The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns wrap up spring practice with the Orange-White game
03.29.2008 | Football
In a spring season filled with energy and enthusiasm, The University of Texas Football program unveiled some exciting revisions surrounding its annual Spring Jamboree.
Approximately 43,000 fans were on hand to cheer on the Longhorns as the 2008 spring season came to a close at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
The North team defeated the South team, 14-10. It was a successful day for Texas Football, which finished with a positive and healthy spring season.
"I thought today was great," said head coach Mack Brown. "The crowd was fantastic, the players were very competitive, very tough and very quick. Everybody got to play and we had a lot of fun. This was an end to a great spring and it was maybe our best spring since we've been here."
The Longhorn offense had a very successful day on the ground recording 219 yards and three TDs on 40 attempts. Sophomore QB John Chiles led the rushing attack with nine rushes for 75 yards, while redshirt freshman QB G.J. Kinne tallied the most yards through the air completing 2-of-2 passes for 40 yards. Kinne's 39-yard pass to freshman WR Dan Buckner was also the longest play of the day.
"We're moving it pretty well with the run," said Chiles. "I feel a lot more comfortable out on the field. I feel like I'm becoming a better quarterback."
Senior WR Jordan Shipley posted the longest run of the day. Shipley's 29-yard reverse setup the first touchdown of the day, a one-yard run by sophomore RB Vondrell McGee. Redshirt freshman RB Foswhitt Whittacker accounted for the second TD of the day with a 6-yard run, part of his eight carry, 43-yard performance. QB Sherrod Harris' 17-yard TD run was the third and final TD of the game.
Early enrollee Buckner led the receivers with 39 yards (off one reception), while sophomore WR James Kirkendoll pulled in one pass for 22 yards.
The defense had a very successful day holding the offense to just 99 passing yards and 318 total yards. Junior LB Roddrick Muckelroy and redshirt freshman S Earl Thomas led the defense with six tackles apiece. Redshirt freshman LB Keenan Robinson forced a fumble, the only turnover of the game, which was recovered by senior CB Ryan Palmer.
"Spring games are an opportunity, especially for the younger players, for their first time to get out and play in front of an audience and play in front of fans," said defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. "I just wanted the guys to play hard, play fast and play physical, and they did that."
The next time the Longhorns meet as a team on the practice field will be in August. New faces of the incoming class will be added and there are still some questions to be answered, but the first steps were taken with a successful spring.
"We've got a tough schedule this season and we have a lot of inexperience in our players, so we have to come back with the same intensity and the same type of attitude when we come back in the fall, but overall it was a great day," concluded Brown.
