DRC UT/OU through a recruits eyes...

[OldTimer]

Scroll down ...Texas as the home team had 8 ROWS of recruits and their families at their game with OU in Dallas yester....UT now has 24 commits...how many more can they sign?

UT-OU: Through a recruit's eyes

Berkner defensive end soaks up atmosphere

11:49 PM CDT on Saturday, October 8, 2005

By TODD WILLS / The Dallas Morning News

Ugo Chinasa arrived just before kickoff, after being stuck in traffic for an hour near Fair Park. So when the standout defensive end recruit from Richardson Berkner stepped inside the Cotton Bowl on Saturday for his first Texas-Oklahoma game, what he saw overwhelmed him.

The sea of burnt orange. The crimson and cream. The intensity and emotion of the fans, that's what he'll always remember. The crowd awed him.

Photos

Tell us: Your thoughts?

Show us: Upload game photos

Interactive: The Rivalry

Back on top: UT turns table on OU

Cowlishaw | Blackistone

Helping hands for Young

UT defense impressive

Horns' defense stomps Bomar

UT fans glad to see loss streak end

Chatter: Feeling a little bipolar?

UT-OU: Through a recruit's eyes

Five key plays | Notebook

Summary | All-time series results

More Red River Rivalry

More Colleges

Chinasa's college decision may well come down to Texas or Oklahoma. The senior, who said he is also considering LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma State, allowed as much after No. 2 Texas' convincing 45-12 victory.

"It probably could come down to them," Chinasa said. "Both teams play the game with great intensity."

Two games, two days

Chinasa's football weekend began Friday night with another rivalry game – Berkner-Lake Highlands. Because the teams share a stadium, the battle of Richardson ISD teams is a source of great pride. The winner gets its mascot – in Berkner's case, the Rams – at the start of the stadium name.

It will be Ram-Wildcat Stadium for next 365 days. Chinasa and his Berkner teammates pulled out a 23-20 victory over Lake Highlands with a touchdown in the final minute. Berkner, No. 4 in SportsDay's Class 5A area rankings, improved to 6-0.

If Friday night's game was any indication, Chinasa's intensity would fit right into the Red River Rivalry. The 6-5, 220-pound Chinasa, who is No. 19 on Rivals.com's state Top-100 list, forced his way into the backfield on each of the final plays of the game as Lake Highlands tried to get into field goal range.

"We never gave up," he said.

The game was a matter of pride for Chinasa, who wasn't trying to impress coaches Friday. No Texas assistants scouted the game. In fact, no coach can call a recruit this time of year. Recruits have to call coaches.

Anticipation mounts

Chinasa woke up early Saturday, piled into teammate Keller Parks' car and made the much-anticipated trip to the State Fair of Texas.

"He was antsy," Parks said. "He was ready to get there."

Texas, which was the home team and thus able to invite recruits this year, gave Chinasa three tickets. He took Parks and Wesley Nakwaasah, both defensive backs for Berkner.

They sat near the 50-yard line, among eight rows of recruits and their friends and family members. Some were seniors and have already committed to Texas, including Woodrow Wilson linebacker Sergio Kindle and Kilgore defensive end Eddie Jones.

Others, such as Chinasa, Mesquite Horn tailback Mon Williams and Arlington Bowie defensive back Dominique Criss, are still deciding where they want to play.

All were escorted by the Texas Angels, a recruiting group that plays host to recruits in Austin and at games.

The Texas-Oklahoma game is a rare recruiting situation because the stadium is spilt right down the middle with UT and OU fans. Both teams try to sell their programs.

So making a statement in the game is important for a player on the fence. Chinasa had no interaction with either team, no special access to locker rooms or the field. He and his friends left the game with four minutes to play.

Neutral observer

Chinasa, dressed in a black T-shirt, was non-committal as to his college preference at kickoff. He has been a fan of Oklahoma and Sooners' swagger as long as he can remember. "I just love they way they play," he said.

JUAN GARCIA/DMN

On Friday, Ugo Chinasa was signaling his teammates. On Saturday, he was among 75,452 at the Cotton Bowl.

But he has warmed to the Longhorns because of their aggressive style of defense. "My style fits their defense," said Chinasa, a standup end.

Chinasa found himself silently pulling for Texas at times and Oklahoma at other times. He enjoyed watching the players "talking noise" to each other. When Texas receiver Billy Pittman caught a 64-yard touchdown pass for a 24-6 lead late in the first half, Chinasa didn't hesitate when asked who was going to win the game. "Texas," he said.

Sitting in a sea of orange for four hours did little to sway Chinasa. That is, until Texas defensive tackle Rod Wright picked up a fumble by Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar and rumbled 67 yards for a touchdown.

It was at that moment that the Longhorns' decisive victory may have swayed him for the first time.

"A little bit," Chinasa said when asked if he was nudged toward Texas. "But I like them pretty much the same."

He has plenty of time to decide. Signing day isn't until Feb. 1, but Chinasa can expect his phone to start ringing again Nov. 27 – the first day coaches can resume contacting recruits.

E-mail twills@dallasnews.com