Tech Notes: Leach passes Spike
Leach milestone
Mike Leach’s Texas Tech record-breaking 83rd victory Saturday came with a touch of irony. Leach was part of the losing team 10 years ago when Spike Dykes posted his 82nd win in Dykes’ final game as head coach — also against Oklahoma.
Dykes was on hand for Saturday’s 41-13 Red Raiders victory.
Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach hoists guns up to the crowd as he leaves the field following Tech's 41-13 victory over Oklahoma Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. Leach became the winningest Texas Tech football coach with 83 wins. Saturday, November 21, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
“I got the opportunity to see coach Dykes in the locker room,’’ Leach said. “He’s one of the greatest coaches of all time, in my opinion, and who was really instrumental in building this program. Being a part of his legacy is a real honor for me.’’
The day was doubly special for seniors such as cornerback Jamar Wall, who helped Leach get the record in their final home game.
“He’s the mad scientist of college football, as they say,’’ Wall said. “That win was probably as big for him as it was for us, the seniors. It couldn’t have been any better for us. For him, that 83rd win is a great achievement.’’
For those who can’t
Defensive lineman Ra’Jon Henley wore No. 40 for his final home game to honor fellow senior Nathan Stone, who suffered a career-ending neck injury in early October.
“I thought I’d put 40 on the field one more time for him,’’ said Henley, who normally wears No. 91.
Henley said he thought of the idea a couple of weeks ago and asked the equipment staff.
“They told me as long as I practiced hard, Leach will approve it,’’ Henley said. “So I practiced pretty hard, and Leach gave me 40.’’
That might not be the Red Raiders’ last symbolic gesture this season. Richard Jones wore No. 46 in practice last week as a nod to his fellow defensive lineman, Sandy Riley, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in August.
“He was a little bit too late to do it for the game,’’ Henley said. “He didn’t think of it early enough. But he’ll probably get (the request) in next week and see if he can wear it for that last game.’’
Lasting memory
True freshman Eric Stephens finished off the Tech victory with his second touchdown of the season.
Even if Stephens didn’t realize it, the score served as a gift of sorts for a pair of fifth-year seniors.
Asked about what memory he’ll take from senior day, tackle Marlon Winn said, “Just that last drive, that last touchdown. Stephens comes in, and he runs it between me and (guard) Brandon Carter.
“We worked hard for five years, and for that to be the last play in the Jones our senior year, it was amazing. Great thing.’’
In brief
In Mike Leach’s 10 years as head coach, Tech’s only loss in a home finale was in 2003, a 56-25 setback against No. 1 Oklahoma. … Leach acknowledged the crowd, which numbered 50,479. “I thought our fans were incredible today,’’ he said. … With FL Jacoby Franks benched, Frenship ex Brik Brinker joined the rotation and caught two passes for 24 yards, both career bests. … OU CB Jonathan Nelson made his first career start, making a career-high 11 tackles and an interception. His father, Brian Nelson, starred at Tech as a wide receiver from 1975-78.
Compiled by Don Williams
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Funny how last week there were tech fans calling for leach’s job. And within 10 years he is the best tech coach of all time. Still want him gone? As down as a year as we have had, we will end up 3rd or 4th in conference….which is where we were last year. Great job today tech!
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A great day for Tech.
Coach Spike Dykes and Coach Mike Leach are both great guys who put West Texas on the national college football map.
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Leach did make adjustments…and he must have been really all over “Nick” to get rid of the ball fast. It was a great game for Tech’s program and if we can win the next 2 really set us up for a great ‘10.
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i’m glad to see that Mike Leach reached his 83rd win of the season and It was good to see Coach Spike Dykes out there
as well Im glad THE RED RAIDERS got the win and I hope Coach Mike Leach will be around to win more games
TEXAS TECH CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE LEACH AND WRECK EM TECH
A LOYAL RED RAIDER FAN,
DJ
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Not calling for his head, I just think he’s overpaid. Esp. with what he delivers…Congrats though to Leach on the milestone. Wished it happened sooner, not with the sooners!
To the seniors many thanks for your years of play for the Red Raiders. May your futures be bright.
To the rest, work hard and next year will be better.
Now on to Baylor! Wreck’Em Tech!
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If Tech can beat Baylor and win the bowl game, the SRs on the team will have recorded 38 wins in 4 years which is very impressive for any team. Remember back…this was the recruiting class that was nationally ranked by Rivals and put Tech on the map for going after the stud players. Tech oversigned 30+ players (some never made it to Lubbock due to academics) and it was this class that set the tone for Tech taking a shot at players that wanted to win the Big 12.
It was an awesome Sat at the Jones to see the players and fans all having fun at the expense of an OU ass whippin!
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YAWN!!!
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For watchdog and other Mike Leach naysayers. All Leach can do is what he IS paid to do, and that is to coach the players up to their potential and beyond. He has done that ever since he arrived and still does so. What he can’t do is play the game for the players. They have to play. They have to execute. They have to want the win enough to play hard and execute. Hopefully, this team, from the starting seniors to the scout team members, have learned this hard fact. Had the team executed and played with the type desire they showed Saturday, all year long, there is no doubt they would have been an undefeated team heading into the Baylor game in Arlington at “Jerry’s World”. Give Mike Leach credit for EARNING his pay. Sure, his record could be better, but so would every coach’s record, if the players would commit the way the Raiders committed yesterday. It is a team effort and the Raiders should finish out this year the way they should every year, with two more program defining wins. GO TECH! WRECK ‘EM!
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I don’t know about you but I have been Jumping Around all day today. Glad we could stick it back in their faces and rub it in.
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Sadly, we got a glimpse Saturday of what 2009 could have been: a 10- or 11-win season. Gotta replace three O linemen, again, and six guys on defense for 2010. But ’twas sweet to roll the Sooners. Loved almost every minute of it!
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Geez, such excitement over beating a 6-4 team. Now it is obvious why you all rush the field when you all make a first down!!!!!!
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OU Bandit…..what are you talking about??? That last statement didn’t make sense.
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Hey Ben…
Don’t you understand what’s behind the “Bandit’s” nonsensical comment?
“poor little Texas Tech” is not supposed to beat the OU’s and TU’s
BUT GUESS WHAT!!!!!! SOMETIMES WE DO!!!
Great game Red Raiders! Now let’s finish it with a couple good wins!
Wreck “Em Tech! Beat the Bears!
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Great win!
One of the best games I’ve seen the team play in 30 yrs.!!
Hey Stoops ‘throw back” uniforms, well if I was you I’d throw them away!
Let’s blow the Bears out of Jerry World!
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OU Bandit or whoever you are, the reason I get excited about beating OU is not for their record. It is because of the terrible sportsmanship the players and the fans show. It’s payback time! They need to play at Tech in the HOUSE OF PAIN. I loved looking at the sooners sad faces. What goes around comes around. OU got theirs yesterday. Love it! JUMP AROUND!
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OU Bandit has been on the reservation too long. Smoking the piece pipe I guess, his small mind is very not there.
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Pack it up, pack it in
Let me begin
I came to win
Battle me that’s a sin
I won’t tear the sack up
Punk you’d better back up
Try and play the role and the whole crew will act up
Get up, stand up, come on!
Come on, throw your hands up
If you’ve got the feeling jump across the ceiling
Muggs is a funk fest, someone’s talking junk
Yo, I’ll bust em in the eye
And then I’ll take the punks home
Feel it, funk it
Amps it are junking
And I got more rhymes than there’s cops that are dunking
Donuts shop
Sure ’nuff I got props from the kids on the Hill
Plus my mom and my pops
I came to get down
I came to get down
So get out your seats and jump around
Jump around
Jump around
Jump around
Jump up Jump up and get down.
Jump
LOL that was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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OU Bandit said:
Geez, such excitement over beating a 6-4 team. Now it is obvious why you all rush the field when you all make a first down!!!!!!
GEEZ, Such excitement over scoring the lone touchdown in an old fashioned butt-kicking!! Was that the first time Broyles had been in the end-zone in his career? Now we know why he got the 15 yard penalty!!!
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OU Bandit, why does that little bitty band of yours, who you couldn’t hear, play that stoooopid song when a personal foul is called? You got more first downs on personal fouls during this butt-stomping.
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Mike Leach is everything. I mean it. In the area of revenue, Knight, Curry, and Hayes presided over the absolute destruction of their programs. No Leach, No Nothing.
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Uh, what Hayes, destroyed (?) he was the one responsible for building up the baseball program. Knight was the same unless your refering to the sons destroying daddy’s programs. Curry, your right! If Leach stays long enough he could as well, but I wouldn’t have a problem with that, as I hope he does stay a LONG time. Means that Tech wins!
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The so-called Basketball fans at Tech haven’t put in the EFFORT in building up the Mens’ or Womens’ Programs either. I can merely wonder about the down-State rumors and innuendo related to those ferocious Tech crowds. Sure can’t help the respective Coaches in their recruiting efforts. Frankly, in Div I Athletics, Tech has many long miles to go. It’s time to improve “the picture”. Soon can’t be soon enough! GO TECH!………….way to go Red Raiders vs. the Sooners! The oddsmakers had Tech as the underdog! The players knew that and played as if EVERYTHING depended upon Saturday’s performance! Well…..they did!
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It was just a few short years ago that the Lady Raiders consistently LED THE COUNTRY in attendance. We need to get back to that. Just win!
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Oh the glory years…Lady Raiders.
I think that Curry should be on hot seat to produce, at least something! Wins, attendance something. Dickey was unfortunate and sometimes you just have to go and a change is needed…Is Kristen Kirkland (?) available? Sharp interested in coaching? Surely there is someone out there that can BUILD a program.
Good luck Ladies and Wrech’Em Tech!
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I’m starting a petition right now. Let’s get Krista Kirkland Gerlach here ASAP. She’s the only one that can save the Lady Raider program. Are you listening Gerald?? If you don’t start now somebody else will grab her the minute she’s had enough of ATM-canyon.
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Got a good resume…lots of coaching background and recuiting experience.
http://hoopedia.nba.com/index.php?title=Krista_Kirkland-Gerlich
Curry better get things in shape.
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