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Michael Crabtree had a meeting after the Cotton Bowl.

That was the official explanation from a Texas Tech spokesman for why the two-time Biletnikoff Award winner from Carter High wasn't made available to reporters after probably wrapping up his college career in his hometown.

Of course, it didn't come as a shock that Crabtree was kept from the media. It's standard operating procedure for reporters to have extremely limited access to Tech's stars. Heck, quarterback Graham Harrell and Crabtree didn't even make the trip to Kansas City for the Big 12 preseason media function, which wasn't exactly the wisest way to kick off the clever Pass or Catch Heisman campaign.

Chris Cook, the Tech spokesman who simply follows orders from quirky coach Mike Leach, insisted that Crabtree would have had a meeting immediately after the Cotton Bowl even if he had 230 receiving yards instead of the 30 that Ole Miss held him to.

Cook also suspected that reporters wanted to ask Crabtree whether he would declare for the NFL draft. Nothing gets by those guys from Lubbock.

Leach definitely didn't feel like shedding any light on Crabtree's draft status.

"I have no idea," Leach said. "If I did, I wouldn't tell you."

I'll walk to Lubbock to cover Tech's opener if Crabtree, a projected top-10 pick, is back next season. We'll just have to wait to get the word from his mouth.

Boomer Raiders: Chuck Porter, a 39-year-old Oklahoma fan, figured it'd be cheaper to attend the Cotton Bowl and watch from home when his Sooners played in the BCS national championship game. So Porter and his crew sat in the upper deck of the Cotton Bowl, decked in crimson and cream from head to toe.

Out of loyalty to the Big 12, Porter and Co. rooted for Tech. For some reason, though, a handful of Tech fans decided to give him a hard time. They taunted him by saying "Hook 'em Horns" and "45-35."

Responded Porter: "I'm pulling for you guys today, but I can always change my mind."

A better response would have been "65-21."

Not sure Leach is leaving: Just to be clear, the "Say Goodbye" headline on Friday's SportsDay cover was referring to the Cotton Bowl leaving its Fair Park home.

It's just a coincidence that a picture of Leach ran under the headline. While Leach hasn't signed that five-year, $12.1 million extension offer, it's not necessarily likely that Leach is leaving Lubbock.

Now, if Bob Stoops bolts Oklahoma to take the Denver Broncos' job ...

This place ain't so bad: JerryWorld in Arlington will have many more bells and whistles than the Cotton Bowl, but the old stadium in Fair Park is a pretty nice place after the recent multi-million-dollar renovations.

Leach definitely noticed. He appeared to be impressed by the spacious room used for the postgame news conferences.

"The last time I was here, I was in a tent," he said as he walked into the room. "It was cold, and I was in a tent."

JerryWorld won't have the same charm as the original Cotton Bowl, either. It's a shame that "hang a right after the livestock" will no longer be part of the directions to the media parking lot.

W for Tech: At least Tech won the halftime show. The Goin' Band From Raiderland sealed the victory by lining up to form a skull and crossbones, a tribute to their pirate-fascinated coach.

Ole Miss' fancy pyrotechnics were pretty cool but not nearly as creative.