Whoops: Red Raiders get blindsided by A&M
Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman called the Texas Tech crowd “threatening” last week, and senior offensive tackle Michael Shumard said he absolutely hated coming to Lubbock because Red Raiders fans made it the worst place imaginable for opposing teams.
Maybe Sherman and Shumard should take a cue from all those freshmen and sophomores the Aggies are suiting up this season. They had no part in A&M’s long nightmare in Lubbock, and they played Saturday as if they had no preconceived notions about the place.
A&M thrashed No. 21 Tech 52-30, snapping a three-game losing streak this season, ending a seven-game losing streak in Lubbock and leaving a record crowd of 57,733 at Jones AT&T Stadium dumbstruck. This was an upset out of nowhere, considering that A&M (4-3 season, 1-2 in the Big 12 Conference) had been a 62-14 loser last week to a Kansas State team Tech (5-3, 2-2) had beaten 66-14 the week before.
Tech coach Mike Leach was worried the Red Raiders would read too much into that.
Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege recovers from being knocked out of bounds just short of a first down Saturday night against Texas A&M at Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas A&M beat Texas Tech 52-30. (John A. Bowersmith/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Texas A&M's Terrence Frederick intercepts a pass intended for Tramain Swindall in the endzone with 7 seconds left in the first half Saturday night at Jones AT&T Stadium. (John A. Bowersmith/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Texas Tech's Lyle Leong avoids a tackle from Texas A&M's Steven Terrell, left, during the first half of their game Saturday, Oct, 24, 2009 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
“We repeated several mistakes that other teams before us had made,’’ Leach said. “They were clearly illustrated for us to avoid, and yet we repeated them. In a nutshell, everybody looks at everybody’s scores and then behaves accordingly.’’
Leach also said his staff didn’t coach well enough and his players didn’t well enough to beat A&M, something no one from Tech had been forced to admit in a long time.
No wonder the Aggies ran down to the north end of the stadium to celebrate with the Aggie band and their small throng of fans.
“It’s the Big 12, man,’’ Tech defensive tackle Colby Whitlock said. “The fact is, they came here ready to play. We didn’t. As a result, we lost the game.’’
A&M scored its most points in 66 games all-time against Tech and rolled up 559 yards. One of the keys was the Aggies stonewalled a Tech pass rush that ranked top 10 in the nation in sacks. That allowed quarterback Jerrod Johnson to play less like the player who threw three interceptions last week and more like the guy who set a Big 12 record with no interceptions in a streak of 225 passes.
The Aggies made few mistakes and had the game pretty much in hand after freshman running back Christine Michael ran 44 yards for a touchdown on the first series of the second half, raising A&M’s lead to 35-14.
Michael and Cyrus Gray each topped 100 yards rushing and combined for six touchdowns – five rushing, one receiving. The Aggies finished with 321 rushing yards, more than double any of Tech’s first seven opponents.
“I thought Johnson played well,’’ said Leach, who remained stuck on 81 career victories. “We didn’t have a pass rush. We had lousy pad level. We had bad technique, and as we got hit in the mouth … essentially we just played street ball.’’
Meanwhile, a new chapter unfolded in the month-long Tech quarterback drama. With Steven Sheffield watching from the sideline on crutches with a broken foot, Taylor Potts made his first start since suffering a concussion three weeks ago. Potts threw for 310 yards, but he led the Raiders to only two touchdowns in nine possessions and was replaced by Seth Doege with Tech trailing 38-14 at the 6:19 mark of the third quarter.
Potts was intercepted twice. Doege, the redshirt freshman from Frenship, directed the team to touchdowns on two of his five series, but also lost a fumble when he was sacked by A&M defensive end Von Miller, one of two for the nation’s sack leader.
“I don’t know if Potts tried to make too much happen,’’ Leach said. “He looked slow and statue-like. I thought Doege went in and played pretty well. He created a level of tempo and things like that.’’
Assuming Doege isn’t hurt — he had a foot re-taped before going back in for the last series — the choice will be between those two again for next Saturday’s game against Kansas. Leach, using his new pet phrase, said it would “be a game-time decision.’’
Tech started out looking just like what it was — a three-touchdown favorite. On the sixth play, flanker Alex Torres took a short pass and ran 56 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Right after that, safety Franklin Mitchem recovered a fumble on the Aggies’ first play from scrimmage.
Positioned at the A&M 38, Tech moved backward thanks to three penalties — one declined — and punted.
“That was the worst offensive series I’ve seen in 10 years,’’ Leach said.
Unfortunately for Tech, there were more where that one came from.
A&M scored touchdowns on four of its next five possessions, the kind of streak that’s the norm for Tech in Jones AT&T Stadium. The drives covered 86, 78, 71 and 73 yards, and Gray got the payoff three times — on a 12-yard pass play and runs of 3 yards and 1 yard.
At halftime, A&M had 334 yards. In contrast, Tech held four of its first seven opponents under 300 yards for entire games.
In the final minute of the first quarter, the Raiders took a 14-7 lead. Potts connected with split end Edward Britton on a crossing route, and Britton ran behind a block from flanker Jacoby Franks for a 26-yard touchdown.
But in the second quarter, Johnson steered the Aggies to three touchdowns while Tech was blowing chances. Sandwiched around a three-and-out, the Raiders had two drives come up empty — thwarted on downs at the A&M 29 and foiled from the A&M 17 when Potts tossed an interception in the end zone to cornerback Terrence Frederick.
That came in the final minute of the first half, and the Tech quarterback came off to chants of “No More Potts.’’
“It’s not just him,’’ Torres said. “It’s the whole offensive group. We put ourselves in bad situations, and it’s hard to come out of those. We didn’t run as crisp of routes as we needed to. We didn’t block as well as we needed to. We didn’t run the ball as well as we needed to. It was a different guy on every play. Blaming it on one guy, that’s one thing we’re not going to do here.’’
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Tough game Raiders. They will bounce back and beat Kansas!
Wreck ‘em Tech
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Let me some this up for the fans who didn’t watch the terrible effort: Tech had 6 turnovers (2 INTs, 3 lost fumbles, failed 4th down conversion), Potts was bad, and the defense played like a dollar store maxi pad in giving up 321 rushing yards. Nice effort considering it was the largest crowd ever at the Jones and Leach was trying to tie Spyke’s record 82 wins.
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For whatever reason Tech did not play well,cant blame it on one person, it was disappointing loss but we cant dwell on it, need to put it behind and get ready to play Kansas, theyre no punks and none of the rest are either, thought Seth Doedge did very well considering hisexperince, need to move on, Im sure theyre will be a lot of finger pointing and blaming Potts, it was a team loss and again need to move on and be ready for Kansas…
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My Aggies played tough tonight and earned this win. Tech is a good team and I hope they win the rest of their games. BTHO iowa state!
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congrats aggies. You certainly deserved it tonight.
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hey, viz. it’s “sum” not “some”.
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since when is a failed 4th down conversion a turnover? Maybe self inflicted by not punting, but tech certainly benefits from more than its fair share of 4th down conversions, like the 1st score…
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Wish the Aggs would have won by 100. That was a poor effort by everyone, not just Potts.
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Simple we are a different team with Sticks at QB. Potts I am sure is a great guy and he is a good QB just not for our system. With either Sticks or Doege the offense has better tempo each make quicker decisions. Our defense, special teams and fans are even more into the game with someone other than Potts at QB. As a Tech alum and fan, I have not missed seeing one game in 6 years. One thing was always the case with other tech QB’s namely (Harrell) we never felt like we were out of the game offensively or at least very rarely. I knew it would be a tuff year replacing Harrell and Crabtree but I didn’t expect the roller coaster that has been this season. With that said 4 games left still promise don’t lose hope for this year. My 2 cents Doege until Sticks gets back then Leach’s decision.
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My personal opinions:__A coaching change is still needed in College Station!__miller58
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When a team is so obviously not prepared for a game, it’s nearly always the fault of the coaching staff. I think Leach pretty much accepted that during the press conference. My advice, light a fire under every assistant, make it known that their paychecks depend on getting the players ready for every game. I’ve been there, and I’ve seen it happen so many times that I can’t count them all. It might not be a bad idea to “bench” a coach or two as an example.
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It’s unbelievable some will blame Potts for the defensive failure. That is pathetic. Tech was looking fine until the drive killed by the penalties and then the Aggies rattled off four straight scoring drives on the Defense.
The defense got to thinking they were good. They manhandled K State, whipped an impotent Nebraska team and then got full of themselves. Doege tried to bring the team back, and the defense just wilted everytime they needed to make a stop. Very disappointing.
I will say I think it’s time to make a change from Potts. He just doesn’t seem to have it this season. I would commend Torres for not throwing him under the bus, much more classy than the two players who spoke out publicly against him two weeks ago. Time to regroup. Take it to Kansas.
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Oh no, back to the days when we get beat by Texas and Texas A&M…….
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Thewhole team lost this one. for whatever reason, no one showed up to play. Does not matter who is at quarterback, we have three weeks to decide what we do in the future. None of the other teams coming up are going to feel sorry for us. Aggies won this one. Savor it and remember it since your next win is 13 years away.
Potts – Get your head back in the game and get the team motivated with your play calling.
Recievers – get on the game plan and play like you mean it.
Running backs – knock the crap out of the players in front of you and run.
Defense – knock the snot out of the o line and teach the QB that we are here to stay.
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3 things lost this game:
5 turnovers
64 rushing yards
Taylor Potts
99.9% of the time, the team that makes the least number of mistakes wins the game.
We’re never going to compare to last season, regardless of Harrell and Crabtree being gone, with these pedestrian rushing yards. They put up those silly numbers AND the wins last season because of the run, not just their sheer talent.
Early in the season, I thought Potts was going to be a rockstar, maybe even better than Harrell because of his arm strength. But it’s quite apparent that our line is nowhere near what it was last year, and this guy doesn’t have the play making ability to compensate for that. Not only can this guy not scramble, but he doesn’t make good decisions.
This is going to be a rough year for us! All we can hope to do is maybe beat a ranked opponent in the likes of a gator or holiday bowl and the everybody will talk about how good we’re going to be next year.
BTW, I’m glad this game wasn’t televised, I probably would’ve drank myself into a coma after losing to the Aggies!
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The aggies were a blind hog finding an acorn and they celebrated the find by eating it in one gulp.
Fans in the stands were in shock until Seth went in and got new life out of a PATHETIC effort.
This is the history of Texas Tech football.
You play great for two weeks and fall in love with your press clippings.
Then you meet a doormat of college football and don’t think you (the coaches) need to prepare hard and you (the players) play hard.
It is TYPICAL TECH and it was one of the most PATHETIC efforts I have ever seen. Aggies haven’t won in Lubbock since 1993.
In one game the bragging about how hard it is to win in LUBBOCK is GONE. This team destroyed that in ONE GAME.
Just PITIFUL. Aggies and Typical Tech will be luck to finish 7-5 and land that coveted Weedeater Bowl bid.
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POOOOOOOR SAND FLEAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Proud to be a Tech Alum, even when they lose. It is still just a ball game. Mr. Potts is a Texas Tech student, not a pro football player. Beat Kansas!!
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congrats to the ags on a game well played, just got to regroup and beat Kansas
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What’s the matter Texas Institute of Technology fans? Not enough batteries and tortillas to throw at the players?
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Wreck’ Em Tech? Pathetic university with no tradition. Cow bell and tortillas….I will give you the GUNS in the air thing. You just got WHOOPED like we did by k-state. YOU DONT HEAR US MAKING ANY EXCUSES!
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The Aggies came out and did what everyone feared–they pulled a Texas Tech on us. How often do you remember Texas Tech ruining the Aggies’ chance of having a great season? At a time when Tech’s season was not yet lost, the Aggies quietly roll into Jones Stadium and steamrolled over the Red Raiders subsequently ruining ANY hopes of a shot, though remote, for a tie in the Big XII South race and a decent bowl game.
Of course, much of the damage was self-inflected. Coach Leach gambled that Taylor Potts (starter or reliever?) would be ready to play. Little did he know what damage he would cause until it was too late. Potts neither exhibited the confidence at QB, nor the leadership, and this translated into lackluster play on both sides of the ball. Potts never generated the spark, nor energy needed to get the Red Raiders rolling. Moreover, extensive penalties, costly turnovers, and the inability to capitalize on key field position began to sound the death knell for Tech. It’s a shame that Doege (3rd stringer) will share in the loss as he did the best he could do under the circumstances. And the defense? It seems that after two spectacular defensive showings on the road (Texas and Nebraska), Tech’s defense was a no-show the games that followed the very next week (Houston and Texas A&M). It must be humbling for Coach Ruffin McNeil to have such a “great” defense implode as they did…TWICE. This is somewhat reminiscent of what happened last season after Tech beat No. 1 Texas and then traveled to Norman only for the Red Raider defense to be a no-show. Obviously, Coach Ruff needs to stop drinking his own Kool-Aid.
Fans are constantly reminded by coaching and media that Tech is in a rebuilding year. However, Coach Leach has set the bar pretty high for Tech fans and the worm can turn quickly in Lubbock. A loss to the Aggies who got blown out by Kansas St., a team Tech embarrassed the week prior, just doesn’t add up. Tech and Coach Leach need to get this train back on track. Kansas is no pushover and Raider fans could easily see a repeat of what happened Saturday evening.
I hate being right all the time. However, there is a ray of sunshine that comes from this ridiculous loss. At least Raider fans can say that Tech helped the unemployment situation, because this Aggie win certainly saved Mike Sherman’s (Texas A&M head coach) job.
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THIS IS THE MOST EMBARRASSING LOSS IN THE LEACH ERA. GOOD COACHING LEACH.
TOLIET BOWL BOUND THIS YEAR AFTER THAT BIG PAY RAISE.
BENCH POTTS PUT IN STICKS……………
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TWO things lost this game.
1. Pitiful Defense. Tech once again made a mediocre offense look like world beaters.
2. Coaching. Never making defensive adjustments, pulling Potts too late, and never changing your gameplan.
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It’s good to see the Tech fans admit they just got their butts kicked and not blame the loss on the referees. I know that was really hard for you to do.
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@Jason Alexander: A failed 4th down conversion has ALWAYS been a turnover! Anytime you do not retain possession of the ball and it belongs to the other team, it is a TURNOVER. (in this case, they turned the ball over on downs)
In all fairness, here are a few of the problems:
1) Tech is a decent team but they are not as talented as everyone thinks. (This is confirmed by reviewing the statistics and comparing them to others around the country)
2) HYPE will only take you so far. That is what happened against A&M; we ran out of hype.
3) POTTS is to blame – that’s just the way the cookie crumbles in football. If the quarterback can’t lead the team on the field, he gets the blame. It is the quarterbacks role to be the field general and motivator and make things happen.
Go get em’ next week Red raiders!
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Hey Tech! After hearing for a week about how the Aggies shouldn’t even bother showing up for this game and enduring numerous past exposures to egregious displays of disgusting unsportsman-like behavior from the Tech fans (and you know it) REMEMBER THIS….never, EVER count out a university such as ours with a winning spirit, history, tradition, and above all class …WE ARE THE AGGIES!!!!!
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321 yards rushing yard allowed by a slow defense.
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Tech has a 6-5 record in the last 11 games.
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shouldnt have stayed late at that party the night before or should i say the morning of the game. You know who you are and i know because i was there too but, i dont have to play.
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Congrats to the Aggies. Their offense was top dollar and them looked very good. My apologies to Aggie fans for not thinking they could do it.
As for excuses; none for the poor defensive effort. Tech defense was nowhere to be seen. As for the offense, Potts is about the worse QB in the Big Twelve, no speed, no command of the game, no leadership. THe O-line has to protect him too long because he can not make a decision. JUst look at the change of pace when he was kicked to the curb.
Coaching on both side of the ball was poor. Why did Leach keep Potts in? Why was Ruffin unable to fix his guys; and a defensive time-out?
I am sure Kansas, OSU, OU, and Baylor are licking their lips…
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We have reached the next level in ticket prices ONLY!!
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Looks like the Raiders have a question at QB with Sheffield out. Might want to re think the Aggies team you lost to though, they are not as bad as the K State game leads you to believe. They did stay within a TD of OSU, who I expect will throttle Tech. I just think the raiders came in overly confident for a team that hasnt won a big game this year. Please ignore the rude Aggie posters, real Ags dont need to rub it in. Good luck with the rest of your season , Raiders.
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Glad to see that the Ags broke the TT curse, and did it in a big way. It was par for the course though to hear about all the TT fans leaving in the beginning of the 4th quarter….Ags stay still till the game is over..win or lose (even when TT fans ram goal posts into the crowd and throw batteries and other projectiles)..and we have been doing it for a long time against TT….where is the TT pride…no where, just like your system QB, as posted earlier. Things are back to normal now..TT losing to Texas and Texas A&M.. again as posted earlier.
Gig’em!
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Years of hearing the pirate lip off, seeing tech fans acting like absolute rude idiots and having goal post shoved in our face. Well pay back is hell and it sucks to be you today. You know the worst of it tech fans? In the end you still will only have a degree from tech.
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Congrats to Texas A&M for a well played game.
This loss proves what I thought all along….defense is the key to a winning team.
We have none. Is it lack of talent..coaching or what? During the game I kept watching
for the Defense to pressure the quarterback…didn’t happen..oh maybe a couple of times
when their offensive line broke down; but, not nearly enough. Sooo..put the blame where it
belongs. Our offense was sub-par alright….but not nearly so much as the defense.
Wreck ‘Em Tech……beat Kansas!!
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Congrats to the AGS. I did not venture to this game as the games in Lubbock are usually blowouts. I have been to the last 4 games in CS with Tech coming out on top for 3 of them. I am happy for the Aggies who traveled to Lubbbock supporting a 21 point underdog, and hoped you were treated with respect. Beat KU!
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Raiders, when I left Manhattan last week I felt just like you feel today. Also FYI me and most other Ags left the K State stadium before the fourth quarter. We were away over confident at Manhattan and you were away too over confident last night. Also most of the quotes I have heard from Ags at the game was that they were treated with respect. The one thing that disappointed me was the ” No more Potts” chant. That has to be really tough for a 20 year old young man to handle. FWIW our “fair weather ” fans were saying the same thing about Jerrord Johnson last Saturday. He was no good, too slow to make a decision, only looked at one receiver, not accurate, he has to be replaced, etc etc. Lord only knows how each of us will play next week. Tech will not be over confident but A&M may be.
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A complete breakdown at Tech. From players to coaching.
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C’mon… this isn’t a bad Tech team. They’re actually really good. What they need is leadership. When Potts is on the field, they’re a different team. They rally behind Sheff and Doege. All the arm-strength in the world can’t make you a leader or inspire your teammates.
You can’t blame the defense when the offense gives up 6 turnovers. You also can’t expect to win many games in the Big XII when the offense only scores four touchdowns in a rivalry game. No one would have complained about the defense if we’d won this game 56-52.
I understand why Torres said what he did, but sometimes it really does come down to one player – especially when that player gets the ball in his hands on every offensive play.
Bench Potts or lose to inferior teams. That is the clear takehome message from this game.
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I can’t believe I paid $95 to watch that performance….
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my knee jerk reaction after watching web updates on the game all last night was to blame Potts for this debacle. since the helmet to helmet hit at the UT game, he just hasn’t been sharp.
after i thought about it and saw the breakdown of the drives (and i like i said, i wasn’t there) i agree that this is more than a one man meltdown. i agree it all starts with the QB, he sets the tempo and if the offense can drive down the field, it gives the defense a chance to rest and regroup which is really important as the game goes on. but 52 points on 6 or 7 SUSTAINED drives by ATM is not all Potts fault. there is plenty of blame to go around. i haven’t been sure what to make of our defense all season and i’ve always felt they have been suspect [and after what happend to nebraska by IOWA STATE, we know they didn't do anything special last week...ISU actually did a better job defensively then Tech's D did].
blame the D, blame the offensive line that can’t help establish a run game or protect a QB, blame the defensive coaches…everyone plays a role. fact is, tech played poorly in all aspects of the game.
reflecting on it the next morning, its not anyone players fault and i like to think i would have been a better fan than the people who chanted against Potts at the game last night. how do you think he feels about the fans now? what kind of a message does that send to the rest of the team? or to any kids in the stands learning about being a fan or thinking about playing football at Tech?
last night the team let itself and the fans down but the fans let the team down .
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Any chance of passing the hat so we can get Benny Hinn in here to work his magic on Sheffield’s foot? ;)
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To the Aggies taunting the Raiders: Act like we’ve won a game before and show some class.
Gig’em!
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This was a team loss, as last week’s victory in Lincoln was a team win . If I recall, the defense held the Husker’s at bay in the 2ond half when the Tech offense was non-existent. If the recievers, backs, o-line, and defense depend on whose playing qb or how well Potts is pIaying, then I suggest they need a character check. I thought the long Tech history of not preparing adequately for every team was in the past – I was wrong. OU’s beat down of Tech last season caused them to play poorly the rest of the season. I tend to agree with “Sam Bradford”’s points. I am moving into a familiar mode – “wait till next year”.
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So the one thing that makes going to Tech bearable has just popped. The campus needs to be put on suicide watch this week….
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Response to Alan: (I’m not committing the fallacy of placing all of the blame on Potts, just analyzing here). I don’t see the Kindle hit as a line of demarcation separating sharp Potts from unsharp Potts. I don’t think that Potts has been sharp all season long. He is simply out of sync with the Tech offense–remember that he looked bad against North Dakota. On most plays, he has so much time, that he has the luxury of standing back there and (nervously) scanning the field. The problem is that this has become habitual. He will all too frequently fail to pick an option as he goes through his progressions (a shaky process, that) and will force his receivers to improvise and run back to him as the offensive lineman finally break off their blocks after an interminable delay. The only pass he seemed capable and confident of delivering in the mode of a three-step drop is out in the flat, which opposing cornerbacks are hyper-vigilant against.
Our receivers are getting open during the course of a normal three, five, or seven step drop, but Potts has, in my opinion simply lost his confidence (and getting benched twice isn’t exactly going to help). He’s like an old golfer with a bad case of the “yips” whose hands tremble over a five-footer. He used to patrol the sidelines and the line of scrimmage with a confident swagger, but now he just looks bummed on the sideline and mortally afraid to make a mistake on the playing field. (should we pass the hat for a couple of sessions with a sports psychologist?)
All quarterbacks make mistakes, even one for a team as accustomed to near-perfection as Texas Tech Potts has just got to keep working hard, study film like the dickens, throw the ball around in practice until his arm falls off and come to terms with the fact that some outcomes are going to be undesirable (just ask NFL great Brett Favre with his 300+ career interceptions) but be assured that when you are the quarterback for Texas Tech, more often than not, the outcomes are going to be positive.
Again, not jumping on the dogpile here, just thinking out loud.
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as cattle ag said, Taylor Potts is only 20 years old (as is most of college football players), he is still trying to find out who he is, what his place in life is. To put the entire blame for the loss on his head will do him in, if not for the next game maybe for good and it does take an entire team to win or lose. Instead of asking for his head, treat Taylor like you would your kid when he’s done wrong, explain what he did, use postivie reenforcement to get the message across and give him a hug.
I am sure Taylor Potts will recover from this game and TT will stomp Kansas with him at the helm. Texas Tech has a great team and loyal fans. Nows is not the time to finger point, figure out what happened and move on.
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S ome things need to be said before we move on to the Kansas game, I ve been watching Tech football for over 50 yeare now and the game yesterday was the worst dissapointing game I have ever seen, we really needed to win this one to stay in the top 25 and keep our status and prove we can not only win the hard games against top opponents but the supposedly the easy ones, anyone knows that A.M will always be up for Tech, not getting the players ready for this game is b.s. not playing your hearts out is inexcusable in front of a record crowd, Tech has the stadium , the fan support, the personell to win games,, keep it up and you will wont have nothing , what a pathetic effort, and depend on one guy to carry a team , Sheffield is also b.s., I dont know the condition of Potts if he is not ready to play and doesnt have the skills or leadership abilitys , simple dont play him, to throw a freshman in the mix with no experince is b.s too, I know what Id do I drun these prima donnas around and around the Jones until they dropped that way they always remember and it would become legend what happens when you dont put out your best effort, too much time effort money and community pride to play a sorry game as that one,thats the way I see it, been watching the Raiders for many years , figure I have the right to critizize poor effort when I see it..
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Look in image 46 at the top of the page on the slideshow. The cup being thrown at the Aggies by the Raider fans is why Texas Tech is called classless clowns.
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The real message here is that you really need to take a close look at Leach. What is wrong with that guy? He turns on the QB and his own team in his post game interview? Who does that? I know that the outcome of the game is tough but the guy running the show there is going to end up being poison for your team.
Yes he helped elevate the team but once he starts to fall it is going to get really ugly really fast. For the sake of your school pride and the pride of the players in your program remove that clown from his position and replace him with someone who doesn’t berate the players who give him everything they have, for free, while he cashes his checks and fuels fire from your competition.
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Just imagine if Potts had been in “rhythm”, he might have passed for 500 yards. INT’s are bad, but so is horrible blocking that allows the QB to be a punching bag for the DE and this is an ongoing issue for this offensive line. However, the problem in this game is a defense that allowed A&M to go up and down the field at will for nearly 600 yards. Let’s repeat that, 600 yards. A QB “not in rhythm” and all the fumbles didn’t help, but that’s when a defense has to step up and make a few stops. Didn’t happen. Maybe the crowd should have been chanting “No more Ruffin”?
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My brother, a Florida alum, was bellyaching about the Gator victory over Mississippi State and all the bone headed plays they made. I reminded him that they won, remain undefeated, and are still #1. More important they controlled the game. They aren’t exciting this year, drawing criticism from the ESPN crowd, but they are consistent winners. That is what TTU has lacked over the years. We light up the score-board, have the potential to beat anybody – but we cannot maintain consistency. No… this wasn’t the worst loss, I would say last years annihilation by OU was the worse because it set the stage for a lackluster performance and another loss in the Cotton Bowl. Every year going back to when I graduated in ’75 seems to have this game or two where the team doesn’t show up. If the qb is struggling then other positions need to pick up their play. In other words, what Tech needs is a winning culture.
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Does anyone remember how BAD Harrell was in his first few games, especially against Mizzou?? He was much worse than Taylor is right now, but was given time to improve.
Way too many “fans,” especially the drunken students, turned on him like a pack of wolves last night. Folks booed him for the fumble when he was blasted FROM BEHIND, but didn’t boo Doege when he SAW the hit coming (and it was much less of a hit!). How long before we start booing Doege and Sticks??
BTW, I quite agree that poor (or nonexistent) effort should earn LOTS of running, simply to get the players’ attention.
The blasted Longhorns, of all teams, showed us how: respect the opponent, come out and play hard, and put the game away early.
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yeah baby!!!!
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I told you we would. That should teach you not to ever underestimate your opponent. You got wrecked…
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c’mom seth, BEAT KANSAS!!!
we’ll see if the team that showed up in lubbock this week can be anything more than a spoiler. i personally doubt it…gagg’em ags!!!
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“The drives covered 86, 78, 71 and 73 yards, and Gray got the payoff three times — on a 12-yard pass play and runs of 3 yards and 1 yard”.
“At halftime, A&M had 334 yards. In contrast, Tech held four of its first seven opponents under 300 yards for entire games”.
Per the above article. DC is to blame 334 yards in one half???.
Doege Fumble, Potts Fumble, Jeffers fumble, Jeffers not making it on 4th and one. Potts throwing a int in the end zone. Doege and Potts fumble O-lines fault. How did a$m defense get to the qb’s. 64 yards rushing are you kidding me? o-line needs work.
Again Coaching, Coaching, Coaching. They get paid to put the best 22 out on the field. Someone not putting in the effort find a young man that gives it 110%…. ie Zach Thomas, Graham Harrell, Lous Vasquez. T. Henderson, Tracy Saul. M. Crabtree, Hodges, Falini, Morris, Amendola (sp)and Welker to name a few.
Spike’s record against UT after 10 years 4-6 Leach 2-8
Spikes record against A$m after 10 years 4-6 Leach 7-3
Spikes record against UT in 13 year career 6-7
Spikes record against A$M in 13 year career 6-7
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Field and BizAgg
Your comments only strengthen the strereotype of A&M ignorance. It is a tought loss and there are some emotions losing to a second ratefootball program that lives back in the early 90’s. You speak of tradition the reason A&M clings to that is because the future look poor and the present is unbearable.
Here is a little news wedo not care what we think of us. You are asecond rate University with a pathetic athletic program. As for getting rid of Leach because of a comment or abad game? Let’s think back and seehow getting rid of coaches hasworked out for you guys. No thanks! The highest paidperson in your athletic department doesnot even live in fairy sheep land.(College Station)
you now have are-tread NFL coach that no one wanted and he is leading you were? If you guys reallyplay good you might make the Alamo bowl this year; which everyone will be excited because it would be your 2 bowl in 8 years.
No I think I will keepmycoach andour continuity. I mean he is 7-3 against the Saggs and if I am not mistaken when we go to a bowk the syreak will remain in tact for the most consecutive bowlgames in the Big 12.
So have your day;you deserve that but I donot think you are quite ready to make any comments towards The Raiders. Wewerevery respectful toyou guys and the reason iswedo not care about ya’ll anymore. I will sayy this can’t waitto come to sheepvilleand route you by 30 next year.
As for tradition I will take bells and tortillasover sheep and male cheerleaders. by the way if this is a tradition you can keep it…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF67EAgnS8k
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Tech fans, answere me this. How many Big XII south division championships have you won? How many bowls have you been to in your history? How many college world series have you been too? How many national championships have you won in any sport? You guys have won as many Big XII South titles as Baylor has. Now go crawl back in your little holes until you can become relevant in the Big XII
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Leach is a flipping head case. Too many of the Tech fans are thugs. Trust this old man when I tell you the following. Dignity, courtesy, and hospitality are much more important parts of life than winning a game that will be soon forgotten. Sadly, when I meet a Tech fan I assume they have thrown objects onto the visiting fans and teams and that they condone attacking and injuring their guess with stadium equipment.
Isn’t a good reputation better than a bad one?
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Aggiefan06 and 12 man. Since 1960 our record against a$m is 29-24-1 since the big 12 started 10-4. Aggies fire the only coach that wins the big 12 in 1998. National championship in 1939 yeah be proud. We have two coaches in 23 years and you have had four all losers. How many straight bowl games has a$m been in the past 14 years??? I believe your 1-7 in the last eight… Sherman will be gone after next season. You’ll lose to ISU, OU, UC, Baylor and Texas. have fun going 4-8 again. I’ll take losing to you bone heads every 5th year.
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The “No More Potts” chant started in the student section, & for the most part STAYED in the student section. This was very clear from my section (120)…
I agree, our students don not need to act like “Westsiders”, but they do need to tone it down a notch with the taunts and pitching of objects.
GUNS UP
See YOU at the JONES!
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Fight Raiders – “You speak of tradition the reason A&M clings to that is because the future look poor and the present is unbearable.”
No, Fight Raiders, we speak of tradition because we are University that was founded 1876 and is based on honor and country. We speak of tradition because with the exception of the academies, we put more military officers into the arm forces then other university in this nation. We speak of tradition because these men and women fought in such places as San Juan Hill, Bella Woods, Corregidor, Iwo Jima, Chosin Reservoir, Inchon and other small places that did not make the newspapers. We speak of tradition because of 7 Medal of Honor recipients that attended Texas A&M.
We speak of tradition because the men and women who graduated officers in that program are now fighting and dying in the deserts and mountains of places like Iraq and Afghanistan as we speak. And while you and your frat buddies were out last night partying and puking your guts up, these men were out on combat patrol, cold, hungry and scared, putting their lives on the line for you. THAT IS WHY WE SPEAK OF TRADITION and our future looks incredibly bright.
I don’t care about the game last night, games will come and games will go. Tech will win some and A&M others but what I do care about is the absolute blatant disrespect that a large amount of the Tech fan base and your coach demonstrates towards the Corp and Aggie band. Throwing tortillas, batteries, goal post and other objects, rude gestures and mocking comments as well as some fans standing and turning their backs on the Aggie band while they are performing. I don’t care who your loyalties lie with, that is disrespectful and the behavior of morons.
So when you say “Here is a little news wedo not care what we think of us. You are asecond rate University”, understand you have a long way to go to even be on the same level as A&M. And based on the accomplishments of our off the field endeavours, it us who does not give Texas Tech University a second thought.
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There are two posts that every one of you needs to read: Cattle Ag, and garyount. There is truth and wisdom in both of those posts, and if you cant’/wont/refuse to receive both, well…….you never will. Good posts, gentlemen.
Gig ‘Em, and Wreck ‘Em
GUNS UP!
See YOU at the JONES!
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How many undisputed football conference championships does Tech have?
Answer: Zero.
The Techsans who hate A&M do it purely out of jealousy.
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Old Army…..thanks for your post! I’m a Tech alumni, I’ve currently have two sons at Tech and one more to go, the disrespect we show all schools is embarrassing to me! BUT………… I’ve been to games at Kyle Field and witnessed embarrassing behavior from the so called Aggie students! I don’t think the Aggies you mentioned would be proud of SOME your schools student behavior! There are bad apples at every University, yes even yours! WE have a great list of alumni who served this county also, not to mention several elected governors, astronauts and others!!! So don’t think A&M is the only decent University in Texas, your arrogant attitude is why most people outside College Station can’t stand the Aggies!
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The largest crowd in Red Raider history was less than 60,000 ? I had no idea so few fans attended Tech home games.
A&M ran the ball straight at the Red Raiders defense and they folded. I am certain most Big 12 teams left on the Tech schedule will attempt the same game plan. Giving up over 300 yards on the ground is not a “technique” problem or scheme it is a physical problem. Now, the Raiders defense has been exposed.
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Tech did not play well…but I am so glad that 3 of our 4 children went to Texas Tech…the tradition is great…our money was well spent..we never wanted them to be aggies…the 4th child is a longhorn…great tradition also…The defense did not show up…but I think the aggies will be at the bottom of the barrel… as usual..Guns Up!
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lulu, just admit your 3 kids who attended Tech could not get accepted to A&M or Texas…..
A&M draws a bigger fan base to Midnight Yell than Tech averages for home games.
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Coward…..
FYI, TTU has exactly the same admission requirements as the “land-grant” colleges. You owe Lulu an apology – - and check your facts before you write.
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Faggie fans come to see a make believe geeky cadet band, not the football team. Your deserving victory at the Jones was the only dignifing event on the field in 16 years. Way to go! Yey for the faggies.
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This game underscores our fundamental weakness on defense. We could not stop the Lubbock High junior varsity! Allowing 52 points to be scored by a team Kansas State held to 14 points speaks for itself. We need to start recruiting some athletes who can play some defense. I seriously doubt we can stop Kansas which has a much better offense than the Aggies. We will be lucky to beat Baylor. OSU and OU are certain defeats with our porous defense. This is going to get ugly before it gets better. 5 turnovers and 150 yards in silly penalties were real killers to overcome. What a dissapointment to lose to a team we should beat every time. The Aggies should be given credit for their effort. We got our butts kicked but good.
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I can’t say when it happened because I lived in the ACC & SEC from 1975-89, but in my opinion, Texas Tech fans have become the biggest houligans in any sport in America, pro or amateur. It wasn’t that way in the 70’s. It is INCONCIEVABLE to an Aggie that the home crowd could enact the “No more Potts” chant on a kid, whose family was probably in ‘the Jones.” I can’t see it happening in any other college stadium in the country, and it paints a pathetic picture of a university, and a community.
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Fight Raiders, your type seems to be the face of the Tech fan base. I for one know many respectful TT fans but people such as yourself help to build a bad reputation for your fan base. After reading through your message boards throughout the year, I know there are many good and respectful fans. You don’t have to be a complete moron to be a good fan, you can do so by sticking with your team through the wins and the losses. We have our fair share of fair weather fans as most programs do, but most of the Aggie population will always bleed maroon. As for a “second rate” program and/or school that you referred to, that is laughable. All that proves is that you are a complete moron. Some of the brightest students in this country graduate from A&M and we’ve had a few good athletes come through as well. There’s no reason for me to bash TTU, as it is a fine school as well. The truth is, people like you are the kind that give your school a bad name. I hate when I see some of the young Aggie “kids” posting such garbage to the opposing fans. I suspect you are one of those misguided students simply drunk on your computer posting to the message boards. Every school has a bit of this, but b/c of people like you, it just seems like TT has a few more.
Gig’em
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You never hear from Aggie fans until after they win. Fair weather fans they are. They claim that we are not a rival, but look how they respond to our message boards. Youd think that this was the greatest victory in the A&M football progrom’s history. We must give them credit though. They are starting to catch up with us on talent. Maybe someday they will be able to play with Tech on a regular basis.
Get well soon Shef
Wreckem Texas Tech
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Fight Raiders
“Your comments only strengthen the strereotype of A&M ignorance”
Followed by a ranting incoherent post by you. Thanks. That was hilarious and really helped to support your argument.
Even your fellow TTU supporters must have cringed when they read your post. LOL
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Its painfully obvious to…. Techs lack of DEFENSE, poor leadership from LEACH, and a poor perfromance from student athletes led to this loss. Games will come and go. But, the TECH Fans – wow – you guys are horrible! Do yourself a favor, Gerald, lose the pirate king and get a real coach!
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Gig em Aggies. And thanks to the other 10 – 20 Aggies besides the band who actually showed up at the game. There are very few in that fraternity. What a cool experience.
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Mere words cannot express my disgust with this team and its coaching staff. “Pathetic” doesn’t even come close. Tech has NO defense and its offense sucks. No preparation at all for this game. I hope the seniors are proud that they lost to one of the most pitiful teams on the planet. After over 40 years of losses like this one, I’m done.
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Aggy “tradition” is a joke all over the USA except in Collie Station.
The football tradition is gone and the last good run of football prowess was by a rules breaker named Jackie Sherill — who was also “owned” by Texas Tech while he was there buying football players.
This victory was a fluke. Everyone knows the reason Tech lost. Because Tech was way too overconfident.
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to the person who said this game was a fluke, you got rolled in every part of the game with the possible exception of special teams. Rolled.
Welcome to your new reality. Gig em.
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Our student body is a disgrace. They have been for many years. It is a sad day to be a Red Raider. Good job Aggies…you kicked our butt! I was at Tech for Dykes last two years and the students did not act anything like they do today. Is it a coincidence that as soon as Leach arrived everyone started acting like fools??? Leach’s teams are undisciplined and out of control and that culture has spilled over to the students. It is time for a coaching and culture change!!
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Panhandle: I agree! The leader of our football program is a joke! I’m can’t believe the powers to be can’t see this???
It’s time for the pirate act to leave town!
Who cares what he’s done for us over the last 10 years, that’s history and some of it not too good! Let’s look forward and lift this university and football program to the next level. That level is respect/discipline in our program and student body. The arrogance of Leach has been allowed to form by the ignorance of his bosses!
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The only person that this loss was a suprise to is you Don. You have little ability to evaluate talent or where this team is in its development. All year long we have had gaps to fill. Evidently you missed it. Saturday night the o-line had a new left tackle starter and a new right tackle starter. Many players are playing out of position and it shows.
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There is no “I” in team. It matters not who plays quarterback. In order to beat TTU you must blitz and apply pressure from the edges. This is why Sticks and Potts got hurt. This is also why Doege will be hurt if he continues scrambling outside of the pocket. You know nothing about football and do not have a clue. TTU has big problems if they only play behind one person. All scholarships should be revoked if players can’t play unless Sticks is playing. They seemed to play quite well against Texas and in the first 2 games without him Now, its all about Sticks. You guys are a bunch of band wagoners and sore losers. This is a tradition at TTU and it stems back to the Spike Dikes days! Zebbie Lethridge was boooed. Give us Rob Peters the ttu fan’s say. The Rob Peters is boooooed. Give us Kilff Kingsbury they say. Now Potts was the greatest thing since sliced bread in the first 3 games of the season. “We almost be Texas!” We were 10 points away. Now Potts sucks 1 month later and its all about Sticks. You guys specialize in blamming quaterbacks coaches and moral victories. Mike Leach’s record as referenced above is no better than Spike Dikes. Spike got fired because tech fans wanted to be entertained. Well we got some great entertaintainment on Saturday Night wathching the Aggies leave TTU fans stunned just TTU left Husker fans stunned. It’s Karma baby!
TTU does not have a vested interest in the fans, just the big whigs. This is why millions are being spent not for extra seating but for sky boxes that you will never sit in East Techsan. You will be fighting the elements with the other TTU peons while the elite will be eating chicken wigs and driking wine that is catered from Hospitatlity Services at TTU. Keep rooting them on, they care less about you. Just ask the 6000 peons that that were sitting the expanded section. Ask them how the jumbo tron Raider vision looked!!
Gig em Aggies!!!!
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Need to load up on more batteries and tortillas to throw at them next time. We lost because they made the goal posts undestroyablle, takes all the fun out of it.
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Seriously, last weekend’s game was pitiful. I’m so ticked off at Leach and Ruffin I could spit nails. What in the heck fire is wrong with this coaching staff? Leach, you bite the hand that feeds you last spring only to get your golden pacifier then turnaround and lose an embarassing game AGAIN! As if that OU game last year wasn’t the toughest lose ever, now let’s go for the most shameful loss to the Aggies AT HOME! BAH! If I had some tortillas I would totally throw them at your face right now! You can only blame Potts mildly for having no confidence because you, Coach, haven’t given him a REASON to have confidence! You can’t blame your defense entirely, because you’ve NEVER had a defense that was GOOD enough! You, Coach, are too focused on getting your media hype that you could probably care less if we ever go to a meaningful bowl game. UGH! You disgust me!! OWN UP LEACH OWN UP.
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The pirate needs to walk the plank on this one. He’s the head coach…his fault. Come on Mikie…
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I would just like to say that I was unable to attend the game on saturday, but did listen to it on the radio. I commend the AGS for overcoming all the crap and stigma about playing in Lubbock. I feel bad for the tech players/coaches that are getting reemed for not playing/performing up to their potential. It really saddens me to read all the crap that people are posting on here. I am a former student of Texas A&M and would like to say that any sporting event that is held in college station demands respect and in turn visitors are given respect. We applaud for the bands when they are finished, we don’t throw things at cheerleaders, and we definitely don’t disrespect/degrade visitors. Those who don’t understand what it takes to be in the corp should shut their mouths. I would like to clarify to tech fans, aggie fans, and the general population that there is no rivalry between A&M and tech, there never has been and there never will be…you can say that we are your rivals all you want and you can make a bigger deal about this win than it really is, but to an aggie its just another tally in the win column. A&M and tu are rivals, thats it…The Lone Star Showdown is between texas and Texas A&M…tech is not included.
As for A&M fans holding on to tradition, why shouldnt we. Tradition is what makes you who you are. The non-sporting traditions at A&M are the reason I went there. Not only are they the #1 agricultural college in the state, the engineering and business departments are top notch as well. I understand that this is all about sports and yadda yadda yadda, but there is more to life than sports, and there is more to base a university off of than how well their football team plays on saturdays. I do not intend for this to be disrespectful to any tech fans, eventhough the courtesy was not extended to me, my university, me friends, or my team. I simply wanted to congratulate the ags on a job well done and look forward to watching tech and A&M meet again next year in College Station
Thanks and Gig Em’
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Finally TT is back where they belong,just barely above Baylor.
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scott, I’m not sure which standings you’re looking at. We’re still above a&m and baylor in the south, and have a better record than 4 of the big 12 north teams.
Wreck ‘em!
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