Texas Tech Football: Have the Red Raiders Ever Needed a Win More Against Baylor?

Looking back through the history of Texas Tech football, you would be hard-pressed to find a game that the Red Raiders needed to win more than their Saturday morning matchup versus Baylor at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

The 2008 game versus Oklahoma immediately comes to mind; that game held the key to a first-ever Big 12 Championship appearance, the distinct possibility of a BCS bid, a run at the Heisman Trophy by either Graham Harrell or Michael Crabtree, and of course the definite prospect of playing in a BCS national title game.

Yes, there was a lot on the line in that game.

And then there have been instances when Tech needed a late-season win to become bowl eligible, or a victory to catapult themselves into one of the more elite non-BCS bowls like the Cotton or the Gator.

1994 also comes to mind; the Red Raiders needed a win over TCU in late November to lay claim to an outright Southwest Conference Championship. Tech dropped that game 24-17, shared the SWC crown with several schools and was ultimately propelled onwards to the Cotton Bowl by means of a complicated tie-breaker.

What happened versus USC in the Cotton Bowl that year is better left unsaid as is the Oklahoma game in 2008. Most Tech aficionados can remember well enough what happened all on their own, within the safe confines of therapy.

This weekend's matchup with the Baylor Bears in Dallas has significance for a plethora of very different reasons.

Tech is not in a hotly contested division race, a heated conference battle, nor eying a run at the BCS title.

No, Texas Tech football is just trying to stay alive, heal a huge split in its fanbase, and continue moving on from what happened in late December of 2009 when Mike Leach was dismissed as the Red Raider head coach.

It’s hard to understand the uproar occurring in the Red Raider fanbase, which seems to be just a loss away from completely erupting.

The team is 2-2 and looked somewhat capable after wins over SMU and New Mexico.  Even though the offense was anemic against Texas at least the defense looked much improved (and at that juncture Texas still seemed to deserve their top 10 ranking).

But then the Iowa State game happened, and all hell broke loose in Lubbock. 

Even though the Cyclones went 7-6 last season and won the Insight Bowl against Minnesota, it was still a loss to Iowa State. Yes, who cares that the Cyclones' only losses thus far in 2010 were to No. 9 Iowa and a touchdown defeat to a still-perfect Kansas State squad?

It wasn’t just that the Red Raiders lost to Iowa State (which had only happened once before in eight previous meetings), it was how they lost.

Iowa State scored 24 unanswered points in the second quarter and tacked on an additional 28 in the fourth.

Tech’s defense allowed a 36-yard touchdown pass, a 65-yard rush setting up a Cyclone touchdown, a 27-yard touchdown pass, and then a 61-yard scamper in the fourth quarter resulting in yet another ISU score. 

There were two fumbles (one on a punt return setting up another ISU TD), one interception, and, then when Tech had finally pulled within one touchdown with just about a minute left on the clock, the Cyclones took the Red Raiders on-side kick attempt and ran it back for another TD.

Final score: Iowa State 52, Texas Tech 38.

Following the game message boards, blogs, and comment forums were set ablaze with Tech fans screaming bloody murder about the present, past, and future of Texas Tech football.

“Leach would have won that game and the one against Texas, too!”

“Tuberville’s is a liar . . . he said he’d keep the “air raid” but it is GONE!”

“We’ll be lucky if we win two more games this season!”

“Improved Defense? Well at least our defense has finally caught up with our offense, they are both horrible!”

“The administration at Tech should all be fired; anyone responsible for Leach being gone should be FIRED!”

“White Helmets! White Helmets! We don’t want white helmets . . . we WEAR BLACK!”

And most alarming, “We are going to get slain by Baylor. The will slaughter us is. Our season is over.”

Though there are have been a few voices of “reason” amongst the Red Raider Nation, a few calming tones mentioning concepts such as “we’re only 2-2,” “let’s give this guy a chance,” and “let’s wait and see what happens,” the overall tone has been overwhelmingly negative.

So, what does Tommy Tuberville and Texas Tech need to do to reverse this downward spiral?

Should they throw the ball exclusively, get the black helmets back out of the equipment room and give the white ones to charity, or should they go out and purchase pirate costumes?

The solution to all of the problems swirling around Texas Tech and the precious Red Raider football program is really quite simple.

Indeed, the salve for healing the wound over Mike Leach’s firing, the medicinal remedy necessary to calm a people who want to welcome Tommy Tuberville, but on their own terms, the ointment to ease the pain and suffering associated with unwelcome change combined with poor performance, and the adhesive compound required to reattach the severed Red Raider Nation all flows from but one font . . .

Win Football Games.

It seems simple, and it is.

The Red Raider faithful will care less about how often Tech runs the ball, the color of their helmets or jerseys, the current university administration, the focus on any offensive or defensive scheme, or anything football related if Texas Tech WINS football games.

Furthermore, Texas Tech gridiron enthusiasts don’t necessarily want sloppy wins; ugly, dripping with errors, bad calls, and odorous with the scent of “careless” and “slipshod.”

Want to fix the football problems at Texas Tech University?

Win now.

Win later.

Win games you are supposed to win.

Win games you are not supposed to win.

Win at home, win on the road.

Win in conference, win out of conference.

Win big, win small; but don’t lose at all.

And, first and foremost: BEAT BAYLOR.

Don’t worry about Tech’s 14-game winning streak against the Bears; don’t consider the margin of victory or anyone’s record in the “historic” Cotton Bowl.

Just go down there, execute, and win the ball game.

The Tommy Tuberville era at Texas Tech has truly only just begun. 

Saturday against Baylor may be Tuberville’s biggest opportunity for a meaningful Red Raider victory during his first season.

Moreover, the 2010 Texas Tech versus Baylor contest may be counted prominently among the most critical games in the long history of Texas Tech football.