...is one of the few that recognized how difficult Tech's schedule is this year. And specifically recognized as the toughest in the conference. It's good to see one writer not just recognize Tech's schedule when it is easy.
http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/...ng-11-game-stretch-is-critical-for-texas-tech
Managing unrelenting 11-game stretch critical for Texas Tech
As Texas and Oklahoma State move into bye weeks at the perfect time this weekend, Kliff Kingsbury’s program doesn’t have the same luxury. The Red Raiders are in the middle of brutal stretch of 11 straight weeks with a game, creating the most challenging schedule in the entire conference.
Fewer days off mean fewer chances for the Red Raiders to recover from the nagging injuries they’ve built up during the first six weeks of the season. And, it’s such an unusual schedule, it forces the Red Raiders to adjust practices and game prep schedules.
Patrick Mahomes, the Red Raiders already have won as many games this season as they did a year ago. The star sophomore quarterback has helped Tech emerge from the first half of the stretch with a 4-2 record, bowl eligibility within their sights and in position to create havoc in the conference title race. But the schedule adds another obstacle to overcome on the road to Kingsbury’s second bowl in his first three seasons, even through Tech is already looking at its some of its toughest games — against No. 2 TCU and No. 3 Baylor — in the rearview mirror.
Games against Arkansas, TCU and Baylor in consecutive weeks have made the Red Raiders battle-tested, but the brutal 11-game stretch could tell us more about the Red Raiders than any game or opponent left on the schedule.
If the stretch is not managed well, road trips to Kansas, Oklahoma and West Virginia or home games against Oklahoma State and Kansas State will be tougher than they would have been otherwise. The daily grind of an unrelenting schedule could put the Red Raiders behind the eight ball before they even take the field.
“From week to week, depending on how we’re feeling and the pulse of our team, we’ll take pads off for a day or cut some periods out,” Kingsbury said. “At this point in the year you have to do some things to keep them fresh and excited to keep coming out there.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/...ng-11-game-stretch-is-critical-for-texas-tech
Managing unrelenting 11-game stretch critical for Texas Tech
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Brandon Chatmon, ESPN Staff Writer- Covers the Big 12
- Joined ESPN.com in 2011
- Attended the University of Colorado
As Texas and Oklahoma State move into bye weeks at the perfect time this weekend, Kliff Kingsbury’s program doesn’t have the same luxury. The Red Raiders are in the middle of brutal stretch of 11 straight weeks with a game, creating the most challenging schedule in the entire conference.
Fewer days off mean fewer chances for the Red Raiders to recover from the nagging injuries they’ve built up during the first six weeks of the season. And, it’s such an unusual schedule, it forces the Red Raiders to adjust practices and game prep schedules.
Patrick Mahomes, the Red Raiders already have won as many games this season as they did a year ago. The star sophomore quarterback has helped Tech emerge from the first half of the stretch with a 4-2 record, bowl eligibility within their sights and in position to create havoc in the conference title race. But the schedule adds another obstacle to overcome on the road to Kingsbury’s second bowl in his first three seasons, even through Tech is already looking at its some of its toughest games — against No. 2 TCU and No. 3 Baylor — in the rearview mirror.
Games against Arkansas, TCU and Baylor in consecutive weeks have made the Red Raiders battle-tested, but the brutal 11-game stretch could tell us more about the Red Raiders than any game or opponent left on the schedule.
If the stretch is not managed well, road trips to Kansas, Oklahoma and West Virginia or home games against Oklahoma State and Kansas State will be tougher than they would have been otherwise. The daily grind of an unrelenting schedule could put the Red Raiders behind the eight ball before they even take the field.
“From week to week, depending on how we’re feeling and the pulse of our team, we’ll take pads off for a day or cut some periods out,” Kingsbury said. “At this point in the year you have to do some things to keep them fresh and excited to keep coming out there.”
