Tech has reversed fortunes against ranked teams
BY DON WILLIAMS
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
A year ago today, Texas Tech coach Mike Leach was in the headlines for having ripped the Big 12 Conference’s game-official selection procedures, a tirade that would net him a $10,000 fine.
Leach might have been frustrated with more than the officials, because his program also had a seven-game losing streak against ranked teams after the 59-43 loss at Texas that caused him to go off.
That was last year.
Today the Red Raiders have gone from can’t win to can’t lose when they play the best. Beginning with the 2007 regular-season finale, Tech has won five in a row against ranked teams, including three in the top 10.
“In the past, when we got down to those teams … there was more doubt on the sideline and stuff,” Tech quarterback Graham Harrell said Monday. “Now after having some big wins, we understand we can compete against anyone.”
Tech’s run of success versus ranked teams started at the end of last season against No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 20 Virginia in the Gator Bowl. In the last three weeks, the Raiders added wins against No. 19 Kansas, No. 1 Texas and No. 9 Oklahoma State.
Harrell said the Raiders are getting better about staying relaxed and sticking to the game plan whenever a momentum shift goes against them. They had to come from behind in the final 11/2 minutes, for example, to beat Texas 39-33 and had to overcome a first-series turnover and 7-0 deficit against Oklahoma State on the way to winning 56-20.
Leach can’t complain about his team’s approach.
“I think they’ve played good,” Leach said. “You just go out there, do what you can and see what happens. But I think they’ve had a real mental stability with regard to those things.”
It certainly hasn’t always been that way. After Tech upset No. 4 California in the Holiday Bowl to end the 2004 season, it went 1-8 in its next nine tries against Top 25 opposition.
From 2005 through 2007, the Raiders didn’t show much against ranked teams to inspire confidence. There were humiliations — at Texas in 2005, at TCU in 2006, at Missouri in 2007. And there were wasted chances — in 2006, blowing leads of 21-0 against Texas and 24-10 at Oklahoma.
But last year’s regular-season finale against OU served as a tipping point. With a chance to play in the Gator Bowl on the line and a nighttime, national-TV audience watching, the Raiders built a 34-10 lead by early in the second half.
The Raiders played much the same way the last two weeks against UT and Oklahoma State, dominating the Longhorns for much of the first three quarters and having their way with the Cowboys for the last three.
“I think it’s been building for a few years now,” Harrell said. “We’ve had a lot of big wins in this program. With every win comes a little more confidence. We’ve made huge strides in competing with elite programs. Hopefully, it’ll continue and maybe it’ll start a tradition where we become one of the elite programs that can compete with anyone every year.”
No. 5 Oklahoma (9-1) will test the Raiders’ renewed self-confidence on Nov. 22 when No. 2 Tech (10-0) plays in Norman, Okla. That’s a place where the Raiders have lost five in a row.
Instead of that five-game streak, however, the Raiders more likely have the five straight wins over ranked teams in the back of their minds.
“I think we always believed in ourself,” safety Darcel McBath said, “but it definitely helps the confidence that we’re on the right track and preparing well. We’re doing the right things and all the things that’s asked of us by the coaches, and we’re going to continue to do them.”
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com uE074 766-8734
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ATTENTION, LEACH AND COMPANY…
FINISH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TAKE WHAT’S YOUR’S!!!!!!!
WRECK ‘EM TECH!!!!!!!!!!
RAIDER!!!!!!!!!! POWER!!!!!!!!!!
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still unfinished business. Maintain focus Raiders because you have a chance of a lifetime to achieve true greatness!
Wreck ‘em Tech!
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You’re in the driver’s seat now! You guys can do it!!!!
GO TECH!!!!
Cheering from ATX!
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Quick start!!! Take the crowd out of it!!!! Then, drive in the dagger!!!!
Wreck ‘em!!!!!
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Do what you did to Kansas. Get an early leave, don’t let up on the gas pedal, and have the OU fans filing out by the 3rd Quarter because you have such a big lead to overcome. I really don’t care how you win, I just want to see Tech win and have a chance to play in the National Championship game.
No matter what though (win or lose), I am very proud of this team.Tech has become the darlings among other fans nationally to go all the way.
Guns Up!!
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This team has the confidence & talent to go all the way, just keep the same attitude and dedication to the game plan and we can all see it happen in Miami!
Stick it to the Sooners or just plain “Wreck Em” that will be my happiest moment – ever-as an Alumni!
However, win or lose I will always bleed Red & Black! TTU-
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Oh yeah, I now live down is South Georgia where you don’t hear anything but Gators and Dawgs, but today at the golf course 10 or12 people came up to me knowing I am from TTU and said “How about those Raiders” they should win it all. All except one Gator who interjected. we will kick your butt in Miami.
That could be the game? Ane we will see who does the kicking!
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BEAT OU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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If Tech loses to OU and falls behind OU and UT in the BCS polls will Tech end up in the Cotton Bowl ? OU would go to a BCS Bowl if they win the Big 12 and UT would be ranked ahead of Tech so they would get an at large bid to a BCS Bowl game.
Maybe I am wrong, but for all the celebrating at Tech the wins against UT and OSU will mean nothing except for ending a losing streak against #1 ranked teams.
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Whoever wins the Big 12 championship will go to a BCS bowl. After that, if we are not the Big 12 champion but are in the top 14 in the BCS rankings, we still have a shot at a BCS bowl even if we are behind either UT or OU or both. The bowls themselves choose who they want from the top 14 after the teams playing for the championship are determined.
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I agree with Harrell. This team has been improving weekly. They have not peaked yet, but this is the game that can and will be that last step to the top. I feel OU is probably a bit better than UT right now, and we should run past Baylor. Whoever wins the north division will not be able to match Tech. The NC game will feature either Alabama or Florida. The way Tech is peaking at the right time, I can’t see either of those teams slowing down the AIR RAID offense. And the BLACK SWARM defense is a whole lot better than anyone not wearing Red & Black wants to admit. Should we FINISH THIS OFF, a bunch of loose lips and forked tongues will be silenced (Do you hear me, Lou, Lee, Kirk?) WRECK ‘EM TECH!
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Only two teams out of the Big 12 can go to a BCS Bowl game (including National Championship and BCS At Large). BCS experts have put together all the scenarios and of all of those scenarios, Tech would be left out of the BCS picture if Tech loses one game whether against Oklahoma or in the Big 12 Championship. That is if OU, Texas, and Texas Tech end up with one loss. With that said, Tech must finish the season undefeated or we are looking at the Cotton or Holiday Bowl. I believe Tech can do it. Get past Oklahoma and I believe we can run the table the rest of the way.
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With UT the damage is done. OU game coming up will prove Tech’s worth and Big 12 superiority.
The other top five teams, Alabama and Florida, have weaker oppenents and, in Bama’s case, rank higher than Tech.
This, in spite of their narrow victories against teams like Ol Miss, Kentucky and LSU.
This week is Tech’s bye week, but I wonder about the BCS during our time off. Alabama, at number one for some reason, plays Miss State this week and Auburn next week. Though the ESPN sports writers and elite claim these rivalries put butts in seats and make BCS polls quiver, I see no contest. Niether team is ranked and when Miss State played Auburn in September, the score was 3-2. No seriously look it up. That was the actual score. No offense. Who in their right mind would think Alabama has a challenge until the SEC championship.
Now, for Florida. The Gators possess talent. Moreso than Bama, I think. They have Heisman winner QB, Tebow. They have incredible stats, but not quite as paper perfect as Tech’s.
FLA vs TTU would be an ideal national matchup.
Florida stomped LSU (Alabama’s most recent close call)
Florida’s only close call was against Ol Miss, by a blocked extra point. Of course, Ol Miss is also unranked, proving that the Florida’s hyped speacial teams and defense game against Georgia just illustrates the fact that Fla’s opponents struggle with turnovers and special teams anyway.
Tech has come a long way. The sleepers up to the UT and OSU games, and the underestimated team that has almost flawless execution and tremendous heart. The players are great players and seem to be proving themselves great men as well.
What scandals? What controversies? None exist in Lubbock this year.
Only success and victory exists this season in Lubbock
GO TECH
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