With the recent dialogue regarding open dates, I got to thinking about Tech's history following bye weeks since I have been involved with/following Tech football. I looked back at our post-bye week games since 2003 and found the following info:
Since 2003, Tech is 3-8 following bye weeks with losses to NC State (21-49), Texas (21-51), Oklahoma (21-65), Oklahoma State (17-24), Iowa State (38-52), Texas (16-41 abbreviated bye/Thursday game), Oklahoma State (35-45 abbreviated bye/Thursday game), Oklahoma (30-42)
The three wins in that period were against New Mexico 59-13 in 2011, Iowa State 24-13 in 2012 and Kansas 54-16 in 2013.
Tech did not have a bye week throughout the entire three seasons from 2005-2007. Over that stretch TTU compiled a record of 26-12. Book-ending that stretch were the 2004 and 2008 seasons in which TTU had bye weeks. Both of those bye weeks were followed by blowout losses to UT and OU (both BCS teams).
I'm not trying to state that bye weeks hurt or help, just posting the info. I think a lot of the reason for this particular statistic has to do with the opponents we've faced coming off the open dates. Personally, I don't see bye weeks as a huge deal either way unless you are suffering from a significant amount of day to day injures that would make drastic improvement with a week of rest. I just thought this was an interesting point of discussion.
Since 2003, Tech is 3-8 following bye weeks with losses to NC State (21-49), Texas (21-51), Oklahoma (21-65), Oklahoma State (17-24), Iowa State (38-52), Texas (16-41 abbreviated bye/Thursday game), Oklahoma State (35-45 abbreviated bye/Thursday game), Oklahoma (30-42)
The three wins in that period were against New Mexico 59-13 in 2011, Iowa State 24-13 in 2012 and Kansas 54-16 in 2013.
Tech did not have a bye week throughout the entire three seasons from 2005-2007. Over that stretch TTU compiled a record of 26-12. Book-ending that stretch were the 2004 and 2008 seasons in which TTU had bye weeks. Both of those bye weeks were followed by blowout losses to UT and OU (both BCS teams).
I'm not trying to state that bye weeks hurt or help, just posting the info. I think a lot of the reason for this particular statistic has to do with the opponents we've faced coming off the open dates. Personally, I don't see bye weeks as a huge deal either way unless you are suffering from a significant amount of day to day injures that would make drastic improvement with a week of rest. I just thought this was an interesting point of discussion.
