6B SPORTS
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2008
Rivalry game highlights seventh week
Texas junior quarterback Colt McCoy looks for a receiver as the defense applies pressure. McCoy and the Longhorns take on the Oklahoma Sooners at 11 a.m. Saturday.
BY TAYLOR BERN tbern@kansan.com
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The schedule says it's only the seventh week of the year, but the Big 12 South title may be decided on Saturday.
"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."
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.
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 Texas, 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 andOU," 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 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 six unranked 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. Buffalooes 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's squad plays at No. 16 Kansas.
LEACH SPEAK
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."
Edited by Scott R. Toland
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
Ramirez wants 3rd ring while in Dodgers uniform
ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — Sporting freshly trimmed, thick braids instead of his usual dreadlocks, Manny Ramirez has a slightly new look for the NL championship series to go with his reformed West Coast attitude.
On the field, it's the same old Manny. He just keeps hitting.
Ramirez changed the culture of the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading them to the playoffs with a dynamic performance after forcing his way out of Boston.
Riding their slugger's torrid hitting and a couple of masterful pitching performances, the Dodgers swept the heavily favored Chicago Cubs out of the first round. Getting past the Philadelphia Phillies and their strong pitching in the NLCS won't be that easy.
"They're the best team out there," Ramirez said Wednesday. "These guys are great. We don't think we are better than them, but the key in the playoffs is to get in and anything can happen."
Game 1 is Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, with Derek Lowe (14-11) on the mound for the Dodgers against Cole Hamels (14-10).
Both teams have several outstanding players and a mix of interesting personalities, but all the focus was squarely on Ramirez the day before the opener. Cameras clicked and microphones followed the enigmatic left fielder everywhere he went before the Dodgers' workout.
Ramirez took it in stride.
Manny loves California, but he hasn't learned to surf just yet. He doesn't have the patience to walk 200 times a year like Barry Bonds. He enjoys playing for manager Joe Torre.
Just don't ask Ramirez about his final days in Boston that ended with plenty of acrimony.
"I don't want to talk about the past," he said. "I don't look back. I move forward. I don't have any thing bad to say about Boston."
minutes and answering questions on a wide range of topics.
"It's not my first rodeo," he said. He was charming, witty and humble, sitting down for nearly 20
That goes for all his critics, too.
"My teammates know what kind of guy I am. That's where I'll leave it," ramizre said.
The 2004 World Series MVP, Ramirez already has two championship rings from his 7½ seasons with the Red Sox. He wants another one with the Dodgers, who wouldn't be here without him.
Ramirez batted .396 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 53 regular-season games with Los Angeles. He made a tremendous impact off the field, too, loosening up the clubhouse with his loud music and showing teammates how to relax and have more fun.
"I think he fit us perfectly because of our youth," said Lowe, who also played with Ramirez in Boston. "It was great for our young hitters to see how a superstar goes about his daily business, how hard he prepares, how he doesn't let one pitch or one at-bat affect him."
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Overall, Ramirez hit .332 with 37 homers and 121 RBIs this season. He continued to torn pitchers in the playoffs, going 5-for-10 with two homers, three RBIs and four walks against Chicago.
Mizzou RB leads nation in scoring
BY R.B. FALLSTROM ASSOCIATED PRESS
"I knew this was going to happen. I just kind of sat back and let it happen," coach Gary Pinkel said. "He's got a chance to be a high, high level running back."
The third-ranked Tigers' new go-to running back leads the nation in scoring with 13 touchdowns in the first five starts of his career. Thanks to Washington, Missouri (5-0) hasn't missed Tony Temple, who set a Cotton Bowl record with 281 yards rushing and four touchdowns in his last game with the Tigers.
Washington played sparingly as a freshman last season rushing for 184 yards with one touchdown and 10 receptions. As it turned out he was just biding his time.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Derrick Washington's ability to find the end zone in high school led him to Missouri, where he's finding touchdowns just as easy to come by.
"When we get the ball down at the goal line, I love to have the ball in my hands," Washington said. "Anytime I get the ball, I'm trying to score. It's happening and I'm liking it."
Washington was part of a mindynasty at Raymore-Peculiar High School, near Kansas City, which won three straight Class 5A state titles from 2004-06 while going 36-3. He totaled 83 touchdowns and 5,500 yards from scrimmage in high school, twice winning Kansas City offensive player of the year.
He was big in the big games, too, scoring 12 touchdowns in the three title games.
Pinkel said Washington's ability to shift gears once he reaches the secondary, and fake out the opposition by looking one way and going another, is unique. On several of his touchdown jaunts, he's been barely touched.
"Not much has changed," said tight end Chase Coffman, a former high school teammate of Washington's. "He still a hard worker, going as hard as he can.
"He sees holes before they open," Pinkel said. "Is he Gale Sayers, is he Walter Payton? He's very unique. I don't know who he looks like, but I like what I see."
Washington's exploits are often overshadowed on a team that features quarterback Chase Daniel and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, the former a Heisman Trophy finalist and the latter an All-American. But he was perhaps the star in last week's 52-17 rout at Nebraska, Missouri's first victory in Lincoln, Neb., in 30 years.
At a rugged 5-foot-11 and 218 pounds, Washington is as big of a threat between the tackles as on a sweep. Helikes to make a quick cut and go, but can also buldoze defenders for the tough yards.
Washington gained 139 yards on only 14 carries with two touchdowns, and added a third score on a 7-yard reception. He's broken some of Missouri's longest scoring plays, including a 59-yard run against Nevada, a 43-yarden against Nebraska and a 40-yarden against Illinois.
"Being in that starting position, he's bound to break something."
"I feel like I'm under the radar but I kind of like that," Washington said. "We have so many weapons on this offense, and you can't stop all of them."
"When he puts a move on you here, he's always looking over there," Pinkel said. "it's amazing to watch him run. He's always making people miss."
The feature back job was up for grabs in spring practice. Washington beat out senior Jimmy Jackson, who scored seven touchdowns in only 67 carries last year, and has never looked back.
"I think everything worked out for a reason." Washington said.