The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football Read Online Free Page B

said.
    Harrell agreed.
    “Just throw me the damn ball,” Crabtree said.
    Harrell was sure Texas would double-team Crabtree, forcing him to throw to a different receiver. But when they broke the huddle, Texas was in man-to-man coverage. Harrell and Crabtree thought the same thing:
If the defender overplays, throw the back-shoulder pass
.
    On the snap, Crabtree ran full speed straight at the defender, who backed off to protect against a throw to the end zone. Crabtree dug his toe into the turf at the eight-yard line and cut toward the sideline. The ball had already left Harrell’s hand. Crabtree hauled it in and stopped on a dime. Two defenders ran past him, one of them trying to push Crabtree out-of-bounds. Tightroping the sideline, Crabtree kept his balance and scampered into the end zone. One second remained on the clock.
    Fans stormed the field. Crabtree and Harrell were mobbed in the end zone. The goalposts came down. Cannons blasted. The band broke into the fight song. Texas Tech had knocked off the No. 1 team in the nation.
    Amid the chaos, Mike Leach showed no emotion. He didn’t even crack a smile. “There was a lot of drama and excitement, don’t get me wrong,” Leach said. “But this was pretty routine. If Crabtree was even with his man, throw it over the top. If they overplay him, throw the ball to his ass cheek, away from coverage, and he comes back and catches it. We practiced that all year. It’s a safe play. They executed it perfectly.”

    That night, Leach stayed up until 5:00 a.m. talking with friends about the victory. By the time he woke up later Sunday afternoon, Texas Tech was ranked No. 2 in the nation. The victory transcended the sports page. Scott Pelley brought a CBS News camera crew to Lubbock and profiled Leach on
60 Minutes
. Actor Matthew McConaughey, a University of Texas alumnus, started hanging out with Leach and his wife. Film director Peter Berg gave Leach a cameo role in
Friday Night Lights
. Mike and Sharon even accepted an invitation to take a private tour of the White House and meet with President George Bush at the end of the season. Graham Harrell went with them.
    Leach’s only regret was that his days coaching Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell were numbered. A few weeks after knocking off Texas, his two star players started their final regular-season game as Red Raiders. It was at home against Baylor on November 29. Both got injured early. Crabtree ended up on crutches and did not return. Harrell’s injury happened on a sack in the first quarter. When he got up and dusted himself off, he knew he was in trouble. Two fingers on his left hand were dangling. He knew they were broken.
    Facing third and long, Harrell looked to the sideline. Leach called a running play, requiring Harrell to take the snap from under center.
    Harrell turned his head from side to side and crossed his hands, indicating he didn’t like the call.
    Leach signaled time-out, and Harrell jogged to the sideline.
    “What’s wrong?” Leach said.
    “My hand is messed up. I broke my fingers. I don’t think I can take a snap under center.”
    The team trainer stepped in.
    Harrell held out his hand.
    “Your fingers are dislocated,” the trainer said.
    “Bro, I’m telling you. They are broken.”
    The trainer took a closer look.
    “Don’t mess with them,” Harrell said.
    The trainer yanked on both limp fingers, trying to set them.
    “Dude!” Harrell shouted. “They’re broken.”
    After being set, both fingers promptly went limp again.
    “They’re broken,” the trainer said.
    “No shit,” Harrell said. “I just told you that.”
    Leach scowled at the trainer. “What are you doing?”
    The referee jogged to the sideline. “C’mon, guys,” he hollered. “It’s time to play.”
    Leach looked at Harrell. “What do you want to do?”
    “I’ll play. Just don’t call anything under center.”
    He trotted back on the field. A few plays later he threw a touchdown pass. For the rest of the