Raiders' Stars Align Over Norman or "Also Sprach Texas Tech"

There are turning points. Sometimes they are subtle, sometimes they are dramatic. And sometimes they are there because there is no place else to go. 

The 2007 Texas Tech-Oklahoma State was a dramatic turning point born of necessity. Despite a spectacular offensive performance, the Tech defense failed and Tech lost the game to the Cowboys 49-45.  Tech fans wondered, "How do you score 45 points and lose a game?" 

This was also the question Mike Leach pondered, but not for long.  Within a day, Ruffin McNeill was appointed the defensive coordinator and the stars began to shift.  McNeill noted hesitation in the defense. They were not attacking. He attributed the hesitation to complicated defensive schemes that placed players inside their minds and not their bodies.

This is a good thing when playing dominos, but a bad thing when playing football.  So McNeill simplified the scheme, exhorted his players to attack, and at the end of the season, Tech went from ninth to first in total defense in the Big 12.

A Tech defense eclipsing a Mike Leach offense? Not quite, but the stars over Lubbock were definitely moving. 

Despite the strong end of the year showing, the Tech defense was a question mark for the 2008 season.  After 10 games, they are a question mark no more.  Tech towers in the Big 12 defensive statistics: Texas Tech is No. 2 in scoring defense, No. 2 in rushing defense, and No. 3 in total defense.

These are not the illusory West Texas Marfa Lights. The stars have definitely moved. 

Tech has turned the corner defensively and credit has to go to McNeill, who took a group of young men with no confidence and turned them into a defensive juggernaut. 

But has Tech so turned the corner as to be able to throttle a Sooner offense that has been as unstoppable as that other offensive power? (Just who is that masked rider's team?)

The answer is a resounding yes, and this year, you don't have to be drinking the South Plains hard water Kool-Aid to come to such a conclusion. As the past four weeks have shown, they can stay on the field with anyone.  McNeill rotates the front line much like the Super Bowl Cowboys of the early '90s and the results are remarkably similar: Pressure is placed on the quarterback and running lanes are shut down. 

And if Tech is going to win the game, they are going to have to do exactly that. Bradford, the Sooner quarterback, may be the second best quarterback in the land, but he is a sophomore and he is subject to pressure.

Carefully watch the first couple of series that the Sooners have the ball. See if the Raiders place the pressure on Bradford. If they do, watch for the front line to go into a feeding frenzy.

Although this is a mature Raider team that is playing one game at a time, this is an inspired defense that sees the stars lining up for a No. 1 position and they are not to be denied.  

Tech will need inspired performances from its two interception leaders, Charbonnett and McBath, but there is no reason to expect less. Just ask Longhorn super receiver Jordan Shipley or Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant.  Both receivers are outstanding and have enjoyed a very good season, but when their dance ticket got punched against the Raiders, their performance became that of mere mortals.  

In playing the Sooners, there is no doubt that Tech will encounter perhaps the best running offense it has encountered this year with DeMarco Murray (804 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Chris Brown (782 yards, 12 scores) leading the way.

And the Texas Tech defense of old would likely crumble. After all, this is Oklahoma and they only have two losses at home in Coach Stoops' 10-year tenure. 

But aren't two losses in 10 years at home a rather fantastic number?  Has Oklahoma really been that good? 

The answer to both questions is "yes." Oklahoma has been that good and two losses is a rather fantastic number.

The problem for Oklahoma, however, is that they have to play that other Texas team this year which is not only "that good"; the Raiders have been good enough to beat the Sooners two of the last three years.

This Saturday, the Raiders will be looking to nail their third victory in four years to the Sooner hide. 

Week by week, the Raiders have been revealing themselves to be a team of destiny.  You don't have to get your telescope out to see the stars aligning over Norman this Saturday.  And Saturday morning, if you look behind the desk on Game Day, you might even catch a glimpse of a big ole humming monolith with strains of "Also Sprach Zarathustra" playing in the background. 

Yeah, the evolution of the Raiders into the preeminent college football team in the nation is that big.  

Where Tech goes, the stars will follow. The Raiders will take Oklahoma by 14.