robert.cessna@theeagle.com
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It wasn’t that surprising that Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach opted for the Red Raiders to tack on a late score Saturday, it was how they did it.
Leach asked for an officials’ review with 24 seconds left, thinking that Shannon Woods had scored. Tech was going to have to run another play, so the odds were great that if the Red Raiders wanted to score, they could. Tech had gained positive yardage on 10 of the previous 11 plays — there was an incompletion — against a tiring Aggie defense. So gaining 1 more yard wouldn’t be a problem. The replay official ruled that Woods didn’t score, so quarterback Graham Harrell did the honors. The timeout just emphasized that Leach will keep scoring no matter what his lead is, or how much time is left. Love or hate him, that’s who he is.
I’m old school. I say take the knee. I think if the roles had been reversed, that’s what A&M head coach Mike Sherman would have done.
So what doesn’t seem fair is that coaches like Leach always will go for late scores, even if they have a 30-point lead. Other coaches will take the knee instead of letting say the scout-team running back get a chance at a score.
I hate to see sportsmanship dying, but it is.
# # #
It’s kinda hard to believe that Stephen McGee was on the cover of Texas Football a year ago alongside Colt McCoy, who is now the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.
McGee just wanted a chance to run a pro-style offense for a season.
He’s been dealt a tough hand, but McGee is the kind of person who can handle it.
# # #
Coaches love experience.
Texas Tech started 15 players Saturday who also started in last year’s 35-7 victory. That sure helps on the road.
A&M, however, could easily have started nine players who started against Tech a year ago.
As it turned out, none of A&M’s offensive starters against Tech on Saturday started last year in Lubbock. McGee and offensive tackle Travis Schneider started last year, but they’re injured. Senior wide receiver Pierre Brown also started, but he’s fallen down the depth chart.
A&M defensive starters on Saturday who started last year against Tech were ends Michael Bennett and Cyril Obiozor; cornerback Jordan Pugh; and strong safety Alton Dixon. Defensive backs Danny Gorrer and Devin Gregg also started last year.
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Posted by: On: 10/22/2008
Comment Title: RE:Take A Knee
If you want to jump someone for "running up the score" you should direct your comments to the BCS ranking system where margin of victory is a factor in where you are ranked and thus connected directly to the almighty dollar. I am not a tech fan and not a leach fan but I did see him explain it and further state that if the situation were reversed he would not expect mercy. The quote went....."if I do not like what you are doing to me offensively, then I need to stop it".
