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Posted on Mon, Jul. 21, 2008 10:15 PM
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With 18 starters returning, Texas Tech thinks this could be big year

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Texas Tech coach Mike Leach would like to tell you about the three players he brought with him to Kansas City for Big 12 media days on Monday:

•Jamar Wall plays cornerback, won the Texas state championship in the high jump, has improved a lot and leads by example.

•Daniel Charbonnet plays safety, transferred from Duke and always seems to make plays that go unnoticed.

•Eric Morris plays wide receiver, caught nine touchdown passes last year and, according to Leach, looks kind of like an elf.

OK, Coach, that’s great, but where are Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree?

“Anybody that wants to talk to Graham or Michael Crabtree, you can do it in their natural habitat in Lubbock, Texas,” Leach said. “Go to Lubbock, Texas. Great steak places. We’d love to see you.”

It was no accident that Harrell’s 48 touchdown passes and Crabtree’s 22 touchdown receptions are stuck in the dry West Texas heat. With 18 starters coming back to a team that went 9-4 and beat Virginia in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day, Leach took this opportunity to send a clear message to his team.

“Harrell and Crabtree get a lot of attention, deserve a lot of attention and will continue to get a lot of attention,” Leach said. “There are so many guys who play football, there’s a temptation to isolate the emphasis around a couple of guys. I view our team as more than a couple individuals who really play well. Everybody on the team is important.”

Leach has called out players in the past for reading too many of their press clippings. He insists that Heisman Trophy candidates Harrell and Crabtree, the reigning Fred Biletnikoff Award winner, are not that type. Leach just wants to keep it that way.

Charbonnet came to Texas Tech as a walk-on and has earned a scholarship. He certainly never thought he’d represent the Red Raiders at Big 12 media days.

“I was surprised,” Charbonnet said. “It’s pretty cool they have confidence in me and chose me. I’m honored to be here. Mike and Graham, they don’t care about not being here. They just want to win. That’s what’s so cool about them. They’re not all about the limelight or being a superstar.”

The Texas Tech players wore wristbands that said, “Be a team.” The Red Raiders could be a great team, and they know that. Is this the year they get over the hump and overtake Oklahoma and Texas in the Big 12 South?

“Everyone is thirsty for victory,” Wall said. “Everybody knows this is our year. You can just look around and see the want in our teammates’ eyes. Just the atmosphere, from last year to this year, is a dramatic change. We want it that bad.”

To reach J. Brady McCollough, send e-mail to jmccollough@kcstar.com

Posted on Mon, Jul. 21, 2008 10:15 PM
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