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The hearts of Texas are upon them
Posted: Tuesday November 23, 1999 06:29 PM
By Tim Griffin, Special to CNN/SI Texas A&M football players will head into Friday's annual game against Texas with heavy hearts remembering 12 fellow students who were killed at the bonfire accident site last week. "This is a tragedy of monumental proportions and everyone on this campus has been deeply affected," Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said. "It's impossible not to think about it. But we've asked them to take the time they have in meetings and on the field and use that as a chance to focus on the challenge of playing a very good football team. I think our guys have done a good job of handling it." The Aggies skipped practice on Thursday to help in removing some of the logs. Their involvement was a moving experience as they thought about the tragedy. "These are our brothers and sisters," guard Semisi Heimuli said. "We came to help our fellow Aggies." Offensive lineman Chris Valletta said most people do not understand the symbolism of the bonfire. "People think we just burn wood every year to celebrate a football game," Valletta said. "That's not it. It's to show everyone in this country that Texas A&M has the closest-knit student body in the history of any college in the world. And this tradition should live on, and it should be in memory of every single Aggie who died." Valletta said he changed his mind on keeping the bonfire after his work at the accident site. "When I first heard about this happening, I was hoping they wouldn't do it anymore," Valletta said. "But I came out here and saw what every Aggie did today. It made the Texas A&M tradition burn inside of me and made it more real for me than I've ever seen it." After returning to practice, Slocum said his team's work has been relatively normal with one noticeable exception. "The vocal part of it has been a lot more subdued," Slocum said. "We've told them that the mourning will go on and we don't want them to ignore it." A&M officials have changed the introduction for Friday's game after the bonfire accident. Previously, a bonfire was to roar on the JumboTron scoreboard at Kyle Field as the players took the field. The Aggies now will wear a small patch on their helmets in respect for the dead and injured. A&M senior quarterback Randy McCown said last week's events will add heightened emotion to that always is an emotional game. Friday's meeting will be the 106th between the rivals, tied for third place among college football's most played games. "It's not easy to put this behind you, but it's something we have to do," McCown said. "We may be even more motivated. This is my senior year and my last home game. Then, you've got what happened at the bonfire. We've got to be ready." Texas coach Mack Brown urged his players to "separate the game from the tragedy" but said he struggled trying to follow his own advice. "It's difficult to me to talk about the loss of life and a football game in the same breath," Brown said. "The football game is important on one level. But if I had just lost a son or a daughter, I know that who wins a football game wouldn't make any difference to me. "You'd never play this game again if it would mean keeping those kids alive. But we are going to play and we want to win. That doesn't change because of the tragedy." Eyes on ColoradoNebraska coach Frank Solich said he hasn't spent much time concerning himself with the Bowl Championship Series formula. The Cornhuskers pulled within .63 of a point of second-place Virginia Tech in the latest BCS ratings released on Monday. There is some thought that victories over Colorado in the season finale and Texas in the Big 12 championship game would give Nebraska enough of a boost to vault past the Hokies and into a berth in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State. "All of this only matters when the season is over and you look back at what your team has accomplished in the overall scheme of things," Solich said. "That's not just for us but for every football team. We're just concerned about doing everything we can to make the outcome in our favor against Colorado, and then just go from there. "There has really been no talk amongst our staff about it [the BCS]. That might seem strange to people, but that's been the thinking that's been inbred into our staff over the years about not looking down the road. I know people get bored of hearing that, but that's the way it is." Kansas State claims the North Division championship if Colorado upsets the Cornhuskers. Colorado quarterback Mike Moschetti is 9-1 in his career starts at Folsom Field in Boulder.
Hold that TigerOne of the ugliest scenes of the season came in the fourth quarter along Missouri's bench as Kansas State was finishing its 66-0 blowout over the Tigers. As the Tigers struggled through the final minutes, Cheryl Smith, wife of veteran Missouri coach Larry Smith, berated her husband's team from the bench. Several reports indicated Mrs. Smith repeatedly yelled "you suck" and "you quit" at the disheartened Tigers. That bizarre scene capped the finish of a disappointing year for the Tigers, who finished the season outscored by their last three opponents, 154-14. "This is probably the worst game that I've ever been associated with," Larry Smith said. "I think basically our morale was completely broken. I think our spirit was completely broken. I think our guys tried hard, but I don't think the heart was there." In truth, K-State might have run up 100 points if they wanted to. Most of the offensive starters were rested by halftime and third-string quarterback Jeremy Milne played the entire second half. The Wildcats attempted only one pass after intermission. "I dislike games like this, it's uncomfortable for me," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "You just call running plays and hope for a first down,"
One last hurrahThe Big 12's dean of coaches couldn't have thought of a better place to ride off into the sunset. Only a couple of long passes removed from his birthplace, Spike Dykes finished his legendary career as Texas Tech's head coach. The South Plains' favorite son couldn't have done it with more style or grace. "I was born over there across the street and my grandmother lived on Broadway for 50 years," Dykes said. "My daddy went to high school here and my mama and daddy went to Tech. It was more than just a job for me." His final walk away from Jones Stadium came with a big smile on his face and an even bigger victory. The Red Raiders' 38-28 upset victory over Oklahoma made them bowl eligible for the seventh straight season. "This is about as good as it gets," Dykes said. "It's been a great ride and it's been a fun deal." During his record 13-year tenure at Tech, Dykes became as much a part of the West Texas landscape as chicken-fried steaks with cream gravy and a constant gritty wind. In the process, Dykes violated one of the first rules of coaching etiquette when he came back to his hometown. "The first thing they tell you is don't plant any trees and I've got pecan trees with pecans on it and a peach tree that made peaches," Dykes said. " I feel like I hit a home run. Heck, I've almost got my mortgage paid off." The Red Raiders have already interviewed Clemson offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Mike Leach. Both candidates acknowledged Tech officials contacted them last week, before Dykes had made his announcement. Tech athletic director Gerald Myers said he hopes to hire a new coach within the next three weeks.
A bad dayThe aftermath of Oklahoma's 38-28 loss to Texas Tech wasn't the best for the Sooners. Leach stayed behind in Lubbock to interview with Tech officials about the vacant coaching position after the game. Later, the Oklahoma team charter plane had mechanical difficulties and couldn't leave the airport. Instead, the Sooners had to make a seven-hour bus ride back to Norman after the game. "It's been a bad day," Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione understated after the game.
As a matter of factOklahoma has rushed for a combined 122 yards in its four losses this year. In three of the defeats, the Sooners have squandered a double-digit lead ... Baylor was limited to 12 total yards on 18 offensive plays in the first half of their loss against Oklahoma State ... Leading Kansas State rusher Joe Hall did not see action against Missouri, apparently in response to his arrest last weekend for possession of alcohol as a minor ... Texas Tech has received a $20 million gift from the parent company of Southwestern Bell for renovation of 40-year-old Jones Stadium. Among the improvements planned include 21 luxury suites, a new press box and overall expansion by 8,318 seats, boosting the seating capacity to nearly 59,000 ... Kansas State boosted its home winning streak to 22 games, third-longest in the nation behind Marshall and Florida State (both with 29-game streaks) ... Oklahoma State QB Tony Lindsay and his younger brother, Gabe, hooked up on the first Lindsay-to-Lindsay connection since their arrival at school ... Baylor's 1-10 record is its worst since 1971. The Bears have lost six straight games, 13 straight in Big 12 play and 35 of their last 41 contests ... After ranking among the nation's leading rush-defense units before Big 12 play began, Iowa State was ripped for an average of 234 rushing yards per game by conference opponents ... Saturday's crowd of 18,673 for Baylor's season finale against Oklahoma State was the smallest home crowd since the Big 12 was inaugurated in 1996 ... Kansas K Joe Garcia struggled with a disappointing finish, missing 10 of his final 14 attempts ... Kansas State P Travis Brown suffered a severely sprained ankle when he stepped in a hole during the Wildcats' post-game victory lap around KSU Stadium. Brown needed to be helped up the ramp after the game ... Oklahoma QB Josh Heupel's one touchdown pass against Texas Tech was a season low. Heupel also had a string of 114 consecutive passes without an interception snapped. Oklahoma's defense will start three walk-ons against Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Sooners' latest casualty is top tackler Rocky Calmus, who cracked a leg bone against Texas Tech. Tim Griffin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News. Check back Dec. 22 for his CNN/SI bowl Insider.
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