The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Football notebook (Dec. 27)
12.27.2014 | Football
Longhorns preparing to face Arkansas on Monday in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl.
Texas Bowl Preview | Texas Bowl Media Guide | Longhorns Gameweek | Photo Gallery - Team Luncheon | Photo Gallery - DePelchin visit | Photo Gallery - Legends Game Night
Coming Full Circle
Jordan Hicks will end his collegiate career where it started.
The senior, in his fifth season, one which has turned into an All-America campaign, will be playing his final game Monday at NRG Stadium. Hicks took the field in the 2010 season opener as a true freshman in the same facility. The Longhorns played Rice on Sept. 4 of that year in what was then Reliant Stadium.
Hicks saw time as a reserve linebacker and on special teams in UT's 34-17 victory against the Owls. After injuries derailed his 2012 and 2013 seasons, Hicks has thrived in his final year, posting a team-high 138 tackles, including 13 for a loss.
"It kind of has that feeling that it's come full circle because it has been such a long journey and such a hard task to get through," said Hicks. "It has been fun and I wouldn't change it for the world. I loved it and I wouldn't want to do it anywhere else but here and with these players."
Hicks and fellow linebacker Demarco Cobbs are the only Longhorns who have played in the home of the NFL's Houston Texans. Cobbs also played a reserve role as a true freshman in that game vs. Rice.
A highly-regraded prospect coming out of high school, Hicks capped his Longhorn career by earning second team All-America honors from both Walter Camp and the Football Writers Association of America this season. He'll look for his second bowl win in as many tries. Hicks missed the 2012 and 2013 Alamo Bowls, but played in the 2011 Holiday Bowl, a 21-10 win over Cal.
Horns visit DePelchin Children's Center
Some of the Longhorns took time out of their Saturday afternoon to make a visit to DePelchin Children's Center in Houston.
DePelchin, a center for children's well-being, is one of the largest providers of mental health, foster care and adoption services in Texas. Bowl officials setup the visit, with members of the Arkansas contingent visiting prior to Texas.
The UT spirit squad, along with about 25 players, spent time signing autographs and posing for pictures.
"I think it's always important to be able to give back to the community," said senior defensive tackle Desmond Jackson. "Just being able to talk to them is just a real blessing, to be able to put a smile on their face.
Jackson, who joins in on regular visits to Dell Children's Medical Center on Fridays before home games, appreciated the opportunity to meet families in Houston.
"It's the first time I've ever seen a bowl game do this, where we get to see the kids and just be around them. I'm very glad and appreciative that the bowl game decided to do this for us."
Senior center Dominic Espinosa also relished the opportunity.
"I think definitely the smiles, the pictures they get to get and the autographs will last them a lifetime," said Espinosa. "But for us, these are memories we don't get to do too much because we are busy. We have a lot going on. But this is awesome when we can take time out and really give back. It puts things in perspective for a guy like me and it makes me want to give back more."
Horns Wrap Pre-Bowl Activities
After Saturday's luncheon, practice and a visit to the DePelchin Children's Center, Texas players wrapped up pre-bowl activities with a Gridiron Legends game night at the team hotel.
Bill Bradley (1966-68), Raymond Clayborn (1973-76), Jerry Sisemore (1970-72) and Fred Akers (head coach 1977-86) were the Longhorn legends on hand to speak to the team. That group was joined by NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, Jerry LeVias, first African-American scholarship athlete and second African-American football player in the Southwest Conference (at SMU), and Joe Washington Sr., a longtime Texas high school coach and father of former NFL star Joe Washington.
The offense then faced off against the defense in a number of games including foosball, ping pong, pop-a-shot, trivia and Madden Football with the defense coming out on top.
On Sunday, the team will have meetings, receive some bowl gifts and go through one last 90-minute practice.
