Hicks' attorney claims allegations are "completely false"

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AUSTIN – An attorney representing suspended Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks said Sunday any sexual assault allegations involving his client are "completely false."

Austin lawyer Perry Minton released a statement saying Hicks is "devastated" over the incident that led to him and teammate Case McCoy being sent home from San Antonio before the Longhorns' Valero Alamo Bowl victory on Saturday.

On Friday morning, UT announced the suspensions of two unnamed players for violating team rules. Two sources close to the program confirmed those players were Hicks, an injured linebacker, and McCoy, a backup quarterback.

Earlier that morning, according to a San Antonio police report, a 21-year-old woman accused two men of sexual assault between 2 and 2:40 a.m. at a downtown hotel. Police declined to confirm a report that the two accused men were UT football players, but said no arrests were made and no charges were filed.

"Mr. Hicks vehemently asserts that all conduct that occurred during the evening of the incident was consensual by everyone involved," Minton said in his statement. "The allegation, if any, that a sexual assault occurred by anyone at any time is completely false."

According to the police report, the woman who made the accusation said she met the two men at a nightclub where she had several drinks. The group then went to the hotel bar before the woman brought the two men to her room at the Holiday Inn Riverwalk.

The woman told police she did not remember the entire incident but said one of the men had sex with her while the other watched. Police observed bruises on her knee and bicep, according to the report. The report also said the woman and both men were taken to Methodist Specialty & Transplant Hospital.

"It is important to note that Mr. Hicks gave a statement and underwent a physical exam without hesitation when requested by law enforcement," Minton said. "These are not the actions of a young man with something to hide or one with a guilty (conscience)."

Austin lawyer Perry Minton released a statement saying Hicks is “devastated” over the incident that led to him and teammate Case McCoy being sent home from San Antoni. (Eric Gay / AP) Austin lawyer Perry Minton released a statement saying Hicks is “devastated” over the incident that led to him and teammate Case McCoy being sent home from San Antoni. (Eric Gay / AP) Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Hicks' attorney claims allegations are "completely false" 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

UT has made no official comments about the suspensions since coach Mack Brown announced them Friday morning. Hicks and McCoy are both juniors who were expected to return to the team next season.

Longhorns look to turn page

As balloons fell from the Alamodome rafters Saturday night, Major Applewhite looked significantly happier — and smarter — than he'd appeared two hours earlier. In the second half of Texas' 31-27 comeback victory over Oregon State, he and his offense found their comfort zone, and when it was over he admitted it felt "pretty danged good."

But when the Longhorns' new play-caller started talking about what comes next, he said that comfort zone — as nice as it was — needs to be temporary.

"We've got to be uncomfortable as coaches, uncomfortable as players," said Applewhite, who took over the play calling duties after Bryan Harsin left to become head coach at Arkansas State. "That's where you find your largest growth."

And even though the Longhorns exuded optimism after rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win the Valero Alamo Bowl, their 2012 season as a whole made it clear they still have plenty of growing to do.

Elite status gone

That is why Applewhite's comment about discomfort resonated as much as anything else UT players and coaches said after the game. After all, if any one shortcoming was to blame for UT slipping from a perennial top-10 team to a 22-16 record over the past three years, it might have been their tendency to become complacent in good times.

After spending a decade dominating on the recruiting front and winning 10 games every season, the Longhorns have been confronted with the jarring reality that it is no longer an elite program. This year's 9-4 finish was an improvement over last year, but it was still worse than every season UT had from 2000-09.

In the Longhorns' preparations for the Alamo Bowl, coach Mack Brown said, he made it clear that the status quo was not acceptable.

"You can either stay where you are, which is not the standard we've set, or you can move, and you can take a step forward," Brown said.

That's why the focus of the coaching staff over the next several months won't necessarily be about making schematic changes.

Bigger demands

If the Longhorns break through next season, it will be because of a much broader change.

"It's not about the X's and O's," Applewhite said. "It's really about just the nature of our program and demanding more of our guys, demanding more of our coaches, strength coaches, trainers — just getting guys tougher."

Once again, they won't be short on talent. UT stands to lose only three full-time starters (receiver Marquise Goodwin, defensive end Alex Okafor and safety Kenny Vaccaro).

Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said the end of the Alamo Bowl is a good way to set expectations for next year.

"Maybe (Saturday) they saw a little glimpse," Diaz said. "And when we start to demand more from each other, the results can improve. But any notion that we should be happy and rest on our laurels would be foolish."