Sports Realm

The Red Raiders of Texas Tech University – known as “TTU” or Tech – have a history of college football that dates back to 1925. Playing in the heart of football country, the program at Texas Tech has had varying levels of positive success down through the years, but has been successful enough to garner an overall winning record. In addition, they have been successful within their own conference, and have won the conference title no less than eleven times. Consistently competitive over the course of the program’s life, the Texas Tech teams can usually be counted on to provide a good contest for whomever the play. There has been one period that truly stands out in the program’s history – the 2001 to 2009 years, during which every season was a winning one. During that same time frame, the Red Raiders were led by one of the very few coaches in the history of the college game who had never played a second of college football in his life.

The coming of Mike Leach

Mike Leach’s hiring by the University was something of an aberration by most coaching standards. Football coaches almost uniformly have actual playing experience under their belt, but Leach had never donned a team uniform and lined up on scrimmage in his life. What Leach did have, however, was an ability to analyze the game, develop strategies and teaching methodologies, and get his team to buy into his concepts. Whatever reservations anyone might have had with respect to his hiring, it did not take long for Leach to put them to rest. He began his career by establishing a winning season, and continued that success every year he coached. While he was at Tech, the Red Raiders enjoyed one winning season after another, all of which saw them playing in postseason bowl games. Leach’s five and four record in those bowl games also makes him the most successful postseason coach the team has ever had.

Offensive genius

When evaluating the true secret to Leach’s success as the Texas Tech coach, it is important to look at this offensive history. As an offensive coach at several schools prior to his head coaching job at Tech, Leach built a reputation for developing explosive passing offenses that could quickly put points on the board. It was his personally unique style of the spread offense, and it caught fire with many other coaches across the nation – with varying degrees of success. He also established himself as a coach who knew what it took to help a raw talent quarterback such as Tim Couch and help them develop into players who could be drafted in the NFL’s first round.

The Insight Bowl

Viewers of the 2006 Insight Bowl were given a clear example of the Texas Tech offense in action. With his team down by more than 30 points in the third quarter, Leach did what few other coaches would dare – he unleashed his spread offense attack against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in one last-ditch effort to even the score. By the end of regulation, the score was tied. By the end of overtime, the Red Raiders had managed the largest postseason come from behind victory in history, winning by three.

Leach was suspended at the end of the 2009 season over allegations that he had mistreated one of his players. Though he never disputed the charges, Leach still refused to apologize to the player, resulting in his termination by the university. He is presently in the process of suing Texas Tech for wrongfully firing him.

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