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Updated 1:00 AM on Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Lane's guarantee just talk for now

By ROBERT CESSNA
Eagle Columnist

Last week, the Texas A&M football players used Tuesday's press conference to stand up for head coach Dennis Franchione.

This week, Jorvorskie Lane decided it was time for stand up for Aggies who are sick and tired of losing to Texas Tech, especially on the South Plains.

The 277-pound tailback looked right into the TV cameras and spoke distinctly into the sea of tape recorders and told A&M fans what they've been yearning to hear for what seems like an eternity.

"We're gonna win in 2007," Lane said. "That's a guarantee. I promise you."

Forget that A&M lost the last two games in Lubbock by a combined 70 points. Forget that even the fifth-ranked Aggies in 1999 couldn't win there. Forget that A&M hasn't won in Lubbock since 1993.

Lane says this year's unranked A&M squad will get 'er done.

"Our team chemistry is so strong right now," Lane said. "Ain't nothin' can break us. From what we went through with that situation with coach Fran, and [then] we were down 17 points last week [to Oklahoma State]. I mean it's a real big motivational factor right now. But other than that, we just go play."

You have to admire Lane's moxie.

He's not even worried about backlash from Franchione, who likely will have something to say to Lane when he reads of the running back's guarantee.

"I'm a man," Lane said. "I can say what I wanna say."

No one's doubting that, but until Lane and the Aggies win in Lubbock, his guarantee will be just talk. His words will be repeated over and over this week from College Station to Lubbock, yet it's hard to imagine they will mean a hill of beans at kickoff, and even Lane knows that.

"I'm pretty sure they're guaranteeing a win, too," Lane said.

The difference is the Red Raiders have delivered, not only in Lubbock but in College Station as well. Tech has won nine of the last 12 meetings.

Lane is 0-2 against the Red Raiders.

He had a solid game last season, producing a game-high 77 yards rushing with a touchdown, but it wasn't enough when Tech's Robert Johnson scored on a 37-yard pass with 26 seconds left for a 31-27 victory.

Lane's only previous trip to Lubbock was typical for a lot of Aggies - first hope, then despair.

The Aggies scored twice before halftime to cut Tech's lead to 14-10. With the ball to start the third quarter, A&M held all the momentum.

But on the second play of the second half, Lane was en route to a 17-yard gain when Tech safety Dwayne Slay made a jarring tackle, forcing a fumble that the Red Raiders caught in midair. Tech scored off that turnover and on its next five possessions en route to a 56-17 lead, which was A&M's sixth straight loss in Lubbock.

"I remember that," Lane said. "He put his helmet on the ball. There was nothing I could do about it. To this day, I can say that was one of his big hits."

Lane has had his share of good hits on the Red Raider defense, and he needs to have a big game if the Aggies are going to win.

Lane has 165 career yards rushing on 31 carries against Tech, and he's only been caught behind the line once for a 1-yard loss.

This is probably Tech's weakest defense he's faced, and it's the most experienced A&M offensive line he's run behind.

Lane will try to back his words with actions. He's confident so will his teammates.

The problem is that might not be enough to beat Tech in Lubbock.

A&M hasn't had a lead in Lubbock in the last 14 quarters. The last time A&M led in Lubbock was in 1999 when the Aggies scored twice in the first quarter for a 10-0 lead.

Tech gained a 14-10 lead on Sammie Morris' 2-yard run with 9 minutes, 48 seconds left en route to a 21-19 victory.

A&M has had the lead for only 20 minutes, 47 seconds during the six-game losing streak in Lubbock.

A&M defensive coordinator Gary Darnell said freshman Billy Chavis has been moved to linebacker.

The 6-foot-4, 226-pound Chavis played safety, linebacker, running back, quarterback and wide receiver at Beaumont West Brook.

Franchione said during fall camp that every assistant wanted Chavis in their unit, and they'd try to see where he was needed most and fit in best.

Chavis has three tackles in four games.

Franchione said teams can't trade field goals for touchdowns playing a team like Tech, so trying to pick up first downs instead of settling for field-goal attempts on fourth down is something the Aggies might consider Saturday.

"Well, it does make you have an anticipation of that going into the game," Franchione said. "Some thoughts [are] because you need to find ways to sustain drives, and so as a result, yes, it can do that to you."

A&M is 6 of 8 on fourth downs this season.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy tops SI.com's 10 most disappointing college players.

He's followed by Rice wide receiver Jarett Dillard, Virginia Tech running back Branden Ore, Louisville linebacker Willie Williams, Florida State running back Antone Smith, Minnesota defensive end Willie VanDeSteeg, Notre Dame center John Sullivan, Illinois quarterback Juice Williams, Wisconsin cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu and Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli.

• Robert Cessna's e-mail address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com.