Mack Brown Since Quotations

One of the things we like so much about the team right now is that since the Missouri game last year, this team has finished better. We've played in the fourth quarters better than any team I have been associated with in my coaching career.

Since the first of the year, people been talking about the possibility of this game. It's exciting. It's been a fun year. We're 12-0, No. 2 in the country, playing for the national championship. It doesn't get any better than this.

Since the first of the year people were talking about this possibility, but they would tell you that the odds of it happening weren't very good.

Cedric Benson, if we have the kind of year we're capable of having, could win the Heisman. Right now, we have potentially the best offensive line since we've been here. And I've never been around a quarterback who runs like Vince Young. So I think we're back on track.

We think he's 100 percent with his health. He's gotten his vision back. He's bigger and stronger. (But) he hasn't done it since Arkansas last year, and it was a bad experience.

I think when I get through and I'm gumming my food, it will mean a lot ... As far as today, it would give these kids, these coaches and this university something we haven't done since we've been here. Secondly, it gives you a chance to play for a national championship and that doesn't happen many times in peoples' lives, if ever.

Duane started as our defensive backs coach and has become more and more involved with the defense each year. Since he moved into the co-coordinator spot last year, he has played a key role in developing game plans and preparing one of the most successful defenses in the country.

They're staying at home. They're practicing at SC. They were in the game two years ago. They play in this stadium every other year with UCLA's home game, and they'll have a lot of familiarity with the game itself since they played in the (Orange Bowl) last year.

If you're good enough to finish where you want to, and that's to win all your games, you'd rather start high because it's a lot harder now to come from the bottom to the top than it used to be. If you're out of the top 10 and some other teams have good seasons, you can have a great year like Auburn did and not have a chance to win it all. So there's no doubt that it's more important. I wish we started polls in October. Since we do not, I'd rather be rated high.