The Cotton Bowl is just a few days away and will be played on January 2nd in Dallas, Texas. The Cotton Bowl is almost like a homecoming game for Texas Tech, who will be facing Mississippi. This will be the first time in Michael Crabtree’s career that he is playing against an SEC school.

Crabtree was on the injury report at the end of the regular season, but with 30+ days off he’ll be rested and ready to roll. He hasn’t had a 100 yard receiving game since November 1 against Texas. If Crabtree wants to go pro he’ll give it all he’s got in the Cotton Bowl to impress the scouts.

When asked about the NFL Crabtree responded, “I’m not worried about that right now. I’m worried about this Cotton Bowl. I choose not to think about anything else.”

Texas Tech is favored in this game, but don’t think they’ll run away with it. Ole Miss is a very good team, don’t forget they handed Florida their only loss. The Rebels play tough, pressure defense and will rush Graham Harrell like it’s nobody’s business. He’ll need to get the ball off quickly and find his best playmaker, Crabtree.

My prediction: Crabtree goes 8 receptiond 110 yards and 2 touchdowns.

With all the talk on this blog about Michael Crabtree getting a shot at the Heisman, we kind of pushed aside the Biletnikoff. Well, Crabtree (and Harrell for that matter) were not invited to NYC for the Heisman Ceremony tomorrow night. Crabtree said he was surprised by the news the day before that teammate Harrell hadn’t been invited to the Heisman ceremony.

“I was really shocked,” Crabtree said. “He’s alright. ..I said, ‘Let’s go out there and play in the bowl game.”

Thankfully, the Heisman isn’t the only award around here.

Texas Tech sophomore Michael Crabtree became the first two-time winner of the Biletnikoff Award, presented to the top wide receiver in the nation. Crabtree, who earned the honor Thursday night, beat Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant and Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin for the award.

During this past season, Crabtree had 93 receptions for 1,135 yards with 18 touchdowns, tied for second-most in the country.

The defining moment of Crabtree’s season came November 1 when he caught a 28- yard touchdown pass from Graham Harrell with one second remaining to give the Red Raiders a 39-33 win over then-No. 1 Texas.

“It was a great year to be around here,” said Crabtree. “I feel like we had fun. That’s what counts.”

The father of Texas Tech All-America wide receiver Michael Crabtree said the family took out a $1 million insurance policy on his son before this season.

“We got that $1 million policy that covers you in case you get injured,” Michael Crabtree Sr. said Friday afternoon. “We got it through the NCAA.”

In 1990, the NCAA implemented the Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance program. The program states that it enables qualifying student-athletes — as approved by the program administrators — to purchase a disability insurance contract with pre-approved financing, if necessary.

Though they’ve been around for almost 20 years, insurance policies for collegiate athletes became famous when Willis McGahee blew out his knee five years ago or so in the final game of his college career. College football is like that though… you can be a star 1 minute, and then in 1 play have your entire career jeopardized… costing you millions of dollars in the NFL Draft.

Michael Crabtree himself hasn’t said much about declaring for the NFL. His father though seems to be doing a lot of talking. “At first he said he was going to declare, but I don’t know what he’s doing now,” the elder Crabtree said of his son’s NFL aspirations. “I think he’ll put his name out there and see.”

I would still say there’s a 99% chance that he is going to the NFL.

Michael Crabtree told Red Raider Sports yesterday that he plans to come back for his junior season. Hard to believe right? Well, here’s the quote.

“Yeah,” he responded when asked if he would be returning for his junior season.

But surely, there must be some consideration of entering the NFL?

“No, not at all,” responded Crabtree when asked that question.

“I’m taking every game like I did last year, one game at a time. I’m really not worried too much about the future right now because that’s out of my reach. I’m just worried about what I can control, and that’s college football.”

I don’t buy for one second that Michael Crabtree wants to return to Texas Tech for another season. He does know that he’ll be a Top 10 pick in the NFL Draft next year and in 2010 there may be a rookie cap? Gotta come out now while the guaranteed millions are there.

Sure we all wish he would stay so we can enjoy watching him play another season and break even more records, but he needs to do what’s best for himself and his family. These guys only have so many years they can play football… get the money while it’s there.

Late in the first half of the Texas Tech vs. Baylor game on Saturday, superstar WR Michael Crabtree was injured.

A television replay showed he twisted his right ankle as he landed. He hobbled to the Red Raiders bench and a few minutes later was taken to the locker room on a motorized cart. Crabtree came out after the second half began with a boot on his right foot and limped along the bench talking with
teammates.

Prior to leaving the game, Michael had 9 receptions for 63 yards… not bad for only one half. He was kept out of the endzone again for the second game in a row.

Reports say that the ankle injury is just a sprain and not a break. Crabtree will have a month to rest up before Tech plays in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2 likely against Mississippi.