Tim Griffin Blog---All Big12 Team 

Not one Tech player included. I'm not all bent out of shape over this for sure.  I mean, it will all be decided on the field here very shortly.  However, I think things like this can be good motivators for a team or player if they choose to use it.  I believe it was Rajon Henley today on Tech Talk that quoted somebody in the media predicting a 7-5 season for Tech...he didn't seem to like that much.  These guys do get on the internets.  

The players that might have made my list are Brandon Carter, Jamar Wall, or Detron Lewis.

      Lubbock Avalanche Journal

Leach said. “He’s(Torres) really good at vertical balls, and the ability to really be polished at catching the vertical ball is something a little more sophisticated than (catching) horizontal balls. That adds a real dimension for an outside receiver to be able to do that. And then he’s a real gritty, tough guy. I like the presence he has out there.’’

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Leach also said he expects Crawford to be ready to go for the season opener.

Rivals.com..profile

Urell Johnson, a 3 star DB, committed to Tech last night. Rivals has him turning down Tenessee, Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado, Southern Miss, Utah, Virginia, and Louisiana Tech.  LSU showed interest, but never offered him a scholarship.  ESPN graded him at a 76.

Urell is the second defensive back(Brandon Smith being the first) to commit to Tech from Louisiana.  Can't help but wonder if Eric Russell, Tech's new special teams coach, has alot to do with this.  As passionate as he is about coaching, it's easy to believe that he would be very persuasive in a kids living room, in Louisiana particularly since he was coaching at La Tech for two years.

That's 7 commits in 3 weeks!  I think the pressure is on these kids to jump on these remaining spots before someone else does.  Supply and demand is working for us;)

Avalanche Journal 

I sure hope this is not serious.  Right now Aaron Crawford is hurt as well, so I guess Harrison Jeffers and Eric Stephens will have to get the job done...for now at least.  Baron suffered a ruptured achilles in '06, his freshman year.  He finally got back on the field in '08 and proved he was as talented as scouts had said when he was coming out of high school.

Wreck 'Em!!

I have to admit, I have fully embraced the whole pirate thing since Coach Leach expressed his interest in pirates a few years ago.  Since then, it seems it has taken on a life of it's own, with pirate images on blogs, sportscasts, fan gear,  etc...  It was great to see Tech fans and students in custumes and face paint last year.  The Texas game had a great atmosphere in part due to this, and the memory of that great moment in Tech football history will always have a pirate slant to it in my mind.   I also loved it when people, including the Tech band, began playing the theme song from  Pirates of the Carribean in the background for highlight videos and such.  It was also fuel for the fire for Tech fans who have the "us against the world" mentality at times,  here on the South Plains. 

By now, I am sure everyone has heard the story of the US Captain held hostage by pirates the past few days, then rescued by the US Navy on Sunday. A truelly remarkable story.

But my question is this: Does this story, and others like it in the news recently, change your opinion of the pirate phenomenon at Texas Tech?             

                                                                           ..impatiently waiting on September...

I'm just wondering what you guys thought of UT not letting our baseball team use their weight room earlier this week>>>they talked about it a bit again today on Tech Talk.  Now they are saying that Tech and UT had an agreement that if Tech players would take the tarp off of the field, UT would allow them to use their weight room.  But it seems that Tech held up their end of the deal , but not UT. Tech wound up using other facilities in town.

Maybe it's no big deal, but it is interesting at the very least.  If you happen to have more details on this situation, pls let us know.

"He doesn't have the supporting cast a whole bunch of those other guys have and yet he's more productive, he's got more yards, more touchdowns, more, more, more," said Leach, who last week called Harrell a "no-brainer" to win the Heisman because of his leadership, poise and courage.

A late-season 65-21 loss at Oklahoma, where Harrell had one first-half TD while Tech fell behind 35-7 dropped Harrell from Heisman front-runner to the back of the pack. Even Harrell suspected that loss would coast him his shot at the Heisman, despite 4,747 yards and 41 touchdown passes.

International Herald Tribune AP

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/10/sports/FBC-T25-Heisman-Harrell.php?page=1

http://www.redraiders.com/?p=4190

"Texas Tech’s likelihood of hanging on to Mike Leach took a turn for the better on Friday. Tech sent Leach’s agents a five-year, $12.1 million contract proposal, and an Alabama newspaper reported that Auburn was not pursuing Leach."

Quote from article by Don Williams>>>Lubbock Avalanche Journ 

Not sure, but I think this makes Leach the #3 highest paid coach in the BIG12 bringin home $2.4mil a year guaranteed...

I haven't found a link to an updated list, [these are just off an old list and figures done in my head for Leach and Gundy] if you find an updated list let me know... 

#1Mack at $2.8mil guaranteed

#2Bob at $2.65mil

#3Mike Leach at $2.4mil

#4Mangino at $2.3mil with an Orange Bowl victory to boot

#5Gundy at $2.2mil with new raise

http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?id=3700854 

Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win

Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win Win

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAOkxgvboPk

This is one exciting season and a HUGE game.

Here’s what I pray will happen Saturday:

1. Tech will beat OU in Norman, breaking their 23 home game winning streak.
2. Tech will maintain the longest winning streak in college football (and set a few other records while we are there)
3. Tech will clinch the Big 12 South Championship.
4. Tech will be ranked #1 in all polls.
5. Tech will be #1 in the BCS Rankings.
6. Tech will have a great shot at playing in and winning the National Championship.
7. Graham Harrell’s performance will clinch the Heisman Trophy.
8. Michael Crabtree’s performance will earn a trip to New York with him as one of the top three Heisman vote-getters, and 6 will invite 5 up on the podium with him.
9. Michael Crabtree will secure his second Biletnikoff Award.
10. Coach Leach will win Coach of the Year.
11. Michael Crabtree will be drafted in the first 5 spots in the NFL draft.
12. Tech and West Texas will receive Hordes of Publicity.
13. Coach Leach will re-up for a long time.
14. Stadium expansion will begin on the East Side and donations pour in for future projects.
15. Brent Musburger, Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, and Desmond Howard will all get apartments at Lynnwood.
16. And we will all live happily ever after, enjoying national prominence for years to come.

I don’t know that there has ever been more possible from one (more) win. GO TECH!

                                    By Bill Windsor

"When you turn Oklahoma on you see speed, speed," says Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis, whose Longhorns beat the Sooners and lost to the Red Raiders. "When you turn Tech on you see physical, physical. You have to be careful. It doesn't mean Tech can't run and Oklahoma's not physical, that's just what jumps off at you right off the bat."

I found this in the USA Today.  I tend to agree with this guy.  Thought I would post and get your thoughts. 

I heard about it on the Mike Leach show this evening.  Mike never showed up for his weekly interview on the Mike Leach Show.  Chris Level and Robert Giovannetti said they thought he was doing the interview with 60 Minutes at the time.  Hopefully they were not misinformed.

That should be very interesting. That is some BIGTIME PUBLICITY as well...RECRUITING BABY!!

How many college football coaches have done 60 Minutes?!?  I'm sure some have, but I don't remember any.