TEXAS VS. THE NATION

As players put their pads on for the last time in their collegiate careers in front of the NFL and El Pasoans at the Sun Bowl, they will be playing for Texas or the Nation in the fourth annual senior showcase game Feb. 6.

The Texas vs. the Nation game serves to help college seniors get one more chance to play in front of scouts and show them what they have to offer. If they impress the scouts, they have an opportunity to get selected in April's NFL Draft.

"I'm really just honored to be here and even just have the opportunity to do this. A lot of kids don't have a chance to continue playing and even that I have the opportunity I'm pretty happy about it," UTEP offensive lineman Michael Aguayo said.

These games have been entertaining as the Nation has won two of the first three contests. With the exception of the 2008 game, the games have been close, being decided by four points or less. In the 2008 game, Texas blew out the Nation en route to a 41-14 victory.

 

Players are eligible to participate in this game if they are rated in the top 15 at their respective positions. Players who are chosen to come and participate are put on each squad based on where they are originally from.

If a player is originally from Texas, but played in a university outside of Texas he still plays for Texas.

This game is not only the last football game of the college season, but it is also one of the largest showcase games in the nation. This game has also produced plenty of NFL talent who play for various team and two of them are playing in the Super Bowl this weekend.

 

Pierre Garcon, a 2008 alum, and 2009 participant Curtis Painter are playing for the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. Garcon has been a big reason why the Colts have been able to advance to the championship game.

Painter is currently the backup to quarterback Peyton Manning. This year Garcon has had 47 catches for 765 yards and four touchdowns.

Other notable players who are playing in the NFL are 2010 Pro Bowler Johnny Knox of the Chicago Bears and running back Tim Hightower from the Arizona Cardinals, who was an integral part of their Super Bowl appearance last year.

There are several players in this year's game that are from traditional college football schools. There are players from LSU, Miami, Penn State, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas Tech just to name a few. There are also four UTEP players on the Texas squad and they are Aguayo, Cornelius Brown, Jeff Moturi, and Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith. Team chemistry is starting to come into form with each practice that is held.

"It's a good chemistry. I think some leaders are starting to step up and starting to tell players what to do and stuff like where to be at. People are just coming along and personalities are great," Moturi said.

Howard Schnellenberger will command the Nation squad who also coached the team to a 27-24 win last year. Schnellenberger was the coach who turned around the University of Miami and was the reason for their dominance in the 1980's. He is currently the coach at Florida Atlantic University.

For Texas, they are being led by first-time coach Bill Bates. Bates is a former Dallas Cowboy who won three Super Bowl rings in the 1990's. He was a high-octane special teams player. With his attitude on the field, you can expect that to translate to his players to avenge last year's loss to the Nation.

"The coaches have been stressing that all week since we had lost it last year. We are coming into this game with a fired up attitude and we are playing to win this week," Cromartie said.

With past history of this game, expect it to be a close, entertaining battle between college seniors giving 110 percent in front of scouts to prove that they belong in the NFL.

Alex Morales may be reached at propector@utep.edu.