A Season in Review...

The first part of the 2007 Season Review is posted below. I started writing it a few days ago so it published it based on when I started writing. I'll work on moving it to the top but in the mean time...just click HERE to open up the post.

Crabtree First Team All-American

Rivals.com has published their All-America Team and Micheal Crabtree leads the way for the WR corps along with Jordy Nelson of KState. One of many honors we can expect to see for Crabs in the coming weeks.

Working on the season recap...should be out later today.

Art Briles to be named Baylor head coach

DMN's Brian Davis is reporting that Baylor is hiring Art Briles as their football coach. The reason I bring this up is because many people have mentioned that Briles would be interested in the Texas Tech job if it was to become available. However, I don't blame him for taking the certain job here rather than waiting around on something uncertain.

I'm speculating here...but I wouldn't put it past Briles to have contacted Leach to find out where he stands on the UCLA and Arkansas job. Remember that Briles didn't make a decision after meeting with Baylor and instead returned to Houston for a day. Like I said...just speculating.

As a random side note...I mentioned to a friend that Briles is going to Baylor and that I hope Leach doesn't leave because we would've just lost our lead candidate. His response, "We'll get Norm Chow in Lubbock if Leach leaves." Nice thought...but it would never happen...

Oklahoma vs Kansas in the Fiesta Bowl

If Oklahoma wins the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, it would likely face Kansas in the Fiesta Bowl according to the Dallas Morning News.  

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL: If Missouri beats Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game and goes to the BCS national championship in New Orleans, the Fiesta has indicated it will select Kansas to replace the Tigers as the game's Big 12 anchor. KU could face either Arizona State or Illinois.

If Oklahoma beats Missouri on Saturday, the Fiesta has indicated it would still select Kansas to face the Sooners in an all-Big 12 matchup. The teams did not meet in the regular season.

In other news, it appears that Texas Tech will likely head to the Gator Bowl to face Virginia, though Clemson is still a possibility depending on the outcome of the ACC Championship game. 

Mike Leach to ????

The rumors about Mike Leach leaving Texas Tech have started up again.  Two schools rumored so far...

Arkansas

UCLA (assuming Dorrell is fired after the USC game this Saturday)

This info is from ESPN Insider so I can't post the article.  However, UCLA was reported by College Football Live today and 103.3 FM in Dallas (ESPN affiliate) mentioned that Arkansas is very interested in Leach.  

In related news, Baylor is rumored to have offered Houston HC (and former Tech RB's coach) Art Briles a contract paying $1.8 mil/year.  However, Michael Murphy of the Houston Chronicle says the Bears have no official offer on the table...yet.

Dream Bowl Matchups for 2007

ESPN.com's Andrew Feldman lists his Top 10 dream bowl matchups for 2007...look who comes in at #3:

3. Texas Tech vs. LSU: I know this would never happen, but I'd love to see Tigers fans -- and brass -- exposed to the twisted brilliance of Mike Leach. The Red Raiders' coach isn't one of the guys mentioned often as a possible successor if LSU's Les Miles bolts for Michigan. Plus, it'd be fascinating to see how the nation's sixth-rated pass defense coped with everything Leach threw at them. His teams are 4-1 in their past five bowl games and have been held under 38 points only once. Of course, that was by the one SEC team he played (Alabama).

Also...a tip of the cap to #9 as I have a rooting interest in Wake Forest these days!

The 2007 season recap is in the works. Right now I've written the first 3 games so hopefully I can finish it by Wednesday depending on my available time. My recent aquisition of NBA2k8 for PS3 is sure to slow down my blogging progress. Check back soon!!!

2007 - Season Review (part 1)

Well we've wrapped up the 2007 regular season now so I thought I would do a game-by-game review of what went on this year. There were high's and low's..."typical Tech" moments and a few moments that we haven't seen in the Mike Leach era. So without further ado...here we go!



Texas Tech 49 @ SMU 9 – Michael Crabtree introduced himself to the Red Raider Nation and America alike on this national TV broadcast on Labor Day. With 12 catches for 106 yards and 2 TD’s (including an impressive 42 yd catch and run that would become his “signature” throughout the season), MC’s debut in his hometown of Dallas was merely a sign of great things to come. (1-0, 0-0)

Fan Feeling – Crabs impressed everybody! The defense looked very good against what was expected to be a “good” SMU offense (we’ve since learned otherwise) that some experts (see Rivals and Scout) had picked to upset Tech. New guys on O-Line looked good in their season debut.



Drink – Two pints of Sam Adams Summer Ale @ Ginger Man in Uptown Dallas. Celebrate a nice victory...the sun coming out at the end of the Labor Day...and the end of summer. It's football season baby!!!



Texas Tech 45 vs UTEP 31 – Thank god for Crabtree, Amendola, and EMo. Those 3 caught everything thrown their way and helped Tech overcome a 28-17 halftime deficit vs the Miners. The defense on the other hand was overpowered by an underwhelming UTEP offense for most of the game before finally making a few stops in the 4th quarter to preserve the win. (2-0, 0-0)

Fan Feeling – This Michael Crabtree kid is good…like REALLY good. We’re staring a 7-5 or 6-6 season in the face right now as the defense is going to be torn apart in the Big 12. Not only was the run defense non-existent, poor tackling in the secondary allowed for the Miners to take an early lead and make big plays out of nothing. Do we even have a linebacking corps??? Maybe they can be used to support our DL…that would be a pleasant surprise.

Drink – 2 glasses…no better make it 3 of your choice hard liquor on the rocks at Adolph's. The "scenery" there is all that this team deserves at this point.



Texas Tech 59 @ Rice 24 – Crabtree has his first ridiculous statistical game. 12 catches, 244 yards, and 3 TD’s (highlighted by a 74 yd scamper in the 2nd quarter) leads to this blowout victory. The Tech defense is par for the course in playing one poor half against an overmatched opponent before settling in and remembering that they’re playing in the Big 12 for a reason. Tech moves into the Top 25(3-0, 0-0)

Fan Feeling – I’m sitting in a bar in Atlanta, GA watching this game. Everybody else there is watching Florida/Tennessee while I watch the GH 2 MC Heisman campaign slowly begin to take shape. Both guys have huge days in Houston and Tech plays it’s 3rd “home game” of the season…though only 1 game has been in Lubbock. Oh...and yay...we're the C-USA Champs!!!

Drink – 2 or 3 (I don’t remember how many) pints of Sweetwater Blueberry beer. It’s native to Atlanta and since I was in the ATL (for Georgia Tech vs Boston College) that day…it’s what I drank. I highly recommend you give it a try next time you find yourself out that way.

Texas Tech 45 @ Oklahoma State 49 - This game was depressing yet presented a ray of hope for the team. They lose a shootout in the final seconds when Crabtree can't hold on to a pass in the endzone on 4th down. The offense played great all game...but this game was the final nail in the coffin of the Lyle Setencich era. Leach made a very bold and unorthodox move by parting ways with Lyle mid-season. This leads to Ruffin McNeill being named as the interim Defensive Coordinator. (3-1, 0-1)

Fan Feeling - Oh well...another season of hope is gone. As I said to my fiance that day (we were in Vegas watching this game), "Well...there goes the National Championship." On the bright side, we have a new defensive coordinator so maybe that gives us a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season.

Drink - 1 Rampaging Gutbuster...wait...better make it 2 after seeing the drop on ESPN again. For those not familiar, this drink is 1 part absinthe, 1 part Bacardi 151, 1 part Jaegermeister, 1 8 oz can of Red Bull. Chill all ingredients until Red Bull is slushy. Pour Jäger and Absinthe over ice into a TALL glass, swirl. Add Red Bull slowly down side of glass, then ignite shot of 151 and drop it in. Drink while frothing.

Texas Tech 75 vs Northwestern State 7 - This is our token 1-AA beating game. I didn't go to this one (went back to Vegas for a wedding) but didn't really miss much. It's hard to take much from a game like this...other than the $$$ taken by NW LA for coming to the Lbk to receive their annual beating while helping to assure us of a winning season and bowl game.

Fan Feeling - No feelings one way or another. The defense performed well statistically, but that is as much a seperation in talent as anything else. As long as this game doesn't end with us giving up 28 points and 400 yards...then the feeling is indifferent.

Drink - Grey Goose...lots and lots of Grey Goose...and some Belvadere and Patron Platinum. Not because this was a top shelf victory or "one for the trophy room"...but because I was in Vegas and partying at places I couldn't otherwise afford to party. Many thanks to Mark and Sunny for a great trip, fun wedding, good nights in the VIP areas at the clubs....and LOTS of free, premium alcohol!!! Best wishes to you two!!!


This is the end of Part 1 of the review. I've covered the emergence of Michael Crabtree, the human-like qualities that emerged at the end of the Okie Lite game, and the coordinator change that ultimately played a part in the direction of this season. I'll be back with the rest of the season later.

Tech beats OU...in pictures (part 2)

Had time to work a few more pictures this morning...remember to click for bigger images.

Tech beats OU...in pictures

I'll get these posted as I go through them...here's a few to start with (remember you can click on them for bigger images):

Crabtree named Biletnikoff finalist

Texas Tech Media Relations Dept.

Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree (Dallas, Texas/Carter) became the first freshman finalist in the 14-year history of the Biletnikoff Award, when the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation named the Red Raider sensation one of its three finalists for the 2007 award Monday.

Crabtree will join Kansas State's Jordy Nelson and Michigan's Mario Manningham in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 6, for the 2007 Home Depot College Football Awards Show, which will be aired on ESPN. Crabtree is the first Red Raider ever selected a finalist for the prestigious Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top receiver.

The rookie phenom has led the nation from the beginning of the season to present, amassing 1,861 yards and 21 touchdown catches on 125 receptions. All three totals top the national lists, while each is also NCAA freshman records. He has ten 100-yard games to his credit this season and, with the bowl game remaining, is one shy of the NCAA record currently held by former Pacific receiver Aaron Turner (1991).

Crabtree has seven multi-touchdown games, including five with three touchdowns and a pair of games with two. He needs 139 yards to become only the second player in NCAA history to accumulate 2,000 yards in a season and 200 yards to break the NCAA single-season yardage mark of 2,060, set by Nevada's Trevor Insley in 1999.

Crabtree will get an opportunity to improve on those numbers when the Red Raiders participate in the upcoming bowl season. Tech will learn its destination and opponent when bowl invitations are extended Dec. 2.