DALLAS (FWAA) – The Texas Longhorns
turned to their historic staples of a power running game and dominating
defense to record an upset that will forever be logged in the AT&T
Red River Showdown annals, shocking previously-undefeated Oklahoma
24-17 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Season-high rushing and sacks
totals created the win, and earned the Longhorns the AutoNation
National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend
of Oct. 10.
Texas
(2-4), which never trailed, rushed for a season-best 313 yards and
had two players over the century mark with running back D’Onta Foreman
(117 yards, including a career-long 81-yarder) and quarterback Jerrod
Heard (115 yards). It was the first time Texas had rushing for more
than 300 yards since the 2013 season opener.
Meanwhile, the Longhorns' defense held the Oklahoma passing attack
at bay with a season-high six sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Texas was stout from the start up front, holding Oklahoma to just
15 total yards on 12 plays in the first quarter. The Longhorns tallied
four sacks and held Oklahoma to 85 total yards in the first half.
The Sooners averaged only 1.8 yards per carry in the game after
coming in averaging 4.4 yards per carry on the season.
"I think what (our fans) were waiting on was just a breakout
win because we hadn’t had one in so long, and to go get this one
was really big," Texas coach Charlie Strong said. "It
was a big-time rival game, and our players were just so up for it.
It told the players . . . the way we’re going to work today, it’s
going to speak for itself. We’re going to run the football and we’re
going to run it right at 'em and we’re gonna knock 'em off the ball
and nothing else is going to need to be said because we’re going
to control the line of scrimmage."
Other AutoNation National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend
of Oct. 10 included:
• Michigan (5-1): The Wolverines recorded
their third consecutive shutout in a 38-0 crushing of previously-undefeated
Northwestern. It was the first time since 1980 that Michigan
has shut out three straight opponents. Michigan's defense held
Northwestern to 168 total yards, including only 38 rushing,
and had eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
• Washington State (3-2): The Cougars’ defense
came up with the game-deciding play, picking off an Oregon pass
on the second overtime possession, stunning the Ducks at Autzen
Stadium, 45-38. Washington State snapped an eight-game losing
streak to Oregon, with Luke Falk throwing for a season-high
505 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner in
overtime.
As part of AutoNation’s history of charitable involvement, AutoNation
will donate $1,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)
in the University of Texas' name. This charitable college football
initiative culminates with the AutoNation Cure Bowl, a new post-season
NCAA football game that kicks off bowl season at the Citrus Bowl
Stadium in Orlando, Fla., and will be aired by CBS Sports Network.
The aptly named AutoNation Cure Bowl also serves as a fund raiser
for the BCRF, CharityWatch’s only A+ rated breast cancer organization
in the country.
"We want to celebrate the very best of college football,
while also helping to raise awareness for the importance of finding
a cure for cancer," says AutoNation CMO Marc Cannon. "This
season-long partnership with the FWAA, leading up to the AutoNation
Cure Bowl, puts a spotlight on a cause that we’re determined to
tackle."
"In our 75th season of existence, this a marvelous platform
to get our players and the team of the week series excellent exposure
as well as helping AutoNation in its effort to fight cancer and
contribute to the educational funds of deserving student-athletes,"
said FWAA 2015 President Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald. "It
is very exciting to be able to help our organization as well as
others in this splendid effort."
The Football Writers Association of America has named a national
team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the first season
AutoNation has presented the award. Members of the FWAA All-America
Committee decide the weekly honor. Each remaining Monday during
the 2015 college football regular season, the FWAA will name a National
Team of the Week. Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide
the weekly honor.
AutoNation is also the presenting sponsor of the FWAA's national
offensive and defensive players of the week announced each
Tuesday, the 2015 FWAA All-America Team and the 75th Anniversary
FWAA All-America Team. The 2015 AutoNation FWAA All-America Team
will be announced at the AutoNation Cure Bowl on Dec. 19.
About AutoNation, Inc.: AutoNation is transforming
the automotive retail industry through bold leadership. We deliver
a peerless automotive retail experience through our customer-focused
sales and service processes. Owning and operating 293 new vehicle
franchises, which sell 35 new vehicle brands across 15 states, AutoNation
is America’s largest automotive retailer, with state-of-the-art
operations and the ability to leverage economies of scale that benefit
the customer. As an indication of our leadership position in our
industry, AutoNation is a component of the S&P 500 Index.
About
the AutoNation Cure Bowl: The AutoNation Cure Bowl a
new post-season NCAA football game whose net proceeds benefit the
Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The AutoNation Cure Bowl takes
place December 19 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, and will be broadcast
by CBS Sports Network. The bowl is scheduled to involve teams from
the American Athletic and Sun Belt conferences.
About the Football Writers Association of America:
Founded in 1941, the FWAA consists of 1,400 men and women who cover
college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters
and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that
involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day
operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more
information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve
Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
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