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Red River Rivalry highlights second week of Big 12 play

By Taylor Bern

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The schedule says it’s only the seventh week of the year, but the Big 12 South title may be decided on Saturday.

No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 5 Texas will revive their Red River Rivalry at 11 a.m. on Saturday in Dallas. The Big 12 and national titles hang in the balance, as the winner of Saturday’s scrum will control its own fate for the rest of the year. Sooners coach Bob Stoops said he needed to keep his team’s emotions in check leading up to the contest.

“People have a misconception that just because you’re excited, you do well,” Stoops said. “Some individuals perform better when they’re more excited. Others need to calm down and think. These kinds of games do rev you up, but we don’t count on that to win.”

In last year’s season of upsets, Oklahoma lost at Colorado after surrendering a 21-0 lead. Texas coach Mack Brown used that game as an example for his team at halftime of last week’s Colorado game.

“We told our team that Colorado would feel like they could have the same magic,” Brown said. “It will be more fun with both teams 5-0 and playing at a high level.”

Brown and Stoops have a long history in this match-up.

Stoops is in his 10th year at Oklahoma, while Brown is in his 11th. In their previous nine meetings, Stoops is 6-3 against Brown.

“It’s hard to imagine a coach making it 10 years, especially at high-profile programs like Texas and OU,” Brown said.

Each coach has won the rivalry game on the way to a national championship.

CAT FIGHT

Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel alleged that Nebraska players spit on him before their game on Saturday.

Daniel took out his frustrations on the Cornhusker defense with 253 yards and three touchdowns. Still, there’s been some back-and-forth comments between Daniel and a few Nebraska players since the game.

On Monday’s coaches teleconference, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and Missouri coach Gary Pinkel attempted to squash the rumors.

“It was a lot of he said, he said,” Pelini said. “I addressed it with the team and it’s over.”

Said Pinkel, “As far as I’m concerned from the University of Missouri’s standpoint, it’s a dead issue. I’m not going to comment on it.”

HOLDING SERVE

Last week the six ranked Big 12 teams played and defeated the sixunranked conference squads. Of all the games, only Kansas’ 35-33 victory over Iowa State was closer than a 24-point margin of victory.

Kansas State lost to No. 7 Texas Tech 58-28. Red Raider quarterback Graham Harrell tied his career high with six touchdowns, but Wildcats coach Ron Prince remained optimistic.

“We were a step away from putting significant pressure on their quarterback, but a step is all he needs,” Prince said.

Colorado lost at home to No. 5 Texas, 38-14. Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said he reminded his team that it didn’t get any easier for the rest of the season.

“There are a lot of great teams in the Big 12,” Hawkins said. “You have to have a thick skin to line up and get ready to play because there’s another great QB or great team coming each week.”

This week Hawkins’ squad plays at No. 16 Kansas.

LEACH SPEAK

Sure, Texas Tech has averaged the most passing yards in the nation for nearly every year of coach Mike Leach’s tenure. But now that he has some potential at the running back position, passing is not enough.

“We want to be the most productive in the country at that position,” Leach said.

Red Raider running backs Shannon Woods and Baron Batch have combined to average 6.4 yards per carry in Leach’s normally pass-happy system. That type of balance could help Leach finally get where he wants: the Big 12 title game. Always standing in his way are Oklahoma and Texas, who square off this weekend.

“The last nine years, Oklahoma has the best record in the Big 12, Texas has the second best record and Texas Tech is third,” Leach said. “I’m just trying to figure out how to beat those guys.”

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