Tech, Texas A&M Renew Rivalry

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ It's been a busy week off the field heading into Saturday's rivalry game between Texas Tech and Texas A&M. <br/><br/>First, a Tech fraternity was suspended for selling T-shirts

Friday, October 12th 2007, 2:41 pm

By: News On 6

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ It's been a busy week off the field heading into Saturday's rivalry game between Texas Tech and Texas A&M.

First, a Tech fraternity was suspended for selling T-shirts with images of the A&M's dog mascot being hanged. Then Aggies running back Jovorskie Lane guaranteed a victory. And A&M admonished coach Dennis Franchione for the secretive, for-pay newsletter he had been sending to boosters.

Even after all that, the matchup on the field offers plenty of intriguing elements.

Texas A&M (5-1, 2-0 Big 12) will need to slow the prolific passing game of Tech (5-1, 1-1), while the Red Raiders will try to somehow stop the power running of the Aggies.

A&M has the nation's seventh ranked rushing offense at 248 yards per game, while the Red Raiders are ranked 59th against the run (152 ypg).

The brunt of A&M's ground assault comes from Lane, a 274-pound back who's plowed into the end zone 10 times.

``He fits their offense real well, where in our case we want a guy that runs routes a little better and things like that,'' Tech coach Mike Leach said. ``I would say, though, that he's easily the best short-yardage back in the conference, and maybe the country.''

The key for A&M getting its first win in Lubbock since 1993 will be stopping quarterback Graham Harrell, who leads the nation in touchdowns (28) and yards passing (2,726). He has his pick from a gaggle of receivers, and covering all of them can tire a defense.

That's something the Aggies found in preparing for Tech.

``We're running all the time,'' A&M defensive coordinator Gary Darnell said. ``You wear yourself getting ready for it.''

A&M has allowed 237 yards passing a game, less than half of Harrell's average yardage (454 yards).

The Aggies are hoping their secondary can keep the Tech receivers in front of them and keep them from getting too many yards after the catch.

``I never actually flew F-16s in a dogfight, in a war, but I imagine that's about what it feels like,'' Darnell said. ``You've got seven or eight incomings coming at you and you're by yourself. And they're coming in fast.''

Michael Crabtree, who last week scored three touchdowns for the fifth time in six career games, is the nation's leader in receiving yards (1,074) and catches (70). He's the Division I freshman TD record holder for a season, with 17 in six games. He got numbers 15, 16 and 17 last week when Tech beat Iowa State 42-17.

Darnell is impressed with Crabtree, mostly because of his strong hands.

``He gets jarred around a little bit and he still comes down with the ball,'' Darnell said. ``Having that kind of toughness, those kinds of physical attributes ... that's what makes him one of the unique receivers anywhere.''

Last week, Oklahoma State scored 17 points in the final 10:32 of the first half. A&M went on to win 24-23.

``A thing that needs to happen is for that not to happen'' against Tech, Darnell said. ``That really does weigh on me right now. If I see us getting on our heels, we have to get off our heels faster.''