Tuesday, September 10, 1996

Tech's Hanspard gets national attention
By MARK BABINECK
Associated Press Writer

LUBBOCK - The Texas Tech Red Raiders have relied almost solely on the running game for the season's first two weeks. Yet even though the Cowboys knew exactly what was coming and who was going to deliver it Saturday, they were powerless.

Byron Hanspard gave the nation another name to consider for postseason awards glory with 272 yards and two touchdowns in Tech's 31-3 victory at Texas Stadium.

The performance was more than enough to earn the tailback Big 12 player of the week honors and accolades from coast to coast as highlights of his 72-yard first quarter scoring dash dominated the airwaves.

"He's more than lived up to his billing as one of the best in this conference," OSU coach Bob Simmons said Monday, though he added that Hanspard's numbers would have been smaller "if we could tackle."

Tech offensive coordinator Rick Dykes doesn't proclaim to know who the best of the best is either. He said he does know, however, the difference between a great run and a blown defensive play.

"I keep hearing that, and yet he keeps putting those numbers on everybody," said Dykes, son of head coach Spike Dykes and the Dallas-area recruiter who convinced Hanspard to move west for college.

Hanspard, a 6-foot, 190-pound junior from DeSoto, carried Tech's explosive offense last season. Tech's passing problems this year haven't reduced his output, even though everyone in Irving knew who was getting the ball on some plays.

The difference now is that Hanspard can hit any hole on the field, even where big defensive tackles roam.

"In high school, (outside runs) were all the plays I had to run," said Hanspard, an ordained minister who consistently deflects credit to his teammates and God, whom he has thanked for healing a tender right ankle last week. "I didn't have the plays to run inside."

Hanspard's development from a pure speed back to an all-around weapon has come since the middle of last season, said Dykes, who was the running backs coach until last year.

"I think he has that combination of learning how to set up a block, read blocks and still having that speed," Dykes said. "Plus, he's added about 10 pounds so he can run through some blocks he couldn't as a freshman."

Hanspard leaped above names such as Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith with his 272 yards. None has had a better game at Texas Stadium, though each has called it home at one time or another.

Dickerson watched Hanspard break his stadium collegiate record of 241 yards, which he set at Southern Methodist in 1982. The former Mustang was part of the television announcing team.