Texas Tech Fires Up the "Fun and Get Your Guns Up" Offense

I woke up the next morning with an extra pound of mozzarella cheese still in my gut and stumbled over to the television set to catch ESPN's College GameDay.  After watching for about an hour, I headed over toward campus. 

When I was approaching Jones Stadium, I remember thinking that for such a big campus the stadium sure seemed undersized. 

When I walked in I realized that there was a whole lower level that is below ground and surrounds the field, which is well below street level.  You just don't see this kind of thing in Louisiana; we even have to bury our dead above the ground.

The stadium was packed with 50,000-plus and the place was rocking pretty hard considering it was before noon.  Talk about a baptism by fire, the Red Raiders fell behind 21-0 in the first half. 

It was like that feeling you get when you walk up to a craps table with a hundred bucks and walk away broke before the waitress even brings you your first drink.  Quarterback Sonny Cumbie looked like he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and the defense was on the back of a milk carton.  The crowd stayed fired up though.

In the second half, what can I say?  It was magic time.  The Red Raiders erased their 21-point deficit in no time and the Mike Leach "Fun and Get Your Guns Up" offense was in full swing.  There was another touchdown.  Then another.  I was incredulous. 

Little did I know that I was witnessing the biggest come-from-behind win in Texas Tech history.  The Red Raiders prevailed 70-35.  I was a believer, and after the game I went back to the store and bought that Texas Tech hat.

Now, back to my analysis.  Let's address this weak defensive reputation that Tech has wrapped around their necks.  Nobody knows about this problem more than Mike Leach, as evidenced by his unprecedented move of replacing his defensive coordinator after a close loss to Oklahoma State last September. 

Under the new defensive chief Ruffin McNeil, the Red Raiders led the Big 12 in total defense through their remaining eight games.  Capping off the 2007 season with a Gator Bowl victory over a stout Virginia squad, I'd say that this Texas Tech team was pretty focused.

Oh, did I mention that Texas Tech is bringing back the first freshman ever to win the Biletnikoff award?  I'm talking of course about the sensational wide receiver Michael Crabtree.  But how can we not mention the senior gunslinger Graham Harrell?

Harrell threw for over 4,000 yards last year and is one of 18 starters to return to the Red Raider lineup.  Did I mention that both of these guys are on the Heisman watch list?

Strengths:  The Harrell-to-Crabtree connection will anchor what will be one of the most prolific offenses in all of college football this year.  The Red Raider defense has found new life under coordinator Ruffin McNeil and is expected to keep improving.

Weaknesses:  Texas Tech loses their money man in placekicker Alex Trlica, who converted 233 consecutive extra point attempts in his career.  His replacement is likely to be true freshman Donnie Carona.

Prediction:  Go ask anybody in Tuscaloosa or South Bend if "tradition" wins any ball games for you.  The truth is that it's fun to talk about, but ultimately, it's only a lame comeback on a message board.  With the traditional powerhouses in the Big 12 rebuilding this year, the conference is wide open. 

If Ruffin McNeil can come close to keeping up with Mike Leach's high powered offense, this could be a very big year for the Red Raiders.  Consistency is key, an art they haven't quite been able to master in recent years. 

The first thing they have to do is win the Texas State Championship against in-state foes Texas and Texas A&M.  The final test will be when they travel to Norman to face Bob Stoops and his reloaded Oklahoma Sooners. 

Like I said, it is a wide open Big 12 this year and the Red Raiders have enough talent to take it all. By the way, if you still think there isn't a great tradition at Texas Tech, go to a game. Then go buy a hat.

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