Mike Kern: Texas-Texas Tech rematch comes early
IT WAS THE most significant regular-season game of 2008.
Texas Tech 39, Texas 33, on prime-time TV in early November in a matchup of unbeatens, on an improbable, 28-yard touchdown pass from Graham Harrell to Michael Crabtree with 1 second showing. It kept Texas, which had defeated three Top 11 opponents in a row before that, from making it to the Big 12 title game and, in all probability, the BCS final, as well.
The teams meet up again this Saturday at UT, where Tech hasn't won since 1997. Both are 2-0, having played nobody. But UT is ranked No. 2. Tech was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 South.
The Longhorns had won the previous five meetings. This game historically is played in late October or early November, but ABC came up with enough cash to make a scheduling change make sense. It was the network's highest-rated game last season, and fourth-highest ever.
UT coach Mack Brown has seen enough of Crabtree's catch, which only figures to get replayed a zillion times this week.
"If it's on [ESPN] Classic, I won't turn it on," he said. "You can't ... wallow in it."
Still, it's hard to forget. That loss also might have cost Colt McCoy the Heisman Trophy.
"I've never been a revenge-type guy," Brown said. "It's one of the greatest plays that's ever happened. I was just in shock. They got us."
Tech coach Mike Leach has never been one to mince his sarcasm. "I can imagine Texas has their focus on all the ranked opponents that they're going to play down the road," he tried to sell. "So, I imagine we're going to be another game for them."
Or maybe not.
Trivial pursuit
The last time Houston defeated a Top 5 team was Nov. 10, 1984 (29-15 at No. 3 Texas). Who was its quarterback that season? Hint: He led the team in total offense 4 consecutive years. See Answer man.
Proceed with caution
The consensus in the Daily News Pick the Winners is 5-25. Not easy to do. The two-time defending champ is 10-20. Good thing it's for comic relief.
Answer man
Gerald Landry, who was then a sophomore. He still ranks sixth on the school's total offense list.
Can't we get along?
At his introductory news conference last December, Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin said he was "looking forward to ... singing 'Rocky Top' all night long after we beat Florida next year. It will be a blast." Shockingly, his words became the theme of the Gators' offseason workouts.
Two months later, after national signing day, he accused Florida's Urban Meyer of recruiting violations. The NCAA and Southeastern Conference disagreed. Kiffin, after being reprimanded, apologized. Meyer acknowledged the comments got his attention.
At UF's media day in August, offensive lineman Matt Patchan called Kiffin a "bozo."
