Williams: Beating any OU team is reason to get excited
The hefty guy who’s been jumping around all season stood with his sneakers nailed to the turf. Early fourth quarter, with Texas Tech laying the wood to Oklahoma Saturday, the public address at Jones AT&T
Stadium blindsided the patrons with House of Pain’s “Jump Around.’’
I scanned the home sideline for Ruffin McNeill, the Red Raiders’ beefy and enthusiastic defensive coordinator. When his defense does something special this year, which is fairly often, Ruff, who recently turned 51, will show some ups and body bump whatever ugly lineman or linebacker happens to venture his way.
But now? He bobbed his head gently, rhythmically, like a man test driving a CD from the easy listening bin.
Oh, well. On the sideline, everyone else got up, got down, kicked it out, hopped around as I presume House or Mr. Pain intended.
How was that for a little bit of back-at-ya?
Last year in Norman, with it 42-7, game over, before halftime, OU broke out the “Jump Around.’’ Subjected to the music that night, it grated on the Raiders, an unbeaten team spanked 65-21. Back home, they heard it some more and chafed some more.
“All year, they had been playing it in the weight room, especially last year,’’ junior cornerback LaRon Moore said after Tech’s 41-13 get-back game. “Nobody really liked that song. They would play it, and it would remind us of OU. We didn’t know they were going to play it (Saturday).
We were just out there working hard, and it came on. It felt good to give them a little taste of what they gave us last year.’’
Tech players took their cue like runners to a starter’s pistol. The sideline resembled dance floor at American Bandstand.
“Especially,’’ cornerback Jamar Wall said, “when you look over there and see how they were looking. Like, ‘Man, they’re doing exactly what we did to them last year.’ It was sweet revenge, man. You couldn’t ask for better.”
Ever the coach, Mike Leach said the first playing of “Jump Around’’ — and there were three — threw his team off for a series or two. Leach said it wasn’t his idea.
“I’m not a huge jump around guy,’’ Leach said. “I was too self-conscious to dance, really.’’
We’ve described the celebration. Now let’s try to put it into perspective.
Before Saturday, it was tempting to categorize this as a meaningless home finale. Really, what’s the difference between 8-4 and 7-5? And if Tech didn’t take care of bowl qualifying this Saturday, there was always next Saturday and Baylor.
On second thought, maybe I shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss the significance.
Tech sent the Sooners back across the border with their third straight
loss in Lubbock. Rugged as the Big 12 South Division is, that ought to count for something. These Sooners were maybe not as stout as the 2005 team with Adrian Peterson and definitely not the 2007 bunch that came in ranked No. 3. But the notion that a team can’t win in Lubbock is useful. See “Tech-Texas A&M, recent history.’’
The Raiders served the not-in-our-house punch — and had the Aggies drinking it — for nearly a generation. Make no mistake. This year’s version of OU was flawed. And time and too many bowl letdowns have come between Sooners coach Bob Stoops and his “Big Game Bob’’ reputation. But for Tech’s purposes, it never hurts to take the Sooners down a peg.
The Raiders needed to reel them back in, especially after 65-21.
No one understands that better than Tech players from Oklahoma.
“Even when I went home over the break, they didn’t let me forget about it,’’ said Moore, whose 17-yard interception return set up a third-quarter field goal. “So it feels real good to let them know, ‘We’re not going to just give up, let y’all run over us. We can do the same thing to you all.’ ’’
Just about everyone in scarlet and black earned the right to jump around, starting with Leach, who finally got the school record for victories. Taylor Potts planted a seed in Leach’s mind, trying to reestablish himself as No. 1 quarterback next season. Baron Batch had a monster day with 204 yards from scrimmage. With 11 catches for 163 yards, Alex Torres looked like a keeper for the future, though that’s hardly a new observation.
The defense kept seeking forgiveness for that awful night against A&M.
When the music came on, the Sooners just stood back and watched, their faces blank as their plain, 1950s-era uniforms.
“They can do that,’’ OU defensive end Jeremy Beal said. “They were kicking our butt, and we couldn’t do anything about it.’’
Don’t take those words for granted. When you’re the rest of the Big 12, you can never tell when you’ll force the Sooners to use them again.
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com l 766-8734
courtney.linehan@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735
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Nothing better than beating the snot out of the Land Thieves, who couldn’t field a team without Texas.
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Sweet revenge; I know we’re both down a step this year but it feels good to put the wood to them in the clinic Tech put on this afternoon.
Let’s beat the Bears, dominate in a bowl game, and get 9 wins in our tank to start ‘10.
Guns Up!
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JUMP Tech JUMP!!!! You deserve today BIG TIME!!!! I absolutely LOVED IT!!! Thanks for a GREAT Game!!!
Ditto James!
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Don Williams…sweeett article! Thanks for bringing to light the history of today’s sideline activities…makes the fruit that much sweeeeter!!!
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I have had little good to say about “Nick,” but a great job Taylor!
Tech Alum
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“Folks there’s a butt-stomping going on in Lubbock.”
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Great game! Great article! And a great oppoprtunity to see a bunch of young men and coaches reach the complete game they strive for every week. Always love our Raiders!
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Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wreck Tech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take that Chokelahoma U!
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Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wreck Em Tech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take that Chokelahoma U!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes a pirate beats a sooner!!!!!!!!!!!! Walk the plank Bob Stoops!!!!
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Beating OU last year when it meant something would have been epic. Beating an OU team that isn’t even ranked in the top 50 doesn’t mean squat.
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Great article and a great game yesterday by the Raiders. The Raiders stomped a mudhole into the Sooners.
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There are some heroic aspects to this team, they faced so much adversity, multiple injuriries to leaders on both lines, not having a steady consistent leader at QB for the first time in the leach era, getting beat in close games, but they never give up, never stay down, the way seniors that stepped on the d-line this year, sharpe, jones, howard, they haven’t even really gotten play time at all before this year and their one of the most dominant d-lines in the big 12.
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typical fans, getting excited over “crushing” a team decimated by injuries. High expectations for this fanbase equals a healthy dose of psychosis and accepting low outcome.
Who wants a piece of the BURNT ORANGE?
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forty acres……I hate to tell you, but no one is as impressed with the Burnt Orange as you are.
And when you alluded to a team that has been decimated by injuries, were you talking about OU or Tech?
I see the Huskers beating an over confident TU team here in a couple of weeks.
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Great read Don!!
One of the best Tech games in many years! The ‘back at you” jump dance was well timed and great to see.
Let’s run those Bears out of “Jerry World”!!
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If this was the same team on the field against UH, A&M and OSU, we would be 10-1. No doubt. Barron has stepped up his game and the o line is nothing but outstanding . And the special team play was outstanding. From the kicking game to the recovering game, right on point. And what can you say about the D. Nothing but hype. What a let down from 11-1 to 8-4. Rock on Raiders,
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I hear there were a lot of empty seats!! I guess ole Spike in the house didn’t help!! Good luck, you guys are going to need it!!
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get a life texasborn.. go hang out on your own website.
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At least our fans are not a bunch of “tea sippers”!
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That was an awesome butt kicking. I don’t care how many injuries 0U had. This payback was timely and resounding!
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Kudos to the Horns on winning the Big 12 South outright this year. Stomp Texas Enema and Nebraska and then have your way with the SEC winner and trophy # 5 is yours! HOOK ‘EM HORNS!
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Whorns forgeting, or looking past the aggies. May the Aggies have a steak fest for Thanksgiving!
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Hey James, all that says is your not good enough to recruit in your own state!! OU is down b/c of injuries this year, tech is down b/c they flat out don’t have it agian like every other year (nothing new for lbk)
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Hum Trevor my boy where shall I begin. First before trash talking better get facts on your side. Tech has had more than their fair share of injuries too this year. Also we had some excelent players who left early, not due to grades, but because they were great and a future in the NFL called. Next I would work on your spelling. Looks bad when you try and promote on another school’s site if you can’t spell. So, please try again!
Thanks for playing.
Wreck’Em Tech!
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I know it wasn’t the OU team of old but OU was the 6.5 favorite at an away game by folks much smarter than you or I. You’ve got to give the kids some credit.
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to the UT fans on this board:
UT beat OU by 3 points and only scored 16.
TTU beat OU by 28 points and scored 41.
How does that sound?
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Now now…you know then that a$m got beat by OU and a$m beat Tech and soon will beat uT too! Scott, it just matters the game YOU play. Just remimber uT felt scared enough to have to do an onside kick against uT and pay the refs a lot on money.
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opps ment to say against Tech!
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guzzi said:
Beating OU last year when it meant something would have been epic. Beating an OU team that isn’t even ranked in the top 50 doesn’t mean squat.
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Guzzi: It means one thing. A WHOLE LOT OF JUMPIN GOIN ON. JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMPJUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP UP AND GET DOWN. JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP WREEEEEEEK JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP UP AND GET DOWN.
Sorry fellow Tech Fans. I got a little carried away. Loved it. Almost as good as the OVERRATED we hung on Cal in the Holiday Bowl a few years ago. But also reminiscent of the one that Ole Miss hung on us last year in the Cotton Bowl.
Oh well, you win some, and you lose some.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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TU fans:
You do know why Mac wanted to play Tech early on dont you? Because he knew that Tech would be tougher later in the season. As close as the game was back in Austin, TU would be in trouble now. See, Mac’s not stupid.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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Ben said:
forty acres……I hate to tell you, but no one is as impressed with the Burnt Orange as you are.
And when you alluded to a team that has been decimated by injuries, were you talking about OU or Tech?
I see the Huskers beating an over confident TU team here in a couple of weeks.
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Well put Ben
Wreckem Texas Tech
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