For Texas Tech, Saturday wasn't exactly picture perfect. The Red Raiders faced a conference foe in Baylor who was 2-5 in the Big 12 and 4-7 overall, and nearly got beat by the Bears.
Tech pulled the game out, but did it at the expense of their star quarterback's pinkie and ring finger of his non-throwing hand. Graham Harrell was taken to the locker room at halftime and after the medical staff told him he wasn't going back in for the second half, the senior quarterback and likely Heisman finalist told the medical staff they were wrong.
"Tape my hand up. I'm going out," he said. Harrell finished the game with black tape around the two fingers.
Harrell underwent four hours of surgery on Sunday, with 17 pins and two plates placed in his left hand to fix the 19 (!) different breaks that occurred. Since the surgery went well, they are saying Harrell should be around for the Red Raiders' bowl appearance.
Despite the injury, Harrell threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Red Raiders back from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half. The victory gave Tech a share of the Big 12 South title, but it lost the BCS standings tie-breaker to Oklahoma. The Sooners will represent the South in the Big 12 championship game, while Tech will maintain a slim hope for a BCS at-large berth.
The BCS appearance will be a long shot for the one loss Tech squad, as will a Heisman Trophy for Harrell, but the team has had a fantastic year and Harrell, at his position, is ranked second in total offense, ninth in passing efficiency, and second in total passing yards.
Harrell wasn't the only big star to be injured in the Baylor game. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who is averaging 94.58 yards per game, went down in the first half but is projected to be 100 percent for Tech's bowl game as well.
Texas Tech's Graham Harrell Had Two Smashed Fingers, Surgery on Sunday originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:13:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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