Now that college football season is about to
be catapulted into bowl season I think that this will be a fairly
relevant post. And guys who read this and think OMG a woman writing about
sports... well... I'm just as capable of doing it as any of you are. That and
it won't be that bad. Girl Scouts honor!
So this season I
did what I have done for the last three seasons and cheered on
my Alma mater, Texas Tech. I stated long ago, back when former coach
Mike Leach was hired, that I would start watching Tech football again when he
was gone. It actually got to the point where I thought I would be old and grey
before this alumni member was going to be able to cheer on her team. I grew up
in the area and watched Red Raider football, with the likes of Spike Dykes. But
from the second that Leech was hired one I knew one thing. The Red Raiders lost
a fan. I haven't been able to put my finger on why exactly, until now.
With Leach's
sudden a glorious departure from Tech and his ability like all cockroaches to
resurface in college football, this girl has enjoyed hearing what the PAC-12
sports heads are saying about him... It's that he's crazy! Citing conferences
after losses that he didn't take any blame for the loss, but instead blamed the
kids (who were following orders) and even lined up his defensive line men and
offensive linemen and ushered them into a press conference
to apologize for the loss. He has even suggested that he is only
saying the things that he knows the press wants to hear... Ha!!! When did that
stop him before? Oh yeah I forgot it didn't.
I digress, all
this has proven to me one thing and one thing alone. The former "Mad
Scientist" that use to coach at Texas Tech is one thing... Mad. Get this
man a straight jacket, I think he's done.
After the time
period of mad scientists and pirates at Texas Tech there is a new wave that is
going to be ushered in . That is the time of a heritage team. People that don't
pay attention think that this is something that happens over night, not
exactly. Given the fact that Tech's most recent QB Seth Doege was a Leach
recruit I do have to say that I was impressed with what Tubberville has been
able to do with the kid. But this kid had the same problem every other Leach QB
has had... The inability to perform in the clutch when it counts. Now I know
that Doege did great things this year, I also know that Tech dealt with a lot
of injuries this season, but when Doege's line fell apart so did he. Granted
you have to give a QB time to throw, and you have to have the options and blah,
blah, blah... We can talk all that we want, but a QB that likes to sit in the
pocket way to long isn't the type of QB that Tubberville really needs... Just
go back in the history books folks. Two words Cam Netwon, enough said. And
don't get me started on Tech's iffy defense, we had a solid looking team early
in the season.
Now let's move
onto the coaching ills that seems to plague Texas Tech. I won't start with the
wildcat... I think that the masses have had enough of that. Let's start with
the trick plays that are meant to be played when you have no other options. Are
they fun? Sure. Are they a crowd pleaser? I'll go for yes on this one too...
However, why run them when you don't really need to? Seriously. I still have
yet to find a logical reason for this one.
I get that the
kids that you coach need to have some fun, and as a former athlete, I know that
it makes things a lot easier as long as you do have fun. When it stops being
fun that's when the game looses its passion and feeling.
Now with all of
Tech's ills this season there were some great things that happened that haven't
happened at Tech in a long time. We knocked out a Heisman trophy nominee
early in the season, Geno Smith from West Virginia. Tech had a solid road
record until we came up against K State. And Doege stats wise had it in spades
over Klein in every way possible, but rushing. Something that well rounded QB's
have to be able to do these days, the game is evolving and either you evolve
with it or you get lost in the shuffle which happens to Tech more times than
you think.Also this season, Doege was leading the nation in TD passes...Yes
that's right nation. And Tech entered a game ranked and left it the same way...
We were even highly ranked and got bumped up. We are once again
bowl eligible and I'm waiting to hear about the bids that will be
coming in. And more importantly and re-read this if you must... We finished
with a better season than we did last season. Improvement, it takes a season at
a time, and that is what we are doing.
Now to the last
part of this title... the dreaded t-shirt fans.Another thing that Tech has in
spades. I mean every team has them, but at least most of UT's t-shirt fans know
all the proper words to the fight song.
One thing that I
have found so disgusting this season, is that these are the fans that are
making the noise and keep screaming for Tubberville's job. Leave the man alone
already. There are things that he has done and I'm sure upset the people that
joined the band wagon with the pirate/ mad scientist Mike Leach. Like exposing
Leach's inability to recruit, his inability to produce a defense that could
defend against more than a paper bag, let alone his lack of being able to
produce any type of ground game. Things like SaDale Fosters 70+ yard run for a
TD straight up the middle isn't born out of a passing game.
Tech has a great
future ahead of it, as long as its fans don't get in the way.
And that's just
this girls opinion.
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