Harry Cabluck, Associated Press Vince Young, who quarterbacked Texas to its first national championship in 36 years, announces in Austin, Texas, yesterday that he will make himself eligible for the NFL draft. Click photo for larger image.

The quarterback who led Texas to its first national championship in 36 years announced yesterday that he would make himself eligible for the NFL draft.

"I thank God for the opportunity to be in this position," Young said at a news conference. "Hard work has paid off a whole lot."

Young, who led the Longhorns to a 41-38 Rose Bowl win Wednesday night against then No. 1-ranked Southern California, could have returned to Texas for his senior season and would have been a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.

The versatile quarterback accounted for 467 yards against USC -- 200 running and 267 passing -- and ran 8 yards for the winning touchdown with 19 seconds left.

Young thanked many people, including his family and coach Mack Brown, who could not attend the news conference. He specifically thanked Brown for "helping me become a better man."

In a statement, Brown said he met with Young and his family yesterday morning and fully supports Young's decision.

"We love Vince and appreciate all the great things he's done for the University of Texas on and off the field," Brown said. "We'll miss him, but want him to do as well in the NFL as he did in college."

In his eight seasons at Texas, Brown has had no other player leave school early for the NFL.

Young ends his career at Texas with a 30-2 record -- the best in school history.

He is Texas' all-time leader in total offense (9,167 yards), career touchdowns (81) and career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (37).

This season, Young became the only player in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards (3,036) and rush for 1,000 (1,050) in one season. His 4,086 total yards set a school single-season record.

Penn State

A leader of a women's rights group has asked Joe Paterno to resign over comments the Penn State football coach made about an alleged sexual assault.

Joanne Tosti-Vasey, president of the National Organization for Women in Pennsylvania, reitererated yesterday that she was "appalled" by Paterno's comments last week and that they represent an institutional insensitivity that endangers women.

Paterno's remarks came a day before the Orange Bowl, when a reporter asked about Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson, who was accused of sexual assault and sent home before the game Tuesday.

Tosti-Vasey issued a news release calling for Paterno to apologize and step down from the post he has held for 40 years. She sent an e-mail to Paterno and the university president the next day, but said yesterday that she has not heard back from either.

Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said yesterday that Paterno's comments were taken out of context. A spokeswoman at the NOW headquarters in Washington said the organization's president, Kim Gandy, supports the call for Paterno's resignation.

Guido D'Elia, communications director for Penn State football, said Paterno made his remarks in the larger context of distractions in the bowl-game environment. Nor, he said, did Paterno intend to make light of the assault allegations.

"I think if you were present, you understood he meant no malice," D'Elia said Saturday. "If you heard his tone, he really thought it was too bad for everybody. He was concerned for everybody."

No charges have been filed against Nicholson, although police in Florida said the matter remains open.

Michigan

The Wolverines' No. 2 quarterback, Matt Gutierrez, said he will leave Michigan and play for Idaho State in the fall. Gutierrez, with one year of college eligibility left, did not say whether he was promised the starting job for the Division I-AA Bengals, but said he was certain he would never supplant Chad Henne as Michigan's top quarterback.

Kansas

Junior cornerback-wide receiver Charles Gordon will pass up his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Whether playing offense or defense, the talented and versatile Gordon was one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference. As a wide receiver, he had 106 catches for 1,232 yards and nine touchdowns. As a cornerback, he had nine career interceptions. His seven interceptions in 2004 tied him for the NCAA lead. Gordon also had 999 yards on punt returns, making him the Jayhawks' career leader.