Texas Tech: BCS or Bust in 2008?

2008 has been quite a year for the Texas Tech football program and its fan base, from the Red Raiders' exciting comeback win against Virginia in the Gator Bowl to all the preseason hype that has them in the Top 15 and making it to a BCS bowl. 

But the question is, if the Red Raiders don't make it to a BCS bowl in 2008, is their season a failure? That question has been on the minds of all Texas Tech fans throughout the spring.

To ponder the question fully, the history of the Texas Tech football program must be examined.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders have never won a conference championship outright. They earned a share of the Southwest Conference Championship in 1976 and 1994.

They have been to 31 bowl games, but their record in those games is 10-20-1, with half of those wins coming in the last eight years under head coach Mike Leach.

Their bowl record poses another question. Has the Texas Tech football program achieved a level where anything less than a BCS bowl berth is okay?

If you look at the recent history of the in-state rival Texas Longhorns, the stats may say otherwise. Despite all the Longhorns' successes over the years, including four national championships and a plethora of conference titles, it still took them several years until they played in a BCS bowl, as well as won the National Championship, in 2005.

Mack Brown took over the University of Texas program in 1998 and quickly turned it into a consistent National Championship contender. Behind four-straight top recruiting classes from 1999 to 2002, the best they did in terms of a bowl game was the Cotton Bowl.

In each of those years, the Longhorns won 10 games or more each season, but still couldn't make the jump to a BCS bowl, even though they have unlimited resources and facilities which make them an elite program.

I'm not saying that Texas Tech won't win or won't to go to a BCS bowl in 2008, but I think it is unfair to consider the season a disappointment if they don't make it that far. A lot of things must go their way in order for that to happen.

Can they do it? No doubt about it. But if they don't I won't—nor should the Texas Tech faithful—be disappointed. If the Red Raiders go 10-2 or 9-3 and make it to the Holiday or Cotton Bowl, it's still another step in the right direction. If Texas Tech were to go 8-4 or 7-5, then without a doubt the season is a disappointment.

Either way, I will take my chances with this team and let the cards fall as they may in 2008.