Magnum’s Foot Provides an Edge

If today’s Rose Bowl comes down to long field goals, the edge will go to Texas senior Dusty Magnum, who is four for four from 50 yards and beyond, with a career best of 52.

His Michigan counterpart, sophomore Garrett Rivas, has never had a field-goal attempt beyond 47 yards.

“The kicking game is always important, especially in bowl games,” said Magnum, a former walk-on who is third on the Longhorns’ all-time scoring list with 350 points.

“You have so many weeks off after the regular season. Without any continuation from the season, it’s really tough to pick up where you left off.”

Magnum is comfortable in his job. He earned the placekicking duties as a freshman in 2001, beating out three others. He was an instant success, setting eight Texas freshman records, including a career-best 51-yarder.

He also is used to kicking in California bowl games. In two of the three previous seasons, Texas played in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

He said the key to being sharp after a long layoff was “relaxing and getting my body ready.” *

Coach Mack Brown on his team’s rain-marred practices: “We had seven great practice sessions in Austin [before coming here] and I really think that they’ve been better out here than there.”

Brown credits his program’s recent bowl familiarity. “This team has been to a bowl every year and has been in an arena similar to this each year, even though it hasn’t been the Rose Bowl,” he said. “I’ve been very, very pleased with how the coaches and players have been able to focus and get a lot accomplished this week.”

*

Brown on Texas playing Michigan in the Rose Bowl: “Keith Jackson told our team that the football world has been cheated for many years because Texas and Michigan have never played.”