The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Celebrating No. 1
01.15.2006 | Football
The 2005 Longhorns came together as a team for one last time Sunday night, but there was nothing sad about the event as a crowd of more than 50,000 filled the lower bowl of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to celebrate the team's National Championship.
"It was so much fun to go out there and see all of our fans and be able to celebrate, number one with my teammates and coaches," said TE David Thomas. "But to see the stadium with so many people is really special and something I'll never forget."
Thomas was one of five players to step to the podium, including OT Justin Blalock, who announced he is returning for his senior season, S Michael Griffin, DT Rod Wright and QB Vince Young. With Young heading to the NFL as a junior, he thanked those he called, 'the beautiful fans of Austin,' and promised to always be around.
Thomas and Wright will also be departing, but as seniors, along with their fellow classmates who leave UT as the winningest class in school history. For them and Young, it was an opportunity to run out of the tunnel one more time, including smoke and the video board introduction, which had one addition -- the newly won BCS National Championship Trophy.
"It was a great night," Wright said. "You really can't explain winning the National Championship and all the things that come from it. I'm still in denial and it still goes through my mind that we're national champions and we actually did it. It was great tonight with all the fans out there having fun, and I finally got to touch the trophy today."
Their fans came to honor them for providing a feeling some had not felt in 35 years, and others experienced for the first time. Although many fans drove long distances and were greeted with long lines, many felt it was little to ask in order to give back to the team that made the most of its long journey.
"I didn't get to go to the Rose Bowl," said David McCarthy of Dallas. "But this was the next best thing, and it was great to see all the players again. It was almost like being at the game with such a big crowd, and getting to experience that feeling."
None of that was lost on the players or Head Coach Mack Brown, all of whom thanked the fans for their efforts. The night ended with a replay of the final drive, and as the crowd erupted for the final touchdown, confetti similar to that at the Rose Bowl shot over the stage, and Young took one last lap around the stadium.
From the second Dusty Mangum's field goal made its way over the crossbar of the 2005 Rose Bowl, this day was one that was worked for. It began with 6 a.m. workouts in the spring, followed by seven-on-seven drills at Denius Fields, the heat of summer workouts, and as Brown has said, "352 days of preparation for 13."
Through it all, this team became dedicated, not only to winning a championship, but to each other, both of which they'll now have to cherish for the rest of their lives.
"I still can't believe that it's all happened, and I still can't believe that my time here is done," Thomas said. "I can't really believe that I've played my last game as a Longhorn, but I'll be a Longhorn for life no matter what I do or where I go."
