Associated Press
The college notebook …
LUBBOCK, Texas ó Texas Tech officials confirm that quarterback Graham Harrell had surgery to repair nine breaks in two fingers of his non-throwing hand but won’t miss any playing time.
Tech spokesman Chris Cook confirmed the surgery Monday. He didn’t have details on whether Harrell’s fingers got caught in a facemask or slammed against a helmet in Saturday’s 35-28 win over Baylor.
ESPN.com first reported the injury and surgery Sunday on the nation’s leading passer. Surgeons inserted 17 pins and two plates into the pinkie and ring finger of Harrell’s left hand.
Harrell, a contender for the Heisman Trophy, will play when the No. 8 Red Raiders (11-1) appear in their ninth straight bowl, likely the Cotton Bowl.
No. 1: UNDERDOG?
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ó Alabama has pushed aside all comers on its way to a perfect regular season, climbed to the top of the rankings and stuck around for quite awhile.
Now, it’s back to Square One for team No. 1: As an underdog in the Georgia Dome.
No. 2 Florida is a 10-point favorite to topple the top-ranked Crimson Tide Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta, where ‘Bama opened the season as an underdog to Clemson.
“I ain’t worried about that at all,” Tide cornerback Javier Arenas said. “It’s been like that the whole season, starting with Clemson and going to Georgia. You’re accustomed to it now.”
Still, is that any way to treat a team that just walloped archrival Auburn 36-0?
Then again, maybe the point spread is a compliment to Alabama (12-0) considering Florida’s last eight opponents have come no closer than Vanderbilt’s 28-point loss.
“As well as they’ve been playing, it doesn’t surprise me,” Tide linebacker Cory Reamer said. “They’ve been putting up 50 points, beating people by four touchdowns.”