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Wounded Longhorns try to regroup after loss
By JIM VERTUNO, AP Sports Writer

Posted November 03, 2008
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AUSTIN, Texas(AP) Colt McCoy lifted his upper lip to show what had caused him to spit blood in Texas' loss to Texas Tech. On a hit in the third quarter, the little piece of skin that connects it to the gum had been ripped.

When the Longhorns quarterback went to the sideline, a team trainer slipped a pair of tweezers in his mouth, grabbed the dangling skin and pulled it out with quick tug.

"I don't think it really does anything anyway," McCoy said Monday.

McCoy's bloody mouth was an example of just how painful the Longhorns' 39-33 loss to the Red Raiders was Saturday night.

The defeat not only knocked Texas from No. 1 to No. 5, it also left the Longhorns a game behind Texas Tech in the Big 12 South division. Texas (8-1, 4-1) must not only win its last three games against Baylor, Kansas and Texas A&M, it also needs the Red Raiders to lose one or two games just to have a chance to get to the Big 12 championship game.

Texas is fortunate that it only fell three spots to No. 4 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, meaning it could still be a factor in the national title chase if things fall the right way.

Coach Mack Brown, who sizes up the league and national title picture for his team on Sundays, said he knows his team is hurting after the loss. The Longhorns had been sitting at No. 1 for nearly a month in a season they weren't even expected to play for the Big 12 title.

"We'd better not worry about the national stuff," Brown said. "We have to quit pouting ... So much talk has been about the end (of the season), I told them 'You all have been the college football darlings the last three weeks, now let's get back to work."'

Brown said he expects one of his toughest weeks of coaching in the days ahead.

He not only has to massage bruised egos and heal wounded bodies, but keep his team sharp against an improving Baylor team that nearly upset No. 13 Missouri last weekend. Two key players who were hurt against Texas Tech, defensive end Brian Orakpo (knee) and wide receiver Quan Cosby (back) will be evaluated this week to see if they can play against Baylor.

"We're emotionally down and physically down," Brown said. "Baylor will be pumped."

Against Texas Tech, the Longhorns fought back from a 19-point deficit to take a 33-32 lead with 89 seconds left, only to watch the Red Raiders win on a touchdown pass from Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree 88 seconds later.

When it was over, the Longhorns were stuck in the middle of thousands of Red Raiders fans who stormed the field to celebrate the biggest win in school history.

"Losing right now after we've done so much, it hurts," defensive tackle Roy Miller said. "But we're going to fight. The good thing is, guys don't quit."


 
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Mack Brown
  Texas Head Coach