On Broadway: Playing on house money against the Frogs
Well, in case you still weren't sure, or if you haven't been able to convince yourself, I can confirm to you, officially: Texas Tech went into an SEC stadium and defeated - by more than the scoreboard would allude to - a team that everyone in the entire country besides some in Lubbock thought would cover an 11 point spread in an easy win against an outmatched Red Raider team.
Yes, Texas Tech took down Arkansas. It happened. And now, the outlook is shifting, both for Red Raider fans and many who cover or pay attention to Tech football. Heck, half of the college football media pundits are picking Tech to win this weekend against a TCU team that undoubtedly has one of the best offenses in the country but has some big experience gaps being filled with green youngsters.
And that's why this Tech team is playing on house money, and it's up to them whether they pull off a win against the preseason Big 12 favorite. They're playing with house money because they already picked up one win out of this three game stretch. That was the goal that many of us in the media set for the Red Raiders in order to feel good about a 7 or 8ish win type season.
Well they did it right out of the gate, and it's looking like they can do more damage against the Frogs and Bears over the next two weeks. This is the opportunity for Tech to go from season upstart to a team that gets attention and really, REALLY takes a step forward back in the right direction.
This Texas Tech offense has been firing on all cylinders out of the gate, scoring on every opening possession behind Pat Mahomes' efforts. He's steady, and he just goes, and I think that's rubbed off on his teammates. They just go out there and do it, and it looks effortless at times. Defensively, Tech's gotten better every week, and I have no reason to doubt that they won't again this week under David Gibbs.
If this team simply keeps doing exactly what they've been doing, improving incrementally again, they're going to beat TCU. It's the biggest home game since the 2013 matchup with the Frogs or OSU. And it's going to be hopping. It's a perfect storm, and these Red Raiders have nothing to lose this week.
Do that? You're in business, folks.
This is also a good time to remind you that, in this very column a few weeks ago, I picked Tech to beat Arkansas in Fayetteville and knock out TCU in Lubbock. One down, one to go.
Link Me, Bro
Robert Mays of Grantland takes a look at the Arizona Cardinals and why it looks like they've suddenly got a pretty good offense
Ex-UCLA great hoops players aren't exactly sharing warm and fuzzy thoughts about the current state of the program
Reviews are starting to hit the web about The Martian, and it sounds like Ridley Scott may be back in business
So how much money do you need to be considered rich? Don't worry, these guys have all the answers
USA Today's Dan Wolken takes a closer look at TCU's injury situation, and how they may be in some deep trouble
This week in Florida Man: Florida Man steals amp....and tries to pawn it back to the store he stole it from
Power Rankings: Top college football players through 3 weeks
This week, I wanted to keep things between the lanes with power rankings, as we're now a quarter of the way through the college football regular season. Here are my top five players that DON'T play for Tech so far this season:
5. Cal QB Jared Goff - Goff is tearing it up for the Golden Bears so far this season, shredding Texas last weekend in a game where, if not for their defense collapsing at the end, they would've won running away. Goff is the hot Heisman dark horse right now, and he could lead Sonny Dykes' team out of the cellar and into the spotlight if they keep rolling.
4. Florida State RB Dalvin Cook - Yeah, Florida State hasn't looked like a playoff contender through the first three games, but it isn't because of Cook. He's been a MONSTER, and he's the second best back in the country behind only the number one man on my list...
3. Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly - Sure, he may have thrown up that one terribad pass that lucked into one of the wildest TD's I've ever seen, but there's no denying that Kelly has sparked the Rebels' offense into what's currently ranked statistically the best unit in the country
2. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett - Say what you will Red Raider fans, but Garrett is a monster off the edge, and he very well may be the best defensive end in college football. He's already terrorizing opposing quarterbacks early on this season.
1. LSU RB Leonard Fournette - If the season ended today, this guy would go home with the Heisman trophy, no questions asked. He's a freak. A cannonball. A grand piano with wheels and an engine strapped to it. He can outrun you or bowl you over. Your choice. I love watching this guy play, because he's been on a different plane than everyone he's gone up against so far this fall.
Off The Reservation: Let's find someone to blame!!
Blaming other people for your own problems is a big pet peeve of mine that really bothers me. And that's exactly what both Art Briles and Gary Patterson have done over the last month. Heck, they've been doing it for years if you really want to get down to the brass tacks. As soon as a problem arises with one of their players or within their programs, both men have decided to point in other directions or create distractions. It's something I can't stand, and it's both pathetic and ridiculous.
But, it's also partly because that's what has become the norm, and we've allowed it be so. After years and years and years of everyone looking the other way, college football coaches who are winning have become, for the most part, untouchable when issues arise. And part of us, as part of human nature, wants to look the other way when OUR teams are doing well. We don't want the success to come to an end, and we struggle internally and try to rationalize.
And I think these issues will always exist where everyone tries to cut corners. It's just what we do as people, regardless of the situation. Companies do it, kids do it on tests at school, and coaches are going to do it to try and get ahead or hop over road bumps.
But, at the same time, I think it's time we start holding grown, experienced men who are in charge of so many young men that need direction to a higher standard. I think things are much better than they were in the 80s or 90s, where coaches could get away with so much more without social devices in every American's pocket. But not now. And that's why now is the time for us to grow and evolve as people as we've always done as history has evolved - undoubtedly with pain and violence along the way, but with lesser amounts as we continue to grow.
Well, in case you still weren't sure, or if you haven't been able to convince yourself, I can confirm to you, officially: Texas Tech went into an SEC stadium and defeated - by more than the scoreboard would allude to - a team that everyone in the entire country besides some in Lubbock thought would cover an 11 point spread in an easy win against an outmatched Red Raider team.
Yes, Texas Tech took down Arkansas. It happened. And now, the outlook is shifting, both for Red Raider fans and many who cover or pay attention to Tech football. Heck, half of the college football media pundits are picking Tech to win this weekend against a TCU team that undoubtedly has one of the best offenses in the country but has some big experience gaps being filled with green youngsters.
And that's why this Tech team is playing on house money, and it's up to them whether they pull off a win against the preseason Big 12 favorite. They're playing with house money because they already picked up one win out of this three game stretch. That was the goal that many of us in the media set for the Red Raiders in order to feel good about a 7 or 8ish win type season.
Well they did it right out of the gate, and it's looking like they can do more damage against the Frogs and Bears over the next two weeks. This is the opportunity for Tech to go from season upstart to a team that gets attention and really, REALLY takes a step forward back in the right direction.
This Texas Tech offense has been firing on all cylinders out of the gate, scoring on every opening possession behind Pat Mahomes' efforts. He's steady, and he just goes, and I think that's rubbed off on his teammates. They just go out there and do it, and it looks effortless at times. Defensively, Tech's gotten better every week, and I have no reason to doubt that they won't again this week under David Gibbs.
If this team simply keeps doing exactly what they've been doing, improving incrementally again, they're going to beat TCU. It's the biggest home game since the 2013 matchup with the Frogs or OSU. And it's going to be hopping. It's a perfect storm, and these Red Raiders have nothing to lose this week.
Do that? You're in business, folks.
This is also a good time to remind you that, in this very column a few weeks ago, I picked Tech to beat Arkansas in Fayetteville and knock out TCU in Lubbock. One down, one to go.
Link Me, Bro
Robert Mays of Grantland takes a look at the Arizona Cardinals and why it looks like they've suddenly got a pretty good offense
Ex-UCLA great hoops players aren't exactly sharing warm and fuzzy thoughts about the current state of the program
Reviews are starting to hit the web about The Martian, and it sounds like Ridley Scott may be back in business
So how much money do you need to be considered rich? Don't worry, these guys have all the answers
USA Today's Dan Wolken takes a closer look at TCU's injury situation, and how they may be in some deep trouble
This week in Florida Man: Florida Man steals amp....and tries to pawn it back to the store he stole it from
Power Rankings: Top college football players through 3 weeks
This week, I wanted to keep things between the lanes with power rankings, as we're now a quarter of the way through the college football regular season. Here are my top five players that DON'T play for Tech so far this season:
5. Cal QB Jared Goff - Goff is tearing it up for the Golden Bears so far this season, shredding Texas last weekend in a game where, if not for their defense collapsing at the end, they would've won running away. Goff is the hot Heisman dark horse right now, and he could lead Sonny Dykes' team out of the cellar and into the spotlight if they keep rolling.
4. Florida State RB Dalvin Cook - Yeah, Florida State hasn't looked like a playoff contender through the first three games, but it isn't because of Cook. He's been a MONSTER, and he's the second best back in the country behind only the number one man on my list...
3. Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly - Sure, he may have thrown up that one terribad pass that lucked into one of the wildest TD's I've ever seen, but there's no denying that Kelly has sparked the Rebels' offense into what's currently ranked statistically the best unit in the country
2. Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett - Say what you will Red Raider fans, but Garrett is a monster off the edge, and he very well may be the best defensive end in college football. He's already terrorizing opposing quarterbacks early on this season.
1. LSU RB Leonard Fournette - If the season ended today, this guy would go home with the Heisman trophy, no questions asked. He's a freak. A cannonball. A grand piano with wheels and an engine strapped to it. He can outrun you or bowl you over. Your choice. I love watching this guy play, because he's been on a different plane than everyone he's gone up against so far this fall.
Off The Reservation: Let's find someone to blame!!
Blaming other people for your own problems is a big pet peeve of mine that really bothers me. And that's exactly what both Art Briles and Gary Patterson have done over the last month. Heck, they've been doing it for years if you really want to get down to the brass tacks. As soon as a problem arises with one of their players or within their programs, both men have decided to point in other directions or create distractions. It's something I can't stand, and it's both pathetic and ridiculous.
But, it's also partly because that's what has become the norm, and we've allowed it be so. After years and years and years of everyone looking the other way, college football coaches who are winning have become, for the most part, untouchable when issues arise. And part of us, as part of human nature, wants to look the other way when OUR teams are doing well. We don't want the success to come to an end, and we struggle internally and try to rationalize.
And I think these issues will always exist where everyone tries to cut corners. It's just what we do as people, regardless of the situation. Companies do it, kids do it on tests at school, and coaches are going to do it to try and get ahead or hop over road bumps.
But, at the same time, I think it's time we start holding grown, experienced men who are in charge of so many young men that need direction to a higher standard. I think things are much better than they were in the 80s or 90s, where coaches could get away with so much more without social devices in every American's pocket. But not now. And that's why now is the time for us to grow and evolve as people as we've always done as history has evolved - undoubtedly with pain and violence along the way, but with lesser amounts as we continue to grow.
