back a touchdown.

On the ensuing play, Dalton was dropped for a loss. The Frogs will have to settle for a field goal and 20-10 lead. Just think ... this game could be over if not for the costly penalties.

Flags thrown today: 9
Average flags per game this season: 6

Empty threat?

So apparently TCU head coach Gary Patterson told his quarterbacks that if they throw an interception, they're sitting next to him on the next offensive possession.

Maybe he should threaten his o-line with the same punishment if they commit a holding penalty that negates a long offensive play.

Penalties are really killing the TCU offense in this game.

Flags so far: 6
Average flags per game this season: 6

The Bartman Bowl?

ESPN is already calling it the Bartman Bowl, in reference to notorious Cubs fan Steve Bartman.

 

Mack Brown's stepson, Chris Jessie, on the sideline as a member of Texas' football operations staff, answered questions from ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salter after Thursday night's Holiday Bowl, won by Texas 52-34. Jessie, at least a couple of yards on the field, was ruled to have touched the football during a live play early in the second quarter, a penalty reversing a fumble recovery for Texas at the Arizona State 44 and setting up Arizona State at the Texas 7. ASU scored on the next play to cut Texas' lead to 21-7.

 

Jessie insisted he didn't touch the ball. He said he was signaling for an intentional grounding penalty against Arizona State when he reflexively reached out for the football as it bounced his way with Texas players in pursuit.

 

Jessie's explanation to Salters: "I saw the ball coming and thought it was a forward pass. I thought the play was over, and natural instinct was to reach out [for] the ball. I backed up as soon as I realized the play was live. I didn't touch the ball."

 

A smiling Brown, who joined the interview and with a hand on Jessie's shoulder, said, "Our family wanted to win this game so badly he thought he'd help, so that's what he did, so good for him."

 

Jessie told Salters, "I felt pretty poorly. I thought momentum was going to swing ... and it did, it did. They scored on the next play. ... But we handled the game throughout."

 

Asked when he started to feel good about the game, "About when the clock hit triple zero in the fourth quarter. That was when I felt safe."

 

On Mack Brown's Texas Web site, an Associated Press story on the game doesn't mention the play.

-- Vince Langford

Backyard bawl for West Virginia?

The Backyard Brawl could be turning into a Backyard bawl for West Virginia.

The Mountaineers lost quarterback Patrick White to a broken hand midway through the second quarter.

Reserve QB Jarret Brown will need to rally West Virginia, which trails Pitt 10-7 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

-- Wendell Barnhouse

A day to forget?

Southlake Carroll loses to Abilene, Riley Dodge hurts his shoulder.

North Texas, coached by Riley's dad Todd is trailing Florida International, which hasn't won since Southlake Carroll was in the middle of its winning streak.

Unless Missouri QB and Southlake Carroll alum Chase Daniel can make Missouri a winner in the Big 12 championship game, it's shaping up to be a bad day for the Dragon family.

-- Wendell Barnhouse

Bad luck, bad timing

To start the fourth quarter of the Oregon-Arizona game, ESPN aired a commercial pumping Ducks quarterback Dennis Dixon for the Heisman Trophy.

Dixon went down in the first half, re-injuring his left knee on a non-contact play. The school obviously bought the time and slotted the commercial days before the telecast. Dixon's injury coupled with Oregon's upset loss to the Wildcats pretty much stuck a fork in Dixon's chances of winning the Heisman.

-- Wendell Barnhouse