The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Rose-colored homecoming
01.25.2005 | Football
AUSTIN, Texas -- It was a double dose of celebration for Texas fans Tuesday night at the Frank Erwin Center, as the Longhorn men's basketball team defeated Texas Tech, 80-73, and the football team was honored for its Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. A majority of the team appeared at center court at halftime with quarterback Vince Young carrying the Rose Bowl trophy to a tremendous response from the crowd of well over 14,000.
"It felt really good," Young said after leaving the floor. "I was waiting for this game after coach told us we would be here. Everybody was excited and it seemed like we had just about all of our teammates here."
The Longhorns finished the 2004 season ranked fourth in the coaches poll and fifth in The Associated Press Poll with a mark of 11-1 following their 38-37 win over No. 13 Michigan on January 1. The 11 wins tied the UT season record and its No. 4 ranking was the Horns top finish since 1981. It marked the fourth straight 10-win season for Texas, a first in school history, and the seventh straight nine-win campaign, a feat matched only by Miami (Fla.).
"It's been really crazy back at home here," Young said. "Everybody gives you such great support. Since we got home, I've been trying to relax some and get some sleep in, but right now, we're back in school and working out."
The team finished second in the nation in rushing (299.2 ypg), seventh in total offense (464.4 ypg) and 12th in scoring offense (35.3 ppg), while it ranked 23rd in total defense (320.1 ypg) and 18th in scoring defense (17.9 ppg).
The team was led by first-team All-America RB Cedric Benson and LB Derrick Johnson. Benson was named the Cingular ABC Sports All-America Player of the Year and winner of the Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back), while Johnson was tabbed winner of the Bronko Nagurski Award (nation's top defensive player) and Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker). Benson also finished his career No. 6 on the all-time NCAA rushing list with 5,540 yards. In addition, QB Vince Young was named Rose Bowl MVP and became the first player in UT history to throw and rush for more than 1,000 yards (1,849 passing/1,079 rushing) in a season.
The departing senior class finished with a record of 43-8, a new four-year UT victory record, breaking the previous record of 41 wins by the 2003 class. Texas has now won 11 games and finished the year ranked among the Top 10 in three of the last four seasons. Under Mack Brown, the Longhorns had their seventh straight winning season and appeared in their seventh straight bowl. Both streaks are the longest since UT had nine straight from 1977-85.
