Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Scholarship!!!
Texas coach Mack Brown emphasizes special teams with every practice, and on Wednesday, he rewarded some of his players for their efforts.
Brown announced that placekicker Dusty Mangum, linebacker Stevie Stigall and punter Richmond McGee will receive scholarships after starting on special teams throughout their careers.
"Those guys deserve scholarship money," Brown said. "We are proud to give it to them."
McGee, who is in his second season as the punter and third handling kickoffs, is by all accounts having an impressive preseason and feels blessed to change his status.
"It feels great to get a scholarship as appreciation for my hard work," McGee said. "But I look at it as a blessing from God. He blessed me with my ability and the opportunity to play for this team. Playing here is the best thing that I can think of doing. I would rather be a walk-on here than be on scholarship anywhere else."
The incumbent has handled all challenges from Vanderbilt transfer Greg Johnson and even picked up a new role. If the Longhorns need a long-range field goal, McGee is waiting in the wings.
McGee kicked a 55-yard field goal during Wednesday's scrimmage, but that doesn't come close to his career long. McGee said that his longest field goal in a team drill is 62 yards, but he recently hit a 75 yarder with only a snapper and holder.
McGee shared the team's Frank Denius Special Teams Player of the Year Award last season after averaging 40.9 yards per punt. Of his 174 career kickoffs, 63 have been touchbacks. Distance has never been a problem for McGee, but he is working to improve his consistency.
"I punted a little inconsistently last season," McGee said. "Ideally, you would like to average a 4.5-second hang time and 40-yard punt. That would probably lead the nation."
McGee didn't spend most of his life playing football. He always favored soccer, but his strong leg eventually attracted attention. His high school soccer coach in Garland, who also happened to be the special teams coordinator for the football team, noticed McGee consistently driving goal kicks the length of the field and asked him to come kick at football practice. He didn't like it at first, but after Garland's place kicker received a scholarship to play at Texas A&M, McGee warmed up to the idea.
Brown announced that placekicker Dusty Mangum, linebacker Stevie Stigall and punter Richmond McGee will receive scholarships after starting on special teams throughout their careers.
"Those guys deserve scholarship money," Brown said. "We are proud to give it to them."
McGee, who is in his second season as the punter and third handling kickoffs, is by all accounts having an impressive preseason and feels blessed to change his status.
"It feels great to get a scholarship as appreciation for my hard work," McGee said. "But I look at it as a blessing from God. He blessed me with my ability and the opportunity to play for this team. Playing here is the best thing that I can think of doing. I would rather be a walk-on here than be on scholarship anywhere else."
The incumbent has handled all challenges from Vanderbilt transfer Greg Johnson and even picked up a new role. If the Longhorns need a long-range field goal, McGee is waiting in the wings.
McGee kicked a 55-yard field goal during Wednesday's scrimmage, but that doesn't come close to his career long. McGee said that his longest field goal in a team drill is 62 yards, but he recently hit a 75 yarder with only a snapper and holder.
McGee shared the team's Frank Denius Special Teams Player of the Year Award last season after averaging 40.9 yards per punt. Of his 174 career kickoffs, 63 have been touchbacks. Distance has never been a problem for McGee, but he is working to improve his consistency.
"I punted a little inconsistently last season," McGee said. "Ideally, you would like to average a 4.5-second hang time and 40-yard punt. That would probably lead the nation."
McGee didn't spend most of his life playing football. He always favored soccer, but his strong leg eventually attracted attention. His high school soccer coach in Garland, who also happened to be the special teams coordinator for the football team, noticed McGee consistently driving goal kicks the length of the field and asked him to come kick at football practice. He didn't like it at first, but after Garland's place kicker received a scholarship to play at Texas A&M, McGee warmed up to the idea.
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