Interesting segment being promoted this morning on ESPN Radio on which program is the Chicago Cubs of college football. They haven't got to it yet, but I was thinking you could make a good case for Texas Tech.
Cubs haven't been to the World Series since 1945 and haven't won a championship in 108 years: Tech hasn't won an outright conference title since joining the major college football landscape in 1960. That's 56 years, and despite some very good teams, never the sole conference champion.
Think about teams which have won conference titles in the span: Forget the traditional powers, how about SMU, Houston, TCU, Baylor, K-State, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and Indiana? All of these up-and-down programs have won a conference crown at least once, some more than that.
Bartman foul ball, ground ball through Leon Durham's legs: Tech may not have the curse of the Billy Goat, but then again...
Tech lost conference titles like this:
In 1967, A&M QB Edd Hargett scores on a 15-yard broken-play run on the game's last play in a 27-24 win. Tech wins, they win conference, but champion is A&M.
In 1973, only loss of the year at Texas was largely decided when Tech couldn't handle a routine kickoff without being hit, and Texas recovers, scores and clinches the win.
In 1976, in only loss of the year, Tech rallies from a large second-half deficit against Houston. They are 10 yards and a conversion away from a potential tie game (no OT in those days) in the last minute that would have won the SWC outright and had them playing in the Cotton Bowl for the national title. Rodney Allison throws an interception in the end zone. Houston, in their FIRST YEAR in the conference, wins title.
Cubs have been on the edge many times and have come up short: In 1965, 1978, 1994, 2002 and 2008, Tech went into final game or next-to-last games knowing a win would win conference or win a division and go to the conference championship game. Lost them all -- and only a bad game against TCU in 1994 was close.
Cubs have some bad teams: And so have we.
Cubs have the most loyal fan base in America with so little to show for it: Ding-Ding. There can not be another fan base in the country with as small a population in a 100-mile radius that has never tasted a conference title that draws crowds relative to that than Tech. Some mention South Carolina. Much bigger population base.
Lot of fair-weather fans at other schools that bail easily: OSU two years ago had embarrassing crowds when they had a slow start with Tulsa and OKC in their backyards. Baylor, TCU, yeah right.
I still find it a bit amazing that despite four up-and-down years, and coming off two straight poor games, only 500 tickets remain tonight.
Tech has a kindred spirit in the Chicago Cubs.
Cubs haven't been to the World Series since 1945 and haven't won a championship in 108 years: Tech hasn't won an outright conference title since joining the major college football landscape in 1960. That's 56 years, and despite some very good teams, never the sole conference champion.
Think about teams which have won conference titles in the span: Forget the traditional powers, how about SMU, Houston, TCU, Baylor, K-State, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, and Indiana? All of these up-and-down programs have won a conference crown at least once, some more than that.
Bartman foul ball, ground ball through Leon Durham's legs: Tech may not have the curse of the Billy Goat, but then again...
Tech lost conference titles like this:
In 1967, A&M QB Edd Hargett scores on a 15-yard broken-play run on the game's last play in a 27-24 win. Tech wins, they win conference, but champion is A&M.
In 1973, only loss of the year at Texas was largely decided when Tech couldn't handle a routine kickoff without being hit, and Texas recovers, scores and clinches the win.
In 1976, in only loss of the year, Tech rallies from a large second-half deficit against Houston. They are 10 yards and a conversion away from a potential tie game (no OT in those days) in the last minute that would have won the SWC outright and had them playing in the Cotton Bowl for the national title. Rodney Allison throws an interception in the end zone. Houston, in their FIRST YEAR in the conference, wins title.
Cubs have been on the edge many times and have come up short: In 1965, 1978, 1994, 2002 and 2008, Tech went into final game or next-to-last games knowing a win would win conference or win a division and go to the conference championship game. Lost them all -- and only a bad game against TCU in 1994 was close.
Cubs have some bad teams: And so have we.
Cubs have the most loyal fan base in America with so little to show for it: Ding-Ding. There can not be another fan base in the country with as small a population in a 100-mile radius that has never tasted a conference title that draws crowds relative to that than Tech. Some mention South Carolina. Much bigger population base.
Lot of fair-weather fans at other schools that bail easily: OSU two years ago had embarrassing crowds when they had a slow start with Tulsa and OKC in their backyards. Baylor, TCU, yeah right.
I still find it a bit amazing that despite four up-and-down years, and coming off two straight poor games, only 500 tickets remain tonight.
Tech has a kindred spirit in the Chicago Cubs.
