 "Photo: Chris Kominczak")
KANSAS CITY - Texas Tech has never come into Big 12 media days with expectations as high as this year's. Many prognosticators have the Red Raiders picked to finish second in the Big 12, ahead of Texas, and the Sports Illustrated preseason poll has them ranked in the top 10.
Yet head coach Mike Leach, a man never at a loss for words, isn't fazed by the high expectations at all.
"I've come into every Big 12 game we've played expecting to win, so this year is no different," Leach said. "We just need to ignore the expectations and everybody needs to focus on doing their job. If we do that then I think we'll improve from last season and have a great year."
Ignoring the hype is easier said than done.
"It's hard to forget about it like Coach Leach is telling us to do," senior receiver Eric Morris said. "We've finally got exposure and I think this is our year. I have to block all the outside stuff from my mind, though, and just focus on our first game against Eastern Washington."
The reason for the excitement starts with the tandem of senior quarterback Graham Harrell and sophomore receiver Michael Crabtree. Harrell threw for 5,705 yards last year, and Crabtree won the Biletnikoff award, which goes to the nation's best wide receiver.
"Harrell and Crabtree get a lot of attention and deserve a lot of attention," Leach said. "Graham is a good guy that makes the players around him better. We used to kick him out of the coaches' office late at night because they were about to close, but now we just leave him there. For all I assume, he lives there."
However, Leach did not bring either player to media day on Monday. Instead he brought Morris, junior cornerback Jamar Wall and senior safety Daniel Charbonnet.
"Our ultimate concept this year is the team," Leach said. "That's why I've brought these three emerging leaders to the forefront. There's a temptation to isolate the emphasis around a couple of guys, but I think our team is far more than a couple of individuals that play really well."
After all the years of offensive domination in Lubbock, the Red Raiders finally may have a defense to go along with it. The team returns eight starters from last year's defense who made a big turnaround after the Sept. 22 game against Oklahoma State where Tech gave up 610 yards in a 49-45 loss.
Defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich resigned and Ruffin McNeill took over the defense. The result: The Raiders led the Big 12 in defense for the remaining games.
"The thing Coach McNeill did to improve the defense was bring passion to it and fire us up," Charbonnet said. "He made the schemes more aggressive and kept the energy level up."
Leach agreed.
"When [McNiell] screams and yells it creates energy for me, so I know it does that to our defense," he said.
Running back by committee
Texas won't be the only team using a running back by committee approach to replace Jamaal Charles this season. Missouri and Texas Tech spoke of similar plans Monday.
To replace leading rusher Tony Temple, Missouri will alternate between sophomore Derrick Washington, senior Jimmy Jackson and freshmen DeVion Moore and Drew Temple.
"Derrick is a little different than Tony as far as style goes, but he's done a good job," head coach Gary Pinkel said. "Jackson has also done some outstanding things. We'll have a challenge."
Tech will use senior Shannon Woods and sophomores Aaron Crawford and Baron Batch.
"We've got three really good running backs right now," Leach said. "In spring I expected one to separate himself and get more reps, but that hasn't happened. What happened instead is that the guys improved on their weaknesses and continued to emphasize their strengths. I think there's enough room for all three to have a role."
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