Tech, Texas meet at Big 12 South crossroads

By MARK BABINECK / Associated Press

LUBBOCK - For Texas, pressure isn't traveling to favored Texas Tech today for the chance to salvage an otherwise disappointing season.

Pressure is facing Red Raiders tailback Byron Hanspard.

"How do you stop Byron Hanspard?" asked Longhorns linebacker Tyson King. "I don't know. It hasn't happened a lot this year. He's great. If we do a great job against Byron Hanspard, it will erase all the negatives people have said about this defense."

Actually, a victory by Texas (4-4, 3-2 Big 12) would do more than that - it would give the Longhorns the inside track to the league's South Division championship, their top remaining goal after enduring four losses in a five-game span. That stretch ended with a victory over Baylor last Saturday.

The Red Raiders (5-3, 4-2) can do Texas one better. If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma earlier in the day, Tech could clinch the first Big 12 South title with a victory Saturday night.

Tech has the edge because of Hanspard, the nation's top runner at 201 yards per game. Texas foes have racked up a healthy 203-yard rushing average, 86th best in Division I-A.

To put that in perspective, UT opponents collectively would rank among the top 25 teams on the ground.

No wonder Hanspard, who broke 100 yards against stingy Nebraska, is so menacing to Texas.

"He's as fast as anyone and has the strength to run over you," King said. "He doesn't know the words 'half speed.' Every play, he's running like he's running for the Heisman Trophy. If we hold him to 120 yards, keep him in the low 100s, that would probably be OK."

The Longhorns limited Hanspard to 109 yards in last season's 48-7 victory that they dominated every facet.

Despite that bitter memory, the Red Raiders this week have downplayed talk of revenge - even if it obviously lies just beneath the surface.

"We're not going to overlook them," said Tech defensive end Montae Reagor, who has memories of Texas' backfield tandem of Shon Mitchell and Ricky Williams combining for 218 yards and three touchdowns in 1995. "This year, I can say they're not going to get 100 yards on us."

Actually, the Tech defense appears tough as ever despite losing its senior core last winter. It ranks among the top 30 teams in virtually every statistic and seems to improve each week.

After helping hold Texas A&M to just two scores in a 13-10 Tech victory last week, defensive end Tony Daniels is looking for more against Texas.

"We want to win, but I'll tell you what - we're looking for a shutout," said Daniels, whose assignment is to pursue speedy UT quarterback James Brown.

Brown isn't worried about Tech's blustery comments.

"I don't think their defense is difficult," said Brown, who threw for 174 yards and two TDs last year. "I've never had trouble moving the ball against their defense when I've played against them."

Tech's eight-man fronts will dare the Longhorns to pass, something they've done with varying degrees of success this season. Texas, meanwhile, will try fortifying its three-man defensive line with enough help to stop Hanspard and his legion of blockers.

Tech isn't last in the Big 12 in passing for nothing.

"On offense, everything revolves around Hanspard," UT coach John Mackovic said. "He is running like he's got magic feet."