LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -Shortly after Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree finished off their latest masterpiece, Texas Tech officials handed out sealed envelopes filled with materials promoting the duo for Heisman Trophy consideration.
They could’ve just handed out the drive chart.
The record-breaking quarterback led the No. 2 Red Raiders to touchdowns on seven consecutive possessions Saturday night, with Crabtree catching three of Harrell’s six TD passes in a 56-20 win over No. 11 Oklahoma State.
The victory was Tech’s second straight over a top-10 team. Last week, Texas Tech toppled then-No. 1 Texas on 28-yard TD catch by Crabtree with a second remaining.
“A lot of people picked us to lose” to the Cowboys, said Harrell, who was 40-of-50 for 456 yards.
“A lot of people thought we’d be riding that high from Texas and not be ready to play. After watching Texas tape Sunday then we were done with them and we were ready to play Oklahoma State.”
rankings and are one of five unbeaten teams in the country. Their winning streak is 12 straight, best in the nation and in school history. Texas Tech (6-0 Big 12) is 10-0 for the first time since 1938.
Now Texas Tech has a week off to get ready for No. 4 Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1) in the finale of four games against ranked teams.
“The other guy gets (a bye week), too, though,” Red Raiders coach Mike Leach said. “I’d rather we had one and they didn’t.”
If Oklahoma State (8-2, 4-2) had won there would’ve been a four-way tie atop the South division. Now, the Cowboys are in fourth place.
Texas Tech’s contest in Norman will get billing as the biggest in the program’s history, trumping the last two games. At stake will be the Big 12 South title, a spot in the conference title game and a chance to earn a spot in the national championship game.
Texas Tech has never beaten Texas and Oklahoma in the same season since Leach arrived in 2000. The last time the Red Raiders went to Norman for a big game was in 2002. They had just beaten Texas and were playing the Sooners for the division title but Oklahoma whipped them 60-15.
But this is a different and more balanced Red Raiders team.
in the Gator Bowl, the two sat and discussed what might be in their final season at Tech.
Harrell said Saturday that he and Morris talked then about how the 2008 team could be “really special.”
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” said Morris, who led Tech with 10 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Cowboys. “It’s kind of fun looking back at it. We’ve put in a lot of work, a lot of work that people don’t see when the cameras aren’t around, when no people are around. The team has done a great job responding and we’re playing really well right now.”
Texas Tech has an improved defense this season, and a productive running game and solid offensive line that makes its passing attack more potent.
Harrell attributes the Red Raiders success this season to cohesiveness.
“More than anything I think it’s how we play as a team,” he said. “Everyone unselfishly plays their role, does what they’re asked to do. Whether they’re going to be the ones in the spotlight or not, they don’t care. When you have a group of guys with that mentality, it’s something special.”
Harrell pointed to Crabtree as an example.
After 10 games this season Crabtree has 1,010 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns; after as many games last season he had 1,512 and 18 TDs.
We’re a unit. If we play together, we’re going to be tough to beat.”
The school is promoting Harrell and Crabtree as dual Heisman candidates. The campaign, www.passorcatch.com, comes on the heels of the longest election season in U.S. history, and draws from the world of politics.
Leach recently snarled at the suggestion that Crabtree and Harrell are possibly being overlooked by Heisman voters because they’re rarely available for interviews.
“Too bad. That’s tough. I don’t care. That’s a complete alibi and an excuse,” Leach said last week. “It’s irresponsible journalism and they ought to quit their jobs.”
M in October, is glad for the week off.
“Everybody can regroup, not just me,” Crabtree said. “Everybody got nicks and bruises. It give us time to heal so it’s a good time.”
Any thoughts about the national title race?
“I’m thinking about OU, that’s what I’m thinking about,” Crabtree said. “We take it one game at a time. It’s been working so far and I think I’m going to stay with that scheme.”
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