SB Nation User Blog: Tech92

All Big XII Team Announced

Tech92 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:07:06 -0000

Graham Harrell was shut out of the All Big XII team as announced today by the conference. Michael Crabtree, Darcell McBath and Brandon Williams were named to the first team.

The second team included Shannon Woods, Daniel Charbonnet, Rylan Reed and Luis Vasquez.

McKinner Dixon was named the Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

Mike Leach and Bob Stoops shared the Coach of the Year honor.

Texas Tech's Honorable Mentions: Baron Batch, RB; Brandon Carter, OL; McKinner Dixon, DL; Brian Duncan, LB; Stephen Hamby, OL; Graham Harrell, QB; Jamar Wall, DB; Colby Whitlock, DL; Marlon Williams, LB; Marlon Winn, OL

http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=3626465

Harrell - tough as nails!

Tech92 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:13:34 -0000

WOW!! And people talk about the toughness of Stephen McGee or Colt...I'd say Graham takes that category hands (and fingers) down.

From ESPN.com:

Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell played with two shattered fingers on his non-throwing hand Saturday in the Red Raiders' victory over Baylor, a source close to Harrell said Sunday night.

The source said Harrell underwent four hours of surgery Sunday on the pinkie and ring fingers on his left hand, with 17 pins and two plates inserted in his hand to heal nine separate breaks. Despite the extent of the injury, suffered in the second quarter, Harrell finished the game against the Bears and is expected to be fine for Tech's bowl game.

Texas Tech football spokesman Chris Cook said that coach Mike Leach's policy is not to comment on the specifics of players' injuries. But he confirmed that Harrell did have surgery Sunday morning.

The source said Harrell was x-rayed at halftime, and the Tech medical staff told him he was done for the day. Harrell responded, "Tape my hand up. I'm going out." Harrell finished the game with black tape around the two fingers.

Despite the injury, Harrell threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Red Raiders back from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half. The victory gave Tech a share of the Big 12 South title, but it lost the BCS standings tie-breaker to Oklahoma. The Sooners will represent the South in the Big 12 championship game, while Tech will maintain a slim hope for a BCS at-large berth.

Meanwhile, Harrell is hoping to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist. That award will be given Dec. 13th in New York. Ballots are due for the Heisman next week.

Cook said star receiver Michael Crabtree, who missed most of the Baylor game after spraining an ankle in the first half, also should be 100 percent for the Red Raiders' bowl game.

Clemson

Tech92 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:31:40 -0000

Scratch another one off the list of possible locations for Leach to jump to. Clemson is finalizing their agreement with interim coach Dabo Swinney, according to ESPN. That pretty much leaves Washington as a potential destination and I don't think he's ever been considered a top candidate there. This should make for a little less stressful negotiation.

Gerald, the season ended yesterday at 5:45. Have you called Leach to your office to start hashing out the details?

Texas...fight?

Tech92 — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:20:05 -0000

OU deserves all that they are receiving right now. They played their way into a chance to earn a national title. Texas, as good as they were this season, is left with a pretty good consolation prize in a BCS bid. But dangit, Texas is the best, right? They beat OU 45-35 on a neutral field...Lord, how could we possibly forget that?

What killed Texas was losing to a lousy and pathetic joke of a #7 team. Tech sucks, a lot, if what I have read on BON is accurate. They don't even deserve to be mentioned in any logical and rational football discussion. So really, Texas is lucky to be where they are based on such a bad (and let's not forget lucky) loss to a weak team at the end of a stretch of games where they beat KU, pasted OSU at home. Oh, wait. They didn't paste OSU...that same team that Tech demoralized at home and the same team that OU laid 61 on on the road...but that game back in the second week of October is the ONLY thing a voter should think about. Disregard everything that happened in between...including 39-33.

At the end of the day, we are on the outside looking in. But not because of anything Texas did...it's what we didn't do.

Happy Thanksgiving to All

Tech92 — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:37:58 -0000

It's been a fantastic season for our Red Raiders, and for the college football world in general. We have a new president who wants a playoff, we have a landmark ranking, we have fan base that grew exponentially with the exposure received this year. What more can we ask? Don't answer that :)

I truly hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving and enjoy your time with friends or family. Tomorrow night is aTm at Texas, Baylor at Tech Saturday, and then Bedlam on Saturday night. A lot can be decided this weekend, so fill up on turkey and the trimmings. We'll need the enery to get through the weekend.

Be safe if you're traveling, and be sure to come here for the gameday open thread.

Bill Snyder. Really?

Tech92 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:43:12 -0000

KState looks like they pulled the trigger on an old standby with their naming of Bill Snyder as their next head coach.

Seems like a weird move to me. He's not a young, energetic or innovative guy (unless you count stocking your roster almost exclusively with JUCOs as innovative). He's a good coach, no doubt. He raised that program from the dead and had them challenging for the BCS on a regular basis.

But I don't think this will work this time. It kind of smells slightly desperate on the part of the administration, which surprises me. Of course, if Dennis Franchione was in the running that say's all you need to know about the admin there.

I feel for the KState fans because it would appear they are in for 3-4 more years of unseemly football. It's not good for the conference when there are not enough great teams in the North to keep things interesting.

Muschamp

Tech92 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:19:58 -0000

Dodds stepped up in a very big way today by naming Will Muschamp his coach in waiting when Brown retires. They bumped his pay from $450K to $900K, as well, to keep him in Austin. Meyers? Are you listening to this? Step. Up.

Don't wait for the season to end, get on the phone with Leach's agent right now. Put down whatever it is you're doing, call his agent and ask, "What's his price?" And exceed it. Please.

Baylor @ Tech on Versus

Tech92 — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:44:04 -0000

Texas Tech’s regular-season finale on Nov. 29 against Baylor will be televised by the Versus network (Suddenlink Cable channel 45). The kickoff time will be set on Saturday or Sunday, but it is expected to be at 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., according to Tech officials. … The Baylor game is officially a sellout, Tech officials said Monday.

- RedRaiders.com

Take Baylor Seriously

Tech92 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:18:04 -0000

WOW! Just checked the gametracker and Baylor is absolutely killing the Aggies. Right now, it's 40-7 in the third...and it's not a fluke. Baylor has racked up almost 450 yards in less than three quarters.

I am telling you what...if Sherman doesn't figure out the college game quickly, the Aggies are in danger of being passed up by the Bears in the division heirarchy. The Aggies deny that Tech has passed them by in football, but that's so absurd that it's not even worth arguing at this point. Recruiting a great class shows that it means crap without a good staff, and I really don't think aTm has a good staff (no offense to any Aggies who read this, it's just how I see it). Baylor does. The Aggies are officially eliminated from bowl consideration with this loss. (Johnson is an INT machine today)

Now, with Robert Griffn III, Jacoby Jones and Jay Finley, Baylor actually has weapons to fight with. Yeah, we have a massive game next week...but I'm pretty nervous about what Baylor brings to the table as well. Man, will the Big XII south always be this freaking tough??

Whew. Breathe. For a week...

Tech92 — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:41:12 -0000

Not sure about the rest of you, but I'm kind of happy Tech has one of these rare late season bye's. I'm sure the players and coaches would rather just go play, but my sanity, my marriage and my blood pressure are kind of relieved we have the weekend off.

A full Saturday of peaceful, anxiety free free football. To me, that's a bit of welcome relief!