AUSTIN, Texas — After winning Rose Bowl Offensive MVP honors while leading Texas to the national title in 2005, Vince Young says he's getting no perks for coming back to school to complete his degree in applied learning and development/youth and community studies this semester.

"I have to hunt for a parking space just like everyone else," Young said. "And they still charge $50 for parking tickets. I know that."

Brian Davis, who heads Texas' academic services for football, said he thought about getting Young "a bodyguard" after Young's first day in a psychology class turned into an impromptu autograph show.

"Then I realized Vince is a big boy and he can handle himself," Davis said. "Vince basically told all the students in his class that they needed to take their seats and listen to the professor."

Young received a standing ovation in that class from the students, leaving the professor perplexed.

"The professor, she's from California, worked at UCLA and just moved here," Young said. "I think she thought the applause was for her."

Young gets stopped wherever he goes on campus.

"Some of the kids are shocked to see me," Young said.

Young will have a semester of work left — 12 hours — after this semester to complete his degree in the college of education. On campus, things have gotten so crazy at times for Young, the student newspaper, The Daily Texan, published an editorial that said, "Don't hound him for autographs."

But after signing a $58 million contract two years ago as the No. 3 overall draft pick of the Tennessee Titans, Young is hardly slumming it the way he did as a freshman in the dorms back in 2002. He's renting a house with a swimming pool, hot tub and weight room until he finishes the semester in June.

"I like to get a workout in early, study and go to class and then take care of my NFL business and work on my foundation in the afternoon," Young said.

Young said he turned down going to the Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., and all of its parties to focus on his studies. He wants his degree because he wouldn't feel comfortable talking to kids about the importance of education if he didn't complete his own.

"It's not about the money and fame," Young said. "It's about education."

Young's decision to return to school came before the Titans fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who has since landed at UCLA. The Titans replaced him with

Mike Heimerdinger, who returns to Tennessee after two seasons in Denver.

"I was pretty surprised (about Chow's firing)," Young said. "But it's a business. You have to stay on your assignment. Norm Chow taught me a lot."

Young said school has kept him from spending a lot of time with Heimerdinger, but he doesn't expect the offensive terminology to change much.

The Titans (10-6) made the playoffs despite a cast of unheralded receivers, such as Roydell Williams, Brandon Jones and Justin Gage.

"I think we can win with the guys we played with last year," Young said. "Sure, I would love to have a Chad Johnson, but the guys we have all helped our team. It was our first year working with some of those receivers."

Young, who says he's almost recovered from a right quadriceps injury that bothered him most of the season, isn't the only former UT player taking classes. Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin and Titans safety Michael Griffin are also back.

"We probably don't get stopped as much as Vince," Cedric Griffin said.

Former Longhorn and current Houston Texans offensive lineman Kasey Studdard is living in Austin this off-season. Studdard protected Young throughout that national title run in 2005. Now, Young is using Studdard again.

"To avoid parking on campus and getting all those tickets, I usually just ask Kasey to pick me up and drop me off," Young said, laughing.

So maybe being a student named Vince Young at Texas does have its privileges.

"I have to hunt for a parking space just like everyone else. And they still charge $50 for parking tickets."