Pat Mahomes will go down as one of the most talented and exhilarating players to ever suit up for Texas Tech, but I suspect that he will never be viewed as a Red Raider legend like past Air Raid quarterbacks Kliff Kingsbury and Graham Harrell.
Last July, as the 2016 season approached, I wrote that what separated Mahomes from Kingsbury and Harrell was signature moments. The careers of Kingsbury and Harrell are peppered with big wins and key plays, while Mahomes’ best performances all came in losses.
Following Mahomes’ NFL Draft announcement last week, the Texas Tech football program, through its Twitter account, counted down his five top plays as a Red Raider – a deep bomb to Bradley Marquez in Texas Tech’s loss to Baylor in 2014, a touchdown pass to Jakeem Grant in Texas Tech’s loss to West Virginia in 2015, his overtime touchdown run in Texas Tech’s win over TCU in 2016, an on-the-run laser to Jonathan Giles in Texas Tech’s win over Louisiana Tech in 2016 and a long touchdown pass to Jakeem Grant in Texas Tech’s win over Iowa State in 2015.
Those plays were all extremely impressive, to be sure, but were any of them all that meaningful?
The answer, of course, is no. Twenty years from now, Texas Tech fans will not be reminiscing on the RedRaiderSports.com virtual reality message boards – still only $9.95 a month! – about a pass against Louisiana Tech the same way they will about Harrell’s throw to beat Texas in 2008 or Kingsbury leading the Goin’ Band after the 2002 Tangerine Bowl.
Mahomes orchestrated two of the most prolific offenses in Texas Tech history. He put up staggering numbers, embarrassed defenders and made the amazing seem routine. And yet, thanks largely to the worst defense in college football over the last two seasons, Mahomes leaves the South Plains with a woeful 13-16 record as a starter.
Quarterbacks, unlike any other position in team sports, are judged not only by their individual performance but also by that of their team. And for as great as Mahomes was individually, Texas Tech was a below average football team during his time as the starter.
Great player? Yes, one of the best. Legend? No.
Last July, as the 2016 season approached, I wrote that what separated Mahomes from Kingsbury and Harrell was signature moments. The careers of Kingsbury and Harrell are peppered with big wins and key plays, while Mahomes’ best performances all came in losses.
Following Mahomes’ NFL Draft announcement last week, the Texas Tech football program, through its Twitter account, counted down his five top plays as a Red Raider – a deep bomb to Bradley Marquez in Texas Tech’s loss to Baylor in 2014, a touchdown pass to Jakeem Grant in Texas Tech’s loss to West Virginia in 2015, his overtime touchdown run in Texas Tech’s win over TCU in 2016, an on-the-run laser to Jonathan Giles in Texas Tech’s win over Louisiana Tech in 2016 and a long touchdown pass to Jakeem Grant in Texas Tech’s win over Iowa State in 2015.
Those plays were all extremely impressive, to be sure, but were any of them all that meaningful?
The answer, of course, is no. Twenty years from now, Texas Tech fans will not be reminiscing on the RedRaiderSports.com virtual reality message boards – still only $9.95 a month! – about a pass against Louisiana Tech the same way they will about Harrell’s throw to beat Texas in 2008 or Kingsbury leading the Goin’ Band after the 2002 Tangerine Bowl.
Mahomes orchestrated two of the most prolific offenses in Texas Tech history. He put up staggering numbers, embarrassed defenders and made the amazing seem routine. And yet, thanks largely to the worst defense in college football over the last two seasons, Mahomes leaves the South Plains with a woeful 13-16 record as a starter.
Quarterbacks, unlike any other position in team sports, are judged not only by their individual performance but also by that of their team. And for as great as Mahomes was individually, Texas Tech was a below average football team during his time as the starter.
Great player? Yes, one of the best. Legend? No.
