Emails are in: Texas Tech on readers’ minds
This week’s emails are dominated by Texas Tech. OSU fans bemoaning the Cowboys’ performance in Lubbock, OU fans worried about the Nov. 22 showdown.
John, a Tech fan, wrote, “Bottling up Bryant was the most obvious thing the Tech defense pulled off, but not the only thing for a group that’s been all about dishing out lows lately. They held Kansas to a 20-game low in total offense, Texas to a 16-game low in rushing. Oklahoma State scored a season low. Until their final, meaningless series, one that started with fewer than three minutes left, the Cowboys were sitting on a 22-game low in rushing.”
Tech’s defense was very impressive. The OU-Tech game should be fun.
Jim wrote, “Obviously, OSU got beat by two teams that are much better than they are. Texas and Tech. would beat OSU no matter where they play. Their two quarterbacks are very good, but I say again, we made them look like supermen. We can not get a rush on them and we cannot defend the middle of the field. Why? I don’t know. I guess it just a matter of those teams being that much better. The offense is not the problem, but if they are playing catch up all day, it is too much pressure for them to sustain a drive or game plan. I do not agree it was a loss by all levels, I think it is the defense. However, I think OSU still has shot at beating OU, somehow I do not think OU is as good as Texas or Tech. Again, It is just a feeling. I think Tech wins 34 to 27 at OU.”
I say OSU would have beaten Texas in Stillwater. And I say OU beats Tech in Norman, because the Sooners are almost unbeatable at Owen Field.
A different John wrote, “USAF used to have pilot training at Reese AFB near Lubbock. I still remember a poster: ‘Lubbock: think dust!’ Yes, it does seem like a rather unique place. I have lived in both Wichita Falls and College Station, and tend to like Texas with the exception of Austin.”
I like all of Texas except Austin and Houston. Too much traffic in both places.
May was distraught, writing, “I am really convinced that after tonight’s lack of any defense by OSU, Mr. Tim Beckman must go. If I remember right, the next day after OSU defeated Texas Tech last year, Coach Leach immediately fired his defensive coordinator and that game was NOTHING like what the nation saw tonight. I have never seen so many receivers being SO OPEN. Where was our secondary? Always in the wrong place. I do think our team did do a good job on preventing the run but did nothing on the pass department. I agree with you that defensive coordinators are often on the hot seat, but I guess that is why they draw those big bucks. So that Coach Gundy wouldn’t have to do the job, Mr. Beckman should resign and go back to high school ball. Sorry about ranting, but……..ugh.”
It does my heart good to know fans on both sides of Bedlam over-react.
Jim had a great take on Mike Leach: “It is amazing how Mike Leach stands on the sidelines looking as if he had just gotten there and looks confused and as if he doesn’t know what is going on. But looks are deceiving. In my opinion, Mick Leach is an offensive genius. The Sooners will have the struggle of a lifetime.”
I don’t know about the struggle of a lifetime, Jim, but you nailed Leach. He doesn’t look like a coach, he doesn’t act like a coach, but he knows what he’s doing. And the best thing about Leach is the courage of his convictions. He’s committed to what he believes in. Not all coaches are.
Roger also commented on Tech: “It is interesting how greatly my perceptions of football teams has changed so quickly this year. Just two or three weeks ago, I viewed the Red Raiders as a freak show with a mad scientist as head coach. Graham Harrell is a great passer, but surely like all Tech teams of the recent past, they have no running game and poor defense. Or do they? My view today is now quite different, based on how both Tech and OU have been playing. Right now, it appears that Tech has the better overall defense - much to my surprise.”
Much to everyone’s surprise. I don’t know if Tech has the better defense, but just the fact that it’s a question makes this game interesting.
Kane has a solution for fans who storm the field: “Last week we witnessed an outrageous action when half the fans in the (Texas Tech) stadium rushed onto the field to celebrate — not once, not twice, but three times! Tonight I saw the end of the Iowa-Penn State contest, where Iowa made a last-minute field goal to earn a big win. Iowa fans stormed the field to celebrate. This kind of behavior is OUTRAGEOUS! It brings shame to all of NCAA football. Such actions should be severely punished! Maybe nothing can be done about storming the field after the game is over - but the home team has responsibility to keep order. I would suggest that, if the home team fans storm the field before the game is over, the home team should forfeit that win. Without such a rule, I expect to see some people killed in the next year or two.”
You can’t forfeit. That kills the sport. But here’s a solution. Identify, through videotape, as many students as you can. If that’s 10, fine. If it’s 100, fine. Then expel them. Make them forfeit their semester. Most such stunts occur late in the year, so expulsion, the waste of a semester, is a high price to pay. The key is to stick to your guns. If a big-shot’s kid storms the field, he gets the same treatment.
Craig wrote, “Berry, if you aren’t calling out the (OU) special teams coach to be fired tomorrow morning, it is a coverup! Mike Leach fired his defensive coordinator after getting beat by four points by OSU last year. Do we have sacred cows?”
If it’s a coverup to advocate keeping together a coaching staff that has a team ranked No. 4 in the country, then I plead guilty. That being said, OU’s kicking units stink.
And finally, Russell is displeased with my lookalikes each Thursday. “This has bothered me for some time as I have personally seen some of these people and they look nothing alike. I have a photo of my butt and I put it right next to your photo in the paper and guess what? A look-alike. If your control over this aspect extends to selection of what photos are published, then I will e-mail my butt photo for your consideration. Just throwing this out there as food for thought.”
Here’s a better suggestion. Remove that 2×4 from your kiester you’re so fond of photographing.
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I hope I don’t sound like a hooligan, but one of my favorite moments ever at Owen Field was helping carry a goalpost from one end of the field to the other after beating Nebraska in 2000. Until that time I’d wondered if the goalposts had ever been torn down at Owen Field. We had a great time out there that day — I’d hate to think of it as a case of shenanigans that I should’ve been thrown in the hoosegow for…
And by the way, Austin is a GREAT town to live in. Of course, I bought a place that’s a 10-minute drive from work, so the traffic’s not such a problem for me. It’s the best town in Texas, hands down, even with all the UT crap everywhere!