Rumor has it that Mike Leach has taken up drinking again. Not really because of that Insight Bowl comeback since he planned it all the way (though I needed a stiff one after that). No, it was because for the first time in 3 seasons, his team wasn’t 1st in passing, wasn’t 1st in scoring in the Big XII, and hadn’t scored 70 points in a game during the season.
Leach is not depressed, though. He has a slew of quarterbacks to choose from. Those prima donna wide receivers have finally graduated themselves off of his roster. His defense is poised to fall into the bottom of the NCAA, maybe even last again! No, Mike Leach has the world exactly where he wants it.
Team: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Stadium: Jones AT&T Memorial Stadium – Capacity: 53,000 + 3,000 or so Longhorns or Aggies
Coach: Mike Leach
2006 Record/Finish: 8-5, 4th in the Big XII South, Insight Bowl Overtime Champions
2007 H2DN Prediction: 8-5, 4th in the Big XII South
Top Returners: None of the 2006 starting linebackers
Biggest Loss: The offensive and defensive lines
ESPN Incessant Talking Point: What’s Mike Leach up to now?
Key Offseason Events: Mike Leach put an ad in the university newspaper for a punter, dropped last season’s leading rusher to the practice squad (and then promoted him to 3rd string), and opened up a quarterback battle between a guy who has had a year’s practice at running around confused and a guy who did it for a few days in spring camp.
Additional Notes: This year’s Texas Tech team is returning 1 linebacker with playing time, 1 defensive lineman with playing time, 1 wide receiver with more than 25 catches (of the 617 passes thrown), and 1 offensive lineman. On the bright side, for the first time in 4 years, the team (if they so choose) has a quarterback with more than 5 game’s experience, a secondary that might be able to stop a pass, linebackers, and hope (that the defensive coach will be gone at the end of the season).
Seriously, I have no idea how this Tech team will end up, but I am planning for the worst. The tequila is ready, dog properly padded, and television encased in bullet-resistant glass. Expect Leach to pour it on in Tech’s early season game at SMU in an attempt to get SMU coach Phil Bennet fired in preparation for defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich’s retirement at the end of the season. Then expect Leach to attempt to pour it on (or failing that, pour alcohol in) during the rest of the games this season.
Fun Fact: Mike Leach is the most interesting thing in Lubbock. He’s a Mormon, he drinks, he does the weather. And at least he isn’t this:
