Holding the Line Is Their Job

Not one of Texas’ defensive linemen ranks among the team leaders in tackles, because that’s not their main job.

“The biggest mistake that I could possibly make is to go out there and try to make more plays than I’m supposed to,” said junior tackle Larry Dibbles, who led all linemen in tackles with 46, including 20 solo, during the regular season.

“I have to go out there and take care of my minimal assignment, which is to take on double teams and free up my linebackers. Let them make the big play and get a lot of the publicity. Let those guys make ‘SportsCenter’ and get the headlines in the newspaper. I get satisfaction when I see [middle linebacker] Aaron Harris come through and make a play at the line of scrimmage.”

The Longhorns know that they have a challenge going up against Michigan’s running game Saturday in the Rose Bowl. Behind freshman Michael Hart, who led the Big Ten Conference in rushing, the Wolverines love to pound the ball behind their physical line.

But they will be facing a Longhorn run defense -- led by linemen Rodrique Wright, Brian Robison, Tim Crowder and Dibbles -- that has allowed only two running backs to reach the 100-yard mark and held Texas Tech to minus-17 yards rushing, Texas’ best effort against the run since 1990.

“I think that people who know football appreciate defensive linemen, because we have the ability to control the game and the line of scrimmage,” Dibbles said. “I feel like we are greatly appreciated in the opinion of those who matter, because I don’t think we go unrecognized by our coaches and teammates.”

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Greg Robinson, Texas’ co-defensive coordinator, on Hart, a 5-foot-9 freshman who averaged 124.7 yards rushing: “I like him. He’s a back who’s not very tall, but he’ll hit into a hole and then all of the sudden he’ll come out of the hole.

“There are some unique things about him. The way he comes off the first hitter and stays alive. Once he gets out, he’s able to make a sharp cut, a jump cut, where he can go in either direction. For a young player, he’s been very productive.”

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Dick Tomey, Texas’ other co-defensive coordinator, on Wednesday accepted an offer to become head coach at San Jose State.

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Texas quarterback Vince Young on the recent rain that has plagued the Longhorns’ stay in Southern California: “I’m still waiting to see that great Los Angeles weather I’ve always been hearing about. I’m tired of waking up to rain every morning.”

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Coach Mack Brown agreed to a 10-year contract worth more than $25 million, which would keep him with the university through 2014. Brown’s new deal will boost his $2.06-million annual salary by $100,000 in the first year, with additional $100,000 raises each year. Brown will earn a little more than $3 million in 2014.

Brown, who has never won a conference title in 21 seasons as a head coach, is 69-19 at Texas and has led the Longhorns to four consecutive seasons with at least 10 victories.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.