Jordan Rules

What was Texas’ biggest play during its 12-1 Fiesta Bowl season? Hint: it could happen again Saturday.

One could argue that Texas saved the best for last with Quan Cosby’s game-winning 26-yard reception with 16 seconds left to beat Ohio State. And, certainly, no play was more detrimental to the Horns’ national championship aspirations than Michael Crabtree’s last-second touchdown grab against the Horns. (Then again, one could argue the play was made significant primarily because of the Big 12’s method of breaking three-way ties.) The argument, here, is Jordan Shipley’s 96-yard KO return for TD against Oklahoma was Texas’ biggest play of 2008. Although Texas would have to, again, rally from an 11-point deficit, Shipley’s return galvanized his team on that sun-splashed day in Dallas. It was the biggest momentum swing in Texas’ 45-35 upset of the previously top-ranked Sooners. And when one play almost single-handedly affects the outcome of that game it, in turn, affects the outcome of the season.

“I think it was a big momentum swing for us,” Shipley said. “Any time you have a big play on special teams, it’s always a huge momentum swing. There was a buzz coming off the field.”

Now, the buzz surrounding Shipley is Heisman buzz. The sixth-year senior is finally gaining recognition from national media and is expected to get some consideration from the panel of Heisman voters who reveal their ballots on a weekly basis. “I’m not focused on that kind of stuff,” Shipley said. “Coach (Mack) Brown does a pretty good job of keeping everybody out of the media. I haven’t thought about it much. I’m just trying to play football and keep my eyes on that.”

It may be a difficult topic to avoid considering his roommate 2008 Heisman runner-up Colt McCoy. “I haven’t talked to Colt about it,” Shipley insists. “Not one time.”

Instead, Shipley does most of his talking on the field and is the current Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. He registered a 74-yard TD for the fifth-longest punt return in school history. It was his second punt return score this season and third in his career, both tying school records. Shipley returned KOs for the first time this season against Colorado for an additional 38 yards. Shipley could just as easily have been awarded the league’s weekly top honor for his offensive contribution, finishing with a game-high 11 catches for 147 yards and a TD. His 273 all-purpose yards against Colorado are a career high. Shipley has caught at least 10 passes in each of the last three games, becoming the first Longhorn in school history to accomplish the feat. Shipley has caught 47 passes for 583 yards (12.4 ypc) and three TDs this season. His 9.4 receptions per game are tied for second nationally and his 116.6 receiving yards per game rank seventh. Career-wise, Shipley has recorded 179 receptions (No. 3 on UT’s all-time list) for 2,289 yards (No. 5 on UT’s all-time list) and 23 TDs (No. 2 on UT’s all-time list) during his 44-game career tenure. Shipley has accounted for four of the nine games in school history in which a Longhorn receiver was credited with at least 11 receptions. So why hasn’t Shipley received more love from national pigskin pundits until now? Part of it has to do with the fact Shipley slipped under the radar when he battled season-ending injuries in 2004 and 2005, Brown said. He was also overshadowed by Cosby’s feel-good story of spurning minor league baseball to return to the collegiate ranks, he added. And he clearly has played second fiddle to McCoy. Shipley earned his degree before he began to earn national recognition. Yet, following an outstanding 2008 season in which Texas finished No. 3 nationally, some questioned why he returned for a sixth year.

“I can’t explain why I wanted to return,” Shipley said, “but (Texas) is such a special place. I wanted to be part of the University and a part of this team for one more year and a chance to have a special year. We’re on the right track, and I do feel like we have a chance to do something pretty special.”

Nor is there any doubt that Shipley is pretty special himself.