Red Raiders Football Notebook
Tech vs. Baylor Headquarters
Tech v. Baylor Game Statistics
Tech 11-1 on outside looking in
Tech’s supporting cast comes through
Griffin earns respect for himself, Baylor
Bowl Series Championship Rankings
Raiders not bemoaning bad luck with BCS outlook
Crabtree injured
After surpassing Lloyd Hill and Wes Welker to become Texas Tech’s all-time leading receiver with 3,097 career yards, flanker Mike Crabtree suffered an apparent right ankle injury Saturday while making a leaping sideline grab that set up a touchdown midway through the second quarter.
Crabtree, who didn’t return to the field, was carted to the locker room and emerged in the third quarter without his uniform and wearing a protective boot.
Tech coach Mike Leach was evasive when asked about Crabtree’s status for the postseason.
“He’s doing fabulous,” Leach said, “and we’re just excited about the prospect of going to practice with him again and the rest.”
Saturday’s home game against Baylor could have been the last for Crabtree, who could forgo his junior and senior seasons at Tech and enter the NFL draft in the spring.
Emotional win for Ruffin McNeill
Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill isn’t shy about showing his emotions – or affection for his players.
Toward the end of the Saturday’s game, he had an extended embrace with sophomore linebacker Brian Duncan on the sideline, after Duncan had made an interception to set up the game-winning score. When asked about the moment after the game, McNeill had to pause for about 15 seconds while gathering himself.
“The seniors are special in my book, every group, and the biggest thing I wanted them to go out was with a win,” said McNeill, his voice quivering. “That was important to me.”
Like he usually does, McNeill told Darcel McBath and McKinner Dixon that he loved them as they left the postgame interview room. He later said, “I love all these boys.”
Stumping for pollsters
Tech coach Mike Leach did a fair share of politicking following Saturday’s game in attempt to sway poll voters who could influence whether the Red Raiders play in their first BCS bowl.
“We’re a part of the Big 12 championship and got the trophy to prove it today, so we’re excited about that,” Leach said. “I think we’re as good as any one-loss team in the country.”
Leach, who suggested Tech’s superior graduation rate should give it the edge over Texas and Oklahoma in the Big 12 South, also reminded reporters to study a full-page flier that outlined the Red Raiders’ case.
“We expect all of you to read carefully,” Leach said.
Scrambled secondary
Tech had two regulars out of the starting defensive backfield. Anthony Hines made his first start at safety in place of Daniel Charbonnet, who was injured in the previous week’s game at Oklahoma. Though Charbonnet returned against OU after he took a shot to the side of the head, he didn’t suit up Saturday.
Brent Nickerson and L.A. Reed, who normally share a spot at cornerback, were the two starters with Jamar Wall not in the starting lineup. Wall, who was limited in practice last week, did play in the game.
In brief
Tech extended its winning streak over Baylor to 13 games in a row. The Bears remain winless in Lubbock since their last victory in 1990.
Compiled by Adam Zuvanich and Don Williams
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Red Raiders,
You men have made us proud!!! Not just by winning games, but by the way you act and the pride you show in being a Red Raider!!!
We will truly miss our seniors next year as we do every year they have to leave– but appreciate the years you have given us. The joy in watching you. I work in Finacial Aid at TTU and have seen you in the office at times– always the gentlemen.
I hope you are as proud of your accomplishments on and off the field as we are of you. Keep up your hard work, and reach for those dreams!!! Remember— YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT! Thank you
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Yes Lea, and have fun at your NON-BCS TOILET BOWL LMAO.
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As far as I’m concerned, until there’s a playoff for the title, I will picture our Red Raiders as champions both on and off the field, and will be doubly delighted when they take down a bonus victory in whatever bowl their performance is rewarded with! Great season! Thanks seniors! I’m not looking beyond the bowl, but do anticipate next year and the years to come as well with our great returning team and new recruits, and those amazing coaches! Thanks Red Raiders!
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Boomsoon- I bet you are a former player, sitting at home with no degree(one of the 54% that don’t graduate at OU) can’t put together more than one sentence at a time, thinking that financial aid is a booster giving you a envelope, you know what I mean, just like at the zoo feedings. Please get a life after you finish probation, get into a good rehab and they might be able help. Try reading (or just look at pictures) in your own paper, they might think that your quick wit might blossom into full fledged journalism. I wish I could to talk to you but my cell doesn’t accept collect calls. Stay well, and I pullin fo ya.
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And I bet you got a degree from Tech and never played a day of football in your life, and now your selling used cars in Lubbock. I started my rehab after the a$$ whoopin we gave tech, drank too much at celabration party we had. Fact is I play for the Sooners now and am a senior on my way to a National Championship. Speaking of financial aid, tech sure could use it.
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Boomsoon. If you ARE a player, you’re the worst example of class OU has. Do you go to your OU websites and see Tech people cursing at you like the UT people do here?
Bug off! I hope you lose to Missouri and subsequent Fiesta Bowl.
Texas deserves the title if you are a Sooner representative.
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Grow up, people. You’re beginning to sound like the tea-sips from Texas.
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Boomsoon- Thanks for coming on here and trying to live your dream of pretending to be a football player. I’m sure you’re not really part of the team as you would most likely be resting this morning as opposed to trolling on a Lubbock newspaper website. You’ve got a lot of class.
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I want to apologize for my stupid posts. I’m a pathetic, lonely guy who is inbred and mama didn’t give me any love last night. Fact is, I never played football. I didn’t even go to college. I’m too stupid. You guys deserve to go to a BCS and I deserve to sit in my room and wear my sweaty Sam Bradford jersey. It makes me feel good in my special place when I put it on.
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I am sure that Sam is proud to know that. No wonder mama don’t give you no lovin.
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Well, Boomsoon, how about sending home all the Texas high school players which make up most of your roster at UT-Norman. I can’t wait until you do your annual el-foldo in one of the BCS games. Hey, remember last year? Your players knew the names of every W-Va player, since they spent the entire game chasing them. Just keep barking. Where did you go to college, Langston State? 45-35.
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Don’t be jealous Prick, I mean Rick, it’s not your fault nobody wants to your craphole of a school. The recruits come there for a visit and never return, can’t blame em. that Lubbock is real dump.
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Hey boomsoon, don’t you think it’s a little ironic that in a post in which you were attempting to prove your intelligence that you mis-spelled celebration?? It’s ok though, everyone in the country knows that ou football players aren’t exactly Rhodes Scholars! So please quit embarassing yourself on our site – maybe go work on your application to the Brian Bosworth fan club!
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WE SUCK, RAIDER FANS GET OVER IT AND FACE REALITY.
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Yeah, Boomsoon — that Norman is quite the metropolis.
It’s too bad the Sooners are going to choke in their BCS game. They always do.
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At least we are going to one. LMAO
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WE SUCK
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YES SIR, YOU DO.
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WE SUCK REALLY BAD
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RIGHT AGAIN, YOU SURE DO.
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NO, FOR REAL WE REALLY SUCK
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I AGREE WITH YOU 100% IT’S NICE TO SEE THAT THERE IS ONE FAN WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH.
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GREAT SEASON, TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS! No matter what people from other schools or fan bases have to say, this is a fantastic starting year for many more great ones to follow. You seniors have lead in setting up a great base of operations, with great recruitment happening because of the leadership you have provided to the new powerful, TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS!
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SHUT YOUR MOUTH LKP, WE SUCK JUST LIKE YOU.
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Way to go Raiders! Great season, 11-1! Thank you seniors for a great career at Texas Tech, you will be missed! Let’s get ready for our bowl game…one more chance to Wreck ‘Em!
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Krista, don’t forget to take your plunger to the toilet bowl with you when you watch Tech get flushed like the piece of sh@t they are.
GO SOONERS BCS BOWL BOUND
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WE SUCK AND ALL OUR FANS JUST NEED TO ADMIT IT.
WE REALLY THOUGHT WE COULD BE RECOGNIZED , JUST CAUSE WE BEAT texas, BUT OU REALLY SHOWED US, AND THEN WE DAMN NEAR GET BEAT BY A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM (BAYLOR) WHAT A JOKE WE ARE IN THE BIG 12
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I would like to say that I am proud to be graduate of TTU, but I am truly disgusted with the Raiders and their performance against Baylor, truly we are not ready for the BCS, and quite frankly I do not think we ever will be. Tech has always been a low ranked school and we always will be and that’s just the hard cold facts. Wreck EM
GO TECH GUNS UP
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Young men who play the game are student athletes. They play for the love of the game and they go to school. Give them some respect. Tech has developed, and will continue to develop, graduates who contribute tpositively o our world long after the trophies have been won. Yes, we all enjoy the excitement of winning the game. Yes, we are all disappointed when we experience the loss(es). But more important than a win-at-all costs is the ability to contribute to others along the way. Those who win should not be poor sports, those who lose should not be poor sports. Support your school, support your young men — and take pride in their work. These guys are going “over and above” the hours of most college students and playing for the love of their game – representing their school in a most positive way. Now, if only all fans could do the same.
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Young men who play the game are student athletes. They play for the love of the game and they go to school. Give them some respect. Tech has developed, and will continue to develop, graduates who contribute positively to our world long after the trophies have been won. Yes, we all enjoy the excitement of winning the game. Yes, we are all disappointed when we experience the loss(es). But more important than a win-at-all costs is the ability to contribute to others along the way. Those who win should not be poor sports, those who lose should not be poor sports. Support your school, support your young men — and take pride in their work. These guys are going “over and above” the hours of most college students and playing for the love of their game – representing their school in a most positive way. Now, if only all fans could do the same.
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Are you kidding me? People, have some respect. The Red Raiders had a great season. Don’t call yourself a fan if you can’t congratulate them on a job well done. We finished with one loss; same as OU and UT. It just so happens that we lost bad at a bad time. But the truth is that the BCS isn’t fair, same as life. Stop saying hateful, negative things to our team. We had a great year and I am proud to be a Red Raider! Wreck ‘Em
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What is so sad is that these poor ut and ou trolls feel the need to crap on each thread like they did this one. I know its tough for the moderators to keep up, but if they started deleting these idiotic postings maybe these losers would give up. What sad lives these losers must live if they have nothing better to do than spend hours on opponents message boards.
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11-1 what a great season. My hats off to Coach Leach and his staff and the Football players at TEXAS TECH.
You beat the number one team in the Country Texas
You beat the number eight team in the country OSU.
We Tied for the South. And are Tri-Champions.
TECH or TEXAS should represent the Big 12 South as we each beat the number one team in the country.
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boomson is just another t-shirt fan that didn’t attend OU. Go screw yourself
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At least Tech did something which Oklahoma did not do. Tech beat Texas, Oklahoma was beaten by Texas. To the lack of knowledge who only knows the word suck, Baylor beat A&M worse than Tech. When it is all over, they look at your record, not who you beat and who beat you. In the last three years, Tech has a better bowl record than the other two. Use facts and do not show your lack of knowledge of the English language.
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Great Season for the Red Raiders – pick up a win against Ole Miss and finish the year ranked in the top 5 and a 12 win season.
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Hi everyone. Just wanted to let you know that I’m still wearing my Sam Bradford jersey and I haven’t showered in 2 days. I think I’m gonna go to the hospital where he’s havin surgery and sneak in to touch him.
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I know if Tech had just been chosen to go to the Conference championship game, THE LAST place I would be is over on an opponent’s board talking trash.
Hey BOOMSOON, take a hike.
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BOOMSOON…the proper name of the bowl game is the Cotton Bowl. If I remember correctly, that’s the same stadium where your beloved Sooners choked while twice being up by more than 10 points. OU barely beat KU by 14 in Norman, a team we ripped by 42 points in Lawrence just a week later. KSU put up 550 yards against that heralded defense, while managing just 296 vs Tech. 5 turnovers did KSU in or they might just have pulled off the upset. And finally, we did something you couldn’t do this year. Beat UT. So enjoy your “backing” into the Big 12 Championship game. Recent history tells us that OU not only sucks, but they swallow too fast so beware of that common CHOKE job.
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Хех… :) Почаще пишите смайлики, а то всё так как будто серъёзно :)
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