Tech players have different memories of OSU in ‘07
By Don Williams | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Ask a Texas Tech offensive player and a Texas Tech defensive player about last year’s game at Oklahoma State and a person might be surprised to receive two very different reactions.
To the defensive guy, there was nothing fun about giving up 610 yards and seven touchdowns. How embarrassing for your team to roll up 718 yards and lose.
“I was sick to my stomach – played the worst game I’ve ever been a part of,” Tech safety Darcel McBath said on Monday.
Tech quarterback Graham Harrell said he and his offensive teammates saw it differently. Once they’d had a couple of months for the sting of the 49-45 loss to wear off, Harrell said some of the Raiders remembered the game for its sheer excitement.
“I think that was my favorite game of the year, as far as like playing in, being a part of, just how much fun it was,” Harrell said. “We were very disappointed we lost, but that’s college football – getting in a shootout, going back and forth, a defense making a play at a big time, one offense answering and then the other offense answering.
“We haven’t talked about it in a while, but we still remember it, how fun a game it was and how fun it was to be part of it.”
Make no mistake, though. The Red Raiders won’t find any fun in losing this week, not after their victory over then-No. 1 Texas helped them get to 9-0 and No. 2 in the BCS standings.
No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 4 Texas are all 8-1 for the season, 4-1 in the Big 12 Conference and a game behind Tech in the South Division.
As emotional as last week was for Tech players – with students camped out all week next to Jones AT&T Stadium, national attention and then a last-second victory – the Raiders insist that they can process it all and give a good account of themselves again this week.
“It’s not that tough, because we know how good they are,” safety Daniel Charbonnet said. “All you have to do is go in there and turn on the film. You see they have a really explosive offense and a lot of playmakers, so we know how hard we have to work this week.
“Also, we’re excited. It’s another home game. We get to play in front of our home crowd, so (the preparation) is not too hard. We’ve got a lot of older guys on this team that know how to put games behind us. The Texas game doesn’t mean anything if we don’t win this week.”
Defensive end Jake Ratliff called Oklahoma State “just as tough a team as UT,” and that’s not necessarily hyperbole.
The Cowboys nearly beat Texas the week before Tech did, losing 28-24 in Austin. OSU averages 45.3 points per game – fifth-best in the nation – and draws on a variety of sources. Quarterback Zac Robinson is second in the nation in passing efficiency. Running back Kendall Hunter is the country’s fourth-leading rusher, averaging 135.6 yards per game. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is a highly regarded NFL prospect.
And wide receiver Dez Bryant might be the scariest player of all. Bryant’s caught 15 touchdown passes – the same as Tech’s Mike Crabtree – and has 1,054 yards on 60 receptions. He’s also averaging 19.9 yards on punt returns, two of which he’s run back for touchdowns.
Tech was among the programs that pursued Bryant when he was a blue-chip recruit coming out of Lufkin.
“I remember watching him in high school when he played against my little brother,” Charbonnet said. “It was on ESPN, and I remember thinking how much of a freak he was. And then he’s just continued to do that, last year, and then this year he’s just having an unbelievable season. They just throw it up to him, and he goes up and gets it.”
Bryant, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, is built along the lines of Crabtree, who’s listed at 6-3 and 214. Charbonnet said going up against Crabtree in practice every day will help, but only to an extent.
“They’re different in a lot of ways,” he said. “They’re both great receivers, but they don’t run the same routes as we do, and they don’t have the same style of offense as we do, so it’s going to be different for us facing Dez than it would be facing Crab in practice.”
As other teams can attest, it’s not just Bryant that requires attention.
Hunter (1,220 rushing yards), Keith Toston (565) and Beau Johnson (303) give the Cowboys a three-man rotation at running back, which is nothing new, and Robinson has chipped in 341 rushing yards.
“He can throw it as good as he can run,” Ratliff said. “If there’s not a receiver open downfield, he doesn’t think twice about tucking it and getting upfield. He’s a great quarterback when it comes to scrambling.”
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com 766-8734
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com 766-8735
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What is being overlooked about OSU, they actually has a offensive line just as good at UT’s. Excited but nervous about the game.
Wreck ‘em Tech!
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Glad to hear from you, Don!
I like it that you’re not just dwelling on the UT game either. Focus on what’s ahead. Yes, sir, I like it…
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Just play the “You Tube Video” of mike leach getting mad to the players about the OSU game last year and that should fire them up this week.
Wreck “em Tech
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Get ready Fans, Mike Grundy is not too concerned with the crowd being a factor:
On playing in Lubbock:
“There will be a lot of rowdy fans. It’s a crazy environment. With the success they are having right now, it is going to be even tougher. We have been in these types of positions this season, and it hasn’t been much of a factor.”
To Tech Fans and Students, don’t sit on your hands and be hppy we beat Texas. Show more support, if possible, then we did last week and get just as rowdy and noisey and make them make the mental mistakes just like Texas did.
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I agree whole-heartedly with Sonny! The fans MUST be an integral part of this game. The noise was deafening this past Saturday! We need the same enthusiasm this week!!!!, even if OSU comes out strong in the beginning. It was easy to stay up against Texas the way we stuffed them from the get go. Get your GUNS UP and yell for Tech throughout the game this week again!
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Another fun game on the program.
The risks are a bit higher, a loss would be devestating with so much negativity following.
That is why college football is exciting.
I think even as well matched as the teams are, the game being in Lubbock gives TTU an advantage…and it will be another night game, so that is a plus plus.
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WRECK’EM!!!
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already got the entire nation’s attention once.. Crowd make this as loud or louder than last week. Another night game in Lubbock… tons of top recruits in the house.. Jump on them, pedal to the medal and don’t ever look back… when you control your own destiny, BCS, NC.. its time to be HUNGRIER, EXECUTE, and kick some pokes butt! And because these guys are real good 2, it would propel Tech even more.
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As a Tennessee Vol fan, I’m wondering how Mike Leach will look in Orange and White (and not the obnoxious Texas version)? There is a great deal of interest in Mr. Leach down in Knoxville right now. I mean this as no disrespect for Texas Tech … just have a feeling that UT (that’s Tennessee, and NOT TEXA$S for the non-SEC fans out there) is about to throw a truck load of money at your coach. He’s free to say no, only time will tell.
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No matter the outcome of this weekend, Tech has definitely earned my respect. They proved the sports writers wrong who said Tech couldn’t win any big games.
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As a Tech graduate who lives in Stillwater and has season tickets to the OSU games, I can tell you the Pokes are a great team. The offense is so balanced with Hunter, Toston, and Robinson running, and Dez is a freak. And Pettigrew is getting healthier every week. I am so excited for this game. I am so proud of Tech’s team and what they have accomplished. I have had to listen every day how Tech is a poser until Saturday night. I cannot come to the game. Please be loud and crazy. I support the Cowboys except when they play my Red Raiders. Please don’t make me have to eat crow next week.
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Tech definitely earned my respect last week too. Lubbock is probably the toughest place to play in the big 12 south in my opinion. This game is always a great one but because of the improved Defenses I’m predicting a lower scoring game than everyone else.
Just another thought. Both schools pursued Dez and Crabtree. Could you imagine how scary and offense would have been with both of them. That’s what I call a defensive coordinators worst nightmare.
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