AUSTIN - Texas defensive coordinator Carl Reese could live with the trick plays.
When Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch lateraled to wingback Bobby Newcombe, who then threw deep down the middle to Matt Davison in the second quarter, he grimaced and gave the Cornhuskers credit.
He figured that was the price his defense would pay for making sure that if Nebraska was to beat Texas, it wasn't going to be done by the Cornhuskers' option ground attack, which had been averaging 265.3 yards per game.
Mission accomplished. Texas won, 24-20, despite giving up 429 yards, including 237 through the air. The legs of the Nebraska offense came up with just 192 yards.
The Texas defense was burned for three big pass plays deep in its own territory, but surrendered only one field goal as a result. Twice, the Longhorns made up for mistakes by creating turnovers inside their own 10. And three fourth-down attempts were crammed shut.
Texas won the turnover battle, 3-0, and registered 14 tackles for losses, including two sacks, compared to no sacks by the Nebraska defense.
The points Texas did give up came in the second and fourth quarters, when UT punter Ryan Long struggled against a 15 mph wind. Short punts allowed the Huskers to start three second-quarter scoring drives from the Texas 17 (field goal), the Nebraska 36 (field goal) and the UT 31 (touchdown).
The Cornhuskers' only touchdown in the second half came after a 35-yard punt and 10-yard return to the Texas 44.
Reese said UT kept steady pressure on Nebraska's option attack by blitzing two linebackers on nearly every play. Later in the game, Reese started using corner blitzes to mix things up.
"We decided that if they were going to beat us, it would have to be with trick plays and passing plays," said Texas coach Mack Brown, "because we weren't going to get beat by the option."
Texas free safety Greg Brown twice allowed tight end Tracey Wistrom to beat him deep down the middle - early in the second quarter with UT leading, 3-0, and on the second play of the fourth quarter with Texas leading, 17-13.
But both times Texas answered by creating a turnover. The first was a fumble by Crouch caused by Cedric Woodard on second-and-6 from the Texas 10 that was recovered by linebacker Everick Rawls at the Texas 20.
The second time, Correll Buckhalter fumbled while twisting toward the end zone on third-and-goal from the 4 with UT cornerback Ahmad Brooks draped all over him. Casey Hampton recovered at the 2.
"I would hope we are viewed as one of the best defenses in the country, if we are not already," said UT defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, who had nine tackles, five of them for losses.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]