Raiders hold off Baylor’s final push to secure victory at Cowboys Stadium
ARLINGTON — Texas Tech’s defensive players get used to yielding the spotlight to members of the Red Raiders’ high-scoring offense.
But with a game on the line and the defense on the spot Saturday, the defenders made their mark. Defensive linemen Brandon Sharpe and Richard Jones made the key plays in a red-zone stand that allowed Tech to preserve a 20-13 victory against Baylor, a fitting finish for a neutral-site experiment that drew 71,964 to the new Cowboys Stadium.
“What was the difference in the game?,’’ Tech coach Mike Leach said. “The Tech defense; that was the difference in the game. … We got turnovers, we stopped drives, and then of course we knew we had to stop them for four downs on that last (series), and they did.’’
Baylor (4-8, 1-7 in the Big 12 Conference) drove from its 35-yard line to a first-and-goal at the Tech 10 with 3:11 left, forcing the Raiders to make one timely play after another. Jones stopped running back Jay Finley for no gain on first down, and Sharpe might have made the biggest play of all on third-and-goal from the 6.
Seeing room to run beyond the first level, the Bears’ Blake Szymanski quickly pulled a quarterback draw, but Sharpe crashed down from his defensive end position and tackled him for only a 1-yard gain.
Texas Tech's Marlon Williams (39) celebrates during their 20-13 winning game against Baylor Nov., 28, 2009 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Texas Tech's Taylor Potts drops back against Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/ Waco Tribune Herald, Jerry Larson)
Baylor's David Gettis (4) breaks away from Texas Tech's Jamar Wall (3) to set up Baylor's first score during their game Nov., 28, 2009 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Szymanski, who started for only the second time this season in a surprise move, had killed the Raiders on the final drive, dodging pressure from end Daniel Howard to throw a pass for 17 yards and spying a lane between Sharpe and Howard to run for 9 yards to the Tech 15.
So it didn’t surprise the Raiders when Szymanski dialed his own number. .
“I saw it coming,’’ Sharpe said. “I was ready to tear him up.’’
Sharpe’s stop served only to make it fourth-and-goal from the 5. The Raiders needed another play to fend off a three-touchdown underdog.
But Jones forced Szymanski deep into the backfield and toward the right sideline, and linebackers Marlon Williams and Julius Howard had receiver Ernest Smith well covered as the pass fell incomplete.
The Raiders took over and ran out the final 1:10.
“Our defense has bailed us out of many situations throughout the season, getting key stops and key turnovers,’’ Tech flanker Alex Torres said. “They won the game for us today. They outplayed any (other) aspect of our team.’’
Tech ended the regular season 8-4 and finished 5-3 and tied for third place in the Big 12 South Division. Despite the victory, not everything broke in the Red Raiders’ favor Saturday. No. 11 Oklahoma State’s 27-0 loss at Oklahoma virtually ended Tech’s shot at a return trip to the Cotton Bowl and Cowboys Stadium.
Oklahoma State is now the front-runner for that berth. Tech probably is headed for the Holiday Bowl or the Alamo Bowl.
“It really doesn’t matter,’’ defensive lineman Ra’Jon Henley said. “Just being bowl eligible for the 10th year in a row (under Leach), that’s an accomplishment.’’
Tech scored its fewest points in a victory since a 12-0 shutout of Texas A&M in 2001. After trailing 13-3 in the third quarter, Tech quarterback Taylor Potts threw a pair of touchdown passes to high school teammate Lyle Leong, taking advantage of opportunities presented by the return game and the defense.
Leong’s first TD catch, a 6-yarder on which he ran a post pattern, came after Eric Stephens returned a kickoff 64 yards to the Baylor 36.
The touchdown and extra point pulled Tech within 13-10.
The next series, Potts and Leong connected again, this time from 12 yards. Leong ran a fade pattern, and Potts’ release beat a blitz as he dropped the pass in over tight coverage. That score, which put Tech ahead 17-13, capped a 32-yard drive that came after senior cornerback Brent Nickerson made his first career interception.
For Nickerson, it was a classic case of seizing the moment – he played only two defensive snaps all game. Cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell had told Nickerson at halftime that he would play the second series of the third quarter in relief of LaRon Moore.
Baylor coaches noticed, because Nickerson said Bears receiver David Gettis always lines up to the right side of formations, but immediately switched to the left when the Raiders changed personnel.
“I knew they were going to come at me and see if they could get a play on me,’’ Nickerson said, adding that he briefly lost Szymanski’s pass in the lights. “I really couldn’t see it. At the last second, I saw it coming and I put my hands up and caught it.’’
Tech won its regular-season finale for the sixth year in a row. There was doubt when Baylor extended its lead to 13-3 less than three minutes into the second half on a Dary Stone field goal.
“The thing that I guess troubles me the most, I felt like they played harder than we did the first half,’’ Leach said. “I’d like to think that that wouldn’t have been the case.’’
Baylor took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. A 57-yard pass to Gettis positioned the Bears for a field goal on their first possession, and then Szymanski capped an 82-yard march with a 1-yard sneak with 13:30 to go until halftime.
At the half, Tech trailed 10-3 despite having had the ball in Baylor territory on four of its first five possessions. The Red Raiders got off on the wrong foot, ending an 18-play drive with an interception in the red zone.
From the Baylor 15, Potts had time but threw indecisively toward the right sideline for Baron Batch. Antonio Johnson’s interception and 54-yard return got the Bears out of danger and seemed to take the air out of Tech.
The Raiders followed up with a three-and-out, a turnover on downs at the Baylor 38, another trip across midfield but a punt from the Baylor 48 and a drive that ended with a field goal just before halftime.
The latter was particularly painful, considering Tech had first down from the 2 after a pass-interference call. But two runs by Baron Batch netted a yard, and Potts threw incomplete to a well-covered Torres, so on fourth down with eight seconds left the Raiders settled for a field goal.
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Answer this question Red Raiders. Why can’t you come out in every game with intensity? Why do you figure, “Oh, we are playing Baylor, we don’t have to play hard tonight.” “Oh, we are playing the lowly Aggies this week, we don’t have to play hard tonight.”
It continually amazes me how Texas Tech can take lazy attitudes and think they can beat a team that is 4-8 and 1-7 without giving its best effort.
Just pitiful.
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Hey Joe, there’s not a team in America that fits that description.The two teams that will play for the national title had flat performances. They were just talented and/or lucky enough to get away with it.
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straight shooter,
The thing is that Texas and Florida find a way to still win those flat performance games instead of loosing 2 out of 3.
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It was a close game but we won Guns Up Red Raiders. The Cowboys Stadium was the place to see the game. What a memory.
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For the love of God, PLEEEZZZEE move Potts down to second string. I don’t care about his supposed NFL talent. Even all the way out here on the West Coast, we Raiders fans can see that he does not have the emotional spark, that intangible leadership quality, that is necessary to capitalize on all of the great talent that TTU has developed. He looks flat and uninspiring even on the big screen. My goodness, to almost get beaten by a depleted Bear’s team? To get down to the 15 yard line and throw an interception? This guy is just too damn inconsistent and too easily psyched out to lead the Raiders. I am praying that Sticks improves ten-fold in Spring training and leads the Raiders to a BSC bowl next year….this team is definitely capable of it, if they keep their players.
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Every single QB Coach Leach has promoted to 1st string has come thru for the team after a few games. That in and of itself is an amazing feat of his ten yrs. But Potts is NOT any better now than he was in the beginning of the season. HE JUST DOESNT SEEM TO GET IT!!! I only wish him well but the kid keeps taking our 800 hp engine and trys to downshift us into defeat instead of putting it in passing gear and blowing away the competion. He CANNOT seem to make passes in the 10 to 25 yard range. He just doesn’t do it with ANY regularity and has NO touch for the position. He RARELY spots second or third receivers that may be wide open for td’s. Face it ! He just doesn’t have what it takes – HE DOESNT GET IT! In other words he is not a natural. Give me Sticks or Doege or somebody else, but this is not the right QB for next yr. And if anybody thinks this kid has anything the NFL is looking for you must be on cool aid or something. He can’t even complete 15 yard passes with regularity. Unless we are dang lucky I fear the bowl game!
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If somebody thinks the NFL is remotely interested in Potts you must be way in to the cool aid! The kid cannot complete passes with any regularity in the 10 to 15 yard range . In fact he has a lot of trouble with any pass over 5 yards! Look at the 3rd down conversion ratio and the red zone scoring ratio. OUCH!! Nothing against the kid but he aint a natural. Oh he was in high school competing against boys. But this is big time D-1 and he can just hardly compete with Baylor! It is an amazing feat that every one of Coach Leaches starting QB’s over the years have matured into a true starter by mid season, except Potts. He is truly no better now than in the first couple of games and sadly Coach Leach knows this. Give me Sticks or Doege or somebody next yr but this guy just doesnt get it!
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This is the Big12 people. A win over any Big12 Team is a good thing. Baylor is a team on their way up. They should be respected, and I believe they were. Potts is not the QB to be leading our team. I would like to see Sheff healthy for the Bowl game (Alamo or Holiday). Lets get fired up for the Bowl Game. With the injury related difficulties we had at QB I think Tech did a good job coming in 3rd or 4th in the Big12.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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It all begins and ends with the coach. For all his fancy talk, his teams continuously under achieve. Well he sure did pull a fast one on the Tech administration, kudos to him on that move. Top 15 in salary in the nation, minimal accomplishments on the field and no accountability.
For all those crying about the “awaiting moderation” comments, isn’t that the way you all do it in the south plains? If it dont mesh with the powers to be…well just dont print it or talk about it.
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I agree that Leach is mostly talk and not much substance. Doesn’t matter which bowl they are in, I suspect Leach will not have this team ready to play in it. It is just a fact he cannot prep for a “real” game.
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Coach Leach did admit, with his “Pogo” comment, he is tasked with improvong his skill in creating a better environment to get the team ready for EVERY game. We’ll see what the bowl game brings.
I don’t think he did himself any good in the DFW recruiting competition with Saturday’s performance.
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Here all you naysayers go again!! We won the game for crying out loud. You bellyache when we beat OK 41-13 and bellyache when we win 20-13. A win is a win. Yes, it was ugly, but we are still 8-4 in a rebuilding year. Baylor has played some very good games this year and they will be a team to be dealt with in the future. I was at the game and was disappointed at several aspects at one time or the other (defence not wrapping up on tackles the 1st half, dropped passes, etc.), but they came back and put things together enought to get a win. Continue to sit on your couches and pretend you have a better way to run this team, but as for me I say ‘GUNS UP & WRECK ‘EM!!!!
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Yes, the Raiders did not play up to full potential and managed to win against Baylor. Just remember, Tech was predicted to finished 10 0r 11 in the Big 12 this year just because we lost Harrell and Crabtree. They finished tied for 3rd place in a season with injuries to key players and many different lineups to find a “good mix”. Leach has been honest with the fans and has admitted when he made a bad call or voices when the boys just didn’t come to play. All these fickle fans expect perfection from the coach and the players – along with perfect weather before they will show up to the game. If you are going to call yourself a fan – and this goes for any team – then you take to good with the bad and show support. Do you have any idea how it feels to be on the field playing and watching the “fans” stream out of the stadium? I’ve heard the excuses – just want to beat traffic, they were losing and weren’t going to win, we were winning so thought we would have another drink. Whatever. Be a true fan – come to the game and support the team to the end.
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straight shooter has it right! This is the Big12 and Baylor is not the pushover they used to be. UT found out how good the Aggies are. OKState layed an egg against OU. Tech did seem flat though in the 1st half – dropped passes, missed tackles, and Baylor’s Wright wide open coming across the middle three straight times. But good teams get it going and Tech did that in the 2nd half.
Potts is a great kid and he’s played good at times, but he seems to be lost when his primary receiver is not open – it looks he panics and lets the ball fly off his back foot. Sticks is not perfect by any means, but you can tell he reads the secondary much better. He sees receivers coming open and puts the ball where they’re going to be (or should be). He also moves in the pocket and can create plays with his feet. Yeah he sometimes gets too crazy back there and he’s thrown some pick sixes so he’s got some things to learn. Just seems clear to me there’s more up-side with Sticks.
We all need to recognize how good Sharpe, Jones, Henley, Whitlock, and Howard are. It was just three short years ago when Tech could stop anybody – and I mean anybody (last in Div 1A in defense). With these guys on defense, and some more consistent play at QB, this year’s team could have easily been BCS bound. The level of talent on Leach’s teams is really coming up, so there is a lot to be excited about. Let’s go kick some Big10 or Pac10 butt in the bowl game and get ready for a great 2010 season!
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Let’s be honest about this. It’s painfully obvious Sheffield has to be the starting QB next year. Without him in there I cringe everytime Tech has to throw the ball downfield, especially if the QB can’t hit his first option. Good thing Tech has A LOT of pass plays that go horizontal instead of verticle. It would be nice to see a QB with instincts! One with mobility who can make good decisions.
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Congrats to Tech on a good win! For the recored neither Baylor nor ATM for that matter are “teams on the rise”. they are teams that has nothing to lose and were playing in their bowl games this past week and even though they both played hard THEY BOTH LOST. ATM beat UT last year and they still had an awful year this year, it doesn’t mean anything. ATM will now go to a fourth teir bowl gamke and Baylor will go back to Waco and do nothing. Tech is headed to the Holiday or Alamo, They had their ups and dowsn in a rebuilding year and will now go into the new year with a nice bowl game [and win hopefully!] and a really good outlook for next year. WRECK EM!!!
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I think this was a good year for the Raiders given the key losses. Lets just hope Sticks plays in the bowl or wins out next year as Potts is just horrible. The Raiders do need to get up for these games though, however, I would hate to be an OSU fan this morning…
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Didn’t see the game due to a state high school semi-final playoff game. Looking at the stats, it appeared Tech moved the ball well enough, but didn’t capitalize. Reminds me of the OSU game. Analyzing the season, I’d characterize this team as talented, but inconsistent due two things: 1) lack of chemistry 2) lack of experinced player leadership/discipline. Not only at QB, but in the receiver corps. The receivers this year lacked route discipline and concentration.
For all those knuckle heads who blame Coach Leach for lackadaisacal performances, get a clue. You apparently don’t remember the days of old and/or fully understand the game of football, much less coached it. Coach Dykes did and Coach Leach is doing a super job at Tech. They have accomplished what no other has or probably could do at a remote West Texas University (from a national perspective). They have brought national recognition and a level of prominence to Tech. Compare their combined records and bowl appearances against all DIV I teams and see where they rank. Most schools would be ecstatic to have such. Coach Leach brought an exciting brand of football to Tech and has constructed a solid foundation for the future. Slow and steady-the right way!!
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potts throws the ball like i hit a golf shot on his back foot and he is always leaning back like me. hoping sheff is qb of the furure tech fan since 1960 go tech
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Give credit to the Bears. Being at the game and a true Raider, that Baylor defense played it’s heart out! Granted TTU did not look good in the first half, but the Bears had something to do w/that! Pott’s interception was off due to the pressure Lamb and the rest of the Baylor front 4 put on him. I’m happy for the Win, Great season Tech!
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I guess I am one of those knuckleheads. However, when the team I root for aspires to win the national championship yearly, getting excited over beating a lowly Baylor and paying homage to a 3rd comedian passing off as a coach defies logic.
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It is so obvious that potts is no the guy. Look at the way he throws!!! He is an int risk on every posession. He’s gotten all the chances he needs. He’s the worst qb we’ve had in the leach era. I will be one ticked off alum/fan if that guy starts next year. ABP……..anyone but potts!!!!!!!
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Let’s get ready for what bowl we are in and show up.This season will”SALT” all those returning next year.I cannot wait until the game with TEXAS in Lubbock.A full house,an expanded stadium, ranked and national TV.If we get that win watch out.Don’t sell Leach to short naysayers.I can understand your frustration but this team can and will learn from this season.Thanks to all the senors.Brandon Carter,Jamar Wall, it has been a privilege to watch you play.The Raider Nation should always be grateful for what you gave on and off the field.
Wreck’ Em”
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Right on Raider P!!
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Some of you fair weather fans need to cross the dang fence, Ill take Taylor Potts any day. He went from being booed off the field to tearing up OU and doing what he had to do against Baylor to win.
News flash, Sonnie Cumbie and Harell their first years were just as bad.
Keep in mind, the theme all weekend was upset. Auburn, the Aggies, Notre Dame, etc all played their tails off. The fact that Baylor did the same proves what the weekend was about, if you were going to lose, this would have been the weekend to do it.
Keep in Potts. Bring on the Holiday bowl and the Trojans!!
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I think Coach Leach and the Red Raiders did a great job this season and should have high hopes for next season! Hey Jim Mcalister: I bet after coach Leach ran you through the sand pit you would say he is a man of substance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I than I’d remind you of that after a nice 31 mile trail run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’d doubt you could make a mile! Wreck em Tech!
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Hey Try my onion pie: You would be onion soup after coach Leach ran you through the sand pit! I can bet yo are all talk and no action!
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I’m with you, John. All of these people sure seem to have forgotten the many struggles and mistakes that Cumbie and Harrell had. And when Sheffield messes up, why does he get sympathy and yet Taylor gets boo’s ? I’m with Taylor. And with Tech.
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Congrats to the Red Raiders; 8-4 is good considering they had no quarterback when Potts played (for you John). He throws off his back foot, shoulders parallel to the end zone, inspires no one, not even the venders under the stands, and consistently over/under throws the ball. He instills no confidence to his team, coaches, fans, or the team bus driver. Let’s hope Sheff or a new quarterback can move ahead, and he can just look confused on the side lines.
The defense in my opinion saved the season (don’t know what happened against A&M). That last drive killer in the red zone was top dollar. Just glad we did not have to put together a long drive with Pottsy.
Perhaps Sheff will be ready for the bowl game…
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how could anyone say that the raiders are underachievers, some people are just stupid. To be able to overcome close losses early in the season, an embarrasing beatdown, multiple qb changes and other major injuries all across the board, and still make it to the alamo or holiday is damn good, especially for a team like tech. Most other college football teams in a season like this would have collapsed and not made it to a bowl game.
oh and baylor played a hell of a game, and we still won
GO TECH
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john knows what he’s talking about.sheffield has had endzone ints. as well. Potts hasn’t once complained when he was taken out, even by Deoge!! he was still alert on the sideline signaling in plays, look the way batch and other teammates talk about potts!!! you think he’s not growing into the position, go follow texas if you’re a fan like that
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Here’s what this game tells me – for the second year in a row: Baylor has less than half of the talent we do, but twice the coach. Let’s hope our clown of a head coach gets another job and we can get Briles. Leach has gone as far as he’s ever going to go. It’s back down hill from here.
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Pejay66,
I wonder if you thought this about Potts last week after the OU game?????
Didn’t think so.
Tech will win and lose with the support of guys like Dallas Red Raider and Hulen, I bet you didn’t even go to school at tech. If you did, you problably don’t know jack squat about football.
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Ben,
Baylor lost their QB and their season nosedived.
We played 3 Qb’s and still won 8 games.
Yea, Leach has gone as far as he can go *rolls eyes*
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While I believe Potts can be an OK quarterback for Tech, I really think this may be it. This is as good as he gets. He’s had chances to display his abilities time and time again, and he’s just average. It burns me to say this, and I really expected more out of him, but it’s true.
Where was the coaching staff last off season when they observed Potts erroneous and unorthodox mechanics? How was he anointed our starting QB? Because he was next in line? I don’t buy that at all. It’s a privilege and an honor to start at QB for Texas Tech, not a right. If you cannot lead your team, or show a true passion, enthusiasm and concern for your team at all times, you do not deserve to start.
While Sheffield has also had some errors, he still possesses these intangibles that Potts does not. Not only that, but Sticks is just a better athlete all-around. From running and elusiveness, to throwing the ball downfield….he’s not afraid to take chances. He’s a leader.
It speaks volumes when Leach doesn’t trust Potts to throw the deep ball. I was at the Baylor game, and I really saw no deep passes from Potts. This isn’t an accident. Leach knows what we know, and he devised a gameplan for Potts to not LOSE the game for Tech. The entire Tech team was playing not to lose, and it showed.
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I believe I posted some pretty interesting insight and opinion to the game and our quarterback situation. Please explain to me why my comment is awaiting moderation.
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Tech was coming off a big emotional win against OU, so a letdown was not too surprising. Potts played well in the second half, but he sure needs to lose the habit of throwing picks in the red zone. D played well enough to win, but they continue to give up lots of big plays. Hoping Sheffield will be healthy enough to play in the bowl game, but if not Potts will probably do fine. Tech needs to be up for the bowl game, no matter who they play. A 9-3 season wouldn’t be so bad. Go Tech!
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Perhaps other Tech fans forget what Graham Harrell looked like his first year as starter, but I haven’t. He looked just like Taylor Potts. Sure Potts didn’t play well the first half yesterday. Neither did ANYONE, on EITHER side of the ball for us. The second half, he was great. Let’s look at the positives here, as opposed to the negatives. If you want a guy to keep playing with no confidence, keep saying he sucks. If you want a guy to play with confidence, support him. Whether you’d rather see Sheffield or Potts starting, you’re there to root for a TEAM. Not for a PLAYER.
If you want to have the kind of season we are capable of next year, Potts is the QB, IMO.
Get over it people. You won’t see Sheffield start the bowl game. He also won’t start next year unless he beats out Potts.
Potts is the better talent. The best offensive performances we’ve had against truly solid defenses were Texas and OU. It’s no coincidence that Potts was the starter in both of those games. Forget the A&M game. The 2nd half of the Kansas game and OU game, and 2nd half of the Baylor game have happened since then.
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Ben,
Leach has gone as far as he can?????? Absurd!!!!!! This is a double knuckle head comment. I, for one, hope he stays for another 10 years. he brings an exciting brand of football.
Yes, Art Briles is an excellent coach, but so is Leach and staff. Briles has an indepth understanding Tech’s offense because he coached at Tech, which probably helps BU’s defensive preparation just a tad.
Tech had a decent year w/ many challenges. Wish they had been more consistent, which more than likely would have translated into a 10-2 season. As for Potts, I wish him the very best. However, I believe Sheffield has the edge on energy, tempo, chemistry & mobility. I’m not sure he reads coverages any better than Potts. I wish them both the best. Let’s remember, these are basically kids playing the game. It’s not Iraq or Afghanistan.
Tech needs to work on offensive rhythm for the bowl game. This has been very inconsistent this year.
Guns Up!!!
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Please I hope that Potts does not start at the Bowl game…. It all starts with the QB, he has to set the TEMPO for both offense and defense and he definitly cannot do that. I could be wrong but i thought i seen Sticks on the sideline and was still limping. is he done till next year????
I hope we do get the Holiday bowl and play USC, that would be great!!!
Leach VS Carroll
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I have said it before, and I will say it again, you “fans” who think Leach should go are either (1) not fans at all, or (2) too young or too forgetful to recall the Rex Dockery and Jerry Moore eras. Leach has done more for Texas Tech than any coach in its history. Sure, we have lost some games we should have won, and we have struggled at times this year when I wish we did not. But after all the talent we lost last year and the question marks going into this year, an 8-4 record is very acceptable. The disappointing part is we could have been 10-2 with a little more consistency, or even 11-1. But I remain a big Leach fan and will for years to come. If you don’t like it, go root for Rice or some other bottom feeder, which is what Tech was in the early 1980s.
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It is interesting that those who do not evaluate the talent of the quarterback day-in and day-out propose to be the most knowledgeable on who should start. Whether it be Nick or Sticks, positive comments of support go a long way! Anyone can tear down…be a man and build up! TECH Bowl-bound again — kind of nice, don’t you think (and this during a rebuilding year)?
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Double T,
After seeing Potts come back from his concussion, being booed, and sitting in place of Doege I would say he is the qb going forward for the bowl and for next year. WOW talk about mental toughness. Bottom line he did not get the chance to play every game due to his concussion. Yes Sticks played great, but the defense showed up in the games he started. Gave our offense more opportunities to make plays.
Until Leach and the coaching staff go recruit the best defensive players Tech will not win the Big 12. Our defense has to play the way they played against OU for us to win every game. We have to be able to run the ball too.
I seen Harrell in his first year throw too many int’s in back to back losses his first year. He was worse than Potts his first year, but Leach stuck with him.
We still had a good year despite all the adversity!
Guns up!
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Tech’s win over Baylor wasn’t pretty, but it was still a win. 8-4 for the season isn’t what I hoped for, but it is still pretty good given all of the injury issues which arose over the course of the season. One DE for Texas. Three QB starters during the year. All of the safeties missing games. Nathan Stone having his career ended. Offensive linemen lost for games and a season. OU isn’t the only team in the Big 12 to have major injury issues over the course of the season.
I’m very proud of this Tech team, and I’ll remember the OU win forever. I’m looking forward to a victory in whatever bowl Tech plays in and I’m looking forward to rooting on Tech regardless of who starts at QB. For having to put up with the fans’ BS and still going out and playing well enough to win over a fired up Baylor, Potts should be admired. The criticism of some the “expert” fans is a bit much for me. I guess wins aren’t enough for those who haven’t suffered enough defeats.
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1) check cumbie’s 2004 season record.
2) name 2 of the recievers or o lineman from that season
2) the defendse was great back then right?
3) i think cal was ranked fourth in the nation when we won that game. what other leach era qb has beaten a higher ranked opponent in a bowl game?
4) check out his stats in the bowl game vs cal and compare how it stacks up vs other qbs in the leach era.
5) you are right he was not that good or maybe he was just lucky
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Sticks may not start the bowl game, but he definitely has a great chance of becoming next years starter if he shows the talent and leadership capabilities that we all know he displayed in the games he was in. If you’re Leach, you MUST make both QB’s battle each other in the offseason. This holds both QB’s accountable to their team, and it keeps their minds competitively focused as they develop.
The fact remains that Potts has shown us to be an average to slightly good QB. Harrell had his problems in ‘06, but I believe his issues were actually correctable. Potts throws with shoulders and chest open, facing the sidelines. He throws off of his backfoot. He cannot step up in pressure. He cannot run, he has very little speed, even by QB standards. Are these issues correctible? Hopefully, yes they are. Realistically at this point in his life, probably not.
Does anyone miss our old receivers from ‘06? They were a little more talented than this group. Filani, Johnson, Amendola. The problem with that years team (and most years under Leach, before Ruffin) is that we didn’t have a defense back then. All we ever ran was a Cover-2 shell defense…very vanilla, and very predictable.
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in the leach era there has been one other qb finish the season with a better season ending ranking than cumbie. i wonder who that could be?
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Karl,
I remember those days.
OK-all you blogsters, here’s one to chew on. Might Jacob Karam be in the mix next year? What about Scotty Young from Denton? He’s had a bang up year and I believe his coach is Graham Harrell’s brother.
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Waiting on moderation: this basically scans for bad language and obcene comments. Just FYI.
Hey Dallas, great showing for the game!
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I hope/think that next spring we will see a battle for #1 QB like we have never seen before. In the past there was always a QB in waiting to take control. Next year that will not be the case. With Sheffield, Doege, and Karam ready to challenge it should be interesting and perhaps the start of something big.
We also need a reciever to emerge that can get deep. We did not have one this year. I think this was our weakest set of receivers. Also, I can’t remember the last time we hit the Fade route for a score. It once was almost automatic for us.
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Leach said himself — we need to purge the idea that Texas Tech can NOT play well two games in a row.
“Too many times we executed a play with only nine players” — THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. Bench those guys not making 100 percent effort every single play.
This is just being LAZY. We need players who want to play 100 percent in every single play.
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8-4 is a mark that many, like me, would have taken at the start of this year. However, I think they would have told you they expected to lose to Nebraska, Texas, and Ok. State on the road and OU here at home. The Houston and A&M loss are catastrophic with no excuses. Keep saying “It’s the Big XII” and I will keep my opinion that we have got to take advantage of opportunities to get to the next level. Tech has got to take the gift that is OU’s injury riddled down year, and the great play at Nebraska to go 10-2 and have another banner year. That’s even saying that the Ok State game would have still been a loss. 2009 will go down as a missed opportunity for TTU to take advantage of a huge opportunity on a national stage (see USC’s down year as well). We should be punching our ticket to a BCS game and I will not get over it.
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Tech is SO lucky to have so many “fans” that are QUALIFIED to know more about D-1 football(and player capabilities) than Coach Leach and his staff!!! Here’s to a GOOD win and a GREAT year and even Better ones to come!
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For those that want Art Briles, would he stay for 10 years? He seems to be happy to follow the money and jump around? Haven’t we been unhappy at Leach’s wondering eyes? Now we have the blinders on Mike you want to open that can of worms. Woop A$$ on you! I don’t like Leach all the time, but he’s our Coach!
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Ditto TechMil
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“We should be punching our ticket to a BCS game and I will not get over it. ”
Ah yes , another Tech fan who thinks Rome should have been built in a day.
Good thing Leach dosen’t listen to the armchair Qb’s
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Go tech
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Ben are you serious man? You still want Leach out inspite of him being the winnigest coach in Tech history, taking tech to a bowl game every year and having the highest winning percentage of any team in the conference? Are you so desperate to make the coach for Art Briles–a mediocre coach, after whose departure the Houston program has taken off and doesn’t have a back up QB after he lost his main QB? If you are real Tech fan you would want to see a high profile coach that will keep us an elite team and lead us towards a championship if such an unfortunate event as Leach’s departure happens, how can you even wish for Briles to be here? Do you want us to really sink back to mediocrity ? Briles is a mediocre coach and he should coach mediocre teams, you need not make a case for him by dissing Leach this way, because your case is so weak. Or may be you are not even a Tech fan and are trying to voice you frustration about Leach’s success, then get out of here if you don’t like the bowl game after bowl game that we are headed to, if you don’t like the Number 2 ranking that we had in our history and if you don’t like the nation’s best passing offense, then you are not a Tech fan and get out of this message board and go to the Baylor board if you like Briles so much.
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I meant winnigest percentage of all Tech coaches in history, sorry for the typo
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Lol! looks like the Briles lobby is working hard at trying to scam Briles to Lubbock. These are not really Tech fans, may be Horns fans, may be Baylor fans but basically interested in the downfall of Tech
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I had a great time at Baylor game! I’m glad we won, doesn’t matter if it was pretty or not, a win is a win. I enjoyed the Cowboys Stadium and all its glory!! Let’s not forget….football is a game. I know there are some SERIOUS fans out there, but come on…….it’s a game. I’m proud of all the Red Raiders involved in making this another entertaining season!
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Thanks for saying that RaiderGal, one thing I have always liked about Tech is that they don’t see football as a Roman like sport, a religion of sorts, they see it as a game and thats it.
That said, Im still rooting for the Huskers this weekend so that Tech can go to San Deigo. Go big red!
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