A little Election Day reading...
To be completely upfront with everyone, there was no point in doing a Notes on Yost or Deciphering Patterson this week, and if you watched the game, you know why. It was a complete embarrassment of a football game at all levels. Tech was completely outclassed in every aspect, and I don't think two stories saying "play better" and "coach better" would be very helpful or fun to read.
I am incredibly concerned with the state of Texas Tech football under Matt Wells, I'm not sure we are seeing the requisite improvement (or any improvement for that matter), but I'm also pretty convinced it doesn't matter in terms of his future. So I'll save that story for December, for now, let's try to at least have a little fun as we wallow in all that the 2020 football season has given us.
These aren't going to be your run-of-the-mill awards, that's pretty played out, and I'm not sure there's a lot that has happened this season that could really qualify as "best" or "most." As I tried to think of the best way to go about "awarding" what we've seen so far this season, I was reminded of a text I got from a friend, and fellow Red Raider, in regards to my optimism about the game on Saturday. He quoted one of the worst villains in TV history, Ramsay Bolton, "If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." Unfortunately he was right on, but, fortunately, he gave me the idea for these awards. So here are quotes from Game of Thrones handed out as Midish Season Awards.
“There is only one thing we say to death: Not today.”
—Syrio Forel to Arya, while teaching her how to fight
The first award goes to Texas Tech's uncanny ability to lose games it shouldn't, "not today" says every Tech opponent going into the closing minutes of a close game. I would love to see the alternate universe where Matt Well's is able to finish just half of the close games he's lost. How different would the mood of the fanbase be? Or would writing on the wall still be there?
“Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder.”
—Littlefinger to Varys on power and his intention to seize it
To the guys who have seemingly been able to rise to places of admiration in they eyes of fans among the mess of this season. Erik Ezukanma, Myles Price, Tahj Brooks, Alex Hogan, Krishon Merriweather have all been bright spots during the chaos and have climbed to the top of the list of the few parts of a Tech football game I still enjoy.
“You know nothing, Jon Snow.”
—Ygritte’s to her sometime enemy/sometime lover
What a hotly contested award this is, Tommerdahl's kick off return strategy, Yost's play-calling, Matt Well's in-game decisions, all prime candidates. As much as I'd love to give this award to Yost or Wells out of spite just to make myself feel better, this is all Tommerdahl. I can't give this award to anyone else because he, and the kick return unit he leads, could solve this problem with (LITERALLY) a wave of a hand. Instead, they continue to ram their proverbial head into the proverbial wall all while, as @A. Dickens so eloquently puts it, lighting precious field position on fire.
"The past is gone for good. You can sit here mourning it’s departure, or prepare for the future."
— Petyr Baelish
To everyone who constantly stumps for hiring Mike Leach, Sonny Dykes, Art Briles, or any other old Air Raid disciple. The Air Raid as we know it is dead, long live the Air Raid, but it's time to move on.
Sansa: "What do dragons eat?" Daenerys: "Whatever they want."
To SaRodorick Thompson, the dude is just so good. I know he's had some up and down games, but that's due to circumstance (injuries, bad quarterback play, bad offensive line play, etc). When the defense isn't able to key on him at every moment, he eats.
“Winter is coming.”
— Ned Stark / Jon Snow and just about everybody
The remaining games on this 2020 schedule take this award. Every game on the schedule is winnable, but every game on the schedule is also losable. It's entirely up to Matt Wells, his staff, and his team to determine which direction this team is headed in 2021. They are injured, they are beat down, and their backs are against the wall, let's see what this team is made of and what it's capable of accomplishing. "Many are saying" the results are a given, but I'm gonna give them a chance.
Bran: “Can a man be brave if he’s afraid?’
Ned Stark: “That’s the only time he can be brave”
Henry Colombi. This guy shows up late in the "COVID offseason," wins the backup job, and is quickly thrust into playing because his ability to move could possibly makeup for the offensive line. Not ideal. Maybe he's not a long-term option, maybe he's not even the most purely talented quarterback on the roster, but he's incredibly fun to root for and appears to give the Red Raiders the best chance to win.
"Nothing isn’t better or worse than anything. Nothing is just nothing."
— Arya Stark
To the Texas Tech pass rush. I don't even know what to say at this point, it's been a problem for nearly a decade, and I don't see it improving any time soon. The lack of turnover creation and giving up explosive plays can be traced back to a lack of any sort of pass rush (even while blitzing!). Sure, it reared its ugly head big time on Saturday, but that wasn't the first time and won't be the last. It's a tough thing to scheme and overcome, but it has cost this program games.
"A man with no motive is a man no one suspects... *of scoring touchdowns consistently*”
— Petyr Baelish
To David Yost's offensive game plan. I have gone on rants both on this website and in my home about my frustrations with the Texas Tech offense, and that's because the majority of the time I just don't get it. I don't understand the plan, the goal, or the execution. I don't understand how the first drive can be scripted to near perfection, and then nothing resembling that happens the rest of the game. Maybe (definitely) I've been spoiled offensively, but there has to be a middle ground.
“A Lannister always pays his debts.”
— The Lannister motto
This award goes to past recruiting. Those debts are being paid right in front of our eyes. It's not an excuse for the current coaching staff or bashing the previous one, it's a simple reality. Look at the offer lists of your upperclassmen on defense, specifically the secondary, and the story is told without even having to watch the games.
“Gingers are beautiful. We’ve been kissed by fire.”
— Tormund
Bowman. I just feel bad for the guy. He's sacrificed his body for this university, and appears to be doing everything a great teammate needs to do right now. I wish him all the best no matter what's next for him.
“The night is dark and full of terrors”.
— Melisandre
The OU game. Halloween night, coming off a win, relative excitement... and Tech cannot even compete with the worst OU team in a long time. Talk about reality slapping an entire fanbase in the face. That's a game you've always lost, but getting run off of your home field is never easy to swallow.
“The freedom to make my own mistakes was all I ever wanted.”
— Mance Rayder
To the Tech secondary. I don't want to beat a dead horse, especially since that's against the board rules, so I'll be brief. I do not necessarily fault the players, they are doing the best they can, but the mistakes are so hard to handle. Whether it's coverage busts or dumb penalties, I'm holding my breath anytime the ball is thrown deep. It was getting better... then the night full of terrors (OU game) happened, and I don't know if we've made any progress at all.
"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die."
— Cersei
Matt Wells. I see his direction, I see his plan, and he seems like a guy I want representing my university, but this game is about results. His questionable decisions, both in and out of games, and his inability to close has gotten a loud part of the fan base already looking for his replacement.
"The day will come when you think you are safe and happy, and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth."
— Tyrion
The offensive line, again, this may just be the debt of past failures showing up to collect, but things are bleak regardless of reason. I thought the offensive line improved quite a bit throughout last season as they became more familiar with Yost's scheme, but this year seems to be a regression by all involved. Maybe that's all because it's difficult to cover up for two tackles being asked to do more than they are capable of, maybe it has something to do with a lack of off-season, or maybe it's some combination of those or things I haven't mentioned. Either way, a group I thought could be a strength has turned into a unit this team has too overcome to win games.
“Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.”
—Tyrion’s advice to Jon Snow
This one goes to every Texas Tech football fan. I hate that the mediocre football team we've been saddled with has taken some of our edge off, but don't let that completely ruin who we are. We are not like Texas, TCU, Baylor, or Aggie fans, and that's a great thing. We are the black sheep, lean into it, enjoy it. Celebrate what we do well, fight through football season with humor, and be proud of the university we all call home.
“That’s what I do: I drink and I know things.”
—Tyrion
To everyone on Red Raider Sports after games, especially losses, this quote seems to embody the spirit of most posts.
To be completely upfront with everyone, there was no point in doing a Notes on Yost or Deciphering Patterson this week, and if you watched the game, you know why. It was a complete embarrassment of a football game at all levels. Tech was completely outclassed in every aspect, and I don't think two stories saying "play better" and "coach better" would be very helpful or fun to read.
I am incredibly concerned with the state of Texas Tech football under Matt Wells, I'm not sure we are seeing the requisite improvement (or any improvement for that matter), but I'm also pretty convinced it doesn't matter in terms of his future. So I'll save that story for December, for now, let's try to at least have a little fun as we wallow in all that the 2020 football season has given us.
These aren't going to be your run-of-the-mill awards, that's pretty played out, and I'm not sure there's a lot that has happened this season that could really qualify as "best" or "most." As I tried to think of the best way to go about "awarding" what we've seen so far this season, I was reminded of a text I got from a friend, and fellow Red Raider, in regards to my optimism about the game on Saturday. He quoted one of the worst villains in TV history, Ramsay Bolton, "If you think this has a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention." Unfortunately he was right on, but, fortunately, he gave me the idea for these awards. So here are quotes from Game of Thrones handed out as Midish Season Awards.
“There is only one thing we say to death: Not today.”
—Syrio Forel to Arya, while teaching her how to fight
The first award goes to Texas Tech's uncanny ability to lose games it shouldn't, "not today" says every Tech opponent going into the closing minutes of a close game. I would love to see the alternate universe where Matt Well's is able to finish just half of the close games he's lost. How different would the mood of the fanbase be? Or would writing on the wall still be there?
“Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder.”
—Littlefinger to Varys on power and his intention to seize it
To the guys who have seemingly been able to rise to places of admiration in they eyes of fans among the mess of this season. Erik Ezukanma, Myles Price, Tahj Brooks, Alex Hogan, Krishon Merriweather have all been bright spots during the chaos and have climbed to the top of the list of the few parts of a Tech football game I still enjoy.
“You know nothing, Jon Snow.”
—Ygritte’s to her sometime enemy/sometime lover
What a hotly contested award this is, Tommerdahl's kick off return strategy, Yost's play-calling, Matt Well's in-game decisions, all prime candidates. As much as I'd love to give this award to Yost or Wells out of spite just to make myself feel better, this is all Tommerdahl. I can't give this award to anyone else because he, and the kick return unit he leads, could solve this problem with (LITERALLY) a wave of a hand. Instead, they continue to ram their proverbial head into the proverbial wall all while, as @A. Dickens so eloquently puts it, lighting precious field position on fire.
"The past is gone for good. You can sit here mourning it’s departure, or prepare for the future."
— Petyr Baelish
To everyone who constantly stumps for hiring Mike Leach, Sonny Dykes, Art Briles, or any other old Air Raid disciple. The Air Raid as we know it is dead, long live the Air Raid, but it's time to move on.
Sansa: "What do dragons eat?" Daenerys: "Whatever they want."
To SaRodorick Thompson, the dude is just so good. I know he's had some up and down games, but that's due to circumstance (injuries, bad quarterback play, bad offensive line play, etc). When the defense isn't able to key on him at every moment, he eats.
“Winter is coming.”
— Ned Stark / Jon Snow and just about everybody
The remaining games on this 2020 schedule take this award. Every game on the schedule is winnable, but every game on the schedule is also losable. It's entirely up to Matt Wells, his staff, and his team to determine which direction this team is headed in 2021. They are injured, they are beat down, and their backs are against the wall, let's see what this team is made of and what it's capable of accomplishing. "Many are saying" the results are a given, but I'm gonna give them a chance.
Bran: “Can a man be brave if he’s afraid?’
Ned Stark: “That’s the only time he can be brave”
Henry Colombi. This guy shows up late in the "COVID offseason," wins the backup job, and is quickly thrust into playing because his ability to move could possibly makeup for the offensive line. Not ideal. Maybe he's not a long-term option, maybe he's not even the most purely talented quarterback on the roster, but he's incredibly fun to root for and appears to give the Red Raiders the best chance to win.
"Nothing isn’t better or worse than anything. Nothing is just nothing."
— Arya Stark
To the Texas Tech pass rush. I don't even know what to say at this point, it's been a problem for nearly a decade, and I don't see it improving any time soon. The lack of turnover creation and giving up explosive plays can be traced back to a lack of any sort of pass rush (even while blitzing!). Sure, it reared its ugly head big time on Saturday, but that wasn't the first time and won't be the last. It's a tough thing to scheme and overcome, but it has cost this program games.
"A man with no motive is a man no one suspects... *of scoring touchdowns consistently*”
— Petyr Baelish
To David Yost's offensive game plan. I have gone on rants both on this website and in my home about my frustrations with the Texas Tech offense, and that's because the majority of the time I just don't get it. I don't understand the plan, the goal, or the execution. I don't understand how the first drive can be scripted to near perfection, and then nothing resembling that happens the rest of the game. Maybe (definitely) I've been spoiled offensively, but there has to be a middle ground.
“A Lannister always pays his debts.”
— The Lannister motto
This award goes to past recruiting. Those debts are being paid right in front of our eyes. It's not an excuse for the current coaching staff or bashing the previous one, it's a simple reality. Look at the offer lists of your upperclassmen on defense, specifically the secondary, and the story is told without even having to watch the games.
“Gingers are beautiful. We’ve been kissed by fire.”
— Tormund
Bowman. I just feel bad for the guy. He's sacrificed his body for this university, and appears to be doing everything a great teammate needs to do right now. I wish him all the best no matter what's next for him.
“The night is dark and full of terrors”.
— Melisandre
The OU game. Halloween night, coming off a win, relative excitement... and Tech cannot even compete with the worst OU team in a long time. Talk about reality slapping an entire fanbase in the face. That's a game you've always lost, but getting run off of your home field is never easy to swallow.
“The freedom to make my own mistakes was all I ever wanted.”
— Mance Rayder
To the Tech secondary. I don't want to beat a dead horse, especially since that's against the board rules, so I'll be brief. I do not necessarily fault the players, they are doing the best they can, but the mistakes are so hard to handle. Whether it's coverage busts or dumb penalties, I'm holding my breath anytime the ball is thrown deep. It was getting better... then the night full of terrors (OU game) happened, and I don't know if we've made any progress at all.
"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die."
— Cersei
Matt Wells. I see his direction, I see his plan, and he seems like a guy I want representing my university, but this game is about results. His questionable decisions, both in and out of games, and his inability to close has gotten a loud part of the fan base already looking for his replacement.
"The day will come when you think you are safe and happy, and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth."
— Tyrion
The offensive line, again, this may just be the debt of past failures showing up to collect, but things are bleak regardless of reason. I thought the offensive line improved quite a bit throughout last season as they became more familiar with Yost's scheme, but this year seems to be a regression by all involved. Maybe that's all because it's difficult to cover up for two tackles being asked to do more than they are capable of, maybe it has something to do with a lack of off-season, or maybe it's some combination of those or things I haven't mentioned. Either way, a group I thought could be a strength has turned into a unit this team has too overcome to win games.
“Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.”
—Tyrion’s advice to Jon Snow
This one goes to every Texas Tech football fan. I hate that the mediocre football team we've been saddled with has taken some of our edge off, but don't let that completely ruin who we are. We are not like Texas, TCU, Baylor, or Aggie fans, and that's a great thing. We are the black sheep, lean into it, enjoy it. Celebrate what we do well, fight through football season with humor, and be proud of the university we all call home.
“That’s what I do: I drink and I know things.”
—Tyrion
To everyone on Red Raider Sports after games, especially losses, this quote seems to embody the spirit of most posts.
