6B SPORTS
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BIG 12 FOOTBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
HURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008
Tech, Oklahoma to clash
BY TAYLOR BERN tbern@kansan.com
Titanic clashes have become old hat for Texas Tech.
Taking down Texas and Oklahoma State in back-to-back weeks, thus vaulting itself to No. 2 in the BCS, has given Tech oodles of respect. But now the Red Raiders must win once more to solidify their ranking, and this mammoth match-up doesn't take place in west Texas.
On Saturday, coach Mike Leach's team travels to Norman to face coach Bob Stoops' Sooners in the biggest game of the week and the most important game left for each squad.
An Oklahoma win would create a three-team logjam with Texas at the top of the Big 12 South. A Tech win means it only has to beat Baylor and Missouri to play in the national championship.
That's a nice idea for Leach,but to make it happen his team must end the nation's longest home winning streak and beat Stoops at Owen Field for just the third time in his career. Asked about his stellar home record, Stoops focused the attention on his team, rather than the fans.
"I think maybe just our overall focus and play are the biggest reasons," Stoops said. "I don't think we've ever been known to have an overly ruckus crowd."
The comment caused a mild ruckus among OU fans, but nothing Stoops could say would deter Sooner fans from turning out in drove or cheering wildly.
Leach said it's hard to argue with Oklahoma's numbers at home, but like Stoops he'd prefer to focus on the players. One player, in particular.
Leach recruited Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford out of high school and said he's not surprised by his success.
"He was a really nice individual that I was impressed with," Leach said. "It's good to see him do well."
Bradford's numbers suggest he's doing more than well — 3,406 yards, 38 touchdowns — but so is Tech gunslinger Graham Harrell. His 4,076 passing yards lead the nation.
That's just another layer on this epic Saturday night clash. Barring a disastrous game from both quarterbacks, the winner will lead the race for the Heisman trophy.
According to most college football Web sites, Harrell has led the
way since defeating Texas three weeks ago. However, Harrell and Bradford's numbers are so similarly spectacular that a head-to-head victory will carry the most clout.
If that's not enough, consider the revenge factor. Last season Oklahoma had a chance to reach the national championship game until a stop in Lubbock derailed those plans. Before this season the Red Raiders were used to that spoiler role (always a bridesmaid) but now they're the ones sitting on top.
Texas Tech looked tremendous in the driver's seat against Oklahoma State, but now the car is heading north to a hostile — though apparently not ruckus — stadium in Norman. One more revenge factor? Bradford was knocked out of last year's loss.
"Knowing that I wasn't able to be out there just competing with all my teammates and wasn't able to finish the game is really frustrating." Bradford said on College GameDay last week. "It kind of puts a sour taste in my mouth."
The fun begins when the titans take the field at 7 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
— Edited by Scott R. Toland
COMMENTARY (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
cant to the scope of a company's marketing budget.
Tournament of Roses Chief Executive Mitch Dorger has lost little sleep regarding the state of the Rose Bowl despite almost daily depressing news from the game's sponsor, Citi. The New York-based financial services company's stock price has dropped more than 75 percent in the past year and the company announced earlier this week that it intends to cut approximately 53,000 jobs, or about 20 percent of its workforce.
Citi remains locked in a multi-year deal as the Rose Bowl's sponsor. Multi-year contracts protect both
parties but do not prevent a sponsor from backing out should trouble occur. Dorger said he had seen that happen in his dealings with the Tournament of Roses parade.
"Not this year, but in the past, we have seen a long-term sponsor's business change rapidly to the point where they come to us and tell us they can't do this anymore," Dorger said.
Companies backing out of sponsorship commitment is always a possibility, Dorger said, but the attraction of college and major sporting events remains powerful.
"Through sports, sponsors gain a powerful emotional attachment
and can attract business to their company," Dorger said. "Especially when the game is a beloved event in the community."
The wrangling in Congress will continue. Banks and other firms will likely suffer for some time as our leaders scramble to find an answer.
And in an economic age where the only thing certain is uncertainty, perhaps sporting events such as the nearing bowl season and their marketing are the exception.
If our luck runs out, our tickets will likely have to be fried from our cold, dead, poverty-striken hands.
Edited by Becka Cremer
MEN'S BASKETBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Collins got the message. He didn't hold it against Self for calling him out. Collins said he deserved it. Less than a month later, Self's comments about Collins changed to phrases such as "model citizen" and "great leader."
become the leader the Jayhawks needed.
Collins worked hard to regain his standing with Self. Now, he's not only at the weight he wants to be — 200 pounds — but also in the mind-set he wants to be.
"I'm 100 percent fine," Collins said. "Nothing is bothering me. I'm good."
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Collins would frown.
If he played poorly in practice or struggled in a game, Collins found it easy to get down on himself during his first two years at Kansas. But veteran Kansas guards Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers would always help him through it.
Collins is using their example and applying it to his situation this season.
"Last year, I was the one asking all the questions," Collins said. "Now, I'm answering them all."
Self says he has to be tougher on this year's team, which is filled with seven newcomers, so they understand the expectations. Collins has developed a knack for spotting young players who are disappointed after a rough practice.
Championship for reference.
Collins always makes sure to pull them aside and tell them it's for the better in the long run. He reminds them of the benefits. He points to last year's National
"These new guys don't know everything yet," Collins said. "Sometimes, I have to tell them what it be. That's my job, to make sure everyone is on the same page."
When Collins himself makes a bad play or a mistake in practice, he responds the way he wants his teammates to.
"He doesn't let it seem like it gets to him." Travis Releford, freshman guard, said.
But Collins provides far more than practice support to his teammates. When freshman forward Markieff Morris was nervous before the first game, Collins calmed him down.
He encouraged junior college transfer guard Tyrone Appleton while he recovered from a hip flexor injury. Collins has become inseparable from freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor and considers him a "brother." Collins spends time specifically with Taylor helping to improve his game.
"He's been through it," Taylor said. "When I'm frustrated a little bit, he talks me through it a lot. He helps me a lot."
--on Monday. "It will just be what the trainer thinks. We'll kind of go day-to-day with them. But they have not practiced."
During the first two games of the season, Collins looked just as much like an orchestra director as a point guard on the floor.
His arms flailed in different directions to tell his teammates where to go on the court. Collins yelled out instructions. He even ran over to defend sophomore guard Tyrel Reed after a Florida Gulf Coast player intentionally fouled Reed by pulling him down
The two games served as an illustration of how much Collins' teammates mean to him. It's just as clear how much Collins means to them.
"He's the best point guard in the country," Brady Morningstar, sophomore guard, said.
They all believe in him. They all think Collins is the one who can lead Kansas to the top of the college basketball world.
Even Self. The coach who doubted Collins' leadership ability three months ago now describes the upcoming Kansas season as "Sherron's Show." Self said Collins could take up to 20 shots per game.
"I don't know about the 20 shots a game thing." Collins said. "But I'm glad he gives me the freedom to go get a shot anytime I want to or go get something going."
Collins took 11 and 14 shots in the first two games, respectively. It worked because it was all the Jayhawks needed.
When Kansas needs Collins to be more aggressive offensively, he says it won't be problem. Collins has no problem taking the majority of the shots. It's what Self wants him to do, which greatly contrasts with what Kansas teams have done in the past.
"It's been a different guy every night." Self said. "Now more than ever, if Sherron doesn't play good, there's a better chance of us not looking good."
So far, Self hasn't had to worry about that. Collins' smile tells the whole story.
— Edited by Kelsey Hayes
FOOTBALL (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Kansas would have a tough time defeating No.12 Missouri with the two on the field, meaning having to play without them would make it a much tougher
challenge. Sharp has rushed for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns and is the second leading rusher in the Big 12 in conference play.
Meier has a team high 73 receptions for 826 yards and five touchdowns. He is a finalist for the Bilentnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver, but probably will lose out to Texas Tech's Michael Grabtree.
A status update on the two won't be available until Monday, when Mangino makes his weekly appearance on the coaches Teleconference.
— Edited by Scott R. Toland