Double the headache

Weatherdemon · September 15, 2005

Double the headache

By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

9/15/2005

http://www.tulsaworld.com/SportsStory.asp?..._B1_Doubl20171#

Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas join list of master rushers that TU has already faced.

The University of Tulsa has one of its own to blame for Tecumseh tailback Patrick Cobbs going to the University of North Texas in 2001.

That's slightly ironic, because the Golden Hurricane may have to stop Cobbs on Saturday night in Denton if it wants to break into the 2005 win column, after two opening losses.

TU offensive line coach Spencer Leftwich was a North Texas assistant during Cobbs' senior year of high school.

"I looked at a couple of plays and took the tape back to (North Texas) and it was all over," Leftwich said. "It became obvious he was the player we needed to sign."

Now a senior, Cobbs is on the verge of becoming the school's all-time rushing leader. He's also part of the Mean Green's tandem of national rushing leaders, the first in college football history.

Cobbs led the nation in rushing as a junior in 2003. Jamario Thomas did the same thing as a freshman last year, getting his chance when Cobbs sprained his knee and missed all but two games.

Now, they're healthy at the same time. That means double trouble for the Hurricane, which faced top backs in Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and Minnesota's

Laurence Maroney in the first two games.

"We have certainly played some good tailbacks, but (North Texas has) more depth in their offensive backfield than any team we've played," said TU head coach Steve Kragthorpe.

"It is going to be a real challenge for us because they have a great one-two punch.

"When either of them is in the game, they are able to take the ball and do significant things with it. You cannot relax when one of them is out of the game, because they have another guy (who) is effective."

Cobbs, showing no ill effects of last year's injury, rushed for 103 yards and Thomas added 58 in a 14-7 win at Middle Tennessee State last Saturday.

"Those two backs are just what they're advertised to be," said MTSU head coach Andy McCollum. "You have to stop the run when you play against them. They do a tremendous job."

North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey has built a winning tradition on power running and defense.

The Mean Green have been ranked progressively higher in team rushing each of the past four years while winning the first four Sun Belt Conference titles.

As part of the equation, Dickey has consistently developed capable blockers.

Only two starters return from last year's unit that ranked 23rd nationally in rushing. But the Mean Green has promising newcomers, including Tecumseh redshirt freshman tackle Jeremy Brown.

"We're kind of inconsistent right now," Dickey said. "A lot of these guys haven't played together during the course of a game or a whole season. They have to learn each other and come together."

Cobbs rushed for 1,680 yards and 19 TDs in 2003 when he led the nation with 152.7 yards per game.

He has 2,999 career yards and needs only 122 to become North Texas' all-time leader.

Cobbs started both ways in high school for Bristow head coach Chris McMullen, rushing for 2,354 yards and 32 TDs as a senior.

McMullen couldn't understand why his star tailback wasn't receiving Division I-A offers and phoned a friend at North Texas, defensive coordinator Kenny Evans.

Leftwich was recruiting in Norman, and Evans phoned to tell him to check out the running back in nearby Tecumseh.

"(Leftwich) took one look at the tape and said. 'This kid can play,' " McMullen said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike Brown 581-8390

mike.brown@tulsaworld.com