Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
I got an update Wednesday morning from Texas Tech's intrepid sports information director Chris Cook about the recent hiring of former Red Raider cornerback Khalid Naziruddin by the school's Red Raider Club.
Naziruddin is one of my favorite players that I've covered over the years. He had a great story, moving to Tech after earlier being a standout cornerback at Division III Howard Payne before deciding to walk on at a Division I school. He developed into a team captain and a pretty good cornerback, earning a scholarship for his senior season and starting on Tech's 2004 team that beat California in the Holiday Bowl -- still one of the landmark victories of Mike Leach's coaching tenure.
Naziruddin was even a better talker than a defensive player. He had a great line the week before Tech's key game against Texas in 2005 that wound up in newspapers across the country.
He and then-Tech quarterback Cody Hodges were designated as team spokesman by Leach that week. He was asked about the challenges of facing Vince Young and the Longhorns when the two teams squared off in a matchup of undefeated teams midway through the season.
"Me and Cody, we love the 'Horns," Naziruddin quipped. "We love the university as well. That's about all of that."
Another time, he had an interesting answer when I asked him the difference between playing at Howard Payne and Texas Tech.
"In Division III, you ride buses -- everywhere. Even to Mississippi," he said. "There's no plane rides in Division III."
I always remembered him for his love of playing the game and the opportunity he received playing Division I football. You could sense that just being around him.
And because of that, Naziruddin always was somebody you hoped good things for because of all the obstacles he overcame.
That is, except in late-evening games when you had to quickly spell his name for stories on deadline.
Tim Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
