Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech wallop Mississippi State in Liberty Bowl
Don Williams article about the Liberty Bowl in yahoo. I forgot how many opportunities to score were missed by Tech in the first half. This could have been a much bigger blowout. Still no write up from espn.
And despite Miss St missing some players, you'd still think they could have kept it more competitive. Tech didn't have a full or permanent coaching staff in place and was missing players as well including an all big 12 receiver and starting a 3rd string QB. Other players and the coaches stepped up for Tech. While Miss St players and coaches did not. Also, Tech had just as many players that missed during the season in games...don't feel bad for the bulldogs. Especially considering the smack their coach and players talked before the game...not so much after the game.
Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Tue, December 28, 2021, 10:01 PM·4 min read
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On the eve of the Liberty Bowl, Mississippi State coach Mike Leach took the opportunity in a pre-game press conference to badmouth the Texas Tech people who fired him 12 years ago. The Red Raiders did their talking on the field. Tech waltzed to victory in the Bulldogs' backyard Tuesday night, winning 34-7 and holding Mississippi State to its lowest point total of the season. Tech ended a five-year stretch of losing seasons and won a bowl game for the first time since 2013.
The Red Raiders sent interim head coach Sonny Cumbie off to his next job, head coach of Louisiana Tech, on a high note. The Red Raiders were a double-digit underdog when they upset Iowa State in their second game under Cumbie and they were a 9 1/2-point underdog Tuesday.
Tech running backs Tahj Brooks and SaRodorick Thompson popped big run after big run in the first half and quarterback Donovan Smith got hot in the second half as the Red Raiders put it on their old coach in his first game against his former program.
Highlights: Texas Tech football vs. Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl
Texas Tech's Eric Monroe (11) yells out after a tackle during the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn.
Both teams finished 7-6. Tech was up only 13-7 at halftime after several missed opportunities. But in the third quarter, Smith set up a touchdown with pinpoint passes to Travis Koontz for 39 yards and Jerand Bradley for 52 yards. Smith's 1-yard keeper made it 20-7. Mississippi State drove to the Tech 20 on the next drive, but Tech defensive outstanding player Tyree Wilson foiled the Bulldogs with sacks on third and fourth down. Moments later, lanky receiver J.J. Sparkman high-pointed Smith's 50-50 ball into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown that made the score 27-7.
Donovan Smith: Three things to know about the Texas Tech football quarterback
Texas Tech interim coach Sonny Cumbie watches his team warm up before the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. An interception by safety Eric Monroe gave Tech possession at its own 15. On the ensuing eight-play drive, Smith hit Myles Price for 48 yards across midfield and Thompson's walk-in touchdown from the 1 made it 34-7 with 8:47 left. Smith, voted Liberty Bowl most valuable player, completed 15 of 28 passes for 252 yards. Brooks finished with 107 yards on 16 carries, Thompson with 80 yards on 14 attempts.
Tech's success on the ground defied the norm. Mississippi State came in ranked 10th in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing only 100.8 yards per game, and Tech came in ranked 75th in rushing offense at 150.7 per game. The Bulldogs held four 1,000-yard rushers from the SEC under 75 this season.
Texas Tech's Dalton Rigdon (86) cheers on the field during the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn.
Tech punched Mississippi State early, scoring a touchdown and a field goal on its first two drives, both run-driven. Brooks 19-yard TD capped a seven-play drive that fueled by a 33-yard run from Thompson and 8- and 10-yard carries by Brooks. Brooks' 8-yard gain converted a third-and-6 from the Bulldogs' 37-yard line and two plays later he bolted between left guard and left tackle for the touchdown. After forcing a punt, the Red Raiders drove for a Jonathan Garibay 31-yard field goal. That 14-play, 79-yard series featured runs of 11 yards by Smith, 11 and 10 yards by Thompson and 11 and 12 yards by Brooks, as well as a 12-yard pass from Smith to Price that moved the chains on third-and-8. However, a holding penalty on Weston Wright erased a Thompson carry to the MSU 4, and the Red Raiders wound up settling for the field goal. That wasn't the last missed opportunity by the Red Raiders. On their last three series of the first half, they reached the MSU 33, the MSU 33 and the MSU 8 and wound up with a turnover on downs, a punt and a field goal. The field goal was a 26-yarder from Garibay just before halftime. It came moments after an Austin McNamara punt grazed the Bulldogs' Austin Williams and Red Raiders linebacker Tyrique Matthews recovered at the MSU 14. Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Rara Thomas that made it 10-7 on the third play of the second quarter. Cornerback Rayshad Williams had tight coverage on Thomas, who caught a back-shoulder throw near the goal line.
BONUS:
Mike Leach post game article (no copy and paste, it's a video). Mike Leach gave credit to Texas Tech and the coaches. Media still played up the Miss St absences. One media member mentioned Miss St had an opportunity to take the lead if they had scored on a drive in the second half. I don't recall that opportunity at all.
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach reflects in Liberty Bowl loss to Texas Tech
Don Williams article about the Liberty Bowl in yahoo. I forgot how many opportunities to score were missed by Tech in the first half. This could have been a much bigger blowout. Still no write up from espn.
And despite Miss St missing some players, you'd still think they could have kept it more competitive. Tech didn't have a full or permanent coaching staff in place and was missing players as well including an all big 12 receiver and starting a 3rd string QB. Other players and the coaches stepped up for Tech. While Miss St players and coaches did not. Also, Tech had just as many players that missed during the season in games...don't feel bad for the bulldogs. Especially considering the smack their coach and players talked before the game...not so much after the game.
Sonny Cumbie, Texas Tech wallop Mississippi State in Liberty Bowl
Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Tue, December 28, 2021, 10:01 PM·4 min read
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On the eve of the Liberty Bowl, Mississippi State coach Mike Leach took the opportunity in a pre-game press conference to badmouth the Texas Tech people who fired him 12 years ago. The Red Raiders did their talking on the field. Tech waltzed to victory in the Bulldogs' backyard Tuesday night, winning 34-7 and holding Mississippi State to its lowest point total of the season. Tech ended a five-year stretch of losing seasons and won a bowl game for the first time since 2013.
The Red Raiders sent interim head coach Sonny Cumbie off to his next job, head coach of Louisiana Tech, on a high note. The Red Raiders were a double-digit underdog when they upset Iowa State in their second game under Cumbie and they were a 9 1/2-point underdog Tuesday.
Tech running backs Tahj Brooks and SaRodorick Thompson popped big run after big run in the first half and quarterback Donovan Smith got hot in the second half as the Red Raiders put it on their old coach in his first game against his former program.
Highlights: Texas Tech football vs. Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl
Texas Tech's Eric Monroe (11) yells out after a tackle during the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn.
Both teams finished 7-6. Tech was up only 13-7 at halftime after several missed opportunities. But in the third quarter, Smith set up a touchdown with pinpoint passes to Travis Koontz for 39 yards and Jerand Bradley for 52 yards. Smith's 1-yard keeper made it 20-7. Mississippi State drove to the Tech 20 on the next drive, but Tech defensive outstanding player Tyree Wilson foiled the Bulldogs with sacks on third and fourth down. Moments later, lanky receiver J.J. Sparkman high-pointed Smith's 50-50 ball into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown that made the score 27-7.
Donovan Smith: Three things to know about the Texas Tech football quarterback
Texas Tech interim coach Sonny Cumbie watches his team warm up before the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. An interception by safety Eric Monroe gave Tech possession at its own 15. On the ensuing eight-play drive, Smith hit Myles Price for 48 yards across midfield and Thompson's walk-in touchdown from the 1 made it 34-7 with 8:47 left. Smith, voted Liberty Bowl most valuable player, completed 15 of 28 passes for 252 yards. Brooks finished with 107 yards on 16 carries, Thompson with 80 yards on 14 attempts.
Tech's success on the ground defied the norm. Mississippi State came in ranked 10th in the FBS in rushing defense, allowing only 100.8 yards per game, and Tech came in ranked 75th in rushing offense at 150.7 per game. The Bulldogs held four 1,000-yard rushers from the SEC under 75 this season.
Texas Tech's Dalton Rigdon (86) cheers on the field during the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn.
Tech punched Mississippi State early, scoring a touchdown and a field goal on its first two drives, both run-driven. Brooks 19-yard TD capped a seven-play drive that fueled by a 33-yard run from Thompson and 8- and 10-yard carries by Brooks. Brooks' 8-yard gain converted a third-and-6 from the Bulldogs' 37-yard line and two plays later he bolted between left guard and left tackle for the touchdown. After forcing a punt, the Red Raiders drove for a Jonathan Garibay 31-yard field goal. That 14-play, 79-yard series featured runs of 11 yards by Smith, 11 and 10 yards by Thompson and 11 and 12 yards by Brooks, as well as a 12-yard pass from Smith to Price that moved the chains on third-and-8. However, a holding penalty on Weston Wright erased a Thompson carry to the MSU 4, and the Red Raiders wound up settling for the field goal. That wasn't the last missed opportunity by the Red Raiders. On their last three series of the first half, they reached the MSU 33, the MSU 33 and the MSU 8 and wound up with a turnover on downs, a punt and a field goal. The field goal was a 26-yarder from Garibay just before halftime. It came moments after an Austin McNamara punt grazed the Bulldogs' Austin Williams and Red Raiders linebacker Tyrique Matthews recovered at the MSU 14. Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Rara Thomas that made it 10-7 on the third play of the second quarter. Cornerback Rayshad Williams had tight coverage on Thomas, who caught a back-shoulder throw near the goal line.
BONUS:
Mike Leach post game article (no copy and paste, it's a video). Mike Leach gave credit to Texas Tech and the coaches. Media still played up the Miss St absences. One media member mentioned Miss St had an opportunity to take the lead if they had scored on a drive in the second half. I don't recall that opportunity at all.
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach reflects in Liberty Bowl loss to Texas Tech
