Compiled by Don Williams

All BCS bowls coming in

How big is Saturday’s game between No. 1 Texas and No. 7 Texas Tech? Even the Rose Bowl is making plans to come to town.

Two representatives apiece from every BCS bowl – the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and Rose – have requested passes for Saturday’s game, Tech publicist Blayne Beal said Tuesday. Beal said it will be the first time for Rose Bowl representatives to attend a game in Lubbock.

The Rose Bowl is known for its long-time association with, and unwavering loyalty to, the Pac 10 and Big 10 conferences.

The Rose Bowl matches champions from the Pac 10 and the Big 10, unless at least one earns a shot at the BCS title game by being ranked No. 1 or No. 2 at the end of the season.

In addition to the BCS bowls, reps also are expected from the Cotton and Sun bowls.

Williams’ role could increase

Tech special teams coach Clay McGuire said he’s willing to give new kicker Matt Williams a shot at more than just extra points.

Right now, he’s trying to determine what Williams’ reliable range is. Though the Red Raiders went into last week’s game saying Williams would kick extra points, McGuire said he was prepared to use him for more than that.

“If it was anything under 40 yards, he was going to kick,” said McGuire, adding that he had an internal debate about which kicker to use for a 43-yarder in the second half.

He sent out Donnie Carona, whose kick from the left hash mark stayed just left and missed.

“I really thought hard about trying (Williams) there with a little bit of wind behind his back,” McGuire said. “I just felt more comfortable with Donnie in that situation.”

Pirate ship docks

A model pirate ship – one that’s illuminated and about 9 feet tall and 9 feet wide – arrived Monday at the Texas Tech football facility and sits in the building’s foyer.

The ship carries three “pirates” and a sign reading, “Longhorns beware of the Raider Pirates.”

According to Tech officials, it’s the latest – though certainly not the first – pirate-theme gift from Pat Knight’s basketball staff to Tech coach Mike Leach.

On Monday, an out-of-town reporter asked Leach if his interests had moved on from pirates to other subjects. Leach allowed that he’s reading a book about Winston Churchill, but doesn’t mind that the head-pirate tag hasn’t gone away.

“Based on what people get tagged with in sports, I’m thankful every day that my tag is pirates’ and not many of the others that it could be out there,” Leach said. “Because you can do a lot worse than pirates.”

Winning by a mile

Tech’s special teams was plus-81 in the hidden yards category last week against Kansas. That wasn’t the only impressive stat.

Sophomore Franklin Mitchem tallied 17 points on the team’s “Top Gun” chart, matching a team season high set by Daniel Charbonnet against Massachusetts.

Mitchem piled up the points with two solo tackles, two good blocks and a caused fumble. Redshirt freshman Jared Flannel had two solo tackles and one assist.

Tech’s kickoff coverage helped keep KU’s Marcus Herford, a special-teams star the last two years, in a season-long slump.

“The two guys who are really standing out at this point in the season are Franklin Mitchem and Jared Flannel,” special teams coach Clay McGuire said. “Those guys are hungry to play.”

A little letdown

Texas Tech had gone 71/2 games with only one sack before the Red Raiders gave up two in a span of three plays in Saturday’s game at Kansas.

Tech was already ahead 56-14, so offensive line coach Matt Moore was able to find a silver lining.

“It’s good to get that monkey off our back,” Moore said. “I know that in the back of their mind, trying to go into every game perfect, we worry about keeping that (season total) at one. There’s no way when you throw it as many times as we do. They’re playing hard, but at some point somebody’s going to make a mistake. You can’t go out there and be perfect every time.”

Tech’s sack total of three is second-lowest in the nation to Air Force, which has given up two. No other Division I-A team has allowed fewer than six sacks.

Leach mum on officials

Tech coach Mike Leach complained through formal channels two years ago about his dissatisfaction with the officiating in the Tech-Texas game. Then after last season’s 59-43 loss to Texas in Austin, Leach vented publically and got himself a $10,000 fine from the Big 12 Conference.

He’s declined to fire any pre-emptive strikes this week.

“I’m not really allowed to comment on officiating,” he said.

After a brief pause, he added: “I guess you can. You just have to check your bank account and select your moments.”

Tech coaches know who this week’s officiating crew will be. That material is normally sent by the conference office at the beginning of the week, but schools are asked to keep it confidential.