Alamo Bowl Player Profile, History & More

2006 Alamo Bowl Player Profile, History, Best Players & More

Texas (9-3) vs. Iowa (6-6)

Dec. 30, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Get Tickets for the Alamo Bowl | Get more picks for this game

CFN Alamo Bowl Preview

 

Alamo Bowl History
2005	Nebraska 32, Michigan 28
2004	Ohio State 33, Oklahoma St 7
2003	Nebraska 17, Michigan State 3
2002	Wisconsin 31, Colorado 28
2001	Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16
2000	Nebraska 66, Northwestern 17
1999	Penn State 23, Texas A&M 0
1998	Purdue 37, Kansas St. 34
1997	Purdue 33, Oklahoma St. 20
1996	Iowa 27, Texas Tech 0
1995	Texas A&M 22, Michigan 20
1994	Washington St. 10, Baylor 3
1993	California 37, Iowa 3

By Richard Cirminiello

Alamo Bowl Player Profile
OL Justin Blalock, Texas – Texas has been playing football for more than a century, yet no one has started more games for the school than Blalock, a four-year pillar on the offensive line.  One of the nation’s premier offensive lineman also happens to be its most reliable, starting an incredible 50 consecutive games in burnt orange.  In a program that’s perennially loaded with marquee names and star attractions, Blalock has become somewhat anonymous, despite being synonymous with the ‘Horns’ recent run of on-field success.  A Larry Allen clone, he’s simply an unadulterated, no-nonsense mauler, who’s versatile enough to play all three line positions and much more nimble than his considerable girth might indicate.  Texas offensive line coach Mac McWhorter considers Blalock to be one of the most complete blockers he’s ever had, words of high praise from a man that has 33 years of experience coaching the position.  Away from the field, however, the senior is a completely different character, affable, approachable and very popular around campus and in the locker room.  He also recently earned his degree in youth and community services with a minor in business and has long been a dedicated performer in the classroom.  When RG Cedric Dockery was lost for the year midway through the 2006 season, it was No. 63, who shifted inside to fill the void.  When Vince Young scored the game-winning touchdown in last year’s Rose Bowl, it was No. 63, who delivered the crushing block that sprung Young for the pylon.  Blalock has one more start left for Texas before beginning a new streak on Sundays.  His tenure, while somewhat underappreciated nationally, will never be forgotten in Austin.                          

Best Longhorn Bowl Moment – With all due respect to its last two thrilling comeback wins over USC and Michigan in the Rose Bowl, nothing defines the Texas bowl experience more than the Cotton Bowl, home to almost half of the program’s 45 bowl destinations.  Arguably the most rewarding of those trips to Dallas was in 1970, when the ‘Horns came from behind twice in the fourth quarter to beat a Notre Dame team that was ending a 44-year self-imposed bowl-moratorium.  The win, No. 500 in school history, cemented UT’s second national title. 

Best Hawkeye Bowl Moment – For the 11 members of the Big Ten conference, success is measured in terms Rose Bowl berths and victories.  For the Hawkeyes, that level of success hasn’t reached their campus since the latter half of the 1950s.  Iowa beat Oregon State and Cal in 1957 and 1959, respectively for their only Rose Bowl victories.  The 38-12 win over the Golden Bears was particularly impressive as the offense rolled up 441 of its 528 total yards on the ground.   

Texas' best win ... Texas 28 ... Oklahoma 10
Texas got two beautifully thrown touchdown passes from Colt McCoy in the third quarter with a 33-yard play to Limas Sweed and a seven-yard strike to Jordan Shipley to the put the game away for good. The games biggest fireworks came from the Oklahoma sideline after questioning a call on a backwards pass off the hands of Adrian Peterson returned three yards for a score by Aaron Ross, who also came up with two fourth quarter interceptions. Peterson got OU's only touchdown on a 29-yard run. Selvin Young opened the scoring with a 15-yard dash in the first quarter.

Texas' worst performance ... Kansas State 45 ... Texas 42
Kansas State jumped on Texas mistakes for a big third quarter run breaking a 21-21 tie with a 21-point run as RB Leon Patton threw a 18-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Wilson and Josh Freeman hit Yamon Figurs for a 30-yard score and ran for a one-yard touchdown. Texas mounted a huge comeback with an amazing four-play, 75-yard drive with an 18-yard Jamaal Charles touchdown run to spark a big run with Limas Sweed catching a 33-yard touchdown pass and Chris Ogbonnaya running for a score from one-yard out, but a line drive 51-yard Jeff Snodgrass field goal kept KSU ahead. The Wildcats pounced on the onside kick after the Ogbonnaya touchdown and were able to run out the clock. Longhorn QB Colt McCoy was knocked out of the game early with a neck injury after running for a one-yard score.

Iowa's best win ... Iowa 47 ... Purdue 17
Iowa ripped off 539 yards of total offense with all phases of the attack working in the easy win. Damien Sims, who filled in for an injured Albert Young, ran for two touchdowns and Drew Tate threw two touchdown passes, while the defense held the Boilermaker offense down early and finished off the scoring with a 98-yard interception return for a score form Adam Shada. Purdue got an 18-yard Greg Orton touchdown catch and a 16-yard Jaycen Taylor touchdown run in the second half, but most of the yards and big plays came in the second half when the game was out of reach.

Iowa's worst performance ... Northwestern 21 ... Iowa 7
Northwestern forced three turnovers with a big day from the defense and a balanced performance from the offense getting a five-yard Tyrell Sutton touchdown run in the first quarter, a seven-yard scoring catch from Eric Peterman in the second, and a 34-yard Terrell Jordan touchdown run late in the fourth to put it away. Iowa never got on track and had problems getting a big play only scoring on a three-yard Damian Sims run in the third quarter.

2005 Alamo Bowl
Nebraska 32 ... Michigan 28
In a thriller marred by questionable officiating and sure to be remembered for one of the strangest, almost greatest endings ever, Nebraska overcame a 28-17 deficit midway through the fourth quarter with a 31-yard touchdown run and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Terrence Nunn. Michigan had one last chance getting the ball back with seven seconds to play, and after a misfire, managed to come up with a wild, improbable, eight-lateral play that went 51 yards through players and coaches on the field before Titus Brothers finally stopped Tyler Ecker on the Nebraska 13. Nunn had started off the scoring with a 52-yard touchdown catch, but Michigan seemed to have things in hand thanks to three touchdown passes and a touchdown run from Chad Henne. UM's Steve Breaston returned four kickoffs for 146 yards and seven punts for 72 yards.
Player of the game: Nebraska RB Cory Ross ran 28 times for 161 yards and a touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Michigan - Passing: Chad Henne, 21-43, 270 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Mike Hart, 19-74. Receiving: Jason Avant, 8-71
Nebraska - Passing: Zac Taylor, 14-31, 167 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Cory Ross, 28-161, 1 TD. Receiving: Terrence Nunn, 4-91, 2 TD

---

Iowa Bowl History (12-9)

2005	Outback	Florida 31, Iowa 24
2004	Capital One	Iowa 30, LSU 25
2003	Outback	Iowa 37, Florida 17
2002	Orange	USC 38, Iowa 17
2001	Alamo	Iowa 19, Texas Tech 16
1997	Sun	Arizona State 17, Iowa 7
1996	Alamo	Iowa 27, Texas Tech 0
1995	Sun	Iowa 38, Washington 18
1993	Alamo	Cal 37, Iowa 3
1991	Holiday	Iowa 13, BYU 13
1990	Rose	Washington 46, Iowa 34
1988	Peach	N.C. State 28, Iowa 23
1987	Holiday	Iowa 20, Wyoming 19
1986	Holiday	Iowa 39, San Diego State 38
1985	Rose	UCLA 45, Iowa 28
1984	Freedom	Iowa 55, Texas 17
1983	Gator	Florida 14, Iowa 6
1982	Peach	Iowa 28, Tennessee 22
1981	Rose	Washington 28, Iowa 0
1958	Rose	Iowa 38, Cal 12
1957	Rose	Iowa 35, Oregon State 19

Texas Bowl History (22-21-2)

2005	Rose	Texas 41, USC 38
2004	Rose	Texas 38, Michigan 37
2003	Holiday	Washington State 28, Texas 20
2003	Cotton	Texas 35, LSU 20
2001	Holiday	Texas 47, Washington 43
2000	Holiday	Oregon 35, Texas 30
1999	Cotton	Arkansas 27, Texas 6
1998	Cotton	Texas 38, Miss State 11
1996	Fiesta	Penn State 38, Texas 15
1995	Sugar	Virginia Tech 28, Texas 10
1994	Sun	Texas 35, North Carolina 31
1990	Cotton	Miami 46, Texas 3
1987	Bluebonnet	Texas 32, Pittsburgh 27
1985	Bluebonnet	Air Force 24, Texas 16
1984	Freedom	Iowa 55, Texas 17
1983	Cotton	Georgia 10, Texas 9
1982	Sun	North Carolina 26, Texas 10
1981	Cotton	Texas 14, Alabama 12
1980	Bluebonnet	North Carolina 16, Texas 7
1979	Sun	Washington 14, Texas 7
1978	Sun	Texas 42, Maryland 0
1977	Cotton	Notre Dame 38, Texas 10
1975	Bluebonnet	Texas 38, Colorado 21
1974	Gator	Auburn 27, Texas 3
1973	Cotton	Nebraska 19, Texas 3
1972	Cotton	Texas 17, Alabama 13
1971	Cotton	Penn State 30, Texas 6
1970	Cotton	Notre Dame 24, Texas 11
1969	Cotton	Texas 21, Notre Dame 17
1968	Cotton	Texas 36, Tennessee 13
1966	Bluebonnet	Texas 19, Mississippi 0
1964	Orange	Texas 21, Alabama 17
1963	Cotton	Texas 28, Navy 6
1962	Cotton	LSU 13, Texas 0
1961	Cotton	Texas 12, Mississippi 7
1960	Bluebonnet	Texas 3, Alabama 3
1959	Cotton	Syracuse 23, Texas 14
1957	Sugar	Mississippi 39, Texas 7
1952	Cotton	Texas 16, Tennessee 0
1950	Cotton	Tennessee 20, Texas 14
1948	Orange	Texas 41, Georgia 28
1947	Sugar	Texas 27, Alabama 7
1945	Cotton	Texas 40, Missouri 27
1943	Cotton	Texas 7, Randolph Field 7
1942	Cotton	Texas 14, Georgia Tech 7