Young shows he's more than ready for NFL

Just walk away, Vince Young. Walk away now.

The ramifications of the Texas quarterback's otherworldly performance Wednesday night in an out-of-this-world Rose Bowl were plentiful.

First, he made all of us who voted Reggie Bush for the Heisman Trophy rethink our logic.

Second, he made everyone forget that Michael Vick used to be the most exciting quarterback in the world.

Third, he might have made the Houston Texans' iron-clad draft plans turn into the most difficult decision the franchise will ever have to make.

All of this depends on whether Bush and Young - both juniors - decide to give up the dormitory life for something in the neighborhood of a $40 million signing bonus. With BCS championship rings on each of their fingers, I don't know why either one of them would want to re-enroll next fall.

If they do, please let them go at it again in the Fiesta Bowl next January.

Even if they staged a rematch, it simply couldn't get any better in college football than what Young and Texas did against Bush and Southern Cal after midnight Wednesday. Young trying to come back from that would be akin to Michael Jordan unretiring after the perfect walk-off NBA game-winner against the Jazz. Anything after is destined to be a letdown.

If you turned the TV off and turned in when Southern Cal went ahead 12 points with a little more than 6 minutes remaining, you missed one of the greatest

shows on turf. Take heart, however. The 2006 Rose Bowl will take its place in the eternal rewind of ESPN Classic along with the unforgettable 1992 NCAA Tournament game between Duke and Kentucky and the 1986 Masters Tournament.

It was that good. The collection of talent on the field will be gracing the NFL Pro Bowl for years to come. The unflinching performance on both sides was as good as you will ever see and more than lived up to six months of expectations.

If the BCS could promise that kind of definitive show every year, there would be no reason to complain about it. In fact, it's a shame Ernie Banks wasn't in Pasadena to suggest "Let's play two." Who wouldn't like to see it all over again? Forget the NFL-style playoff. Make it a best-of-seven series.

One night after Penn State and Florida State made you wonder why the creators of the game ever put the "foot" in football, Texas and Southern Cal seemed destined to take the awkward reliance on kickers out of the mix and leave the outcome in the hands of the real stars. Unless it was fourth down and forever, there seemed no real inclination to punt or settle for field goals unless absolutely necessary.

Trojans coach Pete Carroll might get questioned for the rest of his life about failing to get a first down on fourth-and-2 when a punt might have been the more conventional, if not more prudent, play. But he was trying to win the game and keep the ball out of Young's hot hands. Now you know why.

Young was spectacular in taking the big-game monkey off Texas coach Mack Brown's back. He rushed for almost as many yards (200) as Bush and backfield mate LenDale White combined. He completed one more pass than 2004 Heisman winner Matt Leinart. He erased the entire 12-point deficit in less than four minutes - starting with a 17-yard run and ending with an 8-yarder on fourth down with 19 seconds left.

The clinching touchdown was an the Longhorns call "Menu 2." When all other items on the menu were covered, Young selected the final option.

"Run real fast," he said.

He was about the coolest cat ever to take a national championship game on his back and carry it home with 467 total yards. A Houston native and a bona fide state hero, he'd have to give the Texans pause before pulling the trigger on the No. 1 NFL Draft choice, if available. If not, he could join the New Orleans Saints and make Michael Vick the second-most exciting quarterback in the NFC South.

Best of all, Young made the pregame hype machine of ESPN and Co. look the fools. The way the media had fawned over Southern Cal all month and painted some David vs. Goliath pregame portrait of the Rose Bowl, you'd have thought Texas had pulled off some kind of Chaminade miracle in Pasadena.

The truth is, Texas and Southern Cal were about as perfectly matched as any championship matchup you'll ever see. The Longhorns were loaded with the same kind of talent, a moderately better defense and a star quarterback with just the right amount of chip on his shoulder to put Texas over the top.

Young was the consummate leader in maybe the greatest national championship football game we'll ever see.

"All I do is go out there and play for my teammates and do whatever it takes to get the W," Young said in his morning-after press conference. "Just to see them guys' eyes, their emotion, that's a moment for me that I'll remember for the rest of my life."

So will anybody who stayed awake to witness it.

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.