Texas Tech Football: 'We Finally Found Out What the Jones Is All About'

What was the most important statistic in the Red Raiders' staggering defeat of the No. 12 Missouri Tigers in Lubbock on Saturday night?

• 101 offensive plays?
• 39:41 time of possession?
• 198 yards rushing?
• Zero points scored by Missouri in the second half?
• Converting 10-of-23 third downs, or 43.5 percent?
• Missouri converting just 1-for-12 third downs, or just eight percent?
• 24-17 final score?

Any combination of these numbers could arguably represent what made the difference in Texas Tech’s hard earned victory against the Tigers.

However, there is one number that may go under the radar in what helped the Red Raiders finally finish off a quality opponent down the stretch in 2010, 55,667, the total attendance at Jones AT&T stadium in Lubbock on Saturday night.

The mark is impressive given the emotional state of a Red Raider nation beleaguered with a 4-4 record and not even close to being over the sudden dismissal of beloved Mike Leach last December.

Much of the anger and hostility towards the Tech administration that fired Leach has been directed at Tommy Tuberville and his staff, who have found themselves in the unenviable position of applying salve to a wound they had nothing to do with inflicting.

Going 4-4, losing ugly to Iowa State, fielding a sputtering Red Raider offense that made the Air Raid seem like ancient history and failing to deliver completely on the promises of a reincarnated defense certainly haven’t helped.  But to be fair, many Tech faithful (at least the more vocal ones) haven’t seemed to be in an emotional place that has allowed Tuberville much grace time to get his programs in place.

Regardless of why, it is notable that almost 56,000 fans showed up for a game that for all logical purposes seemed almost unwinnable and that the bulk of these fans stayed in their seats after two first quarter, 70-yard rushing plays resulted in Missouri touchdowns, putting Texas Tech in the familiar role of fighting back from an early hole.

On only the third Tiger play from scrimmage, Marcus Murphy rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown that was followed two series later by a 71-yard Kendial Lawrence scamper for another Mizzou score.

With nine minutes left in the first quarter, Texas Tech was already down 14 points and had given up 150 yards of rushing.

But Red Raider nation (who could have ever predicted that the Tigers would only manage one measly field goal in the three remaining quarters of football?) stayed put and slowly watched its team gain momentum.

By halftime the Red Raiders trailed 17-10, and “the Jones” began to literally come alive.

In the postgame press conference, Tech standouts Colby Whitlock, Baron Batch and Detron Lewis all commented on how the crowd began to get loud towards the end of the second quarter. 

“The younger guys had never experienced the Jones before,” they mused, stating that the stadium had not come alive like that thus far in 2010.

Offensive coordinator Neal Brown also commented on the crowd, “we finally found out what the Jones is all about...It’s a tough place to play and our guys fed off the electricity...we had some big-time recruits here and they felt it...it was all smiles after the game.”

Brown further declared that “we need to get that energy” every time.

Clearly the Red Raider Nation had something to do with this victory. 

Charged up, excited and undeterred by the naysayers and malcontents, the Texas Tech fanbase showed up and may have been more than a nominal part of the difference between coming close to icing a game and actually getting it done.

Sure, the split is still there and some folks will remain angry, disappointed and disillusioned.  One win won’t magically heal the wounds and soothe all the hostile sentiments.

However, Texas Tech’s football fanbase proved Saturday night that while the scar (maybe oozing and still infected) remains real, at least 60,000 valiant members of Red Raider Nation are ready to ignore the ugliness and do their part to spur their beloved team to victory.

Is it the voice ringing out of a silent majority that hasn’t found its way to the blogs and message boards? It doesn’t really matter just as long as these righteous and noble Texas Tech enthusiasts continue to show up and do their part in securing the victories necessary to declare the 2010 campaign, despite the setbacks and disappointments, a success.