Cotton Bowl committee giving Texas Tech strong consideration
By Don Williams | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
The Cotton Bowl’s team selection committee doesn’t meet for the first time this season until Monday night. When the members get together, they’re likely to be giving Texas Tech plenty of discussion.
The Cotton Bowl, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Jan. 2 in Dallas, appears to be the Red Raiders’ most likely postseason destination as long as favorites prevail in the Big 12 Conference’s remaining games. Cotton Bowl president Rick Baker said this week that it’s an appealing prospect, as far as he’s concerned.
“Obviously, we have great feelings for Tech,” Baker said. “They’ve certainly been terrific to our game. When they were here after the 2005 season, their fans were some of the best fans we’ve ever had. They packed the house, and they had a great game with Alabama.”
Tech will conclude the regular season 11-1 if it wins its home finale Saturday against Baylor. A first-time trip to a Bowl Championship Series game has been the Red Raiders’ goal all season, but the strength of the Big 12 and a 65-21 loss last week at Oklahoma diminished the team’s chances.
Bowl invitations go out on Dec. 7.
Mississippi looks like the frontrunner for the Cotton Bowl berth from the Southeastern Conference side. The Rebels (7-4), though unranked in the BCS, are the only team this season to beat No. 4 Florida (31-30 on Sept. 27), and they bashed LSU 31-13 last Saturday in Baton Rouge.The Rebels haven’t lost a game by more than a touchdown, and had a close loss at No. 1 Alabama (24-20 on Oct. 18).
They can close the regular season on a five-game winning streak by beating in-state rival Mississippi State today.
Were a Tech-Ole Miss game to materialize, it would be their fifth meeting in recent history. Ole Miss beat Tech at the Independence Bowl in 1986 and 1998 and lost regular-season games to the Red Raiders in 2002 and 2003 with Eli Manning at quarterback.
Baker said the Cotton Bowl can hardly go wrong, because it will have a choice of at least three Big 12 teams currently ranked anywhere from No. 2 to No. 13 in the BCS. The decision on the SEC side could come down to Ole Miss or LSU (7-4). Less likely to wind up in Dallas are No. 11 Georgia (9-2), if the Bulldogs lose at home Saturday to Georgia Tech, or South Carolina (7-4), if the Outback Bowl leaves the Gamecocks on the table. Both figure to be taken before the Cotton Bowl’s time to pick.
Tech and LSU have never played, but the Tigers can’t seem to make as strong a case as the Rebels for deserving a Cotton Bowl invitation. Aside from losing last week’s head-to-head matchup, LSU, unlike Ole Miss, has lost three games this season by at least two touchdowns, including a 51-21 rout by Florida.
“We’ll look at all the different factors, all the different variables,” Baker said. “Head to head. Ranking. Fan support. Television. There’s a lot of variables that we’ll put into the equation. We’ll try to put the best matchup together that we can on the other side.”
In the meantime, Tech will keep rooting against its conference rivals.
Any team from a BCS conference that’s not a conference champion but is ranked in the top four in the final BCS standings on Dec. 7 is guaranteed a spot in a BCS game. With Texas and Oklahoma ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the current BCS standings, Tech went into Thanksgiving week needing at least one and possibly both to lose to get back into BCS contention.
Texas took care of business against Texas A&M on Thursday night, and Oklahoma visits No. 11 Oklahoma State on Saturday. The Big 12 pattern this decade has been that late-season games often don’t go according to form. OSU upset OU in 2001 and 2002. A&M upset Texas in 2006 and 2007, but the Aggies did Tech no favors by bowing meekly to the Longhorns on Thursday night.
Texas held on to its inside track to a BCS game no matter what happens this weekend.
The Big 12 championship game has yielded some surprises, too. Teams that have lost there included No. 1 Kansas State in 1998, No. 3 Texas in 2001, No. 1 Oklahoma in 2003 and No. 1 Missouri last year.
If the Raiders don’t get the upsets they need, however, Baker said the Cotton Bowl will give them careful consideration.
“We have the utmost respect for Gerald (Myers, the Tech athletic director) and coach (Mike) Leach and their respective staffs,” he said. “We’ve certainly kept our eye on them all year long and have been very impressed with the year that they’ve had.”
A Tech-Ole Miss matchup would come with the marketing angle of two former Texas schoolboy passing sensations. Tech has Graham Harrell, and Ole Miss’ quarterback is Jevan Snead, a Stephenville product who started his career at Texas.
College football
• Who: No. 7 Texas Tech vs. Baylor
• When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Jones AT&T Stadium
• Records: Baylor 4-7, 2-5 in Big 12 Conference; Texas Tech 10-1, 6-1
• Last meeting: Tech 38, Baylor 7 last year in Waco
• TV: Versus (Suddenlink Cable channel 45)
• Line: Tech by 211/2
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com 766-8734
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com 766-8735
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In this article you mention that Tech and LSU have never played, and that’s not true. According to the TT Press Guide, we played them twice, 1954 and 1957, and lost them both. However, it’s my recollection that the 1957 game was played at Jones Stadium and featured Billy Cannon returning a kickoff for a TD. It was a long time ago so I could be wrong..
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Texas fans held up 45-35 signs all night long. We need to remind the voters – Tech beat TX. Signs UP!!!!
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Well, if all we get is a Cotton Bowl, fine.
I always like the Cotton Bowl.
But I would rather play a better team, BCS ranked in BCS bowl.
But Ol Miss beat Florida and almost beat Alabama, so if we beat them on national TV people will see how good we still are.
LSU isnt on my list of teams to beat at all.
I want a rematch vs OU. I can’t believe I say that, but I think that they went into that game pumped up for a #2 team and overachieved their home record. If we had another freak shot at them, I think we would be underestimated again like vs UT and OSU.
Everyone should realize we are still underestimated, thanks to OU
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Are you positively, absolutely, without fear of equivocation sure of your statement concerning the impossibility of Texas Tech and LSU having never played in football?
I am almost sure we have played them at least once and perhaps twice. It would have been during the Billy Cannon era.
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sure we played LSU in the 50s,
so what?
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I can not find the cinema movie on redraiders.com from the OU vs TTU game.
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I don’t think Tech will get any more than an “also ran” bowl. The coaches and the team, while denying it, seem to have been reading their press clippings, or watching ESPN too much. It’s bad enough to get beat by UT-Norman, but to get humiliated just made it worse. I kind of look forward to UT-Norman doing their usual swan dive in a BCS bowl.
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Yea you want a rematch vs. OU…. I don’t know about that. You probably would just get spanked again. Funny how you say that you think OU was just pumped up to play a #1 team. What do you think Tech did against Texas? You guys BARELY won! We actually came all the way back to take the lead! Blake Gideon catches the INT and its the same ol same ol for the red faders.
Now, I give Tech all the credit in the world for knocking off Texas, props to the coaching staff, props to the players, Crabtree for shaking off that double team and scoring that last TD was epic, and definitely props to the fans.
I want a rematch of Texas vs. Tech. In Lubbock. We win by 2 tds
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Robert Foster is correct. Tech did play LSU in the 1950s. I remember listening to that game. GO RAIDERS!!!!!!
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Jake your prediction of UT winning by 2 tds in lubbock in a rematch is a freakin joke
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Jake seems to be a UT t-shirt fan that still can’t get over the loss
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Texas fans will send postcards to Lubbock from a BCS bowl city.
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Jake, your Longhorns are just playing fair right now. We’d take UT again for sure. Remember the only reason you came back was a flagrant no call picked up flag on the Shipley return. Typical against the orange. Anyway, we’re used to it. The refs couldn’t even bail you out in Lubbock that night!
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Tech fans get your 39-33 signs to the game. We don’t want those folks in orange to forget they’re second to Tech in STATE!!!
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VOTE FOR GRAHAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Below are the current O’Brien Fan Vote Standings for Round 3.
View Round 1 Totals | View Round 2 Totals
Player School
Votes Percentage
1. Colt McCoy Texas
4214
64%
2. Graham Harrell Texas Tech
1271
19%
3. Sam Bradford Oklahoma
1069
16%
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No BCS…..well I guess if Don Williams and Stuvie vote in the AP TTU doesn’t have a chance of doing well in the polls. Geez Donnie? I guess the Pokes don’t have a chance? Cotton Bowl? Ole Miss could whip UT and Jevan Snead should get a chance to do exactly that as the TTU is 10-1 Just like everyone else and has beaten the almighty Texas unlike anyone else.
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Hey Noel right now your 7th in the Nation, and way behind the University of Texas in the latest BCS, so get your head of your ___.
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Please do bring your signs, it’s only a regional game. The game isn’t even airing in the Austin/San Antonio area.
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Tech vs LSU: no contest. Tech vs Ole Miss: maybe good. Tech vs USC: even better. Some BCS Bowls will be lopesided this year just due inequaties in strength so maybe the Cotton Bowl isn’t such a bad place to be. Utah, Cincy? BCS might mean Boring Champ Series. Any of the top Big 12 and SEC teams could beat them. Guess we will see.
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…..GO REVIEW THOSE TECH VS TEXAS STATS. TECH DOMINATED EVEN WITH THE UT BOMB AND THE NO-CALL PUNT RETURN. GOOGLE TERRY BOWDEN’S COMMENTARY ON THAT GAME.
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.HEY ALL-….GO REVIEW THOSE TECH VS TEXAS STATS. TECH DOMINATED EVEN WITH THE UT BOMB AND THE NO-CALL PUNT RETURN. GOOGLE TERRY BOWDEN’S COMMENTARY ON THAT GAME.
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TT the fairy tale ended in Norman…so settle for some Cotton..you ought to know since plenty is grown in your hometown. Dont Cha wish u were going to the big dance.
HOOK EM
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UT lost with 1 second left in Lubbock, in the fourth game of a four game streak of teams ranked 11 or higher. UT screwed themselves by not showing up until the half and giving a C- performance at a game where a C+ would have won. UT lost to the way the schedule played out. Tech got absolutely demolished even with a bye week to rest up. I dont think a rematch would go in techs favor, with playing either UT or OU. Enjoy your cotton bowl.
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It looks like Ole Miss is pretty much a lock for the Cotton bowl now. We beat the hell out of Mississippi State yesterday and there really isn’t anyone else to put in it. To yall, playing Ole Miss probably isn’t what you’re hoping for, BUT Ole Miss is without doubt the most underrated team in the country. If it wasn’t for turnovers early in the season Ole Miss would be a top 10 team right now. Looks like it will be Ole Miss/Tech, but whoever Ole Miss plays it should be a good game regardless. Ole Miss defense vs. one of the Big 12 offenses should be a good match up. Granted it was against terrible MS State, Ole Miss held them to 37 total yards with 11 sacks and 14 other T.F.L. and held LSU to the fewest yards all season, and yall know better than I do about how good Tech’s offense is. The SEC is a lot weaker than usual, but Ole Miss is actually a legit team and the best team to be in Dallas.
I actually hope something happens to knock OU or UT out of a BCS game and get Tech into it. I think Ole Miss matches up better with one of them than Tech.
Hopefully nothing crazy will happen because we all got tickets for Dallas last night. Whoever ends up there from the Big 12 it should be a fun couple of days. Looking forward to it good luck to yall in tonight’s game.
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Texas beating OU was a fluke. OU is the best team in the county. They deserve to go to the NC game. Sorry Horns.
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Cotton Bowl was great in the 80’s or 70’s but in 2008 it is nothing more than just another bowl game on TV during the holidays. What a bad year for Tech to reach this level and still not make the BCS. Makes you wonder if it will ever happen under the current set up. Top 7 and playing in the Cotton Bowl with several 3 loss teams playing in BCS games due to weak conference tie ins is a joke. We had it for the taking now we get to go to fair park and hope our cars are still there after the game! Dissapointed and just sick about it, what a waste!
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Texas Tech vs. UT
Texas Tech WINNER
U. T. LOSER
Put that in your bong and smoke it.
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Those of us who CHOSE to go to Texas Tech vs. an overrated University (Pick your own) know the real deal.
Texas Tech graduates more players than any other school in the Big 12 legitimately….
Although, BCS opportunity would be great- a true Texas Tech fan can look back on the 2008 season and proudly say:
“We smoked UT’s……………..”
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Brian, if Texas beating ou was a fluke, then for sure tech Beating Texas was a fluke. We beat ou on a neutral field tech beat Texas with Texas on the road. Texas is the best team and will be going to the National Championship and will be the champions this year.
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So Billy Brown,
Why is it that Texas & OU must on nuetral ground??
Because they can’t play like adults and must be supervised BY adults!
Texas might be going but WHO really deserves to go?
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Tech fans should know a thing or two about playing like adults, yea like when yall speared the ags with goal post. Nice, real classy people there in Lubbock. Who deserves to go? Texas without a doubt, and they will.
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After that performance against Baylor. You are going to get smoked by Ole Miss. Don’t cry about not being in a BCS. Your team got destroyed 65-21 you have no business in the BCS. You better get ready for the cotton bowl.
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Well said Marshall
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Tech did not play as well as they could have against Baylor or the Sooners, but they will be ready for the Cotton Bowl. Graham Harrel hasn’t lost a bowl game yet. All you ut and ou fans are just bitter because you can’t play well in Lubbock………… OU has’t had a very good showing in bowl games lately, and I heared Colt was Graham Harrel for holloween.
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We are undefeated at home for two seasons in a row now and we don’t have to play our “tough games” in Dallas to do so…………..
GO RED RAIDERS.
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As I recall TT ws leading UT for about 58 minutes. not really a marginal win.
As for the Cotton Bowl=fantastic and proud of it. It is a bowl with tremendous history. Also being there for the last bowl game will be memorable. Also hopeful we don’t have to listen to Brown gripe about how poorly His players are underappreciated as he did in many past years. Brown let the game results and the polls decide the standings, not your politicing (sic),
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Ok.. Ole Miss is being talked about for the first time since Eli left and this is the first season Houston Nutt has had us…Polishing a turd if you will, and in a hurry.. We picked up Snead a great QB from texas.. and he’s comin back to Texas, hopefully to play T Tech and finish what UT couldn’t..
See ya’ll at the Cotton Bowl.. And have a nice Christmas and a Happy New Year until the 2nd of January…
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The defensive line of Ole Miss has 2 first round draft picks. The last game against Mississippi State they were sacked 11 times and held under 50 yards. Graham Harell will be sacked maybe 8 times haha
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Last time we faced a greate SEC O-Line (Virgina)..they made a solid case for the first half, but the line gets tired and that’s when Harell will light you up :) Hoping for a BCS..but will make the trip to the Cotton Bowl too
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does anyone remember the biggest come back in bowl history record being beaten by…. texas tech! we’ve earned our respect in bowl games ladies.
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What? UVA is not in the SEC and there is no e at the end of great.
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HAHA do they teach at Texas Tech?
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What year did texas A&M win the cotton bowl
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