Harrell has pins, plates put in left hand; should be fine for bowl

Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell played with two shattered fingers on his non-throwing hand Saturday in the Red Raiders' victory over Baylor.

Harrell underwent four hours of surgery Sunday on the pinkie and ring fingers on his left hand, with 17 pins and two plates inserted in his hand to heal nine separate breaks, a source said. Despite the extent of the injury, suffered in the second quarter, Harrell finished the game against the Bears and is expected to be fine for Tech's bowl game.

Texas Tech football spokesman Chris Cook said that coach Mike Leach's policy is not to comment on the specifics of players' injuries. But he confirmed that Harrell did have surgery Sunday morning.

Without breaching his own policy on commenting on injuries, Leach called Harrell "incredibly courageous" for his second-half performance.

"Even though [I have] no specific comment, it's just further evidence on why he should get the Heisman, and to me it's a no-brainer because I thought he should have gotten it last year," Leach said Monday.

The source said Harrell was X-rayed at halftime, and the Tech medical staff told him he was done for the day. Harrell responded, "Tape my hand up. I'm going out." Harrell finished the game with black tape around the two fingers.

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.

Meanwhile, Harrell is hoping to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist. That award will be given Dec. 13th in New York. Ballots are due for the Heisman next week.

Cook said star receiver Michael Crabtree, who missed most of the Baylor game after spraining an ankle in the first half, also should be 100 percent for the Red Raiders' bowl game.

Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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