He’s 42: It’s usually a wild one when Tech plays at OSU
The last time Texas Tech traveled to Stillwater, Okla., sparks flew both on and off the football field.
Tech and Oklahoma State combined for 1,328 yards and 94 points in the Cowboys’ 49-45 victory, which featured six ties, eight lead changes and plenty of fourth-quarter drama. OSU went ahead for good on a 54-yard touchdown reception by Brandon Pettigrew with 1:37 remaining, and then Mike Crabtree dropped what would have been a winning TD catch for Tech in the game’s waning seconds.
Zuvanich
The postgame news conferences were just as wild as the finish. While OSU coach Mike Gundy was becoming a YouTube sensation with his “I’m a man. I’m 40!” tirade, in which he blasted a newspaper column about then-quarterback Bobby Reid, Tech coach Mike Leach went ballistic about a Red Raider defense that allowed 366 rushing yards.
It was just a Big 12 Conference opener, and each team finished league play at 4-4 that season, but the game could be considered a turning point for both programs. The Cowboys are a combined 16-6 in the last two seasons and have spent parts of both ranked among the national top 10, while the Red Raiders are 17-5 during that span and enjoyed arguably the most successful season in program history last fall.
It also was Lyle Setencich’s last game as Tech’s defensive coordinator, and under replacement Ruffin McNeill the unit has gradually gone from poor to respectable to pretty darn good. The Red Raiders are tied for fourth in the nation with 30 sacks this season.
“We became better the day that (McNeill) took over the defense,” Leach said on Monday, “(because of) the enthusiasm he brought and the ability of our players to tackle, and just the inspiration to play.”
Tech (6-3, 3-2 Big 12) and OSU (7-2, 4-1) will reunite at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, and the game once again figures to be a turning point for both teams, at least in terms of how this season will play out. The Cowboys are second in the Big 12 South Division, one game behind undefeated Texas, while the Red Raiders are tied for third place with Oklahoma.
No. 17 OSU likely needs a win to remain in the top 25, while a win for the Raiders would almost certainly put them back in the rankings for the second time this year. And because each squad has the Sooners left on its schedule, this game is an opportunity neither wants to miss.
If the last few encounters in Stillwater are any indication, Saturday’s game – which is a prime-time matchup on ABC – should be another thriller. The last three Tech-OSU games there were decided by seven points or fewer, and the winning team scored at least 49 points in three of the last four.
“The games up there almost always take on a personality of their own, so it’s hard to say what will happen,” said Leach, who hasn’t won in Stillwater since his first trip in 2001. “We haven’t had any of them up there that weren’t pretty wild.”
The Raiders and Cowboys both average more than 34 points and 400 total yards per game, so look for more offensive fireworks. This time, though, let’s hope there aren’t any more explosions after the game.
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Turnovers — watch for those TURNOVERS!
Game to be LOW scoring for the first half.
Then all-heck breaks loose. EITHER team could do it.
That’s my prediction.
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We Need This Win. Guns Up Red Raiders Show Up To Play Saturday Night. BELIEVE
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Most important game of the season for both programs.
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“I’m a man. I’m 40″ HAHAHAH… LOL. What a loser! Gunz up
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I think our defense makes the difference in a lower-than-expected score: Raiders win, 28-21. I just hope our offense can score that much….maybe a defensive touchdown mixed in there like in the Nebraska and Kansas games will help.
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i hope potts has found his mojo for this one. also need to tailor the play calling to suit potts’ strengths. he’s not harrel and he’s not sticks. we’ve got some good running backs on the squad and they need to be utilized. this game comes down to coaching for tech. do not rest our success on potts’ gunslinging, because he’s not that guy, not at this point anyway. have to have to have to mix it up with our running game. i think we’ll win this if the play calling is what it should be. go tech.
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Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball. It’s a new concept for Tech, but I think it’s what finally won the game for us against Kansas!!!
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Tech “D” will be the key to this game. If they can slow down and stop the Osu offense, the Raiders will have a good chance to win.
Wreck ‘em!
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Tech better take its TV game up there. Remember how we complained that the Aggie game wouldn’t be televised????
Swing your ABC swords Raiders!!!!
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HornsNationalChampionship#5ThisYear , PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU DON’T OR THAT YOU DIDN’T GO TO TEXAS OR EVEN TO COLLEGE FOR THAT MATTER…YOUR GRAMMER AND SPELLING SKILLS ARE WORSE THAN A 5 YEAR OLD…FYI YOUR SPELL TECH JUST AS I JUST DID…
GET THEM GUNS UP RAIDERS AND WIN IN STILLWATER..
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Important to note that the pass Crabtree “dropped” was way behind him, a lesser athelete wouldnt have even been able to get his body around and his hands on it.
Also important to note, the OSU pass D is absolutly horrible.
And just let me add this one last thing, the respect the Cowboys earned was from beating an extreamly pre-season over rated Georgia Bulldog team, Georgia has done nothing but lay eggs all year. Texas killed them and they were handled about as well by Houston as we were but o yea they were in front of their home crowd and not in a late fall hot and humid Houston, Texas. I have high hopes
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I love Tech, but ever since I started going there in 2001 Tech has never won in the state of Oklahoma. Dont get your hopes too high…
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We’re going to beat them in Stillwater like beat them last year. They have already laid two eggs at home this year this will be the third. Our defense woke up after the A&M game and I doubt we’ll see another game like that this year. Potts looked sharp against Kansas and I think he’ll finish strong. Run the ball and stretch the field a little Capt’n Leach and watch the score pile up.
Get your guns up!
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Note: Cowpokes got guns too….it’s a shoot-out!
But Masked Rider beats horseless poke.
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It will be a mixed game since Tech can’t figure out if it’s supposed to win or not.
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lol poot
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With Potts in the game Tech wins by running the ball.
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I feel there are many who are selling Potts short. He was injured and may just now be recovering enough to get back to where he was, even better. Many have forgotten he has a rocket of an arm and can still put the ball way downfield at times to loosen up the defenses. While OSU has improved this year and actually have several stats that are better than Tech’s, look for the Raiders to gear up and finally win again in Stillwater. Potts may have a game that will be so good that he will cement his ownership as the starter, regardless of whether or not Sheffield returns. Potts is a very intelligent player, so expect him to respond well to the challenge well. He recognized the coverages and made the changes needed that opened up the ground game against KU. With another week of recovery and running the first team offense, he will be awesome.
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Nice article, teenwolf……….
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Just half of last years performance will be enough. Hope Potts gives it.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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This is the first time we’ve been to Stillwater with “Ruff” as our defensive coordinator. Let’s shut ‘em down!
Raider Power!
Wreck ‘em Tech!
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