Texas Tech Saturday Morning Notes - Oklahoma State Game Day Edition
by Seth C on Nov 8, 2008 6:25 AM CST
in Texas Tech News, Notes and Links
Email
Print
Double-T Nation News:
Here's a couple of completely unrelated pictures. Up first, via Uncommon Sportsman, dude successfully surfs 41-foot wave:
I've never surfed in my life and I'm not sure what "Zen" means, but that would seem to me to be one of the most Zen moments ever.
Former Texas Tech Red Raider Tony Battie checks in and he's gettin' his guns up!
via f3.yahoofs.com
Texas Tech Football:
- LAJ's Don Williams on Texas Tech receiving excellent production from Oklahoma players:
Tech is getting a solid return on its investment.
Ratliff has started for three years, and Whitlock seems set to start for four. In true Oklahoma fashion, Whitlock has saved a special wrath for the University of Texas - a combined 18 tackles and six tackles for loss in his first two games against the Longhorns.
Redshirt freshman receiver Tramain Swindall from Oklahoma City Millwood has 33 receptions for 422 yards, and Moore returns kickoffs and gets playing time at cornerback. Until an injury sidetracked him early in the season, Muskogee product Pete Richardson also was competing at corner and on special teams.
None of the imports has been a bust, which Whitlock says is a reflection of the talent in Oklahoma high schools.
"I think it’s underrated to a certain point," he said. "Texas has more kids than we do, but I think the athletes we do put out are just as good or a little bit better than the Texas guys."
- LAJ's Don Williams writes that Texas Tech want another win against a top 10 opponent in Oklahoma State:
After such an emotional week that included a first-time visit from ESPN’s "College GameDay" show, will keeping their play at the same high level be a problem?
"I hope it’s not, but you worry," Tech coach Mike Leach said. "I just think we’ve got to be disciplined, and we’ve got to take pride in the process. We’ve got to keep doing the same stuff, and the players have to be committed to doing it, too."
- LAJ's Adam Zuvanich on Oklahoma State's ability to win on the road:
When No. 9 Oklahoma State takes on No. 2 Texas Tech today at Jones AT&T Stadium, it will be facing a top-three team on the road for the third time in five weeks. The Cowboys fared fairly well in the previous instances, knocking off then-No. 3 Missouri on Oct. 11 and nearly taking down then-No. 1 Texas two weeks ago.
"We had to go to Mizzou and Austin, and they were both in a big setting and there was a lot on the line, so hopefully the players will feel a little more comfortable," said Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, whose team is the first in the nation this season to face three top-five opponents on the road. "It’s hard to tell nowadays, but I think we’ve matured some as a team and we can handle those environments."
- LAJ's Tale of the Tape and Three Keys to Victory.
- ESPN Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin takes a look at third down differential (really interesting), how Texas Tech and OSU have grown from last year's shootout, picks Texas Tech to win a close one, and Empties out the Notebook
Texas Tech will be facing a huge challenge of facing a top-10 team the week after beating the No. 1 team in the country. Only once since 1965 has a team been able to beat a No. 1 team and then beat a top-10 team the following week.
That team was the 1984 Oklahoma team, which was coached by Barry Switzer and featured current Texas coach Mack Brown as its offensive coordinator.
- FWST looks at this week's Big 12 matchups and Dwain Prices writes about Rylan Reed and his incredible story:
To his teammates, Reed is just a big ol’ lovable kid who often becomes the butt of their jokes.
"They always give him a hard time," Moore said. "They asked him what’s it’s like growing up in the ’60s and how Woodstock was.
"But he’s not one of those guys off the field who tries to tell everybody how to live their life, or tell everybody don’t do this or don’t make this mistake. He’s just a college kid on the field."
- DMN's Chuck Carlton looks at the Big 12 South scenarios and previews the game:
Key matchup
Oklahoma State's defensive line vs. Texas Tech's offensive line. The Cowboys have the fewest sacks in the Big 12, but were able to pressure Chase Daniel in their upset of Missouri. Defensive coordinator Tim Beckman has developed a speed pass-rush package in the line. Only Air Force, which rarely throws, has given up fewer sacks than the Red Raiders, with their wide O-line splits. Tech has managed to avoid holding penalties, notably in last week's upset of Texas.
- RRS.com's Robert Giovannetti on the ironies of the Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State matchup:
Only the most star struck of fan would imagine that Ruff could change the defensive world in two months but change it he did. Sure there were hiccups but overall the defensive performance to close the season gave many people hope for ‘08 and beyond. And given a full month to prepare his charges, you could even make the argument that Ruff and his troops were a large reason you have a Gator Bowl trophy prominently displayed in the football offices.
- The AP's Jeff Jatzke, via the Chron, says that today's game is a matchup of two of the top Big 12 receivers:
Oklahoma State's star receiver has the perfect chance to get himself some publicity, when the No. 8 Cowboys (8-1, 4-1) face Crabtree's second-ranked Red Raiders (9-0, 5-0) on Saturday night, the latest in a string of Big 12 South games with national title implications.
"Every time I turn on the TV, all I hear is (ESPN analyst) Kirk Herbstreit talking about, 'He's the best receiver in the country.' That started to get to me a little bit, but I really don't let it get to me too much," Bryant said.
"It still does motivate me to go out there and play my hardest and to show him there is another guy out there.
10 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Guys...
Just watched the gameday feature on Lubbock and Tech and I have to say I’m pulling for you guys in the BCS…great team, classic coach, great fans(loved raiderville, reminds me of KU basketball)…good luck this weekend against OSU, handle OU and then you just have to avoid a let down in the Big12 champ against either KU or MU so you should be fine. Also I know there’s been rumors swirling already about Leach and I hope you guys keep him around…the Big12 is a force to be reckoned with when we have guys like him.
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Much appreciated.
I’m nervous as hell, but that’s not any different than any other week. Good luck against Nebraska.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
This guy talks all about Dez vs. Crab, and how dez has superior numbers, but if osu had any other receivers, he wouldn’t have the opportunities to put up the same stats. Crab has about 8-10 other guys around him who are legitimate receiving threats. Plus, Crab came into this season knowing that he was going to be the focus of every defense he faced.
Dez has the luxury of the opposing defense focusing on their stellar running game. Dez is a great receiver/returner, but has been quite the beneficiary of those around him this year.
Crab, on the other hand, has still put up great numbers despite the factors already listed. Tech is more about dispersing the passes to different guys, and yet Crabs still manages to stand out. Mix that with his great blocking and he is the best receiver in football right now.
Don’t you sort of have to be slightly unbiased when you create a ranking of the conference? Beergut is clearly clouded by his hate of Tech in his. This is his weekly rankings of the Big XII following last Sat. He’s got Tech fourth in the conf, yet we’re second in the country. I get that he doesn’t like Tech, but what a silly ranking he’s given Tech.
How can he be expected to be taken seriously as a blogger when he does stuff like that? Not that it bothers me that he hates, Tech. That’s fine. But…wow…he doesn’t know his football. At all. (And what’s with the obsession Aggies have with lowercasing UT? Retarded and very, very 9th grade…or is this yet another one of their goofy traditions…)
texas: (1) Still here because of their body of work.
Oklahoma State: (2) Another week, another blowout win.
Oklahoma: (3) Game with NU was over after the first quarter.
Texas Tech: (5) Nice win over texas.
Missouri: (4) You barely beat Baylor? Seriously?
Kansas: (7) Nice blowout win in a rivalry game.
Nebraska: (6) Dropping to the second division.
Baylor: (10) Almost shocked Missouri
Kansas State: (8) Got blown out at KU, and fired their coach.
Texas A&M: (11) Wooo!!!!! Better than CU and ISU!!!! Woooo!!!!
Iowa State: (12) At least they can score points.
Colorado: (10) They won’t be any good until they decide on a QB.
Well according to his logic, with wins and records not mattering and all, I’m surprised he doen’t have his Aggies at #1. Afterall, they are the best team in the league and I’m sure he thinks they have the best potential. In fact, I’ll make a case for him, so his beloved Aggies can be #1 in the conference:
*ONLY lost by 4 to a tough Arkansas State squad. Could have won if they’d just scored one more TD.
*Blew out a stout New Mexico team by 6 points…that’s 2 field goals!
*Trampled by Miami, but could’ve won if they just held Miami to 22 points.
*Lost to OK St. 56-28. If they had only switched the scores, they would have won.
*Lost to K-State. This was a tough home game. If it was only on the road, they probably could have pulled out a W.
*Loss to Tech. A&m is still “classier”, and should get 19 points for that. That would give them a win there.
*Win over Iowa State. This is their statement game. They scored over 30 points! In fact, 49 points over the cellar dwellar = RESPECT.
*Win over Colorado. Man, what a game! Win by a TD over the second worse team in the league…(And since Colorado played them so close, they deserve to be ranked second in the conference).
*Blown out by Oklahoma…this game is still in progress, but I’m sure they will do something spectacular to run away with their new #1 ranking.
As you can see, A&m had a chance to win all of their games and definitely proved to me they are the best team in the conference. It is heart, class, potential, and tradition that should be used when ranking teams, not any stupid win/loss record or head to head competition. Plus, they won the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game, so that has definitely got to be factored in. Long live Aggie, 2008 Big 12 Champions!
Yeah, I think he’s basing these on who he thinks is better versus what has happened on the field so far. I don’t like the way my comment read regarding him. It wasn’t intended to come across as a critique of him as much as a critique of the rankings and how he could possibly rank Tech fourth in the conference based on results…which this ranking is clearly not based on.
My response to Beergut's rankings...
texas: (1) Still here because of their body of work.
Their body of work? OK then…We still beat them, even if they did come back, we still won.
Oklahoma State: (2) Another week, another blowout win.
Surprised they aren’t ranked lower, b/c they beat A&M. OU is a better team so far and has blown more people out.
Oklahoma: (3) Game with NU was over after the first quarter.
This is the only one I actually agree with.
Texas Tech: (5) Nice win over texas.
Seriously? Why aren’t we AT LEAST #2?
Missouri: (4) You barely beat Baylor? Seriously?
A&M probably even beat Baylor…
Kansas: (7) Nice blowout win in a rivalry game.
Sound familiar? The only difference is the score wasn’t 43-25.
Nebraska: (6) Dropping to the second division.
What does this even mean?
Baylor: (10) Almost shocked Missouri
But they’re so terrible that they’re #8.
Kansas State: (8) Got blown out at KU, and fired their coach.
Sounds like TAMU last year, except they fired Franchione after the season was over.
Texas A&M: (11) Wooo!!!!! Better than CU and ISU!!!! Woooo!!!!
I wouldn’t say they’re better than Colorado. ISU? I guess…
Iowa State: (12) At least they can score points.
So can everyone else…It’s a matter of HOW MANY they score.
Colorado: (10) They won’t be any good until they decide on a QB.
True, but they’re better than ISU.
My rankings...
1. Texas Tech : the only undefeated team in the conference. Blew out KU and OSU, while beating the then No. 1 Texas Longhorns warrants a #1 ranking.
2. Oklahoma : Their loss to Texas puts them behind Tech. Besides Texas, the rest of their games have been blowout wins. Way to blow out the Aggies, though. I am worried about this game.
3. Texas : Not far behind OU at all. Allowing Baylor to score 21 could be a bit problematic if this trend continues and the Kansas offense goes crazy next week.
4. Oklahoma State: Still a very solid team. They still need to find answers to a Tech-style spread offense and Dez Bryant must have stellar performances in the Cowboys’ last games if they want to make a BCS bowl.
5. Missouri:Beating K-State by 17 isn’t something to be too proud of. The #5 spot is given to Mizzou by default, since KU lost.
6. Nebraska: The offense played well against KU. The defense needs work though.
7. Kansas: Losing to Nebraska really hurts KU’s run at a Big 12 North championship. The Jayhawks must beat Mizzou and win the rest of their games if they want to win the North division.
8. Baylor: The offense played a pretty decent game against Texas. A 24 point loss is an improvement over the last few games played against Texas.
9. Colorado: Ugly win against Iowa State. Still, a win is a win. Another “W” and CU is bowl eligible.
10. Kansas State: The offense had a decent day against Mizzou. The defense still needs a lot of work.
11. Texas A&M: OU bent them over and started thrusting. 66-28 is not a good way to lose, especially when you must win your last two games to become bowl-eligible.
12. Iowa State: Losing to a struggling Colorado team is not a good thing. The offense should have been able to win this game, even if the defense didn’t show up. With CU’s QB controversy and their starting RB out for the season, if your defense gives up 4 touchdowns, you’re in deep trouble. Additionally, Iowa State is the only team in the Big 12 that will not be going to a bowl game (so far).
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
