Texas Tech Red Raiders football team Review

2008 is the Year of the Big Twelve
With due respect to fans of Alabama, Florida, USC, Penn State and Ohio State........the 2008 football season is the year of the Big 12.   Study the stats - particularly those of the numerous Heisman contenders and their teams: OU, TX and TX Tech - and you'll have to agree.  No other conference compares this year.   Perhaps the most exciting team to watch has been Texas Tech.

Texas Tech has Heart & Talent
The magic between QB Graham Harrell and the receiver he most often connects with, Michael Crabtree, has really been amazing to watch.  These two guys are so in synch you can't even believe what you're seeing.   It's just beautiful football - countless long, long Harrell passes that Crabtree snatches and scores on.   And Harrell is so darn cool under pressure, in his pocket, thanks to his linemen who protect him.  So far, the only team to breach this nearly impenetrable pocket has been my own team, Oklahoma.  But ironically, I took no pleasure in watching Harrell and Crabtree's team bring out their B game in Norman.  They've just been spectacular all season.

 Despite that one loss, which was admittedly a big one, I would still lean toward giving Harrell the Heisman.  Actually, I'd like to see him share it with Crabtree in a tie.   This is not meant to take anything away from Colt McCoy or my "own" Sam Bradford.   Chase Daniels of Mizzou and Zak Robinson from Oklahoma State are also amazing.   Tim Tebow's conference doesn't have much competition in it: only two big teams.  It's a lot easier to be "great" when you've only got one other killer team to play.   (Props to GA Tech on the win over GA, BTW......!)

TT Head Coach Mike Leach (the mad scientist) is fun to watch and he has changed football with his ingenious plays that are now copied across the country.   Texas Tech is just a team with a lot of heart, a lot of guts, and a fan base that is pretty amazing, too.  Watch an interview with Harrell and you'll be impressed how modest he is, always talking about the team and deflecting attetion from himself. 

It's a shame all the powerhouse Big 12 teams have to keep playing each other:  the strength of schedule is so wicked that the greats just beat up on each other.   OSU, Mizzou, Nebraska, all great teams.   Kansas, too.  And poor Baylor, a real up-and-coming team, has the hardest schedule in the entire USA.   Imagaine having to play three Top Five teams, plus a slew of other tough competitors. 

Don't tell my fellow Sooners, but when it ocmes to the Texas Tech Red Raiders........

The Bottom Line:  Libby Loves 'Em!