Looking on the Bright Side with Kayakyakr
by kayakyakr on Jan 3, 2009 12:17 AM CST
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PrintUsually, when I'm angry, dissapointed, upset, I tend to see only the dark side, how things are bad and not the bright side of the situation. That usually comes later. I've decided to change that so, tonight, while I'm all pissed off about the poor performance that I witnessed today, I would like you to join me as I take a look at all the things that we have to look forward to and be thankful for after this football season.
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We had a great 11-2 record this season. Let's face it, most of us predicted a 10-2 record this season and a bowl win. We got that. 11-2 is still the best Tech season in history.
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We also have a great recruiting class, as far as verbal commitments go, in place for the next year. There are a few players that may come in and have an immediate impact, especially on defense.
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We left the season with things to work on. Losing our bowl game may be a blessing in disguise because the team will be able to refocus and get pissed off about the 3 straight poor games to end the season. There's plenty to work on and it may prove the motivating factor that the team needs to start what many consider a "rebuilding" year with a chip on their shoulder and the attitude to prove it.
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We got to say goodbye to an excellent senior class. And while I may miss Graham Harrell and will certainly miss the elf, Eric Moris, there are more players on our roster that may be better.
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This probably ended any Mike Leach bargaining chips. It probably also ended the mention, at least for a few years, of his name in every dumb coaching search article. Sign the extension Mike, be happy in Lubbock, give us a few more 10-14 win seasons, and solidify your position as coach/captain for life. I know many people are unhappy with Mike Leach right now, but we have the best coach for our school and the stability that our program has achieved under him is more than we have been able to attain at any period in the past.
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This loss may have left such a sour taste in Crabtree's mouth that the competitor in him will be driven to come back for his junior season at Tech. There's a lot of money to be made in the pros, but there isn't a worry of a rookie salary cap any longer as Roger Goodell, the NFL Commisioner, made a statement to the point that the earliest a rookie salary cap could be in place is in 2011 and that would be up to the CBA.
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That is the last Cotton Bowl that has to be played in the Cotton Bowl stadium. That place is a dump, even after renovations.
- Running Backs. Oh my god, running backs. On the roster next year (and hopefully healthy) will be Baron Batch, Harrison Jeffers, and the bruiser Aaron Crawford. This is a talented stable of backs and it will certainly ease the transition for Taylor Potts or Seth Doege or whomever wins the starting job next season.
I've started to grasp at straws so I think that it's time to end this listing. No negative nancies in the comments, I only want people who are looking on the brighter side of life. You'll have your chance to join me on the dark side tomorrow or whenever I get around to it.
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The bright side?
Well, we aren’t A&M. We won’t collapse back into losing seasons like we had before Leach. OU is losing a huge chuck of their team and they have to come to Lubbock for some payback next year. OSU doesn’t look to be nearly as deadly next year as predicted a couple months ago. That’s all I can muster tonight.
Texas Tech: No. 1 in football graduation rates among NCAA Div-1 public universities
good luck getting there ever again...
Wreck 'Em Tech!
J.T.H.
by redraidersax on Jan 4, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions
This game...
As i mentioned on the gameday thread, I have a huge respect for Nutt. He is one of my favorite coaches and what he’s done with Ole Miss this year has been ridiculous. They beat Florida in the swamp… they beat LSU at in the Bayou… They step up when they’re the underdogs, and it was obvious that drove them this game with the 94% sign at the end of the game. It’s good for them and good for the team and they had something to play for in this game… It’s not like losing to Utah like bama did…
on that note… we’re in good company at the moment…. alabama was #1 for 5 weeks this season… lost to a current NCG contender… and then lost a game they shoulda won easy against utah… bcs buster… as much as we want to be arguing the dominance of BIG 12 over SEC… at least the team that beat us was from arguably the other best conference and not mountain west…
Wreck 'Em Tech!
J.T.H.
There are a lot of positives to take away from this season. But I hope the players don’t think like that. In life, you don’t learn from success, you learn from failure. I hope the first film session they have in the spring is watching the Cotton Bowl. Slowly. Repeatedly. Learn from what they did wrong, where they fell short, and work on those things.
I’m feeling good about an 11-2 season. But many of us, and just as importantly, media and other teams will remember this year more for the ugly ending than the stellar beginning. It’s just the nature of it. Tech had a lot of its mystique knocked off the armor against OU, Baylor and Ole Miss. Now it’s up to Leach to reestablish that.
I am not one of those who think Leach is the greatest thing since sliced bread – or the best coach for Tech. Yes, he’s a good fit. Not disputing that. But for some to say that we’ll suck without him is retarded. I’m not calling for a change, but I am calling for more accountability, more preparation, more transparency with the program (media access), and tangible changes that will have a true impact on the team next year.
It’s obvious that after NINE YEARS some sort of philosophical adjustment is needed. We have yet to win anything of note after NINE YEARS. I think it’s safe to say Tech will struggle next year to win 11 games. So my expectations for next year are dialed back about 16 notches from this year…but I do expect to see the defense play defense. I do expect to see at least one or two in-game adjustments. I do expect Leach to be the head coach….not just the offensive coordinator.
Personally, I hope he keeps on his arrogant way and doesn’t sign the extension. Tech can use the extra money for basketball. Let him leave next year. (I will bet my mortgage that he leaves after next year if not before that, extension or not. Anyone want that action?) Tech will be fine. With or without Leach. I think he will feel some heat this coming year. The expectations were for more than a Cotton Bowl bid. Fans understand that it’s not Leach’s fault the BCS works the way it does, so that’s not on himi. Fans don’t understand how a team could look so flat, unprepared and poorly coached in the bowl game. That is on him. He has to get to work.
with respect
how could TT look so flat? one word: overconfidence
by Ole "Cotton Champs" Miss Fan on Jan 4, 2009 4:49 PM CST up reply actions
I'm with you Tech92.
This year’s team only played at the level that everyone anticipated they would for just a few games. I don’t think they really played that well against a really poor non-conference schedule. They need to revisit their gameplans, replace the defensive coordinator with a REAL one, not a cheerleader, and they need to learn to prepare correctly for each team, individually and completely. But, as I stated in other blogs, They need the head coach to commit to this team and this school for good.
TTpilk
10 Things I hope for next year...
1. Potts/Doege to tear up the secondary. Potts is a great physical specimen and if he makes good decisions constantly, he will be better than Harrell.
2. A 150+ yards/game rushing average
3. More plays run from the ace formation
4. A better sense of ball control on offense
5. Ruffin to take more chances on defense (more blitzes, bring the CB’s, etc)
6. Detron Lewis to take over as our feature WR if Crabtree leaves
7. More plays where we use Adam James
8. An answer to the running game defensively
9. Less to NO coaching mscues
10. Punt the ball if we’re not past their 45
10.1. BEAT A&M IN LBK BADLY!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the memories Raider Nation!
This Rebel fan got to meet and talk to lots of Tech folks in Dallas. By far the vast majority were all class and great folks. I learned alot about Big 12 football from a perspective I have never seen before. I have been a minor Mizzou fan since I have some family there, but after watching y’all on tv and in person this season (and meeting the Raider faithful), I will root for Tech in the Big 12. High point of the weekend was sitting behind Taylor Potts parents during the game. Can’t wait to see him play next year. Coach and Mrs. Potts were awesome to talk to and elevated my enjoyment of the game. Seems like Taylor was brought up right and coached well by his Dad.
The fatal mistake I saw from Tech was overconfidence. While Tech fans were nice, there was always an undertone of "well isn’t this cute, Ole Miss thinks they are here to win". Smirks on faces and a complete lack of SEC/Rebel awareness (present company excluded) demonstrated that most (if not all) had believed the hype.
That being said, y’all need to drop all this "bad taste in our mouth" talk – one loss should not ruin a signature season for Tech.
Bottom line – this win (like this season) was super-sweet for us because we feel like we beat the best. Much respect from the Grove! (if you don’t know, look it up and come visit) Hope to play y’all soon again!
Hotty Toddy! and Guns Up!
i looked it up for y’all: http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/09/29/travel/escapes/29grove.html?pagewanted=2
by Ole "Cotton Champs" Miss Fan on Jan 4, 2009 4:47 PM CST reply actions
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