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Texas Tech Wednesday Morning Notes - Michael Crabtree is BMF Edition

Double T Nation News:

SMQ links to the Rice University Marching Owl Band "tribute" to Tulsa football coach Todd Graham, who if you recall, signed an extension to coach at Rice, and the very next day jumped ship to Tulsa. That's right, the Rice MOB called Graham a douchebag and they asked that you send your emails to "your mom at mob dot rice dot E-D-U". Genius.


We have a couple of SB Nation bloggers, Burnt Orange Nation and Bring On The Cats, who are currently going through law school exams and to you two, I offer this light at the end of the tunnel. It's expensive, but I'm sure it would be worth it.

Texas Tech Football:

A number of Texas Tech players were named to the All-Big 12 Conference football team, led by the above referenced freshman receiver Michael Crabtree, who was named, along with Jeremy Maclin, as Offensive Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big 12. Also on the First Team was kicker Alex Trlica. On the Second Team All-Big 12 was quarterback Graham Harrell. Honorable Mention: Danny Amendola, WR; Brandon Carter, OL; Joe Garcia, DB; Rajon Henley, DL; Darcel McBath, DB; Chris Parker, DB; Jonathan LaCour, P; Rylan Reed, OL; Louis Vasquez, OL; Jamar Wall, DB; Colby Whitlock, DL; Brandon Williams, DL; and Marlon Williams, LB.

I personally think that some of the offensive linemen we overlooked as they've kept Harrell upright almost all season long and they probably deserve a little more than honorable mention.

Congrats to all players!


Okay, I just don't get this, how can the Chron's Joe Durarte say this without having to so much as to provide the official who said it. If a blogger did this, he would be blasted.

Texas Tech officials have made it clear that Briles would be their top choice if Leach ever left.

Which Texas Tech officials have said that Briles would be Texas Tech's first option? I've looked, and couldn't find a darn thing. How can Duarte just make stuff up? Please, someone point me in the right direction here. If I'm wrong, I'm not afraid to admit, but don't print stuff that hasn't been said and if it has been said then say, "Texas Tech officials, in the Cone of Silence, have said that Art Briles would be an option if Mike Leach were to leave." See how easy that was.

As far as Coach Leach leaving, I have no idea. Just like anything else in life, if someone comes to you with an opportunity, then the least you can do is listen. As much as I love my job, I'd listen to a job opportunity if it came alone. That's not intended to disparage my employer, but about bettering my life, whether it be with money or a less stressful position, etc., is something that we should all consider. I'm not saying any of those factors are relevant in coaching football, but it's human nature, I think, to at least listen to an opportunity.

I'd absolutely hate for Coach Leach to leave Lubbock, as a blogger I would be heart-broken and as a fan I would be devastated. I've always thought that Coach Leach would only be enticed by the West Coast, but I don't know if they would "get him".

That's especially true with the Arkansas rumors, Lubbock is David Lynch-like, but Fayetteville is just plain weird. Big difference. Not only that, how much of a step up is Arkansas? If you are at a major program, you typically only get one shot at the big time and you had better save it for your dream job, otherwise you're probably just spinning your wheels.

In fact, ESPN's Pat Forde has this about the Arkansas job (hat-tip to DTN reader TSCCBNCampbell):

How good is the job: If you like statewide support, high-quality facilities and a healthy paycheck, this is the place for you. Then again, you're hardly in prime SEC recruiting territory and you're battling LSU, Alabama and Auburn every single season. And they're not going away. Many fans wanted more than what Nutt delivered, and The Dash isn't sure how realistic that is.

Sounds an awful lot like the Texas Tech job, right?

I also recall a recent Bruins Nation poll, which is a tremendous UCLA website, about who they wanted as their next head coach and Coach Leach garnered 2% of the vote. It doesn't sound like to me that there's a tremendous groundswell for Coach Leach to be the next head coach at UCLA. That doesn't necessarily mean that Coach Leach isn't a candidate, and I haven't seen where Coach Leach has officially thrown his hat in the ring, but I'm not so sure that this is the match made in heaven that everyone thinks it is.


DTN reader jmcster7 created this highlight video of the Texas Tech / OU game:

Texas Tech Basketball:

LAJ's Jeff Walker features this morning the outstanding play of freshman point guard John Roberson. Roberson had this to say about his recent play:

"I think it's been getting games under my belt and getting more experience," Roberson said on Tuesday as the Red Raiders prepared to host TCU. "With Coach Knight, you know if you do things right or wrong and the thing is to eliminate mistakes and get better."

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Beer...
Sam Adams...Utopia...must...get...through...next...13...days...

Thanks Seth.

by TB on Nov 28, 2007 8:04 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Hate Mike Love Mike
Funny how all season long the pundits talk about how Coach Leach's teams are too one dimensional and lacking a defense; and then as soon as the season is over he is a genius who just needs to go to a "big time program."

Mr. Leach is nothing if not a patient man.

He has the best crop of athletes he has ever had, and his defense will be fixed by next year.
Why would he make a lateral move to a UCLA or an Ark?
Lets face it UCLA is the TECH of the PAC-10.
Arkansas? Class AAA in Texas will produce more blue chip recruits than the whole state of Ark.
In either case he would spend the next five years transforming these programs into the program he has today at TECH.

Now if he stays the course at TECH he has a good chance at a Big 12 title in the next
two years.

That Big 12 Title would the doors to a "BIG TIME PROGRAM."

Mr. Leach is a patient man if nothing else.

That Big 12 title would bring in more talented recruits. Why go to a Big Time Program when you can etch your name next to the great coaches who have BUILT a BIG TIME PROGRAM.

by bmaxw on Nov 28, 2007 4:19 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

well,
I hope you're right...especially about the defense.

But to claim, in all seriousness, that Tech is a better gig than Arkansas or UCLA is a bit myopic. Arkansas is 500 days removed from 10-2 and a conference championship game. I won't go into tradition or history because Tech can't touch either one of those - nor their success placing players in the NFL. Sure, we feel Tech is top shelf, but nobody else does. If Tech, Arkansas and UCLA all were available, can you honestly say that a nationally known coach would go to Tech over the other two, money being equal?? Not a chance. Why? Because we accept, as fan base in general, being just okay and don't expect excellence. Top coaches expect and demand excellence.

Man, I love Tech with all my heart, but I'm not blind to who and what we are. We are, at most, the 5th best team in a 12 team conference with almost no tradition and zero history of winning...and we're in one of the most remote areas of the country. I want Tech to be a top level school, but right now it's not. It's higher than it's ever been, yes. But let's not kid ourselves. We haven't proven we're top shelf - yet.

by Tech92 on Nov 28, 2007 9:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

A little Lynch a little Quixote
I agree with ya'll that TECH not in the top tier of division I football. I also agree that TECH lacks the tradition and history of winning that a UCLA or Ark. has.  While they are closer that TECH is, they ain't Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame, USC, UT, or OU ...ect.
I will also grant you that Southern Califonication is a better place to be a millionaire than Lubbock.

The point of my post was to delve into the mind of Coach Leach. (Yea, that is a scary place to go.)

(Man I just realized I must be one of those David Lynch fans,....damn)

I have never met the man so this is just speculation by observation.
Coach Leach is not a Woody Hays, Lou Holtz, Bear Bryant, type of man. His perspective on life is vastly different from your traditional collage coach. I am sure he wants to win a National Championship but something tells me that he enjoys the road to the crystal football as much as getting it in his hands. He is also a Renaissance man with a certain touch of the quixotic.
The concept of building a program form nothing into one with a rich winning history could be highly motivating to this type of individual. While the end game, the crystal football, is the same; his reason for wanting it is different. If he were to pull this trip off at place like TECH and then keep the ride going for a few years; then he would earn his place along side a Knute Rockne in the annals of collage football, or an E-ticket to a real top tier program.

Now before ya"ll jump all over me let me state that, yes I love writing fiction.
I also would not be surprised in the least to wake up and find that UCLA or
Whatsamata U had enticed Coach Leach away from Lubbock.

by bmaxw on Nov 29, 2007 8:15 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

sorry bmaxw
I have to agree with Tech 92.  One of my biggest complaints about Tech (which I love with all my heart as well) is that Lubbock and its fan base are content with bowl eligible.

Could we have beat LSU like Arkansas did, perhaps on a great day like the Oklahoma game, but we also lost to Colorado!!

Tech will always lose one their not supposed to and either win or get really close to winning one their not supposed to, i.e. Colorado and Oklahoma.  This keeps them mediocre and the fans dont ask for more, just a bowl even if it is the galleryfurniature.com bowl

by Techsan03 on Nov 29, 2007 5:59 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

mediocre
is like constantly going 6-6.  We haven't won less than 8 games in like 6 straight years.  You have to realize that we aren't a mediocre team.  We are a good team, and have been a consistently good team for 6 years now.  Not a great team, but good nonetheless.  

I am never satisfied with the seasons that Tech has.  I always want Tech to do better, and I would love to see us win more games.  But you have to take into account the talent that we have.  Our recruiting class is usually ranked 5th out of 6 in the big 12 south.  To win consistently like we do, it's pretty remarkable if you think about it.

I agree that Tech needs to quit losing to teams that we could and should beat.  I think that next year will be the true test.  In my opinion, we will have the most talented team under Leach next year.  If we lose to a team that we should beat, like we usually do, I will be all for making some changes at Tech.

liquidsmoke

by liquidsmoke on Dec 1, 2007 12:03 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

A little Lynch a little Quixote
I agree with ya'll that TECH not in the top tier of division I football. I also agree that TECH lacks the tradition and history of winning that a UCLA or Ark. has.  While they are closer than TECH is, they ain't Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame, USC, UT, or OU ...ect.
I will also grant you that Southern Califonication is a better place to be a millionaire than Lubbock.

The point of my post was to delve into the mind of Coach Leach. (Yea, that is a scary place to go.)

(Man I just realized I must be one of those David Lynch fans,....damn)

I have never met the man so this is just speculation by observation.
Coach Leach is not a Woody Hays, Lou Holtz, Bear Bryant, type of man. His perspective on life is vastly different from your traditional collage coach. I am sure he wants to win a National Championship but something tells me that he enjoys the road to the crystal football as much as getting it in his hands. He is also a Renaissance man with a certain touch of the quixotic.
The concept of building a program form nothing into one with a rich winning history could be highly motivating to this type of individual. While the end game, the crystal football, is the same; his reason for wanting it is different. If he were to pull this trip off at place like TECH and then keep the ride going for a few years; then he would earn his place along side a Knute Rockne in the annals of collage football, or an E-ticket to a real top tier program.

Now before ya"ll jump all over me let me state that, yes I love writing fiction.
I also would not be surprised in the least to wake up and find that UCLA or
Whatsamata U had enticed Coach Leach away from Lubbock.

by bmaxw on Nov 30, 2007 9:53 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

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