KENNY GREER/THE LANTERNLonghorns senior linebacker Rashad Bobino poses with the golden football from the Fiesta Bowl trophy at media day Friday in Scottsdale, Ariz.How times have changed.
Bowl week preparations include practices each day, and the first day the Longhorns took the field they were joking around and enjoying themselves thoroughly.
In the evenings of bowl week, Texas has attended the Insight Bowl and a Phoenix Suns game. Ohio State has held team functions as well, but is taking a different approach.
“We’re not here to party or do anything extra,” senior punter A.J. Trapasso said. “This is a business trip for us.”
During Friday’s media day session, Texas players were relaxed and loose; several players entertained those in the media by conducting mock interviews with each other.
Senior Longhorns cornerback Ryan Palmer asked teammate Deon Beasley who was the better looking of the two.
“I am the best looking corner to ever play the game at the University of Texas,” Beasley said.
The Fiesta Bowl Parade Queen Court found the exchange quite amusing.
Although the exchange between Palmer and Beasley was for comedic purposes, some of their teammates were more vocal about their opponent, No. 10 Ohio State.
When told about the season-long struggles of the Buckeye offensive line, senior Longhorns linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy made a rather definitive statement.
“So I know,” Muckelroy said.
Not only had the Longhorns’ leading tackler heard, but he knows the OSU offensive line is struggling.
When Texas’ time with the media was complete and the Longhorns left, senior wide receiver Quan Cosby noticed the Fiesta Bowl trophy on his way out.
Cosby said he wished he had his cell phone so he could take a picture with the million-dollar trophy, but said he would take a picture with it after the game.
Longhorns senior linebacker Rashad Bobino posed for photos with the golden football, which sits atop the Fiesta Bowl trophy.
Buckeye senior left tackle Alex Boone, never shy when it comes to expressing himself, took a pass at responding to Muckelroy and Cosby.
“True or false, this is going to get me in a lot of trouble?” Boone asked about responding to the comments from the Longhorns. “For this game I’m just going to let my talk be on the field. At the end we’ll see what’s up.”
James Crepea can be reached at [email protected].
