A Texas Two-Step for QB Andy Collins

"Don't Mess With Texas".   Occidental quarterback Andy Collins will compete in the inaugural Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game this Friday , Feb. 2 at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.   Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm Pacific and the game will be televised on College Sports Television (CSTV).

The Texas vs. The Nation game pits outstanding collegiate players with high school or collegiate ties to the state of Texas against top players from the rest of the country.  Collins, a native of Zillah, Washington with no ties to the Lone Star State, is one of four quarterbacks on the Texas squad.   University of Texas-El Paso head coach Mike Price used an exemption to select Collins after Baylor University's Shawn Bell became injured.

Collins ranked 12th in NCAA Division III total offense (273.1), 14th in passing efficiency (153.7) in 2006, earning SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive season.   He tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass and caught another Dec. 16 in the Aztec Bowl, becoming the first quarterback named Aztec Bowl Most Valuable Player.

The Texas roster features running back Ramonce Taylor, a key component of the Longhorns' 2006 national championship team, and Texas Tech wide receiver Robert Johnson.  Collins is one of three Division III student-athletes selected to the squad, along with Trinity (TX) offensive lineman Derek Farney and Mary Hardin-Baylor punter Hunter Hamrick.

The National roster features players from national champion Florida, LSU, Minnesota, and Notre Dame as well as Division III standouts Jason Trusnik of Ohio Northern and Jesse Wendt of Wisconsin-Stout.   Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan will lead the National team.   The game is the brainchild of former Hula Bowl CEO Kenny Hansmire.

"Texas has always claimed to be the best in football," says Hansmire.   "Here's their chance to prove it."

"This is another great opportunity for Andy," added veteran head coach Dale Widolff.  "We're excited he will be able to compete against some of the best college seniors in the country."

For more information, log on to http://texasvsthenation.cstv.com.