Harrell had on different cleats tonight.

Baron Batch, holy sh*t. Daniel Charbonnet, holy sh*t. Michael Crabtree, ho— okay, that performance was expected.

That was a great game from beginning to 57:31.

Obviously leaps and bounds above where we were in the first two games, but still need to make adjustments in a few areas. Here are a few of my observations:

• Great D! Still gave up 200+ yds to a very young offense, but I don’t remember a Tech D causing so many turnovers and making so many big stops. I could care less if they give up a jillion yards as long as they keep pts off the board like they did today and last week.

• 180 Yds of TTU rushing? WHAAATTT? This is phenomenal, and I don’t think a lot of us realize how HUGE this can be if we start incorporating the run into our offense like we have begun to in the first 3 weeks of this season. When defenses are forced to respect the run, it opens up so many more opportunities…..and with the weapons we have at RB….this could be the bigger story about an improved TTU team…..even more so than the improved defensive play.

• Penalties…..huge improvement on committing all the costly penalties that have plagued us thus far. 8 penalties for 61 yards still is’nt good, but so much better from what we had been. I gotta hope that this was a result of the coaching staff getting all over their asses this week and as a result, the #s are going to continue to decline.

holy crap. 7 points. CHARBONNET HAD 3 PICKS. 1 from mcbath and 1 from wall. wow

I think this win answered most of the questions about where this team is.

The offense kinda stalled out on their first 2 drives. It seems like Harrell is taking more shots down the field (which I like) but it also explains why his completion % is down this year. There is no reason why Crabtree shouldn’t have 8+ catches, 100+ yards, and 1+TD every single game. He is amazing. The thing is, he could have had 5 TD catches had Harrell thrown better balls (but I’m not complaining). The running game was simply incredible. Baron Batch averaged almost 10 yards per carry!!!! Think about that for a second.

The defense played great all night. Obviously the interceptions were awesome!! Congrats to Daniel Charbonnet for breaking the single game Tech record for 3 interceptions in a game. The D-line played very well getting sacks, and containing well.

The one thing that makes me VERY concerned is our kicking game. I don’t know if it is just the freshman jitters or what? Carona has a great leg, but we have got to get this worked out. There is just no excuse for missed extra points! I can take the occasional missed field goal, and it was from 44 yards out….so that I’m not mad about. But I really hope that Leach can get this situation worked out and get Carona some confidence and get him on track. We were way too spoiled with Trlica, but I think it is reasonable to expect Carona to make his extra points.

Overall, I give the play an A-. Offense started slow but picked it up and was very impressive for about 3 quarters. Defense gave up some yards, but that doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. Should have pitched a shutout (I love it how Leach challenged the TD catch). As usual and fun team to watch!

can we please, please replace corona?!?!?!?! put the other guy in. he’s a senoir

As Liquidsmoke pointed out, we were spoiled with Trlica. His stats for extra points was just amazing! But what we are seeing right now is plain average middle of the road kicker that looks like the rest of the nation. Not even USC has a kicker with better stats than our own kicker right now.

I am in agreement that our Kicking coach needs to address this issue because extra points are suposed to be automatic. But as the NFL will tell you, its not always the case. I am willing to cut the kid some slack because he is a true Freshman and we are not in conference play. But he had better get whatever is bothering him or get his targeting straightened out by conference, or else. I will be joining the rest with replace the kicker calls.

But until then, Please everyone!!!! BACK OFF! Let the kid get his footing! It was huge shoes that he was expected to fill. Just remember that Trlica started as a Sophmore after Toogood left. So we are having to deal with a Freshman who has shown himself better in practice who is still trying to get himself straightened out in a high performance program in a high performance league where mistakes can not happen.

So BACK OFF for now!

I’m happy with carona. trilica really was automatic for extra points, but he isn’t much better at sighting in the longer field goals. I’m willing to wait until next year to start hoping the kid puts the ball through the uprights a bit better.

I’m not sold on harrell. I think the receivers are back on track but harrell looks like cumbie waaaay too much for a senior qb. i agree that he keeps going for the home-run and that’s not good.

Made the trip out to Lubbock for the game. Great time and a nice game by the Red Raiders. <Sidebar – Cafe J has some of the HOTTEST women I’ve seen in ages; Bash’s is a freaking pit; Crickets was like being in a smokehouse; Elvis T and the Busboys still suck>

Not sure why Leach was a bent about the game. They clearly played better than the Nevada game, yet he was positively glowing after that one. I don’t get it.

Talking to a few people semi-close to the program while at the Alumni Pavilion, there is a small number of influential alumns who will start making contact with potential replacements at the end of the season if we don’t get a BCS or win the South. Apparently, Leach’s act is beginning to wear thin on the administration. There are a couple of reasons besides budget why one of the most successful coaches in our history is not being renewed.

“Talking to a few people semi-close to the program while at the Alumni Pavilion” . First of all if they are at the Alumni Pavilion they are about as close to the program as you were to sober when you talked to them… Tech would be stupid to give up Leach, and when you were talking to these “semi-close to the program” and they were talking up their connections (which I’m sure their connection is their son or daughter in the ticket office) did they forget that:
Tech is a top 15 team
Tech sold out all season tickets AND suites
Tech’s talent level has immensely improved i.e (two actual Heisman candidates), the defense is two deep at every position
Tech goes and wins bowl games, 2 new years bowl games in 3 years

The list goes on and on, Look for leach before the bowl game this year to sign a 5 year 15 million dollar deal.

It was Leach who made the decision for his program as to the current budget short fall.

Leach is willing to take the short term hit against his worth right now as Leach is allowing Stenrich to remain on staff for personal reasons so that Stenrich can have the benefits until the end of his contract which is March of 2009.

Leach will get a big salary jump at the end of this seaon and there is a couple of bonuses that will be applied this year.

Leach’s contract will be extended. The only position which is on the hot seat so to speak is McNeils. McNeil has to have a strong showing this year and has to show he improved from last year.

If anyone is hearing any sour talk then its about McNeil and his performance. Because McNeil is not getting paid as a DC right now. His contract will be drawn up after the season completes. That is a reality check. Just ask anyone who is in the real circle and inside making the real decisions and they will confirm my statements.