Women's Texas Tech Basketball: Lady Raiders not yet ranked in AP

Though not yet ranked in the polls, our Lady Raiders are # 3 overall in the Big 12 with a record of 10-1 and have at least garnered some votes for AP rank consideration.  They welcome the North Dakota Fighting Sioux (3-8 and Independent) on Monday 12-28-09 in Lubbock.  Their tip-off time is at 8 PM (CST).  Guns up, Lady Raiders...wreck 'em! 

Men's Texas Tech Basketball: Red Raiders still ranked #23 in AP

Our AP 23rd ranked Red Raiders now have a record of 10-1 and stand #5 overall in the Big 12.  They will travel to Albuquerque on 12-29-09, to play the AP 12th ranked University of New Mexico Lobos (12-1, Mountain West Conference).  The Lobos were ranked 12th until they lost their first game versus the un-ranked Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (Summit League) on 12-23-09.  Not sure how the rankings will place either teams (Tech or UNM) when the new polls come out tomorrow.  The Tech/UNM game is scheduled for an 8 PM (CST) tip off time on Tuesday.  Guns Up, Red Raiders...wreck 'em, Tech!

Texas Tech Goin Bowlin for the 16th consecutive season!

Our Red Raiders (8-4, 5-3 Big 12) will be facing the Michigan St Spartans (6-6, 4-4 Big 10) in San Antonio's 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday, January 2 (8PM)...read more via Texas Tech athletic site

To view more details about the bowl, logon to the Alamo Bowl site

To read Michigan State's take on this game versus our Red Raiders, logon to their site "Green and White"

Finally: Michael Crabtree dons a 49er's jersey

This is an excerpt from ESPN (click to view better).

As much as I have been disappointed in this guy, I cannot help but continue to like him and cheer for him, after all, he is a former Texas Tech Red Raider and a rather awesome one at that. My previous disappointment in him was in how he took so long to show up in 49er land to conclude contract negotiations. The Raiders coach, Tom Cable, passed him up in the NFL draft instead taking one Heyward-Bey. Cable, justified his actions by indirectly referring to Crabtree as a pre-madonna, a trouble-maker. That is really stupid of Cable to say or believe especially after his actions with his own coaches. Anyway...because Michael was taking so long to decide if he would accept the 49er's contract, his lack of actions indirectly proved a point in regards to other's accusal that Crabtree had a big head, a bad attitude, that maybe he was a pre-madonna. Well, Crabtree is signed with the 9er's and did settle on a pretty nice contract deal. Did he really get what he wanted? That's for Michael to decide. Going forward, Crabtree will have much to do & much to prove. It seems that his private war with everything that went wrong with the 2009 draft whatever those things were which caused him to drop out of the top 5 and even #8 position is one thing that sport's pundits/media will continue to follow. Crabtree and Heyward-Bey are going to be compared side by side for a long time to come. The proof is in the puddin'...just look at ESPN's write up today on their web site. The Texans won in the end, but the 49er's had several eyes upon them...mainly due to the newest WR from the state of Texas - from the one and only Texas Tech U.  To be continued

Aggies awoke a sleeping giant tonight: beats Tech 52-30

I started out my facebook posting tonight by saying that I was upset by the Texas Tech loss to the A&M Aggies and that I refused to let it bother me going forward. I added that I hope that this awful loss had awaken the Texas Tech football program. Going forward, they (Tech) needs to be better prepped for any opponent. Ranked or unranked, no one can really predict the outcome of any game. Just look at how Alabama narrowly escaped a loss tonight as did Florida. Teams especially need to be mindful of conference opponents because who better than a conference foe to know your playbook and to prepare for you in ways you never saw coming...rankings really don't matter much during conference games.

I won't/can't say much about the A&M V. TECH game because it was not televised, and I don't really feel much like reading articles about it. But one thing for sure is that the sport's channels should regret not airing it like they did in 2002 when no one televised the rivarly game that year. It was also a heckuva game. Many more of the Aggie fans are probably sick that the game did not air since their team came out victorious. I am sure they were thrilled over their victory over the Red Raiders. It was a long time coming, but no one would have predicted it would occur this year - not at THE JONES. Personally, this Red Raider fan is thankful that the game did not air. I would have hated to see my Red Raiders get beaten so badly by the Aggies. I would have probably blown a gasket or worse (lol). Like I said, I won't write much about any of the logisitics behind Tech's loss tonight. All I can say is that it sounds like Tech really needs Steven Sheffield at the QB helm. Taylor Potts seems to bring nothing but choas and uncertainty to the entire team. He was apparently benched in the third qtr after throwing his 3rd pick. Third stringer Seth Doege replaced him but not before chants by Tech fans of "no more Potts! no more Potts!" echoed through-out the stadium. The only thing I will say is that the defense seemed confused by A&M; good work to Mike Sherman and team b/c no other team ever had Tech's defense on the run like that this year. I guess they (d-line) just grew tired of being on the field so much, I really cannot say as they are known for their endurance especially playing in their own backyard, per se. The offense also seemed rattled. So many dropped balls (not like the WR's), so many blocked passes, they (RB's) couldn't get a running game going, and the interceptions that Potts threw just added wood to the proverbial fire tonight. Taylor Potts was the lone change in the Tech's line-up tonight. He got back the QB position solely by default after having to return as QB due to Sheffield's foot injury/surgery. Overall, the way that Tech played - one would think that it was more than just one player that was new to the lineup. It makes this blogger ponder and finally conclude that Taylor is not good for the team. He brings too much negative energy; one can clearly tell that he is not comfortable as the QB and in a weird but seemingly true way, it just throws all the players off balance.

Coach Leach, Tech fans demand better: send him emails to let him know!

Well, Tech, whatcha gonna do?!! Only 4 more games left in conference play. Your record is 5-3, with two conference losses. The games left will not be easy by any means. You still lack the Kansas Jayhawks next week then a bye week which is much needed. Then you go to Stillwater to play the OK St Cowboys, followed by OU the next week in Lubbock. Then the regular season ends in Big D at Cowboys Stadium where you play the Baylor Bears. I always say never to count out the Bears. Not sure what Tech coaches/players have to say about tonight's loss, not sure I want to even hear it. After all, at the end of the day, it is just semantics. And I would rather see (not hear) how they make those "much needed" changes and adapt going forward.
As for me I strongly believe that Tech will rebound and end the season on a winning note. I am certain Tech plays in a bowl game again, but maybe one of lesser importance/pay-off. This season is nothing close to last years, but things look promising as Steven Sheffield returns hopefully by the time Tech plays OK St and through-out the remaining season this year. Then we have him returning next year as he is just a Junior. Who knows, maybe Tech can get him red-shirted due to his injury and lack of play this season so he qualifies to return to Tech as a 6th year Senior. Texas Tech is resilient and will prevail, we all just have to believe. But so do the Red Raiders so by all means, let's challenge them to do so.

Follow the link & click on "submit a question to Coach Leach"...

http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/text-m-footbl-body.html
...instead of asking a foolish, obsolete question as fans tend to do week in and week out, let's instead demand the best from Coach, from all of the coaches and from the entire team!

To show the football world what we (Tech fans) know IS a much better team than the one that showed up during tonight's game!

Bad news for Texas Tech RE: Quarterback, Steven Sheffield

Per ESPN & an article in Rivals Online, it appears that Steven Sheffield's (Sticks) already hurt ankle has worsened thus needing some kind of surgery this past Sunday. He will be out for an undetermined amount of games...that means Taylor Potts is back at the QB position starting this week's Aggie game. Let's hope Potts has learned some things from watching Sheffield.

Reasons for Tech fans not to panic:

1) Tech can win the A&M game with Potts b-c the Aggies are not very threatening & the game is in Lubbock

2) Tech can also win the Kansas game with Potts b-c the Jayhawks are not as good as Tech, the game is in Lubbock

3) Tech is bye after the Kansas game which gives Sticks time to return for the OK State game in Stillwater

4) OU comes to Lubbock to play and the Red Raiders are out for serious payback after last year's humiliating loss to the sooners. Tech can score quicker than OU this year and our defense is awesome; Tech can lay a whoopin' on OU this time around. No matter if Jones or "cry baby" Bradford are the QB, Tech can win this one. "OU - who?"

So just let Potts play in the A&M Aggie game and maybe even the Kansas Jayhawk's game to allow Stick's ankle to heal for the tougher games.

Let's not forget the final game of the regular season V. Baylor in "Big - D" at the new Cowboys Stadium. Can't overlook the Bears. They also lost their great QB to a season ending injury, but they always show up ready to play.

Whatever happens, Tech moves onward and upward with continued victories.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=rotowire-exasechtevenheffield&prov=rotowire&type=fantasy

Texas Tech sees its first AP ranking of 2009!!!

My beloved Texas Tech Red Raiders finally broke the college football polls today. They made the AP Poll ranked at #21***USA Today at #24***the Harris Poll at # 22***Yahoo fans voted Tech at #20***!

I waited for the minute the polls for week #8 came out this Sunday afternoon, then I posted stories/opinions on my other sport's blogs & Facebook then I decided to send a text regarding Tech being #21 to my family, the ones I knew would appreciate knowing about it. They probably think I am crazy for not being too ecstatic over Tech's ranking at #21. There are several reasons why I get so upset that Tech did not get a much better ranking (15, 16 or 17) this week, and why I am so vocal and why I write about it on my other sport's blogs. I will write about the reasons following this post.

But for now, Congratulations to our Texas Tech Red Raiders for being #21 and keep winning!!!

The college football polls: are they getting too political?

The 2009 college football polls finally get it right for week #8...some of them did anyway. The AP Poll ranked Tech #21 but this blogger strongly disagrees with that ranking and says Tech should have been # 15th, 16th or 17th.
Last year Tech suffered some ups and downs. The team saw themselves ranked #12 as 2008 began, then they earned # 2 spot during week # 11 and kept it as such for weeks # 12 & 13. Then came the awful nightmare of a game versus OU (the one I am not so sure Coach Leach may not have "given away"; the very game when he lost his manhood to his former boss, Bob Stoops) then Tech fell to the # 7th spot, that was week # 14. Tech then remained at # 7 thru weeks # 15 & # 16. Rankings by the end of the regular season (post season) had Tech ranked as such: BCS @ #7, AP @ #12, USA Today @ #12, Harris @ #8.
My "beef" this season is why Tech was dissed by the polls and began 2009 not even ranked. Many sport's pundits (idiots) said it was due to Tech's loss in the Cotton Bowl to Ole Miss. Well, as much as I hated Tech losing that game, they lost to a very formidable opponent who was ranked # 25 in the BCS at the end of 2008. Matter of fact, Ole Miss started this year ranked # 8 or 10 depending on which poll you prefer, but they were top 10. Please someone tell me how Tech could be forgotten like that when other ranked teams who have lost more important games to unranked teams manage to stay ranked? Tech did not have a weak schedule either. It was the same as UT, OU and other ranked teams across the country.
Other sport's pundits said Tech was omitted from rankings because of losing Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. What a stupid reason. Did those pundits (idiots) not see the caliber players who remained on the Tech team after Harrell graduated and Crabtree elected to leave. These same idiots who deem Tech as a "system's team" the ones who say they don't like Tech's spread offense and instead of respecting them slightly for it, they say it is too gimmicky and too showy. These idiots say that week in and week out and if that is really their stupid opinion, then fine, but by them saying that they should admit that Tech can then "plug and play" any player into any position and win. So what is my point? That Tech's "system" thus allowing them to "plug and play" does not miss nor need Harrell or Crabtree to keep winning. Although we love, respect and will always honor Harrell & Crabtree; Tech can continue to keep winning without them and all the other awesome players they lost from last season. The time to stop dismissing Tech via the polls has arrived. Tech is still for real. I especially want the sport's pundits (idiots), the ones who continue to also dis Tech, to just shut up.
Tech will earn more respect as the 2009 season progresses; it holds its own destiny in their own hands to earn much respect and better rankings. So AGAIN the reason I am not happy or satisfied with Tech being ranked #21 this week is because they should be ranked better. You don't dismiss a team like Tech who ended up ranked # 12 on the BCS poll last year for any reason.
The rankings for 2009 came in being very bogus; unjustly placing several other teams on the polls that should not have been there at all. Tech should have at least come in @ # 20 thru 25 and been allowed to determine how they would proceed through-out the year. Most fans say they don't care about rankings (yea, right?)...they are liars if they don't care. Besides rankings through-out the season determine championships and how much money each university will make. Don't tell me that rankings don't matter.

The Texas Tech - Nebraska Rivalry at a glance.

I will start this post reflecting on last year's football game between these two team. But first I want to remind readers that Nebraska leads the series 7-3 but Tech has won the previous 3 games. Tech is in the Big 12 south and Nebraska is in the Big 12 north so they do not play one another every year. Instead they usually play each other every two years for 2 consecutive years. This is how the south and north division games are scheduled so that all north teams play at least 3 south division teams each year.

Anyway about last year's game, Sara & I attended the Nebraska game in Lubbock when Tech was ranked #7. Texas Tech had to go into OT to win that game. Nebraska had lots to prove coming into this game and Tech almost floundered. Tech scored a TD in OT but failed on the extra point which would have been detrimental had the Huskers scored a TD and the extra point. Had our defensive back, Jamal Wall, not intercepted the ball, it would have been lights out for Tech. Indeed a nail-biter. Nebraska, having won 5 national championships in years past, had not been a very good football team for a long time, and I am sure it bothered them that Tech was ranked so high and doing so well coming into this game in the little ole town of Lubbock, Texas. As if Linclon was any better-whatever. The Cornhuskers came into that game cocky and with bad attitudes as their fans showed us before the game even started. The Huskers had already decided to snub their little brother (Tech) who was in the Big 12 south division when the Big 12 was enacted in 1995. They had surely long ago decided that only OU & UT would be deserving, annual contenders to play Nebraska and not the likes of Texas Tech. That lowly Tech would never beat them because they were the Huskers - the owners of "Big Red"! They were wrong.

As this year's game saw Texas Tech march into Lincoln, our Red Raiders once again proved their "Big Red" nation wrong. Even if the Huskers were ranked #17, Tech was ready to defeat them and to remind them that past history of any collegiate football team does not guarantee any team will continue to win. The Nebraska championship teams of the past is just that...in the past. Tech has dawned a new era of players and coaches who are at the ready to beat any team, any time. The UT loss should not have been a loss. I have to let that one be as Tech has moved forward. The UH loss was a fluke and Coach Leach should have allowed the kicker to score 3 points instead of showing off thinking Tech could score 7. That decision was stupid, but Tech has also moved forward from that quirky loss so I need to do the same. At least Tech lost both games to ranked teams.

As Tech does continue to move forward after this week's win versus the Huskers, they will show everyone what they are made of and will prove that as a "systems" team as those sport's pundits (idiots) like to call them, they (Tech) will continue to be successful. Florida still has Tebow, OU still has Bradford (or did) and UT still has McCoy BUT they are struggling with every win. Yes, they are figuring out how to win, but it has been ugly and "just barely squeaking by" kinda wins. A better opponent is at the ready to beat them and it is coming soon. My point in stating those things about those 3 teams (and several other "wanna be" teams) is that they don't have the ability to "plug and play" like our Red Raiders can. Maybe it is those "non-system's" teams who are going to fall victim very soon to the gimmicky teams like Tech with the "systems" offense. Those "non-systems" teams who will soon need to change their format of play and catch up to a "systems" offense and drop "traditional" because "systems" is what present day and time is now demanding of college football.

Next week's Tech game sees the A&M Aggies travel to Lubbock. Let's see if our Red Raiders beat them as mightily as Kansas St beat the Aggies this week and as badly as Tech already beat Kansas St last week. Whew, whatta mouthful.

ANYWAY, ONWARD & UPWARD TECH...RED RAIDERS STILL RULE!

One more thing to Coach Leach...you should've kicked it.

The other two posts which I filed earlier this morning clearly show my realization that Tech needs to hold itself accountable for their loss to UH last night. However, upon giving it much thought, even if the viewing audience of last night's game are 50-50 split with the fact that Tech was denied a true touchdown or not...Coach Leach should have thought long and hard about letting Taylor Potts & company try for a QB sneak. After all, the night's showing of the Tech offense clearly showed their lack for scoring. Coach Leach should have instead sent in our kicking team for an extra 3 points. He was even quoted at saying as such. Had he done that then Tech would have been up by 8 points at that point instead of by just 5 which is what was left after the failed TD effort. A successful 3 point field goal for Tech would have still forced a UH touchdown and the same try at a two-point conversion which they failed at as we all saw. A Tech field goal try with success would have seen our Red Raiders leading 31 to 22 instead of just 28 to 22. Maybe it would have changed the momentum in Tech's favor. At worse, even if Houston had marched forward for the same 95 yards while using up over 5 + minutes late into the game and scored the same TD and even if the two-point conversion had worked for them this time around, it would have been a tied game...31 to 31. Overtime in college football is way better than that of the NFL. It would have given each team an equal shot at winning. Tech Nation might not be second guessing the Tech coaches & players today and playing "Monday Morning Quarterback". In the end, Coach Leach and his bull-headedness cost Tech the victory. Not since 2007 has Tech experienced back-to-back losses. I hope they do remember that fact and strive to win all games left on their 2009 schedule. After all, they are Red Raiders and they still carry much of last season's abilities with them this season -or better- to continue to be champs!

Overcoming adversity after admitting the truth...

I really & truly felt better as I finally came to grips about Tech's negative play-calling and their inability to follow through to make positive things happen. Things which would more likely ensure a victory rather than enact a total collapse of their football system. I needed to blame Texas Tech for their recent losses and stop trying to find reasons for why they have lost. Tech beat Tech during last week's game down in Austin and is the same mirrored image which beat Tech this week over in Houston. I feel better saying all of that and in being able to write it down. I am sure some Tech fans (friends & family) may strongly disagree with me and my admittance of it, but I had to do it so I could move forward and so that I could send Tech a message that the way they are playing is so NOT not acceptable. Maybe some Tech fans actually feel as I do and maybe by admitting what I just did will help them move forward and onward as well. I do NOT know. All I know is that I will always be a die-hard Tech fan and in times when things are going well, I will be more-ever-so-proud. But as all positive things sometimes have a negative side associated with them (the "ying/yang" theory), when Tech is going through rough times as they have and will probably have in the future, I will still be one of them and continue to stand tall, proud & loud right beside them. It is the times when they fail to show their true abilities and do not try as hard that I will hold them liable for any losses they may incur. A word to the wise (Tech), get it together and do it now. You are Red Raiders ("Pirates")...you are way better than what you are showing to the world as of last night's loss to UH. It is still early enough in the season to have another winning season as Tech has had since the Big 12 began. Long Live the Matadors!

Texas Tech fans ("natives") are getting restless

It is 5:25 AM - the Sunday morning following last night's (ESPN, late aired) game between former SWC rivals, Texas Tech Red Raiders and Houston Cougars. I am finding it rather difficult to sleep right now or to do anything constructive being that it is too early considering it is a Sunday - a day many ppl prefer to sleep in late. I made a big bowl of chili (con carne) for last night's game-viewing party with the regular guests in the house (thanks Hernandez familia & friends) so my first intention upon waking up so darned early this morning was to ensure that the small portion of leftovers was properly put away in the fridge. Just in case I was able to visit my Mom & Lucky later on today to deliver the cuisine of "next day better tasting, matured chili". No joking, the chili does indeed acquire a better taste and texture the next day. Anyway, apparently Sara had already done that for me earlier so I was left with nothing to do with my restless and heart-broken self except to logon to the Net to read stories, articles, blogs, feeds...anything regarding last night's disappointing loss of our Red Raiders at the hands of the Cougars. Something that might ease the huge, unexplainable let-down that this Tech fan of over 35 years is feeling. Sure I went to bed strongly protesting that late 4th quarter touchdown stance in which Taylor Potts clearly crossed the plain prior to the officials blowing of the whistle which should have given Tech 6 points and a chance to make it 7, but - NO - it was not to be. The officials said that Taylor's second efforts at crossing the goal line came after the whistle blew. Clearly not true, it was a touchdown prior to any whistle blowing; for certain a true TD that everyone who saw the replay could attest to in Tech's favor and would protest to against the fact that another Tech game was determined by rotten officiating. I awoke this A.M., like someone with nothing better to do in his/her life, because I really do have better, more important things to do -trust me, with the same negative feeling in the pit of my stomach with that game on my mind. I realized that I had fallen asleep with the tele on and it was tuned into one of the sports channels and the commentators were talking about NFL football. I was perturbed and I thought for a second, 'how can anyone talk about the NFL' (even if it is now Sunday - a day when the "big boys play") 'when Tech was denied yet another game last night due to rotten calls against them'? Yes, people, I was that shallow and yes, I was kidding myself and not wanting to admit to the truth which was plaguing me at the core of my belly. After I did the things that I wrote about earlier in this post, and after going through all the motions, I decided that if my negative feelings were to subside and if the 100 lb. weight in the pit of my stomach was to disappear, that I would just have to come to terms with last night's outcome. I would finally have to lay blame where it needed to be and those person's uniforms were not black and white with stripes on their shirts; the person's to blame were dawned with scarlet and black and had the double-T logo embedded on their polo shirts. I finally would have to be the bigger and better fan and quit acting like an arrogant Aggie fan and extend my congratulations to the true victor's of last night's game for their awesome performance. I really underestimated the Cougars and my dismissal of their football abilities was wrong, and this blogger should have given them credit for their talent to date this season, after all, they really have done an outstanding job in beating their opponents. I was so cavalier in my views of how Tech was better than UH because they are in the Big 12. I undershot Conference USA because they usually do not produce BCS contenders - no, sir, not like the Big 12. Boy, was I wrong. Maybe by my admitting all of this it will help me to relax and get a grip, per se, so that I may go forward as a Texas Tech fan and to hold the Red Raiders, not the officials accountable for their loss versus UH. Yes, I will always have a bad taste in my mouth for that touchdown that Tech was denied, but I will also remember that worse taste that plagued my mouth all night long and even now as I write this, which makes me question what the Tech coaches and players plan to do to correct the shortcomings of our Red Raiders. For the second week in a row the Tech defense has had to play longer & tougher than the offensive team. The defense cannot be expected to play as such if Taylor & company don't do the same. If the Tech offense continues to go onto the field acting out such bad plays thus creating a quick "3 in and 3 out" effort, then they need to re-think their offensive stance and throw out all current plays because they are not working. Coach Leach needs to go buy a real playbook instead of utilizing pieces of scrap paper to keep track of which offensive plays he has already called and such. My sister Josie said she wanted to buy Mike an official playbook and although it was funny last night and we all got a roaring laugh over it, my sister is not too far from the truth about Leach needing that playbook. He could at least look more "official" and more threatening to Tech opponents versus looking like the "mad scientist" which sport's pundits have dubbed him. A moniker which I now have really grown tired of especially when Mike's offensive play calling abilities have worn out their knack for throwing off the opposing defense and everyone knows what he is going to do at each and every down. A mad scientist would have a reason or a theory for why certain things did not work, and he would change his methods. Mike is not changing his methods (plays), and it is costing Tech some major victories thus far and we are only headed into the 5th game of the season with conference play just two weeks away. Our defense grew tired last night, obviously they had reason to get as fatigued as they did because they had to be out on the field longer than the Tech offense. Our Tech d-line could just not ward off the UH offense and their will to win. Tech's defensive line plain'ole became worn out and tired all the while their mental psyche & physical state could not keep up with the UH determination to win the game. I do give credit and kudos for our d-line for how hard they tried given that they had to spend way more time on the playing field than our Tech o-line did. It was not the fault of Tech's d-line or of the officials (who still get a sour lemon rating from this person) that our Tech o-line came up short and cost us the game. Again, I do give credit to UH for having such a good team, both on offense & defense, and for their will to win and show the world that they really are contenders and to remind everyone not to under-rate them as I incorrectly and prematurely did going into the game. I gave Tech too much credit and maybe my attitude was not so different from the attitude that our Red Raiders also carried with them right up until the game started. Clearly Tech was not ready for this game. Yes, they could've, should've done things different, but in the end, it is the offensive line's inability to score that worries this Red Raider fanatic. As I sit here writing this post, I think about Tech's upcoming schedule and it is going to be rough and all downhill if Coach Leach and the entire offensive coaching group and players don't come up with answers to the problems currently crippling our offense. We do have many games at home, but the opponents are going to be vicious. Next week Tech welcomes New Mexico into the "black-hole" in Lubbock, but we cannot underestimate them. Nope, going forward Tech and fans can no longer afford to undermine any opponent if our offense continues to wreak of rotten tomatoes. We need to pressure everyone associated with Texas Tech football and their logistics to improve and to get better prepared for all games coming up. Remember that we have to travel to places like Stillwater (OK St) and Lincoln (Nebraska). Two teams which annually give Tech a run for their money. Ok St is scheduled each season as part of the Big 12 south, and the Cornhuskers are only scheduled every 3 years as part of the Big 12 north, but this year finds Tech having to contend with both, and they have to do it on their playing field - deep in enemy territory of sorts. If Tech does not fix their playing issues, they will continue to succumb to their opponents and maybe even miss making a bowl game for the first time since Coach Leach became Tech's head coach. I remember late last season being upset at our athletic director, Gerald Myers, for not renegotiating Mike's contract quickly enough and for not trying harder to find the funds to pay Mike enough to stay with Tech. I am not so sure that Coach Leach was worth my worrying so much about his salary, his contract and his staying in Lubbock. I am not ready to write the guy off...not yet. But I do expect better things from Mike and I do expect more victories this season. Taylor Potts has some big shoes to fill indeed, but for him to meet or beat those expectations and overcome the Harrell shadows, he needs to be more ready to leave the pocket as needed. He needs to be more of a scrambler (ala Tarkenton) or he is going to get sacked so much more often and he will continue to create turn-overs. He sits in the pocket far too long and the opponents are savvy to the fact...the opponents are being given too much time to read Taylor's eyes and his intentions and are creating quick "in and outs" for Tech if not forcing Tech turn-overs. Yep, it will be interesting how Tech reacts to all of this. A game (vs UH) which left many Tech fans stunned last night mainly because Tech had no answers, a game which is just the beginning of a rough, long season for Tech and their fans if they don't return to the drawing table and draw up newer, better plays for the o-line and for the d-line. Or it can be the beginning of how Tech can rise up to the occasion and improve and finish out the season atop of the Big 12 south. It is not too late, but the clock is ticking. I expect answers from Tech's coaching staff as well as from the players. I still believe in Tech. I still am Raider Nation proud. I still wear scarlet & black as proudly as ever. However, I will not do so as readily if Tech continues down the path to self-destruction all the while appearing as if they aren't playing as hard as they can. I know Tech can play harder and better, they just have to re-group and leave the "pre-madonna" attitudes of Tech teams of the past in the past, and play like the Tech team they became last season. We cannot show the world that losing Harrell & Crabtree was to become our demise. Taylor Potts has the ability to be great or better than Graham. Leong & Lewis (and other WR's) have the knack to be better than Michael as well. Tech showed during last night's game that their running game is not dead. Batch & Britton showed up unlike last week vs. UT. The B's did an awesome job at running the ball and keeping it on the ground to give the d-line a much needed break. The downfall of Tech's d-line was Tech's awful passing game. Now, that is where you rise up to the challenge, Mr. Potts and the entire Tech offense..."Tag, you're it"...go with it, run with it and be champions because of it.

Tech vs Texas; lousy officiating thus lousy outcome

Note to the officials calling the game, when it came down to calls against Tech - "you lied"! Even Joe Wilson would have been all over your officiating butts tonight, guys, because your calls just plain'ole sucked. You guys made Austin stink like a sewer swamp. Texas did not beat Tech...you, the officials, and your bad calls beat Tech. Your lousy calls beat Tech down until the Red Raiders knew they could not beat Texas because you guys were not going to allow it; you came into tonight's game with your pockets already lined with that "Texas Gold". It was apparent that the officials had the beat-down ready against our Red Raiders. I am tired of the officiating always being lopsided and bad for opponents going into A-town to play versus the 'horns. I know, I know, most ppl would say that fans of a defeated team always call "bloody murder" against the officials when their respective team suffers a loss. That fans blame the officials rather than their team for the game loss. I can & will agree that Tech did incur many penalties against themselves, but not that damned many -c'mon!!! One such stupidly called penalty was against our Tech defensive player who clearly did not grab that UT player's face mask, he merely brushed it with his fingertips. You should have let it go, officials, but no - you called it and cost Tech 15 lousy yards. Another unjust penalty to pile onto the several unjust penalty yards you had already called against Tech and would continue to unfairly call until the end of the game.

As for the penalties that went ignored by you knuckleheaded officials against UT (and there were many), that was totally a huge mis-use of your power & authority. The most important & obvious penalty against UT that went ignored tonight by the officials was the "leading with the helmet" (or "helmet to helmet") by the UT defender against Tech's QB, Taylor Potts. It was a nasty, blatant, and classless play by the UT defender which the officials should have caught and called. I am just glad that Potts was okay following that ignored penalty. Even the ABC commentators saw it and stated that it was a penalty that needed to be called. That is was created for a specific reason (safety reasons, DUH!)and needed to be upheld, implemented, and called each and every time. Brent Musburger even added that officials needed to be more consistent in calling it. It was indeed a momentum changer. In this blogger's opinion, it surely cost Tech the game as the players finally realized that there was no way they were going to be able to beat UT because the officials were not going to allow it. No, sir, not tonight...not in Austin, and surely not Mack Brown's team. I hope the officials are happy...they should be ashamed. But that is very doubtful!!! I am not sure who has the officials more in their pockets, Mack or Bob Stoops.

Why Tech lost; Texas really didn't beat us.

Follow the Tech threads as fellow Red Raider fans agree with my assessment of this game. A game Tech could've and should've won if the powers that be (the officials) were fair, honest & impartial. Yes, again, I agree that Tech messed up many times, but it should not have been up to the officials to decide the outcome by calling so many wrong penalties against Tech then turn a blind eye to UT's bad and dirty plays. Lopsided indeed. Next year UT comes to our house, and we will NOT be beaten in "our house". Forward and upward Tech goes from this game in A-town.

Bob Stoops and co. better be ready as they come to our house later this season. Forget "boomer sooner", they will be "bummer sooner". Tech will remember last year and give you a good old fashioned Texas Tech beat-down. Gundy (the "I'm a man" idiot), you will also suffer the wrath of the Red Raiders. I don't care that Tech travels to Stillwater to play your cowpokes. The Houston Cougars proved last week (when OSU was ranked #5) that you can be beaten in your own house and Tech will clearly take advantage of that fact. To add, OSU had a somewhat difficult time in gettin a beat-down on Rice tonight, a team Tech outright beat and beat bad last week, and it further proves OSU's inability to win big. ANYWAY...

Tech plays UH next week, but I believe Tech wins handily. Esp still reeling from Saturday's upset by way of bad officiating in Austin.

Some of my predictions for the 2009 NCAA football season

Neither OU or UT will be in contention for a national championship this season. Plus, I no longer believe -nor can I support or favor- McCoy will win the Heisman. No hard feelings against Colt; I like the kid, but am not impressed by his play-making or rather his lack of play-making to date this season. He was better by this time last year. Can't even say he is playing at the same calibur he did during his sophomore year. But with that said, I neither support Tebow or Bradford for Heisman .

I do however believe that Texas Tech will prove to be a strong team at the end of this season and many sport's pundits will eat crow after saying Tech would not finish with as many wins as they had last year and that they would be lucky to finish 5th in the Big 12 South. I believe that Tech will finish tied for first (again) with UT after OU beats UT during their annual Red River Shootout and after Tech beats OU. Another tie - another mess, but this year's outcome will favor Tech.

Tech will certainly do what they fell short of last season and will prevail this season and be a highly ranked, feared, and respected team with more checkmarks in the win column. We will get a great bowl-bid (and win) and continue as the only team in the conference, since the Big 12 was enacted, to have more winning seasons. Many a bowl game under Mike Leach and that trend will continue. We will be in contention...

Graham Harrell signs with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders

He is overlooked by the notoriously stupid NFL. I guess only the bad boys of college get to play ball in the NFL or they have to have played for a so called tier one college. Not that the tier one schools are valid any longer in regards to the true definition of what it should entail. Many of these so called schools no longer deserve to be classified as such, but because they have money and can afford such high profiles, their respective players can very well write their own ticket into the NFL. Tech's Michael Crabtree was one of the few exceptions who actually had true talent and made it into the NFL. He was from a great conference but from a small university who lacks in the $$$ column compared to their collegiate siblings & rivals from schools such as UT, OK, A&M, etc.

Not to take anything from what Michael has achieved (and will hopefully continue to achieve), but a receiver's chances of being drafted by the NFL is far greater & better than that of a QB. Besides, Michael was supposed to go quicker in the first round of this year's draft and almost did not make even the top 10 because of Oakland's dismissal at picking him at # 8; had it not been for the 49er's taking him at # 10, Michael surely would have slipped out of the top 10 when he was supposed to go somewhere in the top 5 range.

QB's from the smaller, disrespected & ignored colleges usually go to the CFL (as is the case with Harrell and previous Texas Tech QB's). The arena football league disbanded due to various reasons last season so I suppose one can say that the CFL is now more competitive so Graham should be happy & satisfied for having been taken by the Saskatchewan Roughriders (read the story here), but that sort of statement would not be just or do justice to Graham's fantastic collegiate career. Plus, the lone fact that the ignorance of any NFL team to give him a shot just makes him want to try harder and one day he will get that call from an NFL team to show everyone what he is made of and ppl will wonder why it took so long. If Kurt Warner doesn't inspire football fans to show more support for the little guy, the under dog, the long-shot, then I don't know what to say. If fans rallied a lot more in support of what we want and who we want, maybe the league would be better off. We could rid the league of the true bad boys faster. Personally, I like the way the ownership of the Packers belongs to their respective fans.

BTW: In further noting why, to me, the NFL does more often suck than not, let's discuss one of my all time fav players...one Terrell Owens. He IS NOT A BAD BOY!!! I really believe that he is just misunderstood and seriously gets unfairly picked on by the glorified media that spins things so much out of control that they could easily provide major cities with wind power. He was long ago chosen to be a negative player because the sport's pundits chose the wrong player when it came time to pick sides of right and wrong. It was too late for the pundits to change back sides so they continued their witch-hunt of Terrell to continue in desperation to justify their awful decision until the poor guy either broke down (which he never did) or until he uttered a major gaffe (which he never did either).

He does merely voice his thoughts & opinions. Let's face it, ppl, it is the premadonnas of the past that have once played QB to his WR who have been the cry-babies. In a way, they were the belly-crawling, ratty, little whistle-blowers. Perhaps it is they (NFL QB's in Owen's past) who have just been too chicken to voice their own opinions if ever they had any as most of them were/are "yes men". Terrell has never gotten into physical brawls with his team-mates, never gotten into trouble with the law, never been associated with drugs or any other crimes. Don't tag him as a thug, a trouble-maker, or for certain not as a bad boy when the great player that he is happens to get passed over for the real tag that he is truly deserving of...a franchise tag.

Story of the Tour's "yellow jersey" / "maillot jaune"

The all-famous "yellow jersey" or in its native French language the "maillot jaune" denotes the leader of the race per stage and is won overall by the winner at the end of all the stages. It was dubbed as such as it was first given to Frenchman Eugène Christophe by race founder Henri Desgrange. Henri thought up the idea and then announced it during stage 7 on July 10, 1919. The "maillot jaune" was not presented to Christophe until one week later at the start of stage 11. This was the first tour since WWI which had brought the race to a 5 year halt. Henri Desgrange was also the owner and editor of the sport's paper, L'Auto. The color yellow was chosen because Desgrange's paper was also yellow in background.
As always, everyone is in anticipation of whom will wear the "yellow jersey". Yes, who will continue to wear it through-out the remaining 13 stages. We know that the Italian, Rinaldo Nocentini, will start off tomorrow's stage 10 wearing it, but will he be able to keep it by withstanding sure fire chases by other rival teams? Will his squad stand behind him as well to ensure the "yellow jersey" stays within their team? As the Tour returns to the flatlands it is common knowledge that teams such as Astana & Columbia-HTC are sure to be in cahoots within their respective teams to snatch it away.

Tour day off...Monday, July 13, 2009

Sunday ended stage 9 and tomorrow will begin the tour again at stage 10.

We bid farewell to the Pyrénées (considered the first phase of the mountains) as the tour returns to the flatlands on Tuesday where the sprinters will once again vie for the opportunity at winning the "green jersey". After the grueling days in the Pyrénées, the sprinters, as they survived the mountainous terrain, are in their element in these flatlands. They stand ready to show us how why they are dubbed as "warriors of the road" by cycling guru Paul Sherwen

Paul goes on to remind us in his article, (written for and posted on versus.com )in which he reviews tomorrow's stage 10, that Team Columbia-HTC will regroup in plans to help their team-mate, Mark Cavendish (Great Britain), take back the points race to take back the "green jersey" which is currently held by Germany's Thor Hushovd. Mark won and wore the "green jersey" early on in this year's tour and had it for several stages, but Thor (who has won the overall points race in previous tours), took it away during the mountain stages.

We also look ahead to see what other teams have in mind and how their strategies will fair in trying to play take-away from the current jersey wearers of such respective races. Or how the team's of such current holders of said jerseys will fight to keep them.

Mon 7-13-09 Tour de France current overall leader board

Top 30 positions
1 87 NOCENTINI, Rinaldo ITA ALM 34:24:21 0:00:00
2 21 CONTADOR, Alberto ESP AST 34:24:27 0:00:06
3 22 ARMSTRONG, Lance USA AST 34:24:29 0:00:08
4 24 LEIPHEIMER, Levi USA AST 34:25:00 0:00:39
5 58 WIGGINS, Bradley GBR GRM 34:25:07 0:00:46
6 23 KLÖDEN, Andréas GER AST 34:25:15 0:00:54
7 76 MARTIN, Tony GER THR 34:25:21 0:01:00
8 51 VANDE VELDE, Christian USA GRM 34:25:45 0:01:24
9 31 SCHLECK, Andy LUX SAX 34:26:10 0:01:49
10 95 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA LIQ 34:26:15 0:01:54
11 118 SANCHEZ, Luis-Leon ESP GCE 34:26:37 0:02:16
12 77 MONFORT, Maxime BEL THR 34:26:42 0:02:21
13 36 SCHLECK, Frank LUX SAX 34:26:46 0:02:25
14 93 KREUZIGER, Roman CZE LIQ 34:27:01 0:02:40
15 81 EFIMKIN, Vladimir RUS ALM 34:27:06 0:02:45
16 1 SASTRE, Carlos ESP CTT 34:27:13 0:02:52
17 61 ASTARLOZA, Mikel ESP EUS 34:27:23 0:03:02
18 11 EVANS, Cadel AUS SIL 34:27:28 0:03:07
19 75 KIRCHEN, Kim LUX THR 34:27:37 0:03:16
20 161 KARPETS, Vladimir RUS KAT 34:28:10 0:03:49
21 101 CASAR, Sandy FRA FDJ 34:28:19 0:03:58
22 29 ZUBELDIA, Haimar ESP AST 34:28:35 0:04:14
23 27 POPOVYCH, Yaroslav UKR AST 34:28:41 0:04:20
24 181 GERDEMANN, Linus GER MRM 34:28:41 0:04:20
25 174 FEILLU, Brice FRA AGR 34:28:47 0:04:26
26 162 BOTCHAROV, Alexandre RUS KAT 34:29:21 0:05:00
27 41 MENCHOV, Denis RUS RAB 34:29:23 0:05:02
28 74 HINCAPIE, George USA THR 34:29:46 0:05:25
29 187 VELITS, Peter SVK MRM 34:29:49 0:05:28
30 106 LE MEVEL, Christophe FRA FDJ 34:30:24 0:06:03

Le Tour de France 2009...

Welcome back, Lance!

Lance did make a tour fan out of this person, but like I told my sis, Josie, I am not really an avid Lance fan. I will cheer for him as he tries for tour-win # 8 but will jeer at him whenever I see him throw up a "hook em, horns" hand sign for a school he never attended. I heard someone jokingly say he was back to try to win back Sheryl Crow...I laughed & laughed at the stupidity of that comment and what an absurd gesture it would be. Not that Lance is too good for her, but vice versa. He was not nice to her when she needed him the most, but she did overcome her own cancer dilemma and now has a child (a real child not a man-child) to keep her company. Kudos to her. Anyway, my issues with Lance and his UT antics and his Sheryl Crow frolics aside, I do hope he can pull out another victory. It is strange seeing him riding for a non-American team, his Team Astana. Not that he always did ride for a team from the U.S., but before he retired in 2005 after having posted tour win # 7, my favorite teams of his were the American-spawned U.S. Postal and Team Discovery.

Anyway, back to the tour. This year's tour began with a bang as it usually does. I must say that my favorite stages during the 22 stage event are the individual time trials closely followed by the team trials. I also love the stages when the tour visits the Pyrénées and the Alps; I am always in awe of how the riders keep up with the grueling climbs with the difficult road gradients that make my legs cramp up just by watching.

I am also in awe of how the domestiques selflessly give up the limelight that awaits the victor of the tour at the end of the 22 stage journey by playing second-fiddle to his team's chosen leader. It is the domestique's job to make sure that his team's leader is protected from harm from the rest of the field in the event of a crash, it is his job to play rabbit to the field within the peloton to help keep his team's leader in the chase, it is his job to also try to win a stage to help score points for his team which in an odd way also helps his team's leader. And mostly, it is the domestique's job to push and pull. In pulling, he allows his team's leader to ride his coat-tails by ways of the leader latching on to the winds that his domestique's cycle puts out which basically carries the leader without much effort on his behalf. It reduces his need for greater cadence. In pushing, the domestique has to find it within himself to encourage his leader to ride faster and harder regardless of how he (the domestique) is feeling. He has to play cheerleader.

This tour and the sport which is called bicycling is just awesome. Whomever says that it is not a real sport is plain ignorant or an American cro-magnon man. This is a real sport which takes over 22 days to complete almost 2200 hundred miles of different terrain which includes mountains -real mountains!

My hats are off to these gentlemen. One day I will find myself in France during the awesome month of July to see this great tour in person. To see one stage of the tour would be great in itself, but how much more in awe would I be to be fortunate enough to see more than two stages (goose bumps happening)...I would ever be so humbled to see all 22 stages.

I am currently pulling for Lance (U.S.), Levi Leipheimer(U.S.), and even Alberto Contador (Spain) to win the entire event. My favorite rider though, always has been and continues to be one George Hincapie (U.S.). George is Lance's buddy and was one of his domestiques during all his previous 7 tour victories. Even though he has never been in this to win the entire event, it just makes me so happy to see him still there and my tears will be difficult to hold back if he is able to win a stage or more this year. He is a top notch kinda guy. It is a little sad to see Lance and George on opposite teams, but I am glad they are each doing well. Aside from Lance's Team Astana being one of my favs this year, I must say that George's Team Columbia-HTC is close second with the one in third and final fav column is Team Garmin-Slipstream (another American Fav on this team for me is one Christian Vande Velde).

Vive le Tour de France, baby! (pardon the almost Dick Vitale-ish quote).

My personal list of Favs to win the tour and other races within the tour

Fav Tour de France 2009 Overall Champion (riders I pick to win the "yellow jersey"):
1) Lance Armstrong (U.S.)
2) Alberto Contador (Spain)
3) Levi Leipheimer (U.S.)
4) Christian Vande Velde (U.S.)
5) Tony Martin (Germany)
Consolation Fav of mine
6) George Hincapie (U.S.)...still considered more of a domestique, could win a stage or more, but not an overall contender - he is the quintessential "team player"!

Fav Tour de France 2009 Points Champion (riders I pick to win the "green jersey"):
1) Thor HUSHOVD (Norway)
2) Mark CAVENDISH (Great Britain)

Fav Tour de France 2009 Climber "King of the Mountains" Champion (riders I pick to win the "polka dot jersey"):
1) Well, I hate to say that I am still undecided, but my fav is Thomas VOECKLER (France). Not just my fav for the Climber jersey because he is french, but because he has been around for a long time (since 2001), and he deserves a win of big significance. However, after stage 9, he is # 14 overall with 31 points. The rider sitting at the # 1 position is Egoi MARTINEZ (Spain) with 78 points. Go Thomas (France's "sweetheart"!)!!!

Fav Tour de France 2009 Youth Champion (riders I pick to win the "white jersey"):
1) Tony MARTIN (Germany)...this guy will win the Tour de France real soon!
2) I won't be presumptuous here as I am not familiar with the rest of the newcomers or young guys under 25 this year. Yes, shame on me for that.

Fav Tour de France Overall Team winner:
1) Team Astana (KAZAKHSTAN)
2) Team Columbia-HTC (U.S.)
3) Team Garmin-Slipstream (U.S.)

Fav Tour de France Combative Champion (standings not yet available to pick from)

Mavs end Spurs playoffs early

In a game which saw the Mavs end the Spurs run at another possible championship, Dallas was able to hold off the Spurs by a margin of 106-93 On Thursday night. The Mavs won the series 4-1. What a heart-breaker to the fans and what an awful way for the Spurs to end their season. It has been since 2000 (and I believe ever since Duncan has been with our mighty Spurs) that the Spurs went out in an opening series. And to lose at home (aaahhh - ouch).

Well, that ends my NBA hopes. Not sure who I want to win the championship now...maybe the ??? the Celtics, the Rockets -although Portland appears to be giving them a run for their money, or maybe the Cavaliers (did I just write that down). Lately, LeBron has made a "sorta" fan out of me now that he has chilled and enjoys the game much more and is able to make fun of himself. I will say that for certain, this gal is a Laker Hater...Kobe irks the heck outta me. "Kobe beef, it's what's for dinner". What the stupid Jazz couldn't do to the jerks from L.A., may their next opponent do, it will either be the Rockets or Trailblazers...rooting for the Rockets.

2009 NBA Playoffs brackethttp://breathingfire.com/nba/playoffs/2009/bracket2009.php

Now I await college football and see what the stupid NFL brings our way this season in what I hope to be more exciting than last year.

Graham is overlooked in the regular draft pool of 256 draftees!

The NFL continues to prove what a bunch of morons they really are and as such...Graham Harrell did not get drafted. At best, he will have to join a team as a free agent and probably settle for a lot less $$$ mula and a more menial contract. (any data in blue text only was added on Monday afternoon, 4-27-09) ESPN reports that the Browns invited him to join their mini-camp "too get a feel" for the team and himself. Mike Leach is understandably peeved off at the NFL for not drafting Harrell, and had some choice words for the NFL. "Right On, Mike!" Mike was also very upset at Brown's coach Eric Mangini for his bad-mouthing of Michael Crabtree in calling Michael a "diva". Maybe Mike will let up on Eric if Harrell ends up with a contract with the Browns. Maybe he can pass Brady Quinn in the QB lineup if Brady has another season ending injury. I held my breath during the last round today and when the slots hit # 200, I knew it was "crunch-time" for him to get drafted. I still hate that the Giants (in a deal from New Orleans) picked up QB Rhett Bomar 15(151)from Sam Houston State over Graham. They call Graham a "system QB"...all of our QB's have had this stigma ever since Mike Leach came over to Tech with his style of the pass offense. Notice how several other colleges have gone over to that type of offense in the big 12 (OU, UT, Baylor, A&M, OK St, KS, K-ST, Mizzou, etc...)and around the country, but Tech still gets the "lone pounding" for it. I still believe that Graham has the best ability, from previous Tech QB's, to make it in the NFL. Screw the teams who passed him up. The same was done to Wes Welker a few years ago and look what he did for the Dolphins and now for the Patriots. I even held out my hopes of Graham maybe getting the final slot of the '09 draft at # 256 which has been dubbed as the "Mr. Irrelevant" dating back to 1976, but NO---that slot went to a stupid kicker from South Carolina by way of the freakin' K-City Chiefs. That term was coined as such because the final player drafted often does not make the team. However, that was in years past, in more recent years, the last player taken has proven himself and stayed with the team more often than not.
All I can saw now is Graham, please go out and prove the NFL wrong!!!
Several other Tech players were also bypassed so I hope they too will prove everyone wrong. Maybe during all the trading that will continue to linger in months ahead.

NFL prospects from Tech as of 04-26-09

Thus far as it has gone for Tech alumni in the draft thru today, this minute:
Michael Crabtree, WR...10 (10) first round to San Francisco
Darcel McBath, S, 16 (48) second round to Denver
Louis Vasquez, OG, 14 (78) third round to San Diego
Brandon Williams, DE, 20 (120) fouth round to Dallas
TBC...still waiting for Graham Harrell to get drafted by a "smart team".
Other Tech players I am also hoping will get selected are:
Rylan Reed, Archie Reed, and please-please-please...Shannon Woods.

Day 2 of the NFL draft finds Lady Luck on side of Tech players

#78 - One of my all time fav Texas Tech players, Louis Vasquez (#65 Tech) was drafted #14 by the San Diego Chargers in round three today placing him at the #78 overall mark. He was a Sr and an Offensive Guard for our Red Raiders and was often a key player helping to give Harrell the pocket protection he needed while also helping to keep Harrell's sack stats at a low number. He assisted the WR's and RB's to be able to scramble and find the all important open lanes needed. He was part of our beloved O-line which created havoc for many college defensive teams. They had individual nicknames due to their ability to wreak havoc on opposing teams, Louis' nickname was "Super Hero Indian"...mainly because he looked like an Indian.

# 120 - Brandon Williams (#84 Tech) was picked up by my 'BOYS from "Big D" during the 4th round at the 20th slot placing him overall at 120. Brandon was a Defensive End for Tech last season but also left school early for the draft (argh) as a JR. Dallas picked up this slot in a trade with Tampa Bay.

Dallas selections in the draft (some real stinkers...)

Dallas waived their first round draft pick last season when they picked up Roy Williams from the Lions (what is it with the 'Boys negotiating constantly with the Lions?). So that meant the earliest they could pick during this '09 draft was at #51 (second round)...yesterday's opening rounds saw Dallas waive that 51st pick over to the Bills. Their next pick would be during today's opening third round at the #69 spot (a slot which was waived to Dallas from the Browns) and they picked up Jason Williams an OLB from Western Illinois, he was drafted 5th in this round which places him at #69 overall. This is by far the best pick to come from Dallas and co. "good going"...

Then at the # 75 overall spot still in the third round (11th pick in the round), they drafted Robert Brewster a defensive tackle from Ball St; I liked Brewster, but not over some defensive players that Tech had to offer. Stupid Jerry Jones, he is still showing his naivete and stupidity. I know I possess a strong bias in relation to my Red Raiders, but they really had an outstanding group of players to offer my 'Boys, but they (Dallas & Jerry) went on a nasty, rotten tangent instead. Lastly in the third round, Dallas gave up their overall 82nd pick (18th in the round) to Detroit. Part of the stupid Detroit connection.

At 101st pick to start off the 4th round, they did the unthinkable...Dallas was rumored to pick up Graham Harrell somewhere in the 4th round, instead they went for Stephen McGee the feakin' QB from Aggieland. He merely started 3 games last season in his SR year as an Aggie QB and only appeared in a total of 6 games. An o.k. choice but certainly NOT BETTER than Harrell. We did all that idiotic trading with Detroit for him. Like I said, Jones is stupid. Must be drinking again!!! (AH)...later in the 4th round Dallas picked up another spot from the Bills for the overall 110th slot (10th in this round) and took Victor Butler an OLB from Oregon State. Dallas' overall 117th pick was waived over to the Bucs. That worked for me because Dallas traded the 117th pick for the Bucs overall 120th pick and took a Red Raider with them...Brandon Williams a DE from Tech.

They also did some more trading and such going into the 5th round...at 143rd overall, they finagled for a trade for the slot from Oakland but originally from Atlanta. They picked up DeAngelo Smith a CB from Cincinnati. In turn during this 5th round, the Falcons will pick up Dallas' original trade at the #156 overall slot. Jerry, put down that bottle!!! Not wanting to further my details of their remaining picks, I stop there and end that by stating that by the end of the day the 'Boys ended up with 12 total picks and my report card grade to them for their wheelin' and dealin' is a "B"...most picks were all right. Mel Kiper (ESPN anyalyst/pundit) gave them a "D" for opting out of first & second rounds and so on...he was not impressed with their overall picks; several sport's pundits seem to believe that Dallas did not focus on the positions which are in dire need of revamping.

Reminiscing about Tech's 2008 season and the O-line nicknames

As I stated above, Louis was "Super Human Indian". The rest of the monikers for the Tech O-line were like this:

#74 - Rylan Reed was "the Hulk" because of his bench press.

#71 - Stephen Hamby was "Mr. Incredible" because he just looked like him.
#51 - Shawn Byrnes was the "Kool-Aid man" because he was all upper body (too funny).

#76 - Brandon Carter was "Mankind", because he paints his face and messes up his hair like the wrestler.
#67 - Marlon Winn was "Fat Albert" because he has a big old belly would wear a half-shirt (yikes, bad recall for my memory) every day at practice .

Tech football players faired well in first day of NFL draft

#10...WR- Michael Crabtree (#5 Tech) was picked up in the first round at the 10th spot by the 49ers. Something about his character is what some say hurt his chances at getting drafted better than 10th. Alex and I were perturbed and perplexed at those news. Not sure what the ESPN sport's pundit meant by that. I never heard anyone question Michael's character in any way. I did not research it further...we decided to let it go. I only knew that his ankle injury was what would hurt him get drafted at a better pick number. Whatever...I am still very disappointed and upset that Michael went pro immediately following his sophomore year with Tech. A reminder to Mikey of how Tech was the first university willing to give him a chance to play college ball only to have him leave us too early. The scholarship of course was for basketball, but that soon changed. And another change as he did come to Tech for football was that he was moved from the QB position to the WR position; something Michael and his dad should kiss Mike Leach's derriere for as it made him who he is today as a player going to play in the NFL. A good college education should still be worth more than NFL $$$. If a player is that good, like Michael was...he waits at the college level and prepares himself to get better. The sad thing about the student-athletes of current day is that most minorities tend to be impatient and leave college to make the big bucks while the white athletes tend to stay in college and get educated. A good thing to do in case the pro career does not work out. Graham Harrell did things the right way and waited. He even went to grad school while at Tech. Anyway, about Michael, had he kept his draft card clean, he probably would have gone higher and been the first Wide Receiver to be drafted, instead, the Raiders took liberties as they had the #7 pick and went with another WR from Maryland, Darrius Heyward-Bey. That made Michael the second WR to be drafted overall, that was not kosher, but...Good luck to Michael, though.

#48...S - Darcel McBath (#7 Tech) went 16th in the second round by the Broncos. An awesome feat as he helped ensure Tech had two players drafted in the early rounds. Being 16th in the second round puts Darcel @ 48th overall. He was an awesome Safety while at Tech and I believe he holds a record for interceptions and/or interceptions returned for points. Even though he is also a minority, he did right by his alma mater and waited until after his senior year to enter the draft. Something which probably made him a better fit for the NFL. I will miss him as well this season at Tech, but am happy for him.

Now we await Graham Harrell's NFL propects...blog-mills say the Cowboys are on the list for drafting him 1st overall in the 4th round. Since I posted this blog late tonight, no definite deal had been made. Nothing short of rumors which I hope to have some truth behind them. One of my fellow sport's bloggers who works over at Yahoo!Sports said that the Denver Broncos were leaning towards Graham as well. That would be okay and would place him and Darcel on the same team. If Graham does go early (first) in the fourth round, it would make him #97th overall. A couple of other teams are also in the hunt for him as a true red-shirt back-up QB. One being the Redskins (YUK!). Anyway, Dallas is in need of a real back up QB...Kitna from the Lions is a joke as back-up. Anyway, Dallas needs a back up who can be at the ready to sub for Romo as Tony is not the most reliable QB around and his character towards a prof career in the NFL is still yet to be proven. He cannot seem to take the leadership role. Detroit gave us Kitna while they drafted #1 overall and took Matthew Stafford (Georgia). Nick, Sara, Alex and I say that was so stupid as he never did anything great for Georgia. He screwed up the annual game versus Florida (Tim Tebow & co.) last season and they (Georgia) lost after leading the series as of 2008...45-38-2! Knowshon Moreno (RB) for Georgia is what made Georgia a good team, not Stafford. Knowshon went 12th overall with the Broncos. Stafford is indeed a good QB, but not so worth #1 draft overall and not the 79 million dollars which is the contract Detroit signed him for with a guaranteed 41 million dollars. How offensive to the draft, to the NFL and to the game itself. We await day 2 on Sunday (4-26-09) for the other rounds. Keeping my hopes up for Graham and other Tech players who have a good chance of being drafted somewhere in the 7 rounds. I hope for the best for the guys who helped make Texas Tech's 2008 football season an awesome and memorable one.

Texas Tech bi-annual Garage Sale April 17, 18 & 19.

Tech Athletics Hosts Bi-Annual Garage Sale. The event will be held in conjunction with Red-Black Game weekend.
Texas Tech will hold its bi-annual "Texas Tech Athletic Department Garage Sale" next weekend, April 17-19, in the west side main lobby of Jones AT&T Stadium. Fans of all ages are invited to browse through apparel and equipment from each of Texas Tech's 17 intercollegiate sport programs. Everything from authentic game-worn jerseys and other team apparel and equipment and in-store merchandise from the Double T Zone will be on sale to the public at discounted prices. Hours for the sale are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. CT Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
For more information on the Texas Tech Athletics/Double T Zone Garage Sale, contact the Double T Zone at (806) 742-1077.

Texas Tech 2009 Spring Game

Saturday April 18th, 2009 (Today is Alex's 15th Birthday!!!):
11:00 AM free kid's football clinic
12:00 PM is the alumni game
1:00 PM spring game>>>come get a preview of our new football team for this coming football season...we're slated to be in the mix. Some sport's pundits say we will finish behind the tea sippers (longhorns) and the cry babies (sooners) again, but we will not win as many games as we did last season. Phooey to them I say. A handful are giving our beloved Red Raiders a chance of repeating what we did last season and bettering it all. I say we can go full force with many victories. We are missing many caliber players, but those who remain have seen greatness and are eagerly awaiting the chance to keep up the high spirits and high standards that last season's squad left behind. The beginnings of a real legacy to move forward and to give the bigger schools something to be afraid of for a change. Like our motto goes..."from here, it's possible!"...

Thanks 2008 Texas Tech Football squad!!!

Thanks to the likes of Daniel Charbonnet, Michael Crabtree, Graham Harrell, Anthony Hines, Darcel McBath, Eric Morris, Jake Ratliff, L.A. Reed, Rylan Reed, Louis Vasquez & Shannon Woods! I only listed some of the key Sr's who have since left Tech. Of course Michael was a sophomore, but equally missed as though he had been a senior. I listed them in alphabetical order as to not dare try to give more importance to one player over the rest. It took the entire team to take them to where they did last year and for all of them (all grade levels), I am thankful and so proud. Thanks for a season of greatness, of blow-outs, of nail-biting, and of course, with those good things came the exact opposite in disappointments, heart breaks, tears and some "oh, so" angry moments.

Best moment will always be during the 'horns game with the 8 seconds left in the ball game. That awesome moment in time when Harrell passed that ever-sweet fade route pass ("route 5") to Crabtree and Michael did the unthinkable. The very moment and play which finally brought our wonderful and beautiful university the universal recognition which placed us on the map; and brought the program to the level which it has been so deserving of for years.

"Fearless Champions Evermore" ...