It seems that I am not welcome anymore here at DoubleT Nation.  Seth has made it very clear that he is looking for any reason no matter how microscopic to ban me.  So I told him to go ahead and Ban Me.  I speak the truth no matter if he does not like it.  Yes its his site and he can do what he wants on HIS site.

But its sad that Seth can not accept person criticism nor admit when he is wrong.  The Reason. I told Seth he needed to calm down after he wrongly accused me in an email.  Then we traded email where I told my position and he then said he made a mistake. The issue Seth accused me of calling Potts a Mental Midget.  One other is that Seth demanded proof of some posts he made. Unfortunately, Its not possible for me to pull those back up because Those posts are not found anymore. Wether those post were removed for memory issues or not  IS UNIMPORTANT.

So if you want to know what it is that demands that I be Double T Nations #1 Enemy take a look at my previous posts and see if it deserves it.  

I tried to make peace with Seth and all I got was threats.

So Good bye.

And Seth, Leave this up or you will prove once again how petty you really are.

PM


PS: Sometimes, Hard Love is the medicine to correct problems when no other avenue is available.

I have posted several times and I have seen everyone here from Seth down who are missing what my motivation is.  My motivation is seeing the program improve every year and to eventually get to a National Title.   Some think that I am hating on Potts, or the offense or the team in general.

Far from the truth.  I respect Potts. Love his toughness. But I got to say, I am disappointed in his leadership skills and mental awareness on the field.  Leach has given the golden seal of approval for Potts to be the starter this season. Thus that is who will lead our team.  So that means I know that Potts will start every game this season bar injury.

So why did I call for Potts to be benched you may ask?  How many remember the game that Harrell was benched because he did not get his head in the game and was making these same kind of errors Potts is making. Thus Benching is not Replacing.  Thus having him sit a quarter or two will wake him up and perhaps snap some proper fire for the offense.  So I am not calling for a brand new QB to be new starter. Though if one comes in and plays lights out and puts up 70 points then what??  I may have to reconsider the idea of Benching as a replacement. But that is not my motivation.

I am very much a hardcore Texas Tech Supporter, Texas Tech Graduate,  Booster, Red Raider Club Member, Donor to the University worth major $.  I speak simply for one purpose.  Have Texas Tech as a Tier 1 university with the nations top programs including football which I love.

So everything I say is for the improvement of the program. I am not some fair weather fan. I am very consistent in my views. Those who have been around long enough will see that I have said these same things year in and year out. I talk about the big picture. 

One thing everyone can take to the bank! I will never throw the players or team under the bus. Potts is the starter. But he needs lots and lots of help. So ignoring Potts going to give him the help he needs?  Sometimes tough love is the best medicine.   But you will never see me calling a player out and just trash him.  I have not done this to Potts. Though some may disagree. What have said is that Potts needs to step up and become the leader of the team that he is not right now.  If that is not a vote of confidence in a guy then you all need to look in the mirror and ask yourselves some hard questions.

I have asked repeatedly for Potts to step up and be the Tech team leader. That is not something you ask for a guy you do not want or do not like being the starting QB. Thus I challenge. I point out things that are what they are. Sometime we just do not like what it is. Sometimes we love what it is. We are in a rebuilding year. But we should not have a rebuilding back to the basics type of season. 

So think about what it is that I am saying next time you all decide to throw your hate and threats of personal violence my way.

I was looking at the ESPN schedule of games at 10:30am today and guess what ESPN has up.  Houston v UTEP at 9:15EST.   It was also listed that same way on the ESPN gameday as well on the ESPN game Ticket.

This is the Third time this year they have screwed up about Tech.  The only one they have gotten right is the game against Texas.   Says a lot about the incompetence of the staff at ESPN.

i was looking at an article from ESPN that talked about top programs and who they will be playing through the 2015 to 2020 seasons.  So I decided to look at Texas Tech's future schedules.  One thing that jumped right out is the lack of future scheduling.  The second thing I noticed is that Leach finally did not schedule a D II team for the next two years.  See: http://huddleuptexas.com/College/FutureSkeds/BXII.htm

2010 schedule looks nice and I think we as Tech supporters will love it.  SMU, New Mexico, TCU and Houston shapes up as a very nice set of nonconference teams and should boost Tech's power rating through the roof.

2011 is TCU, New Mexico and Nevada with Louisiana L the Ragin Cajun with the tentative pencil in as first choice or another series with Texas El Paso.

2012 is just New Mexico.

Though its not uncommon in scheduling its becoming a big deal in who you schedule as preseason rankings and BSC inside track for the season.  I would love for Tech to schedue for example, Arizona or Arizona State, a Big 10 team like Illinois or Minnisota or even Iowa.   I would love to see Michigan or Michgan State.   Then there is the MAC teams.  Any of these would put Tech in the inside track.   Tulsa would be nice but they pulled from Playing Tech through the 2011 season in a home and home to preserve their chances at going to a higher bowl.

It may scare some people to play the higher talent than what we normally do. But the truth is that we are demanding more of the program than ever in the past.  We are seriously as boosters and fans looking for the next step up the rung to a conference title, a BCS Bowl and a national Title. These things are now just 2 games and 5 high level recruits away. 

All we need do is take the first step to a great future.

 Ok.  Game 4 is done, The BCS is coming out and we all have the same question. Were are we as a program and how does it really compare to past years. So after 4 weeks lets take a look.

Defense.

2007

Points allowed: 25.75                                Rush D: 171.0                               Total offense Allowed: 367.1

Points allowed Conference: 29.75         Rush D YPR: 3.9                            Offense allowed PP: 4.9

Points allowed non Conf: 17.75             Pass D: 196.1                                  3rd Down Conv: 82-194 42%

                                                                      Pass D YPR: 11.4                            4th Down Conv: 15- 26 58%

                                                                      Int: 10- 48 (.83 pg)                            Sacks: 23: 167 (2 pg)

2008

Points allowed: 26.25                                Rush D: 133.5                                 Total Off Allowed: 371.58

Points Conference: 31.38                        Rush D YPR: 4.7                              Offense Allowed PP: 5.5

Points Non Conference: 16                     Pass D: 238.08                                3rd Down conv: 56- 148 38%

                                                                      Pass DYPR: 11.1                             4th Down conv: 13- 26 50%

                                                                      Int: 17- 134.4 (1.42 pg)                     Sacks: 30- 183 (2.5 pg)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2009 4 Games

Points allowed: 21.5                           Rush D: (141-442) 110.5                       Total Off Allowed: (302-1383) 345.75

 Offense:

2005

Points: 39.4                                           Rush: 107.0                                           3rd Down Conv: 53-145 37%

Points Conference: 33.0                     Rush YPR: 4.2                                      4th Down Conv: 14-19 74%

Points NonConference: 66.3             Pass: 385.4                                              Punts: 50 at 42.0 pk

Total Offense: 492.4                            Pass YPR: 11.8                                      Kick RY: 25- 466 at 18.6 PR

Offense YPP: 6.6                                   Int: 12- 103 (1pg)                                   Sacks: 36-281 (3 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 103-32      2nd: 124- 69      3rd: 103- 48     4th: 143-72     OT: 0-0

            Per game average:        1st:  8.6- 2.7      2nd: 10.3- 5.8     3rd: 8.6- 4         4th: 11.9- 6      OT: 0-0

2006

Points: 34.0                                            Rush: 79.3                                            3rd Down Conv: 55-149 37%

Points Conference: 35.75                    Rush YPR: 4.7                                    4th Down Conv: 11-23 48%

Points NonConference: 34.5              Pass: 369.5                                           Punts: 44 at 44.2 pk

Total Offense: 448.8                            Pass YPR: 11.0                                     Kick RY: 37-587 at 15.9 PR

Offense YPP: 6.7                                  Int: 21-36 (1.75 pg)                               Sacks: 19-122 (1.6 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 90-78       2nd: 159- 125      3rd: 80- 55      4th: 84- 65      OT: 9- 3

            Per game average:       1st:  7.5- 6.5    2nd: 13.3- 10.4     3rd:  6.7- 4.6    4th:  7- 5.4       OT:.75- .25

2007

Points: 42.08                                       Rush: 61.4                                                3rd Down Conv: 68-145 47%

Points Conference: 34.13                 Rush YPR: 3.34                                       4th Down Conv: 16- 26 62%

Points NonConference: 57               Pass: 475.6                                                Punts: 26 at 42.6 pk

Total Offense: 537.0                          Pass YPR: 11.4                                          Kick RY: 45- 973 at 21.6 PR

Offense YPP: 7.0                               Int: 15-305 (1.25 pg)                                   Sacks: 15- 110 (1.25 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP:  1st:  107- 79      2nd: 168- 86      3rd: 111-44      4th: 115-100      OT: 0-0

         Per game average:            1st:   8.9- 6.6      2nd: 14- 7.2        3rd:  9.3- 3.7     4th: 9.6- 8.3        OT: 0-0

2008

Points: 44.6                                        Rush: 131.42                                               3rd Down Conv: 84- 154 55%

Points Conference: 44.0                  Rush YPR: 4.7                                            4th Down Conv: 15- 23 65%

Points NonConference: 45.75        Pass: 417.25                                                 Punts: 22 at 34.7 pk

Total Offense: 536.22                       Pass YPR: 11.7                                             Kick RY:38-841 at 22.1 PR

Offense YPP: 7.1                                Int: 8-119 (.67 pg)                                          Sacks: 11- 104 (.92 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 139- 68    2nd: 148-106    3rd: 122-62    4th: 120- 79    OT: 6-0

        Per game average:            1st: 11.6- 5.6   2nd: 12.3- 8.8    3rd: 10.2- 5.2  4th: 10- 6.6     OT: .5- 0

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2009 4 Games

Offense

Points: (4-145) 36.25                         Rush: (83-249) 62.25                         3rd Down Conv: 19- 37 51%

Points Conference: 24                      Rush YPR: 3.0                                     4th Down Conv: 4- 7 57 %

Points NonConference: 40.3           Pass: 413.5                                          Punts: 12-500 at 41.6 pk

Total Offense: (303- 1913) 478.3    Pass YPR: (150- 1654) 11.0             Kick RY:19- 480 at 25.3 PR

Offense YPP: 6.3                                 Int: 4-32 (1 pg)                                     Sacks: 4- 64 (1.3pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 38- 17    2nd: 21- 15         3rd: 63- 24        4th: 37- 30     OT: 0-0

             Per game average:      1st: 9.5- 4.25   2nd: 5.25- 3.75   3rd: 15.75- 6   4th: 9.25-7.5   OT: 0-0

There have been many wondering just how Texas Tech really is comparing to the past and where is Texas Tech in progression compare to what is expected.

I have read this from more than 100 people within DT nation asking this very question and many have views that range all over the place. No one seems to have a stat or straight up answer. Thus everyone says Texas Tech right now is an unknown and only time will tell as in end of season.

I thought about this for some time. I think I may have a solution that can be used to compare Texas Tech now and it can progress with the season.

I broke this comparison into two major categories of offense and defense. I do have some kicking stats added to the offense and defense. I decided that special teams issues are additive to either offense or defense respectively and is more dependent upon quality of the player or players than the stat deserves. Thus I do not want to make the special teams stat be a comparison of player v player. That is just to subjective.

For Defense, I limited it to the 2007 and 2008 seasons. This is because of Ruffin. However, I know some will say that its unfair for the full 2007 season but in reality it is the same players and its not right to do just part of a season. But it does give some interesting results and does give a starting point of where is the defense. Is it getting better or worse over time..

For Offense, I limited it to the seasons of 2005 to 2009. The reasoning I had for this is recruiting. 2005 is the year that recruiting dramatically improved. Secondly, not all the stats are available because no one bothered to keep them for some categories until 2004 and 2005. This is more so for Defense than offense. But I decided that 4 year block is enough for a comparison to see where Tech is and to really look to see what is what.

I will post to compare as the season progresses.

These are all average numbers thus can be compare to each game and then averaged for games played as well.

First Defense.

2007

Points allowed: 25.75                                Rush D: 171.0                               Total offense Allowed: 367.1

Points allowed Conference: 29.75         Rush D YPR: 3.9                            Offense allowed PP: 4.9

Points allowed non Conf: 17.75             Pass D: 196.1                                  3rd Down Conv: 82-194 42%

                                                                      Pass D YPR: 11.4                            4th Down Conv: 15- 26 58%

                                                                      Int: 10- 48 (.83 pg)                            Sacks: 23: 167 (2 pg)

2008

Points allowed: 26.25                                Rush D: 133.5                                 Total Off Allowed: 371.58

Points Conference: 31.38                        Rush D YPR: 4.7                              Offense Allowed PP: 5.5

Points Non Conference: 16                     Pass D: 238.08                                3rd Down conv: 56- 148 38%

                                                                      Pass DYPR: 11.1                             4th Down conv: 13- 26 50%

                                                                      Int: 17- 134.4 (1.42 pg)                     Sacks: 30- 183 (2.5 pg)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

2009  2 Games

Defense:

Points allowed: 11.5                              Rush D: (64-133) 66.5                                Total Off Allowed: (133-464) 232

 Points Conference: 0                             Rush D YPR: 2.1                                         Offense Allowed PP:  3.5

Points Non Conference: 11.5               Pass D: (45-331) 165.5                            3rd Down conv: 19- 28 36%

                                                                  Pass DYPR: 7.4                                            4th Down conv: 1- 4 25%

                                                                     Int: 1-0 (.5 pg)                                                 Sacks: 8- 42 (4 pg)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 Offense:

2005

Points: 39.4                                           Rush: 107.0                                           3rd Down Conv: 53-145 37%

Points Conference: 33.0                     Rush YPR: 4.2                                      4th Down Conv: 14-19 74%

Points NonConference: 66.3             Pass: 385.4                                              Punts: 50 at 42.0 pk

Total Offense: 492.4                            Pass YPR: 11.8                                      Kick RY: 25- 466 at 18.6 PR

Offense YPP: 6.6                                   Int: 12- 103 (1pg)                                   Sacks: 36-281 (3 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 103-32      2nd: 124- 69      3rd: 103- 48     4th: 143-72     OT: 0-0

            Per game average:        1st:  8.6- 2.7      2nd: 10.3- 5.8     3rd: 8.6- 4         4th: 11.9- 6      OT: 0-0

2006

Points: 34.0                                            Rush: 79.3                                            3rd Down Conv: 55-149 37%

Points Conference: 35.75                    Rush YPR: 4.7                                    4th Down Conv: 11-23 48%

Points NonConference: 34.5              Pass: 369.5                                           Punts: 44 at 44.2 pk

Total Offense: 448.8                            Pass YPR: 11.0                                     Kick RY: 37-587 at 15.9 PR

Offense YPP: 6.7                                  Int: 21-36 (1.75 pg)                               Sacks: 19-122 (1.6 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 90-78       2nd: 159- 125      3rd: 80- 55      4th: 84- 65      OT: 9- 3

            Per game average:       1st:  7.5- 6.5    2nd: 13.3- 10.4     3rd:  6.7- 4.6    4th:  7- 5.4       OT:.75- .25

2007

Points: 42.08                                       Rush: 61.4                                                3rd Down Conv: 68-145 47%

Points Conference: 34.13                 Rush YPR: 3.34                                       4th Down Conv: 16- 26 62%

Points NonConference: 57               Pass: 475.6                                                Punts: 26 at 42.6 pk

Total Offense: 537.0                          Pass YPR: 11.4                                          Kick RY: 45- 973 at 21.6 PR

Offense YPP: 7.0                               Int: 15-305 (1.25 pg)                                   Sacks: 15- 110 (1.25 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP:  1st:  107- 79      2nd: 168- 86      3rd: 111-44      4th: 115-100      OT: 0-0

         Per game average:            1st:   8.9- 6.6      2nd: 14- 7.2        3rd:  9.3- 3.7     4th: 9.6- 8.3        OT: 0-0

2008

Points: 44.6                                        Rush: 131.42                                               3rd Down Conv: 84- 154 55%

Points Conference: 44.0                  Rush YPR: 4.7                                            4th Down Conv: 15- 23 65%

Points NonConference: 45.75        Pass: 417.25                                                 Punts: 22 at 34.7 pk

Total Offense: 536.22                       Pass YPR: 11.7                                             Kick RY:38-841 at 22.1 PR

Offense YPP: 7.1                                Int: 8-119 (.67 pg)                                          Sacks: 11- 104 (.92 pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 139- 68    2nd: 148-106    3rd: 122-62    4th: 120- 79    OT: 6-0

        Per game average:            1st: 11.6- 5.6   2nd: 12.3- 8.8    3rd: 10.2- 5.2  4th: 10- 6.6     OT: .5- 0

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

2009  2 Games

Offense:

Points: 46.5                                     Rush: 46                                                3rd Down Conv: 13- 25 52%

Points Conference: 0                    Rush YPR: 2.8                                       4th Down Conv: 4- 6 67 %

Points NonConference: 46.5      Pass: 456.5                                           Punts: 2 at 38 pk

Total Offense: 507.5                     Pass YPR: (74- 913) 12.3                  Kick RY:7- 205 at 29.3 PR

Offense YPP: 7.0                           Int: 3-32 (1.5 pg)                                   Sacks: 1- 9 (.5pg)

Score per quarter TTU v OPP: 1st: 28- 3       2nd:  7- 6      3rd: 28- 0    4th: 30- 14    OT: 0-0

     Per game average:               1st: 14- 1.5    2nd:  3.5- 3    3rd: 14- 0     4th: 15- 7      OT: 0-0

After two games we have seen Tech in two of three of the standard uniform formats.   The all red is rare but is nice to see.  Black with a silver white pants kinda is sucky in the way it looks.   The all black is like the red and it definitely has a mental effect with both players and fans.

The best uniform combo was the Black shirt with the metallic red pants that was displayed some years ago.  I am talking about the Black shirt with red highlights version of the black Tech has.

I know that we have several versions of uniforms. But honestly,  the effect of color does impress a mental effect on both players and fans and especially opposing teams.  I know this for a fact. Teams that have multi- color uniforms see to do better because of the shock value.  I saw a study once that some Ivy league school did on color and game effects. It basically stated that strong and shocking differences in color do cause intimidation and makes players seen bigger and more powerful than they really are.  It goes back to society conditioning.

Tech is very fortunate in that the two most violent colors are red and black. So why not use it to our advantage?

Boise State uses color is its shock effect with the Blue field.  Which by the way,  Darker blue is 4th in the list of shocking colors.  Red, Black, Bright bright yellow,  Blue ( non pastels or dark), Bright orange, Bright green, Super bright white.

Do not take my word for it, read what Nike has to say about its new line of shoes which come in 5 colors called the Dunk High shocking color shoes.  They are Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, silver and white. Even in the ads they point to what I am refering to.  You can see an ad of this at http://www.geeksneakers.com/nike/nylon-magazine-x-nike-sportswear-dunk-high-sense-shocking-colors.  This ad only shows three of the so called shocking colors Bright Yellow, Bright Blue and Bright Orange.  You can visit the Nike site and scroll around to fine bright Varsity Red,  Metallic silver, Coal black and bright white versions.

Nike admits along with many others that the list of shocking colors make people look much more agressive and intimidating than they really are.  So I ask, why not do it for games like Texas, Oklahoma State, and OU.

I took a look at something that is troubling.   I looked at what people were saying about Texas Tech and why they are being kept down in the poll this year.  Almost to the person, all point to SOS and who Tech is playing as a major issue.  When you shoot that down then they go after other issues until that is shot down and thus you are left with nothing but stupid comments being made by people who are responsible for the BCS polling and bowl Selections.

So lets really take a look at that. I do not want to post for all D1 A teams so lets just take Florida and Texas.

According to the NCAA own current BCS SOS which is being used by ESPN, AP and Coaches Poll, which is also produced by the USA Today sports consultant and is part of the BCS calculation .   http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt08.htm

Thus according to all the pollsters its SOS compared to rank which is completely random and meaning less.  Basically according to AP and CBS polls they take SOS and average that against rank a team has. Ok lets actually do that and see what happens.

 Flordia Opened with DI AA Charleston Southern. They have Troy, Florida International and Florida State  then conference . Florida currently has a SOS of 1.  Yet numbers of the teams they play are less than Texas.

Example: Charleston southern by definition ranks 121 according to rule  which is just behind Western Kentucky which has the 120 spot because they are neither D1 A or D1 AA they are in limbo for the last 6 years as the NCAA has not addressed their actual placement.

Charleston Southern 121. Troy 78,  Kentucky 38, Tennessee 42, LSU 11, Arkansas 81, Mississippi State 69, Georgia, 17, Vanderbilt 60, South Carolina 35 and Florida State 26  gives a schedule average of 48.2 and a final rating of .49

Texas has LA Monroe, Wyoming UTEP and UCF.   The rest is Conference. Texas has a SOS of 4.

Thus: LA Monroe 116, Wyoming, 91, Texas Tech 30, UTEP 89, Colorado 77, Oklahoma 13, Missouri 47, OK State 7, UCF96, Baylor 53, Kansas 19, T A&M 70.  Average Schedule 59 with a final rating of .62

Texas Tech: Has NorthDakota, Rice, Houston and New Mexico with the rest conference. 

Thus: North Dakota 121, Rice 106, Texas 2, Houston 27, New Mexico 84, Kansas State 76, Nebraska 20, T A&M 70, Kansas 19, Oklahoma State 7, Oklahoma 13, Baylor 53.  Average Schedule 50 Final Rating of .57

Because of the Strong SOS of Florida of 98.74 it places them very high. Thus they rate higher than both Texas and Texas Tech. But Texas ranks lower than Texas Tech

In this three team example, Polling based on the comments of the AP Sports morons, and other would have Florida ranked 1 with a score of .49, Texas Tech 2  with .57  and Texas 3 with .62.

What I wanted to point out is that the pollsters can not even make their own excuses and number work to justify the rankings that they give.   What is sad is that the AP and Coaches Poll have to much input into the finalization of the BCS positioning by the end of the season.

Thus a Team like Tech can get screwed as they were last year when it came down to overall BCS ranking in the tie breaker. Imagine if Texas Tech has a better ranking that was calaculated properly according to what the pollsters actually claim! Tech could have won the Big 12 South Title last year.

I am not trying to push sour grapes or rehash last season.  What pisses me off is that the pollsters do not even follow their own rules or calculations when doing the polling. It also shows how bad the state of affairs are in college sports in trying to decide which teams are better than others.

What is interesting is that SOS for the BCS changes as the season progresses. But for the first two weeks of the BCS this stands as the basis as BCS looks at three or more conference games before they adjust the bias.

What I do not get is why is Tech being knocked for playing a D1 AA and Florida is not for playing a similarly ranked Charleston Southern? Virginia for example got their but handed to them by a strong AA program that in all honesty Ranks 89th and is ranked higher than Texas A&M.

When I crunched the numbers, It just does not add up. Thus there is more than a little bias being played out.  What I hate is hypocrites in the media and snubbing hypocrisy.  If the AP or USA is going to Bash Texas Tech for playing a AA then the same should be applied to the media darling Florida.  I for one, do not like the idea that teams should not play a AA school. There is no reason why a DI A can not play a AA no more than once.  Especially when the AA is a quality program of a smaller school. Which is the real issue here. Its a form of bigotry because a school is smaller than the current establishment of what is a proper university.

Yet, Harvard, Yale, William and Mary, James Madison and other highly respected schools are D1 AA in football.  Thus there is a type of issue here that is more akin to Racism than simple stupidity of the AP sportswriters and other pollsters.

What I have found is that Polls are more attached to TV ratings, Advertisement and pure greed than to the realities of what the kids do on the field.

Although people from Texas and Texas A&M can lay claims to having a higher rankings than Tech in some categories, They do not rank in all categories over Tech.

I thought about this after reading a post about Recruits and quality of education at Texas Tech. So I put together some interesting stats which are the 2009 or 2010 rankings.

Texas Tech School of Law is ranked 9th and has more students pass the bar than any other school in Texas and does better than Yale or Harvard in passing the bar.  Not only that but Texas Tech is ranked one of the best in the country for cost of education to become a lawyer.

School of Engineering is a rising star nationally. Texas Tech has risen in the rankings more than any other school nationally over the last 5 years. Currently Tech ranks 78th out of the the 213 accredited schools nationally and out of the 1200 schools which have engineering programs.

In the graduate level of Engineering national rankings:

Petroleum ranks 10th

Civil ranks 65th

Electrical 65th

Industrial 26th

Wind  4th

Mechanical 95th

Chemical 48th

Computer 70th

Engineering Graduate school overall rating 48th

Business School ranks 77th out of 150

MBA ranks 94th

Chemistry  ranks 90th with a graduate rating of 67th

Mathematics undergraduaterating is 97th  with a graduate rating of 103

Geosciences 86th with a graduate rating of 41st with Geochemistry ranking 4th in the nation.

Physics ranks 118 and graduate level is 116.

What this list shows is that Texas Tech is one of the top schools in the nation considering that there is more than 300 schools with programs equivalent to Tech and  the fact that there is some 1200 schools nationally who offer degrees but whose programs who are not accredited and severely substandard.

Texas Tech is in the Top 100 nationally across the board. That means that Tech does well even with Ivy league schools. 

I pulled these stats from TTU official websites and the US and News World report who does University rankings. There are other ranking systems out there which sell the ranking to those who are willing to pay for their placement or other corrupt means.  One of the worst is Top universities.com which was caught selling ranking positions by the Washington Post.

Thus for any recruits out there, Texas Tech is a top school and the cost of graduate school is a bargain where some of the top categories Tech Ranks in the Top 40 which is considered by US News and World Report as the elite programs in the US.

Hats off to the Students, Alumni and Faculty of Tech who have made the program one of the Nations Top Universities in the US.

Here is the response I received from  the NCAA. I have blocked out my personal email as I do not wish spam or pranks showing up in my box.

The origanl question posed was which teams from the Big 12 can be selected to the Fiesta bowl given the current BCS rules and NCAA guides.

Thus I am disappointed in the mail I recieved.

From: MBrand@ncaa.org 

Date: Friday December 12, 2008 4:24pm

To:pablo222@_________.net

Subject: Bowl Selection Proceedure

Mr. Madison,

It is not beneficial to address the question you have posed after the bowl selections have been made public. To answer your hypothetical question, would cause confusion and could lead to unresolvable complaints. For this reason, please understand that the BCS rules are not perfect. Now that the selections are completed, any hypothetical question is made mute. Please just accept the bowl selections as they have been made as nothing can be changed once the bowls have made their selection and teams accepted the bids.

Sincerely,

Myles Brand

I watched several interviews on the local NBC channel 11 today.

They all acknowledge that they have an outside shot to go BCS bowling which is the Fiesta.

Thus the sports broadcaster for NBC channel 11 understands  and the Players at Tech understand that they have a shot! Not much of one but a shot none the less.

Hopefully, I will get the NCAA letter to show everyone that Tech has a shot officially Monday should Texas get picked on Sunday after the final regular season BCS rankings come out.

This is contrary to the what everyone is thinking.  Right now, there are people here in this board who are so Anti Tech to say that Tech has a zero chance at a BCS bowl. Yet, the Texas Tech Football office says they do have a chance.

I think Leach and the players on the Team know more than a few lack luster fans about what is possible and what is not!

Let Tech go all the way to the BCS! 

Because should Oklahoma lose to Missouri, then Texas goes to the NCG and Missouri goes to the Fiesta. Thus if Missouri wins, Tech has a zero shot at the BCS!

If Oklahoma wins, Tech has a chance no matter how small against a Big Money old boy network school!

I have posted on several threads which show with out question that Texas Tech can go to the Fiesta Bowl.

The reason is simple:

The BCS rules found here at http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/eligibility is there for all to read and see that I am speaking true.

Many people are ignoring a few facts.

First who are the teams that are considered by the BCS as automatic qualifiers.

They ar for the Big 12 teams:

Automatic Qualification

1. The top two teams in the final BCS Standings shall play in the National Championship Game.

2. The champions of the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and Southeastern conferences will have automatic berths in one of the participating bowls after the 2008 through 2013 regular seasons.

3-4 deal with teams that are not BCS conferences. They are for Utah basically.

5. If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 4, and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 3 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifier, provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the national championship game. Oklahoma would deny Texas

6. If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 5, and if no team qualifies under paragraph No. 5 and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 4 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifier provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the national championship game. Okkahoma would deny Texas if they finished 4th.

Ok What have we learned. That #3 or #4 would normally be the selection to a BCS unless that conference sends a team to the NCG.

Since the assumption that Oklahoma will go to the NCG, then the ranking of 3 or 4 in the BCS means nothing for Texas. That is what the rules say for those ranked 3 and 4 above.

Ok What is an at large team and how does it apply to Texas Tech and the Big 12:

At-Large Eligibility

If there are fewer than 10 automatic qualifiers, then the bowls will select at-large participants to fill the remaining berths. An at-large team is any Football Bowl Subdivision team that is bowl-eligible and meets the following requirements:

  A. Has won at least nine regular-season games, and
  B. Is among the top 14 teams in the final BCS Standings.

No more than two teams from a conference may be selected, regardless of whether they are automatic qualifiers or at-large selections, unless two non-champions from the same conference are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the final BCS Standings.

Thus as the above points out, that it does not matter if the team is an automatic qualifier or not. But in the case of Texas Tech, Tech is an automatic qualifer but the problem is that the Big 12 has 3 teams which fit that definition and only two can be selected.

Ok, So Oklahoma goes to the NCG. Who then goes to the Fiesta according to the BCS rules?

Team-Selection Procedures

The bowls will select their participants from two pools: (1) automatic qualifiers, all of which must be selected, and, (2) at-large teams, if fewer than 10 teams qualify automatically. The following sequence will be used when establishing pairings:

1. The top two teams in the final BCS Standings will be placed in the National Championship Game ("NCG").

2. Unless they qualify to play in the NCG, the champions of selected conferences are contractually committed to host selected games:

  Atlantic Coast Conference-Orange Bowl
  Big Ten Conference-Rose Bowl
  Big 12 Conference-Fiesta Bowl
  Pac-10 Conference-Rose Bowl
  Southeastern Conference-Sugar Bowl

3. If a bowl loses a host team to the NCG, then such bowl shall select a replacement team from among the automatic-qualifying teams and the at-large teams before any other selections are made. If two bowls lose host teams to the NCG, each bowl will get a replacement pick before any other selections are made. In such case, the bowl losing the No. 1 team gets the first replacement pick, and the bowl losing the No. 2 team gets the second replacement pick. If the Rose Bowl loses both the Big Ten and Pac-10 champions to the NCG, it will receive two replacement picks.

DID YOU SEE IT????  One more time!!!!!  "If a bowl loses a host team to the NCG, then such bowl shall select a replacement team from among the automatic-qualifying teams and the at-large teams before any other selections are made. "

Ok who are the automatic qualifying teams for the Big 12?  The Big 12 champion and any team ranked 1 or 2. Thus only Oklahoma satisfies the rule as it is defined.

Thus Texas and Texas Tech qualifies because it satisfies the rule under

A. Has won at least nine regular-season games, and
  B. Is among the top 14 teams in the final BCS Standings.

Thus the Fiesta will have to replace Oklahoma.

Thus the Fiesta will selected between Texas and Texas Tech based on the following:

Team-Selection Procedures

A bowl choosing a replacement team may not select any of the following:

  A. A team in the NCG;
  B. The host team for another BCS Bowl;
  C. When two bowls lose host teams, then the bowl losing the number one team may not select a replacement team from the same conference as the number two team, unless the bowl losing the number two team consents.

4. After steps No. 1, 2 and 3 have been completed, any bowl with an unfilled slot shall select a team from the automatic qualifiers and/or at-large teams in the following order:

  A. The bowl played on the date nearest to the National Championship Game (for 2009, Fiesta Bowl) will pick first;
  B. The bowl played on the date second-nearest to the National Championship Game (for 2009, Sugar Bowl) will pick second;
  C. The bowl hosting the game that is played in the time slot immediately after the Rose Bowl game (for 2009, Orange Bowl) will pick third.

The rotation noted in paragraphs A, B and C is as follows:
  January 2007 games: Sugar, Orange, Fiesta
  January 2008 games: Orange, Fiesta, Sugar
  January 2009 games: Fiesta, Sugar, Orange
  January 2010 games: Orange, Fiesta, Sugar

All teams earning automatic berths must be selected.

5. After completion of the selection process as described in Paragraph Nos. 1-4, the conferences and Notre Dame may, but are not required to, adjust the pairings taking into consideration the following:

  A. whether the same team will be playing in the same bowl game for two consecutive years;
  B. whether two teams that played against one another in the regular season will be paired against one another in a bowl game;
  C. whether the same two teams will play against each other in a bowl game for two consecutive years; and
  D. whether alternative pairings may have greater or lesser appeal to college football fans as measured by expected ticket sales for the bowls and by expected television interest, and the consequent financial impact on Fox and the bowls.

The rules are very clear! Texas Tech  can go to the Fiesta should the Fiesta wish to select our Red Raiders over Texas.

Subsection D is where Texas Tech really out shines Texas because Texas Tech is a team many around the country have tuned in to watch an Texas Tech Fans spend money very well when they travel to bowls.

There is no reason for us Fans to give up on the Fiesta without showing some kind of fight and demand at least a review from the Fiesta Selection Board.

Everyone is biting their nails and looking for some sort of crystal ball. I even have seen more crippled rabbits as people are looking for rabbits feet to rub after they rubbed all the hair off the older ones. 

So I have established the Rabbit rehab program to help rabbits learn to run again with artificial little feet. You can donate to this fund through Seth.

So what will the Texas Tech game look like in Norman?

Here is a couple of links to show how the game will go down!

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=OKlahoma+v+Texas+Tech&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oET6YhrQyrw&feature=related

Go Tech Beat OU   45 to 38!!!

Auston English out for the regular season Knee injury

Alan Davis Out for TTU game possible out for OSU as well Knee injury

DeMarcus Granger  expected play time for TTU. Torn ligaments tendons and bone fracture of the foot.  Sooners have had him on reserve. Because of lack of depth on Defense is expecting to play Granger more than they normally would. Under normal conditions Granger would sit out the games until he is more than 85% well.

Ryan Reynolds  LB  Out for  season ACL injury

Jonathan Nelson DB Out for TTU knee injury

Eric Mesik TE broken ankle out for season

Manny Johnson WR Dislocated Elbow.... Wearing a brace while getting major minutes for the TTU game. Stoops praises Johnson and expects him to provide major help against Tech. Stoops talked about problems at WR and dropped balls in previous games.

I thought I would list some significant important injury reports so that  as the game gets closer we can better have a picture on the game in Norman.

Texas Tech does not list any injuries.  There is no significant injury news to prevent any player from playing in OU.

Crabtree's high ankle sprain should be totally recovered by game time. 

Duncan's sore neck also should be fully recovered by game time.

No other injuries reported or noted.

Oklahoma has several injuries of note.

1. LB Ryan Reynolds out for season Stoops requesting a Medical harship redshirt for this season so Reynolds can play next year.

2. DE Auston English will not play against TTU as reported by Stoops but expected to be hopeful for OSU if he gets clearance from Dr to start light workouts next week with  hitting the week following TTU game.

3. DE Alan Davis out prehaps for the last two games and perhaps for the season with the same knee injury as English who has been out for the last 2 months.

4. WR Adron Tennell  ACL out for season

5. RB  DeMarco Murray  knee sprain expected to be 100% for TTU

6. DE John Williams  torn Achilles out for season may be career ender.

7.  DT DeMarcus Granger  battling foot injury Torn tendon/ fractures of several bones of the foot  expected to be  50/50 for TTU game.

8. C Jon Cooper  battling knee sprain that has not properly healed over the last month and a half. Unknown type of sprain. Expected to be 100% for TTU game.

9. RT Branndon Braxton  Fracture leg.  50/50 for play time with TTU

10.  WR Manuel Johnson dislocated elbow.  Expected limited play time TTU

With so much misinformation and out right lies and deliberate rummors flying about Leach and him landing a Job everywhere on the coaching circuit and even getting a job offer from Trump is bogging down the facts and the truth.

So lets look at the facts:  Salaries paid out as of Dec 31, 2007 as reported by all Div 1 schools are as follows:

1. Charlie Weis, Notre Dame - $4,200,000
2. Pete Carroll, USC - $3,800,000
3. Les Miles, LSU - $3,751,000
4. Nick Saban, Alabama - $3,750,000
5. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma - $3,500,000
6. Urban Meyer, Florida - $3,400,000
7. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa - $3,030,000
8. Mack Brown, Texas - $2,910,000
9. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas - $2,850,000
10. Tommy Tuberville, Auburn - $2,825,000
11. Mark Richt, Georgia - $2,800,000
12. Jim Tressel, Ohio State - $2,600,000
13. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan - $2,500,000
13. Bobby Bowden, Florida State - $2,500,000
15. Philip Fulmer, Tennessee - $2,400,000
16. Mark Mangino, Kansas - $2,300,000
17. Greg Schiano, Rutgers - $2,250,000
18. Mike Bellotti, Oregon - $2,100,000
18. Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech - $2,100,000
18. Butch Davis, North Carolina - $2,100,000
21. June Jones, Southern Methodist - $2,000,000
22. Al Groh, Virginia - $1,875,000
22. Gary Pinkel, Missouri - $1,875,000
24. Tommy Bowden, Clemson - $1,850,000
24. Jeff Tedford, California - $1,850,000
26. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M - $1,800,000
26. Art Briles, Baylor - $1,800,000
28. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina - $1,773,000
29. Joe Tiller, Purdue - $1,764,000
30. Ralph Friedgen, Maryland - $1,750,000
30. Mike Leach, Texas Tech - $1,750,000
32. Houston Nutt, Mississippi - $1,700,000
32. Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State - $1,700,000
34. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech - $1,600,000
35. Joe Paterno, Penn State - $1,500,000
35. Randy Edsall, Connecticut - $1,500,000
35. David Cutcliffe, Duke - $1,500,000
35. Randy Shannon, Miami - $1,500,000
35. Jim Leavitt, South Florida - $1,500,000
35. Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College - $1,500,000
41. Ty Willingham, Washington - $1,470,000
42. Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville - $1,420,000
43. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin - $1,400,000
44. Ron Zook, Illinois - $1,350,000
45. Rick Neuheisel, UCLA - $1,250,000
46. Pat Hill, Fresno State - $1,230,000
47. Gary Patterson, Texas Christian - $1,219,000
48. Brian Kelly, Cincinnati - $1,200,000
48. Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh - $1,200,000
48. Jim Grobe, Wake Forest - $1,200,000
51. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State - $1,150,000
52. Dennis Erickson, Arizona State - $1,100,000
52. Bo Pelini, Nebraska - $1,100,000
52. Todd Graham, Tulsa - $1,100,000
52. Tom O'Brien, North Carolina State - $1,100,000
52. Greg McMackin, Hawaii - $1,100,000
52. Dan Hawkins, Colorado - $1,100,000
52. Mike Riley, Oregon State - $1,100,000
52. Gene Chizik, Iowa State - $1,100,000
52. Ron Prince, Kansas State - $1,100,000
61. George O'Leary, Central Florida - $1,086,000
62. Rich Brooks, Kentucky - $1,075,000
63. George Robinson, Syracuse - $1,054,000
64. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - $1,050,000
65. Mike Stoops, Arizona - $1,025,000
66. Tim Brewster, Minnesota - $1,000,000
66. Bronco Mendenhall, Brigham Young - $1,000,000
66. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford - $1,000,000
66. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt - $1,000,000
70. Tommy West, Memphis - $931,000
71. Chris Peterson, Boise State $900,000
72. Bill Stewart, West Virginia - $800,000
72. Larry Fedora, Southern Mississippi - $800,000
72. Steve Fairchild, Colorado State - $800,000
75. Ken Niumatalolo, Navy - $750,000
75. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern - $750,000
77. Chuck Long, San Diego State - $717,000
78. Kyle Wittingham, Utah - $678,000
79. Stan Brock, Army - $650,000
80. Bill Lynch, Indiana - $625,000
81. Paul Wulff, Washington State - $600,000
81. Bob Toledo, Tulane - $600,000
81. Kevin Sumlin, Houston - $600,000
81. Troy Calhoun, Air Force - $600,000
85. Al Golden, Temple - $575,000
86. Skip Holtz, East Carolina - $560,000
87. Joe Glenn, Wyoming - $551,000
88. Mark Snyder, Marshall - $470,000
89. Mike Price, UTEP - $460,000
90. Dick Tomey, San Jose State - $451,000
91. Rocky Long, New Mexico - $440,000
92. Mike Sanford, UNLV - $439,000
93. David Bailiff, Rice - $400,000
93. Frank Solich, Ohio - $400,000
95. Mario Cristobal, Florida International - $381,000
96. Chris Ault, Nevada - $368,000
97. Derek Dooley, Louisiana Tech - $350,000
98. Hal Mumme, New Mexico State - $349,000
99. Howard Schnellenberger, Florida Atlantic - $331,000
100. Tom Amstutz, Toledo - $313,000
101. Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois - $300,000
101. Neil Callaway, Alabama-Birmingham - $300,000
103. Larry Blankeney, Troy - $288,000
104. Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee State - $283,000
105. Bill Cubit, Western Michigan - $266,000
106. Butch Jones, Central Michigan - $265,000
107. Todd Dodge, North Texas - $261,000
108. Brent Guy, Utah State - $250,000
109. J.D. Brookhart, Akron - $244,000
110. Robb Akey, Idaho - $240,000
110. Brady Hoke, Ball State - $240,000
112. Charlie Weatherbie, Louisiana-Monroe - $205,000
113. Gregg Brandon, Bowling Green - $200,000
114. Ricky Bustle, Louisiana-Lafayette - $196,000
114. Jeff Genyk, Eastern Michigan - $196,000
116. Turner Gill, Buffalo - $191,000
117. David Elson, Western Kentucky - $180,000
118. Steve Roberts, Arkansas State - $171,000
119. Doug Martin, Kent State - $170,000
120. Shane Montgomery, Miami (OH) - $144,000

What most people do not realize is that Leach has already passed that amount paid to him last year because of the sliding scale of pay for wins.

Thus Leach right now has crossed the 2 million mark for Winning in the Gator Bowl and having 10 wins.  Leach's current contract has $168, 867 per win. This is in addition to his base salary.

Thus just on that number you have the 10 current wins plus the Gator Bowl. That gives a base of 1,857,537  with another $506,601 possible for a perfect season of 13-0 going into the National title game.

Then there is the bonuses for BCS bowls and the 1.2 million bonus for a national title.

Leach's contract from what I have been told will roll in Setenrich's salary that has been paid to him over this year. Thus add to the base $285,000 plus a few other items.

I also expect that Leach will see a significant increase in graduation bonus from the current 60% 75% 80% .... model he currently has.

I expect his base salary to double if not triple. I Also expect that the win bonus to increase. By how much? That will have to be determined by factors such as ticket sales, TV revenue and other projections.

But the point is that just based on modest increases to Leach's contract  Leach could see him being in the top 10 most highest paid coaches in the NCAA.

This number has nothing to do with compensation adds like Clothing, Comercials or other endorsement items.  How much endorsement money Leach can get is based on how much effort Leach wants to spend making appearances and doing commercials or other endorsements. Leach historically has not gone out of his way to go after that market. Leach could easily cross the 3 million plus mark last year by doing appearances and endorsements and commercials.

He will see an even greater demand for him after this season.

But I fully expect to see Leach having doubling effect on his salary without to much effort. If the Boosters really pushed to raise money and commit to a set add, then Leach could pass Brown at Texas for the second most paid coach in the Big 12.

Make no mistake,  Tech has the money to make Leach money happy. The key in reality is Leach himself and his fit in Lubbock.

If Leach is a man of his word which he has said is important to him, then he will remain here at Tech because he has said which two schools he would go to if he ever decided to leave Tech for another College.  Neither of those schools are looking to replace their coach anytime soon.

The only other place is the NFL and Leach has had an on again off again outlook. At times, he has said he does not want to go to the NFL and other times he has said it would be an oportunity. Thus, I would have to conclude that only one or two NFL teams hold any attraction for him.

The one thing I hope Myers puts into the new contract is a higher buyout amount. That is of significant importance in todays choices of coaches being drawn away from one school to another. Generally, schools look at buyout amounts to decide if its worth the effort to actually go after a coach. Some programs money is no object like Michigan, LSU and Auburn have displayed. Tennessee buyout for example was $250,000. 

The issue is that by law; the base salary is set by budget which in Tech's case is controled by a bunch of beaucrats who are mostly A&M  and Texas ex's. Thus I do not see the beaucrats giving Tech any extra benefits like they do for their own schools.

Thus the difference will have to be made up through ticket sales and Boosters.

Thus for those who are worried, donate to the TTU boosters at the Red Raider Club with the purpose of boosting Leach's salary. 

The truth is that Tech really should consider expanding the Stadium in seating after they finish the east side for the 400 seats they will add for the few rich people who can afford those lux boxes and actually endorse the North side expansion project.

Where the ticket office is knocked down and  seats are added to connect the East and west side stadium and leaving a space for the Jumbo tron. This would add an additional 25,000 seats bring the stadium to an absolute max compacity after the east side expansion to around 80,000.

If they should ever add an additional 2 sections to the South Side to add seats where Gate 1 and the Student Gate is then we could technically see a  90 to 100,000 seat stadium.

But that is something to consider down the road.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=143837&l=d74bf&id=1355409060

I was talking with my brother who commented that the Texas Tech Defense needed a better name than the swarm and needs a defining logo. That it needed a more menacing name something that puts a thought of dread in your mind when you see it.  So I drew up this idea which he liked and suggested that I post it to other Tech fans.

Since I am still having problems posting pics and if the link does not come up,

you can go to the link here to view:  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=143837&l=d74bf&id=1355409060

Let me know what you think?

Now that the Texas Victory has started to wear off, many of the Sports writers and Pundits are saying they do not think TTU can go toe to toe with OSU after such a hard fought win over Texas.

They have said that TTU does not have enough in the gas tank to get it done.  They even suggest that our Red Raiders are looking past OSU to Oklahoma.

The spread is narrowing as of today from 10 points on Sunday to 6 on Tuesday to 3 today.   Its got me wondering if they will call it even by Saturday or make the Raiders the underdog.  I kind of doubt that but its very obvious that the spread is significantly narrowing.

This Narrowing started after the NFL pick 6  picked the NFL top games then went on to pick Alabama v LSU and OSU v TTU.   The NFL picked Alabama huge over LSU in a day game and picked OSU over TTU because they say we can not stop the run.  They even went so far to suggest that Crabtree is overrated and Harrell is an unproven QB who has not shown enough to impress anyone over the last couple of years.

It was harsh on the NFL network pick 6 show.

But I hope people tell our boys that they are being called a fluke and that they will lose not only this Saturday but they are even suggesting that TTU loses to Oklahoma and Baylor because as they put it, too much power in row sinks the run.

But I am starting to hear this on ESPN which does not suprise me along with other pundits from other sporting news places. There are a few who are picking TTU but the margin right now is 4 to 1 against TTU winning over the next two to three games.

I am so proud of the Texas Tech team with the way they fought and won Saturday. It was pure pleasure to run the numbers and see where I thought they should fall.

Top 25

1. Alabama

2. Texas Tech

3. Penn State

4. Texas

5. USC

6. Oklahoma

7. Florida

8.  Oklahoma State

9.  Utah

10.  Missouri

11.  TCU

12. Ohio State

13.  Ball State

14. Georgia

15.  Michigan State

16. BYU

17.  Boise State

18. North Carolina

19. LSU

20.  Georgia Tech

21. California

22. Maryland

23.  Kansas

24.  Western Michigan

25. Tulsa

Next 10

26.  Florida State

27.  Cincinnati

28.  Air Force

29.  Pittsburgh

30.  West Virginia

31.  Navy

32.  Minnisota

33. South Florida

34. Vanderbilt

35. Northwestern

The Vegas Line has Tech a one point favorite against Texas.

They saw what we all knew was possible from our Red Raiders in the performance in Lawarence, Kansas.

If McNeill will continue with the same kind of defensive scheme that he went to after the first two series of man, Tech crushes Texas because simply, McCoy can not perform under high pressure. Oklahoma State proved that if McCoy is rushed, as many as 4 turnovers are possible.  The sad point is that Okalhoma State did not get those turnovers either because of penalty or simply catching a ball.

But think of what this means.  Texas Tech is favored over #1 Texas....

I am smiling today!

Here is where I stand inserting the BCS rather than the two computer rankings I used.

1. Texas

2. Alabama

3. Oklahoma

4. Penn State

5. Texas Tech

6. USC

7. Oklahoma State

8. Florida

9. Utah

10.  Georgia

11.  Ohio State

12.  Missouri

13. Ball State

14. Boise State

15. Florida State

16. Tulsa

17. LSU

18. TCU

19.  Michigan State

20.  BYU

21. Minnisota

22.  North Carolina

23. California

24.  South Florida

25. Kansas

Next 10

26. Oregon

27. Maryland

28. Conneticutt

29.  Western Michigan

30. Louisville

31.  Air Force

32.  West Virgina

33.  Pittsburgh

34. Boston College

35. Navy

Here is my Poll on where things stand today.  Lets see how close I get to BCS standings....  But it will be a good guide.

1. Texas

2. Alabama

3. Penn State

4. USC

5.  Texas Tech

6. Oklahoma

7. Florida

8.  Ohio State

9. Oklahoma State

10.  Utah

11.  Georgia

12.  Missouri

13. LSU

14.  Kansas

15. Ball State

16. South Florida

17. Cincinnati

18. Boise State

19.  Florida State

20. Pittsburgh

21.  Boston College

22.  Georgia Tech

23.  Vanderbilt

24. Northwestern

25. Michigan State

Next 10

26. Oregon

27. North Carolina

28. Virginia Tech

29.  California

30. Illinois

31. Maryland

32. Minnisota

33. Kentucky

34.  Western Michigan

35. Wake Forest 

Another upset Weekend!  Having the top 3 teams in the nation go down is amazing.  I would have bet that if Alabama played, they would have lost this week too but they did not play thus they escaped the upset bug that caused most of the top 10 to fall or gave a good scare.

Top 25 end of week 7:

1. Alabama

2. Texas

3. Penn State

4. Texas Tech ( Needs New Secondary Coaches to survive!)

5. Oklahoma State (Doubters beware!)

6. USC

7. BYU

8. Ohio State

9. Utah

10.  Georgia

11.  Florida

12.  OU

13. Missouri

14. LSU

15.  Kansas

16. Ball State

17. Tulsa

18. Boise State

19. South Florida

20. California

21. Cincinnati

22. Michigan State

23. Florida State

24. Virginia Tech

25. Pittsburgh

 Next 10

26. Boston College

27. North Carolina

28. Vanderbilt

29. Navy

30. Oregon

31. Wake Forest

32. Northwestern

33. Illinois

34. Maryland

35. Kentucky tie with Minnisota and Western Michigan. All came out with the same rated score.

After such a horrible and I mean horrible defensive effort, I have to say its time to make a coaching change on the defense.

I watched the whole game and saw exactly the same kind of performance that happened against Oklahoma State last year.  We fired a Coach for that effort. We were one pass away from a loss that should never have gone to Overtime much less be a close game.

Granted Nebraska is an improving team. But they are not as good as our defense made them.

Now I am not saying that we necessarily need to fire Ruffin McNeil. But the problem lays squarely on him to correct the blunders of his staff that have plagued this season. This problem has not been an isolated problem. Its been there from game one!

Tech needs to fire the Secondary coaches! Especially the coaches who are responsible for the safties and corner backs. That means Carlos Mainord and Brian Mitchell.

Because quite frankly the play and scheme from those positions have been so terrible and so egregious that it warrants it.   I understand the cover 2 and cover 3 that we play. However, playing so far off the receivers that our CBs have been doing is just mind numbing stupid!  They routinely give up 6 to 15 yards before the receiver is challenged and get burned deep anyway. Why not just jam then hell out of the receiver then run with them. It cannot be any worse than giving up 10 yards or watch the CBs stand there and watch the reciever fly by then they have to struggle to run with them down the field to get the coverage only to see the other team complete the deep pass because the reciever got behind them anyway which is fundamentally not supposed to happen in a cover 3 ever!

Thus why our defense is struggling. True that against Nebraska our defensive front also sucked a lot of wind as well. However, they did not do that bad over the whole game. In fact, they did very well for several series where they forced pressure only to see the pass being given up by the secondary because of horrible technique coached to out boys. If the coaches are teaching the right technique, then they are still guilty of allowing the bad stuff from happening. Either way, poor perforance over 6 games has to be call what it is.  Even though the prior games were not so close as to score, the problem remains. We can not afford to allow these schemes and coaches from ruining the program as a whole. We need change and we need it more than ever.

There was no head hunter attitude which has to be found on Defense! That is a coaching issue! Its been missing for a long time! We see sparks of it here and there but its an inspired quality that comes from the Coaches. Its missing from our Coaches which means that they have outlived their usefulness as effective defensive coaches for a program running as an end goal of a national title.

One statitistic that everyone needs to look at!  NO THREE AND OUTS AGAINST NEBRASKA!

That is the mark of a bad defense! That is the mark of bad coaching! That is the mark of teams that are going down not up the rankings!

Thus its time to fire some Coaches for the good of the Program here at Texas Tech!

Reasons why I am calling for a coaching change!

1. What is the point of having the cornerbacks sit 10 yards off the ball then allow both 8 and 10 yard uncontested pass plays along the sideline all game long as well as still get burned by the deep pass? Answer: None and its just plain bad defensive scheme! 

2. The cornerbacks allow themselves to be taken out of the play and lose contain more than 80% of the time on run or option plays.

3.  Incredibly slow reaction time.

4.  Why are safeties up closer than cornerbacks on some defesive sets which allows for over the top deep passes that every team we have played have capitalized on this defense! That is a statisitic you can go back and see. Every team we have played this season has burned our secondary deep because of this issue!

5. Cover three by definition means that we should not have any pass deep over the top where the other team get behind our secondary as that is the purpose of cover 3. Generally cover 3 is one rung below prevent defense. But, we are getting beaten deep! This can not happen!

6. Lack of coordination between LB coverage and Safeties on the flat passes or option bootleg pass. Its like our secondaries were never coached at all for this threat. When the QB goes into the bootleg option pass, its fundamental that the LB plays option with the flat reciever with one of the safeties going into a zone coverage behind the LB.  Thus when the LB must commit to the QB, the safety has to then cover the flat.  Geez, even I remember those basics from Jr. High and High school! So why is it that our boys are lost in space and pointing fingers after those plays. This means to me that there is confusion in the secondary which the coaches did not resolve during the game and have not taught as a rule so that those boys have a clear understanding of responsibilities!

Just as I started calling for Lyle Setencich to be fired in  September of 2006  a good year before it happened. I am calling for the firing of some Defensive Coaches. If the problem goes deeper than the issue of secondary coaches, then I suggest a total change in defensive coaches at the end of the season with a totally new set of coaches from Top down!

If Tech is ever going to take the step to the level of being a top 10 and a challenger for the Big 12 and National title not just this season but for years into the future, we can not just allow the kind of poor and absolute horrible leadership in coaching with the subpar standards being displayed.

We as Tech Exs and supporters of the program will have to make a choice. Either we demand that the program improve or simply allow the program to be what ever. Thus 119th  will be just as good as 9th because it is not important.

I just can not believe that we here at Tech would ever allow that to happen. Its always a hard thing to fire a staffer that you work hard with. Its even harder to fire a person when they are doing their best but their best is so bad that you feel bad for them.  That is where we are right now. While other teams are hiring and improving defense, we have been stagnant!  We hired Ruffin McNeil from wihtin the ranks. Which is not always a bad thing. However, we did not change up the rest of the staff over the offseason that should have happened!  Lyle Setencich was not the only problem on defense from last season! Thus why we are seeing the same kind of results from seasons past this season even though McNeil is at the lead.

The difference between Oklahoma State last year and Nebraska this year..... We beat Nebraska in OT. Other than that, the performance was the same. The defense could not stop nothing and the scheme sucked and looked exactly like the defense led by Lyle Setencich which required a coaching change last year.

Its time to demand that Leach and McNeil do what is best for the program and let the chips fall where they may!

Here is my Top 25 as I see it. All Based on actual performance rather than preference.

We will see our Red Raiders  crack the top 5 next week as Oklahoma or Texas has to lose.

1. Oklahoma

2. Missouri

3. LSU

4. Alabama

5. Texas

6. Texas Tech

7. Penn State

8. Oklhoma State

9. USC

10. BYU

11. Ohio State

12. Utah

13. Georiga

14. Kansas

15. Florida

16. Ball State

17. Tulsa

18. Vanderbuilt

19. Boise State

20.  Illinois

21.  Northwestern

22. South Florida

23. California

24. Cincinnati

25. Florida State

Next 10

26. Virginia Tech

27. Pittsburgh

28. Auburn

29. Boston College

30. Clemson

31. Navy

32. Oregon

33. Maryland

34. Fresno State

35. Kentucky

This is the pick that I pit against Vegas.  The test is to see how close my prediction is now verses the money men in Vegas as compared to where the teams actually finish the regular season.   This does not include bowls because of how conferences may finish and because of how some bowls are locked with certain conferences which guarantee them a higher finish then they really deserve.

As much as I want to, I can not interchange Oklahoma with our Red Raiders. Oklahoma has the better team and a game plan which will cause all teams the face a headache.  Its not that Oklahoma is completely better. But their game plan on offense is damn good. An example is that Oklahoma averages 16 seconds between plays. Thus Oklahoma puts a new meaning in the idea of hurry up offense which causes all teams they face this year to get caught with 12 men on the field penalties and it prevents defenses from switching out Personnel for the majority of the game. Thus creating some very big mismatches.  I have not seen enough to remove them as top team until someone can come up with a solution or if they have an internal offensive meltdown like they did last year.

MY BCS end of regular season top 25.

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. Penn State

4. LSU

5. Missouri

6. USC

7. Ohio State

8. South Florida

9. Texas Tech

10. Auburn

11. Utah

12. Maryland

13. Florida

14. Texas

15. BYU

16. Gerogia

17. Oregon

18. Kentucky

19. Wisconsin

20. Kansas

21. Ball State

22. Northwestern

23. Oklahoma State

24. UConn

25. California

Here is my week to week top 25.  I will post my end season BCS pick in another post. The BCS one is the one I pit against Vegas.

1. Oklahoma

2. Missouri

3. Alabama

4. LSU

5. Texas

6. Texas Tech

7. Penn State

8. BYU

9. Ohio State

10. South Florida

11. Oklahoma St

12. Kansas

13. USC

14. Georgia

15. Auburn

16. Utah

17. Florida

18. Boise State

19. Ball State

20. Maryland

21.Kentucky

22. UConn

23. Tulsa

24. Vanderbilt

25. Oregon

Next 10

26. California

27. Fresno State

28. Northwestern

29. Illinois

30. Clemson

31.  Florida State

32. Virginia Tech

33. Cincinnati

34. Kansas State

35. Boston College

Here is my list for top 25 after week 4 of play.

The real test will come after Week 5 when I hope to have my top 20 pretty much sealed up.

Note: Week 5 may look radically different because I will be doing some projections into conference finals. Its impossible for example for Big 12 or SEC to have 4 teams each in the top 10 and remain in the BCS standings. It just does not work that way.

Even though Big 12 South is the absolute toughest place to play in the country and is why they have so many in the top 10. You have to play at that level just to have a decent record and bowl offer.  Big 12 is does not have automatic bids like the SEC which can send  average to poor teams to a high level bowl requiring their pundits in the AP and ESPN to overrate them to sell more advertisements.

But I will consider putting out 2 polls after week 6. The BCS race poll and the real power poll which is based on how good a team really is.   There really would not  be that much difference between the two polls in general other than some teams will be in the top 10 or top 25 that can not be under the BCS system by how the calculations are done along with other ratings which prevents teams from the same conference or even conference subdivition from locking up for example 1. 2. 3. in reality. An Example would be Texas Tech winning out and playing against USC and beating them in the NC. under the BCS, Oklahoma and Missouri are prevented from being 2, 3 because USC would get the 2 position even though Oklahoma and Missouri also could have beaten USC.  Just another reason why there should be a playoff like the AA side with the top 32 teams play over the final 4 weeks with the NC game played on time in January. The Bowl system would still work. as you would use the bowl system to used within the playoffs with the lower tier bowls being used early with the latter bowls being used as a elite 8 final 4 and so forth.

My top 25:

1. USC

2. Oklahoma

3. Missouri

4. Florida

5. Georgia

6. LSU

7. Texas

8. Texas Tech

9. Alabama

10. Wisconsin

11. Penn State

12. BYU

13. Ohio State

14. South Florida

15. Clemson

16.  Wake Forest

17. Illinois

18. Kansas

19. Oklahoma State

20. Boise State

21. TCU

22. Tulsa

23. Nebraska

24. Ball State

25. Auburn

Next 10

26. Vanderbilt

27.  Colorado

28. East Carolina

29. UCONN

30.  Maryland

31. Northwestern

32.  California

33. Virginia Tech

34. Georgia Tech

35. Florida State

It was a sloppy game. However Colorado was able to put in a field goal to win the game in OT 17-14.

I have to say that the Colorado D step up strong in OT to keep WV out of the endzone and Special teams play killed WV. WV missed their opportunity to kick the field goal with a miss as it banged off the left upright which pretty much sealed their loss.

Colorado drove it down to the 7 yard line where they were stopped and they were able to kick their field goal to win the game.

Colorado put up 2 TDs in the first Quarter which look very impressive. They got two very quick TDs from their passing game. The second off of a very good hit causing a fumble. Then they passed for another TD. Both scores coming in the first 5 minutes of the game.

Colorado after that  second TD seemed to lose their passing game.  They really could not get their offense going and could not convert their 3rd downs.  However, Colorado's defense was able to stuff the WV offense and pretty much kill White's passing game all day. 

West Virginia got their 2 TDs from White who did it on the ground with the Standard QB draw play that he does.  Right now, White is the offense for WV. If White has a bad day, they have no offense at all. Both of White's TDs came in the form of long runs of 40+ yards. The first came in the 1st quarter 2 minutes after the second Colorado TD.  The second came late in the 3rd quarter.

WV tried to get a punt return before the half by calling some Time outs with less than 10 seconds to go in the 2nd quarter. Colorado had been taking a knee but then ran the ball on both 3rd and 4th downs to run out the clock. Interesting use of Time outs by WV to try and either block a punt or get a return for a TD.  Colorado showed good counter with good clock management to run out the clock deep in their own side of the field.

With this loss, WV drops out of the top 25. Depending on how other teams do come Saturday, they could drop as low as 34th or just hover just out of the top 25.  I will run the stats Saturday night/ Sunday Morning to determine where they fall in my formula that I use.

It was a sloppy game with an exciting OT win.  Colorado's win over WV only helps the Big 12 cause that they are the best conference this year. No matter how much ESPN tries to make the SEC seem like they are the best, the Big 12 has dominated early in the season and has played very respectible. Other than Iowa State and Kansas State the Big 12 has done extremely well out of conference.

With Baylor on TV today should handle UConn and give another good showing for the Big 12 one more week.

If all the teams win this saturday in the Big 12, it will boost the SOS for the whole conference by a significant margin.

Let just hope that  Iowa State wins against UNLV and Texas A&M can suprise Miami Fl with an underdog win.

Go Tech this saturday and lets hope that we will see a great game with the offense finally looking like they are supposed to. I also am hoping that the Defense mainly the secondary will start jaming the receivers for a change off the line because its just horrible to our CBs give up 15 yards as a freebee.  Wall's Interception came when he did jam his receiver on the line.  Just something to point out.

There was one thing that bothered me about the full stadium on Saturday. It was the fans who should be allowed on the grass seating area but not on  the white Circle and definately not on the Double T

After the fans had thinned in the grass seats, the Double T showed Damage.

I for one remember my youthful days as a kid sitting in those grass seats. I also remember that as far back as I can remember that the Double T was off limits to anyone standing or sitting on it.  

Even last year, the Tech police and the Stadium Staff kept people off the Double T. So why this year?

Why is the the Stadium staff and University allowing a very Visable Symbol of the University being trashed and giving access to what will in the future some Student from Texas or A&M who will do some really serious public damage to the Double T.

If you want history, it was Texas A&M students who were sitting in a sold out game back in the early days who took a hammer to the Double T during the game and stole part of the Double T which they displayed in a case and still may display in a case back in College Station. The following year, A&M killed our Mascot buy painting our horse in A&M colors suffocating it.

To me, it is irresponsible for the Stadium or any University staffers to allow anyone in the grass area to be on the Double T. All they have to do is get one of the 2 dozen police and Staffers leaning on the wall above the Grass seats to actually tell the people to get off the Double T.

I am hoping when the University does the North Endzone expansion that it does not do away with the grass seats. I would like to take my son one day and have him experience a couple of games from those seats. For  a Kid, its a great experience but for myself I perfer homeside between the 40s.

But it will piss a person like me off who is an exsaddle Tramp if the Double T gets messed with again by the likes of A&M or Texas or in one of other sold out games. Believe me I liked the fact that the stadium was full of people and you could not find any empty sections like in days past.  It was nice to see a sea of RED in the Stadium along with a full grass seating.

But all aside, people need to stay off the Double T. Its disrespectful and it will lead to problems which this university has already suffered for being lax on stadium security.