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08/17/2010 -
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -When Garrett Gilbert's big moment came, he nearly panicked.
He couldn't find his helmet.
Just minutes into last season's BCS championship game against Alabama, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy came staggering over to the sideline, a nerve injury leaving his right arm hanging limp like a wet noodle.
Gilbert, McCoy's freshman backup, was on the spot. He had to find that helmet. You can't play tackle football without one.
His frantic search interrupted a defensive huddle. Luckily, Texas had called time out, giving him more time to look.
Gilbert finally found it tucked under the bench near the 50-yard line. He strapped it on and ran onto the field, stepping into the brightest spotlight possible.
The rest, he says, is still pretty much a blur. And not a pretty one. Gilbert had five turnovers and Texas lost 37-21.
``It leaves a bitter taste,'' said Gilbert, now the Longhorns' sophomore starter. ``It was tough.''
But there were bright spots, too. Two second-half touchdown passes pulled Texas within 24-21 late in the game. He read defenses. He spoke in calm tones to his teammates and offensive coordinator Greg Davis.
Texas lost, but the Longhorns were watching him grow up.
The BCS championship game was supposed to be McCoy's coronation, not Gilbert's national debut.
But coach Mack Brown had signed one of the nation's top high school recruits fully expecting him to take over when the record-setting McCoy moved on to the NFL. And now Gilbert steps into a role he seems to have been groomed for his entire young life.
The son of former University of California quarterback and career NFL backup Gale Gilbert, Garrett Gilbert was a high-school All-American who won two Texas state championships. Gilbert and USC's Matt Barkley were the two highest-rated quarterbacks when they signed in 2009. At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, Gilbert has the size and strong arm any team would covet.
His background and easygoing style with the media are similar to former Longhorns quarterback Chris Simms, the son of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Phil Simms.
Chris Simms arrived at Texas in 1999 and immediately shouldered expectations of winning a national championship, or at least a Big 12 title. He led Texas to consecutive 11-win seasons in 2001-2002 but couldn't beat Oklahoma and didn't deliver a championship.
Simms struggled to earn the full support of Longhorns fans, partly because he was given the starting role over the popular Major Applewhite, now the Longhorns' running backs coach.
Gilbert has faced no such controversy. As a freshman, he quickly rose to No. 2 on the depth chart, spending last season studying McCoy, who won an NCAA record 45 games as a starter. Gilbert played in 10 games, most of it mop-up duty in blowouts against the likes of Texas-El Paso.
``I still feel like I have a bit to prove,'' Gilbert said. ``I haven't won a game yet ... I'm not Colt. I just have to be my own player.''
He never expected to do more than watch and cheer against Alabama. Brown recalled how Gilbert casually poached some of the steak the starters weren't eating in their pre-game meals.
``You can always tell the guys that say, 'Can I get some of your steak?' aren't going to play,'' Brown said. ``When I said, 'Garrett, get your helmet, his eyes were as big as silver dollars.
``But it was obvious in the second half that he relaxed and played much better ... And I do think his presence in the national championship game gave him instant credibility with the older kids.''
By the end of that game, Texas fans could see their future. And it wasn't long before they started talking about how the experience would steel Gilbert for the challenges to come, games like the annual Texas-Oklahoma game in Dallas.
Slow down, Gilbert says. Let's not make a career out of one half of a loss.
``Nothing will compare to what happened, but I'll still get anxious and still get excited about playing in a game,'' he said. ``The day I don't ... is the day I should probably hang it up.''
What the Longhorns want to see now is leadership. After his freshman season, Gilbert knew the playbook and could make all the throws. Growing into a vocal leader was not so easy.
At times, his teammates have drawn it out of him. Texas has informal summer workouts with the quarterbacks, receivers and defensive backs. The workouts can get pretty heated and cornerbacks Aaron Williams and Chykie Brown aimed a steady barrage of trash talk at Gilbert all summer.
``We had to get Garrett out of his shell,'' Chykie Brown said.
Gilbert stood his ground. Sometimes, he fired back.
``He's starting to be a more vocal leader, (to) become the leader and become the commander,'' senior wide receiver John Chiles said.
Gilbert is also the only Texas quarterback with any experience.
The day before the Longhorns reported for training camp, top backup Sherrod Harris, a senior, left the team. That means freshmen Case McCoy (Colt's younger brother) and Connor Wood are battling for the No. 2 spot, far from ready to play if Gilbert gets hurt.
The duel is one that Brown calls ``urgent.'' As the national championship game proved, the No. 2 quarterback has to be ready to play at a moment's notice.
Gilbert's first lesson for the freshmen was simple: Always know where your helmet is.
``Don't wear a baseball cap on the sideline,'' Gilbert said.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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