9/13/01

UT wraps up emotional week of practice

* Mack Brown's post-practice comments (2:53 .mp3)
* A special end to Thursday's practice (.mov)

THE PRACTICE REPORT: The UT football team wrapped up an emotional week of practices with a two-hour workout on Thursday afternoon at Frank Denius Fields. The team followed the same routine as it did on Wednesday with a couple of exceptions. Following the session, head coach Mack Brown, his staff and the players took a moment of silence to honor the people that lost their lives in the tragic events of Tuesday morning. After the moment of silence, the team sang "God Bless America" with UT benefactor and decorated World War II veteran Frank Denius, for whom the Longhorns practice facility is named, holding the American flag.

PLAYS OF THE DAY: Several Longhorns had outstanding plays during Thursday's session. Senior CB Quentin Jammer dove in front of and batted down a Major Applewhite pass during the first part of the team drill, while sophomore RB Ivan Williams bolted through the line of scrimmage for a 40-yard touchdown run during that same drill. Later on during the one-minute drill, sophomore WR B.J Johnson hauled in a 50-yard pass from Chris Simms for a score and freshman PK Dusty Mangum connected on a 42-yard field goal.

FLOWERS AT PRACTICE: Senior WR Montrell Flowers was back at practice on Thursday afternoon. However, he took in the workout in street clothes as he sustained a career-ending kidney injury in the third quarter of UT's 44-14 victory against North Carolina. Flowers was released from the hospital on Monday night.

ON THE MEND: Redshirt freshman RB Sneezy Beltran returned to practice after missing the last three weeks with a sore shoulder. Meanwhile, junior OT Alfio Randall (back spasms) and redshirt freshman DT Austin Sendlein (sore shoulder) sat out Thursday's workout.

BROWN ANNOUNCES AMERICAN FLAG WILL FLY FOR REST OF THE SEASON: Head coach Mack Brown said that the American flag will be flown for the rest of the season at Denius Fields in honor of those people who passed away because of Tuesday's tragedies. The flag was raised on Tuesday afternoon.

LOOKING AHEAD: Texas has the weekend off and will return to Denius Fields on Monday afternoon. The Longhorns also will work out on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week before heading to Houston for next Saturday's contest against the Cougars (8 p.m./ESPN2).