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Life, Liberty, and Kicking Mike Leach's Ass · Talkin' Tech

0:39
SPEAKER_00: Welcome in everybody to the Talk and Tech Podcast, powered by Guns Up Nation, part of the Guns Up Nation Podcast Network.
0:45
SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Steven Rodriguez, my co-host Tristan McGonagall is not here today.
0:50
SPEAKER_00: I am riding solo for this pod episode.
0:54
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, Tristan couldn't make it.
0:56
SPEAKER_00: He's uh in the process of visiting family for the holidays and everything.
1:00
SPEAKER_00: So I figured, hey, I'm gonna try this thing solo.
1:03
SPEAKER_00: Uh so we'll see how it goes.
1:05
SPEAKER_00: But uh, you know, you don't want to hear about that.
1:07
SPEAKER_00: What you want to hear about is the absolute ass beating that was the Liberty Bowl.
1:15
SPEAKER_00: Texas Tech takes down Mississippi State 34 to seven.
1:21
SPEAKER_00: Um Tech's first seven-win seasons since 2015, uh, first bowl win since 2013.
1:28
SPEAKER_00: And for all of you uh that believed in the curse of the pirate, the Mike Leach curse, uh, plenty of different names.
1:37
SPEAKER_00: Uh, first off, it didn't exist.
1:40
SPEAKER_00: Second off, if you did think it existed, it no longer exists.
1:44
SPEAKER_00: So everybody can be on the same page.
1:47
SPEAKER_00: Finally, the Mike Leach curse is no more.
1:51
SPEAKER_00: Everybody can shut up about it.
1:52
SPEAKER_00: Um, Texas Tech absolutely destroyed Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl.
1:59
SPEAKER_00: Um, I I didn't expect it.
2:02
SPEAKER_00: I don't think a lot of us did.
2:03
SPEAKER_00: Uh, the absolute beatdown that we gave to the Bulldogs.
2:07
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, it's it's just to put the Michael Leach stuff to rest.
2:12
SPEAKER_00: It's uh, you know, the guy will never let it go, first off.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: Anytime Texas Tech is brought up to him, he's gonna say something about how he's owed money or anything.
2:21
SPEAKER_00: And he did it in his uh pregame presser.
2:24
SPEAKER_00: But you know, uh when it comes to Mike Leach, he he's only soiling his own name, I think, uh at Texas Tech.
2:34
SPEAKER_00: I think um, you know, we all want to rem remember the good times and and love the great seasons that we did have under Mike Leach and all the wins, and he's the most winningest coach in Texas Tech history and everything like that.
2:46
SPEAKER_00: But you know, the more the guy craps on the university and the more the guy just keeps keeps it going.
2:53
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's something it was what 11 years ago at this point, Mike.
2:58
SPEAKER_00: I mean, let's just stop.
3:00
SPEAKER_00: Let's just stop with it because you're not getting your money, clearly.
3:05
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you say you're owed 2.5 million dollars and that's never gonna reach your pockets.
3:10
SPEAKER_00: Um do you know, uh, we could we could keep bringing up Mike Leach till the end of time, but I think this game of all games put that to absolute rest.
3:22
SPEAKER_00: Uh, we never have to talk about it again.
3:23
SPEAKER_00: He's never gonna coach at Texas Tech again, and we just kicked his ass in a bowl game.
3:27
SPEAKER_00: So why would we want him back?
3:29
SPEAKER_00: So um, so we're putting that all that to rest.
3:32
SPEAKER_00: But uh outside of that, what an unbelievable game from our guys.
3:36
SPEAKER_00: Uh Texas Tech really put on one of the best complete football games I've ever seen out of them.
3:43
SPEAKER_00: Um, probably going back to I don't know, maybe one of the Texas games that we won under Kingsbury or one of the U of H games, or uh one of the, you know, I'm not gonna bring up the the FCS games that we crushed opponents at or whatever, but uh maybe Arkansas 2015.
3:59
SPEAKER_00: That was that was a really complete game.
4:01
SPEAKER_00: But um other than that, I just just an absolute dismantling.
4:05
SPEAKER_00: I mean, we haven't seen Texas Tech take the lead and keep the lead for the entire game in a long time.
4:12
SPEAKER_00: And this was just tremendous, uh, in the in the wise words of Matt Wells.
4:17
SPEAKER_00: Um let's talk about some some key players because Donovan Smith, what a performance from him.
4:24
SPEAKER_00: Uh he did have his low moments.
4:26
SPEAKER_00: We could see that he he still has some things to work on in his game, as a lot of redshirt freshman quarterbacks would.
4:32
SPEAKER_00: Uh, but he he played great, especially in the second half.
4:35
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it was mostly the run, uh, mostly the run attack there in the first quarter.
4:39
SPEAKER_00: Taj Brooks, Sir Roderick Thompson.
4:41
SPEAKER_00: I'll I'll get to those guys here in a second.
4:42
SPEAKER_00: But um Donovan had he had a completion of 15 or more yards to six different receivers this game.
4:50
SPEAKER_00: I mean, second half, he was dealing.
4:52
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he did have his moments there in the second quarter where he missed a lot.
4:56
SPEAKER_00: And even, you know, later on, he missed one to Rigdon and and things like that.
5:00
SPEAKER_00: But man, he talk about grit, talk about toughness.
5:04
SPEAKER_00: He he attacked uh rushing.
5:07
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he kept the ball on some RPOs and and got 10 or so yards and got another first down, and he just kept it rolling and he looked calm, he looked poised, he looked uh really good there in the pocket.
5:18
SPEAKER_00: And I was I was really happy to see that from Donovan.
5:20
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, he's had he's had some really good games, as we've seen, since he took over his starter, the Iowa State game, and even the Baylor game he played pretty good in.
5:28
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and now this Mississippi State game, he led us to a a 34-7 win over, you know, a seven and five SEC team.
5:34
SPEAKER_00: Who really the only game Mississippi State got blown out this year was Tabama.
5:40
SPEAKER_00: And then other other than that, I mean they had a tight game against Ole Miss, they had a tight game against uh or they beat AM.
5:45
SPEAKER_00: I mean, they beat some good teams.
5:47
SPEAKER_00: That's a that's a good squad.
5:48
SPEAKER_00: They and they had some guys missing.
5:50
SPEAKER_00: You know, you can't talk about this game without talking about Mississippi State had some had some guys missing, but you know, it's not an excuse.
5:57
SPEAKER_00: We had some guys missing too, and we had a coaching stab that you know seven eighths of them are not gonna be there next year.
6:05
SPEAKER_00: So uh we didn't have Eric Izucama, he's going to the NFL.
6:09
SPEAKER_00: We can hit that in a second, but um, you know, uh just an absolutely wonderful performance from a whole lot of young players as well, Donovan included, um, 252 yards and a touchdown, and then he added 30 more yards on the ground with a touchdown.
6:28
SPEAKER_00: Um, really led his team and had a really balanced attack.
6:31
SPEAKER_00: I love seeing that from uh from Sonny Cumbee and and the offensive staff.
6:36
SPEAKER_00: Uh, they put together a really good game.
6:38
SPEAKER_00: Um, Taj Brooks and Sir Rodric, I mean, they led the way in the first half, man.
6:42
SPEAKER_00: It was uh Taj Brooks 107 yards and a touchdown.
6:45
SPEAKER_00: Sir Rodric 80 yards and a touchdown.
6:47
SPEAKER_00: And you got to think of both if both of those guys are coming back, it's one of, if not the best, running back to in the Big 12.
6:55
SPEAKER_00: I mean, the experience, uh, Tosh Brooks, I would be surprised if he doesn't go for a thousand to twelve hundred yards next season because uh dude runs so cleanly.
7:05
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he's hard to take down.
7:06
SPEAKER_00: You you're hardly ever gonna see the first guy that gets to Brooks take him down um because he's crafty and he's just uh he's just a beast, man.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: He he he's low to the ground, so not a lot of people are gonna tackle him.
7:21
SPEAKER_00: If you need a yard, Taj Brooks will get you that yard, or he'll get you probably three or four on top of that.
7:26
SPEAKER_00: So uh shouts out to those guys, they played fantastic.
7:30
SPEAKER_00: Um, JJ Sparkman, man.
7:32
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so this is my guy.
7:34
SPEAKER_00: This is JJ Sparkman is my dude.
7:37
SPEAKER_00: I am thinking next season.
7:40
SPEAKER_00: Uh if I'm if I was a betting man, I would bet JJ Sparkman has a fantastic next season.
7:46
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and we have a lot of returning young receivers.
7:50
SPEAKER_00: Uh we even have a couple transfers coming in, one in Brady Boyd and one in Joshua Moore from Texas.
7:55
SPEAKER_00: So uh our wide receiver room is going to be just fine without Izucama.
7:59
SPEAKER_00: Um, Duran Bradley, another one of those bright young receivers, true freshman, had a nice 52-yard catch in this game, which he probably scored on, but they called him a yard short.
8:09
SPEAKER_00: But he probably he probably took that in.
8:11
SPEAKER_00: Um, should have been a touchdown, but he was great.
8:14
SPEAKER_00: JJ was great.
8:15
SPEAKER_00: Uh Miles Price had a good game.
8:17
SPEAKER_00: Um, a lot of a lot of good young receivers.
8:19
SPEAKER_00: Trey Cleveland got involved.
8:21
SPEAKER_00: So um, you know, uh the wide receiver position is bright.
8:24
SPEAKER_00: It always is at Texas Tech, but it, you know, losing Ezekama, I know, is a is a big deal, and he's one of the most talented guys we've had come through Texas Tech's program in a long time.
8:33
SPEAKER_00: But uh, you talk about Cleveland, even Fungi didn't play this game, but he's one of those guys, Sparkman, Bradley, uh Joshua Moore coming in, and uh just so much talent.
8:44
SPEAKER_00: Miles Price there in the slot.
8:46
SPEAKER_00: I mean, uh, we have a lot of good receivers coming back.
8:50
SPEAKER_00: Um, on the defensive front, Tyree Wilson and Tony Bradford played their butts off, man.
8:55
SPEAKER_00: I mean, Tyree Wilson, you just kind of forget how big that guy is.
9:00
SPEAKER_00: He is a massive, massive human.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: And he just you could see they were doubling him a lot of the game because we had a three-man rush the majority of the game because of Mississippi State's constant passing attack.
9:12
SPEAKER_00: You know, they don't run the ball at all.
9:13
SPEAKER_00: So uh we were rushing three the majority of the time, so we could have a few more people there um uh in the backfield.
9:20
SPEAKER_00: And uh man, he was getting past, they had five linemen guarding three dudes, and and half the time Tyree Wilson or Tony Bradford was right on Will Rogers the entire game.
9:30
SPEAKER_00: So uh had a couple back-to-back big sacks there in the third quarter.
9:34
SPEAKER_00: I think it was still 20 to seven at that point.
9:37
SPEAKER_00: And uh Tyree Wilson came out and and got us a huge stop and uh made him go for it on fourth down and and then got him again.
9:45
SPEAKER_00: So Tony Bradford had another one after that.
9:47
SPEAKER_00: So three sacks combined with those guys, uh just getting constant pressure on Rogers, and that was that was a key point in the game.
9:54
SPEAKER_00: Um, Eric Monroe interception, uh his final game as a Red Raider.
9:58
SPEAKER_00: So a solid coverage all game.
10:00
SPEAKER_00: Uh, he's had an up and down career at Texas Tech.
10:02
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, I've I've surely had plenty of times where I have uh not, you know, been been yelling at my TV screen because of Eric Monroe, but man, this guy he he gave his all and he's a good dude through and through, and he embraced Texas Tech.
10:16
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, he he's just been in college football for a long time.
10:19
SPEAKER_00: So to see his career go out like uh like the way it did, uh big time for him.
10:25
SPEAKER_00: Um Colin Schooler, where I mean, you know, where do you start with him?
10:29
SPEAKER_00: He's he's just an absolute beast of a linebacker.
10:34
SPEAKER_00: Uh led the team with nine nine tackles in this game, uh, and he's now top five all time in total tackles in all of college football history with 482 tackles.
10:46
SPEAKER_00: I mean, that's the type of guy that Colin Schooler is.
10:49
SPEAKER_00: And we had him for two years, and uh I'll always be thankful for that.
10:52
SPEAKER_00: Wish we could have had him for five, but man, uh Colin Schooler, if you talk about a guy who deserves a shot at the next level, it's him because uh, I mean, he'll get the job done no matter what.
11:03
SPEAKER_00: And he was uh he was always there for the team.
11:05
SPEAKER_00: He always brought it every single game.
11:07
SPEAKER_00: He was consistent.
11:08
SPEAKER_00: There wasn't really any bad schooler games that you can think of.
11:12
SPEAKER_00: Um, I just love Colin Schooler, love that guy.
11:16
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and he'll be a red raider uh all the way through, no matter what.
11:20
SPEAKER_00: Uh Reggie Pearson had a great game.
11:21
SPEAKER_00: Uh he had two huge hits in the second half there, kind of Schooler-esque, uh, where he just boomed the dude there.
11:27
SPEAKER_00: They were really deep in their own territory, and they tried to run the ball.
11:31
SPEAKER_00: And and Reggie Pearson came in and just knocked him on the ground.
11:35
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and it was it's just one of those plays that you everybody goes, Oh, like it was it was really cool.
11:41
SPEAKER_00: Uh, Reggie Pearson shouts out to him.
11:44
SPEAKER_00: Um, last one I had isn't a player at all.
11:47
SPEAKER_00: It's Keith Patterson, man.
11:49
SPEAKER_00: Um, a lot of people were kind of put off by Keith Patterson this season after the UT and the TCU games, where uh they were they were very poorly coached games.
12:00
SPEAKER_00: The game plan wasn't good, the the adjustments were non-existent, and um, you know, we just couldn't stop them.
12:07
SPEAKER_00: We let a bad UT team put up 70 points on us.
12:09
SPEAKER_00: We let a bad TCU team put up whatever 40, 40 plus, 40, 50 plus.
12:15
SPEAKER_00: But um for from the point that Sonny Tum Cumby took over, uh Keith Addison really brought it too.
12:23
SPEAKER_00: He he was an under-the-radar uh just the coaching he put up and the schemes and everything.
12:30
SPEAKER_00: He he had a great end of the year, and I couldn't be more happy for that guy that he got a head coaching opportunity there at Abilene Christian.
12:37
SPEAKER_00: Um, so wanted to give that because you know, the whole the number one passing offense in the SEC to seven points um was fantastic.
12:46
SPEAKER_00: And I mean, they still had their quarterback, they still had their their best receiver, they still had their weapons, you know, it's not like they opted out.
12:54
SPEAKER_00: So uh that was that was huge.
12:56
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I was I was really happy to see Keith Patterson go out uh in a good way here at Texas Tech because there were plenty of times where we wanted to crap on the guy.
13:04
SPEAKER_00: So just want to do that uh real quick.
13:07
SPEAKER_00: Um man, uh so the basketball game happened at uh I think it at one, so it probably ended around three.
13:15
SPEAKER_00: And I took a nap between that and when the uh when the bowl game started, and I wake up and I look on Twitter, and the first thing I see is Sonny Cumbee wearing this golden pump jack uh chain around him, walking into the arena, and man, that just fires you up.
13:33
SPEAKER_00: That fires everybody up.
13:35
SPEAKER_00: You're for I can't say enough about Sonny Cumby and what he brought to this team this season, um, a very, very roller coaster type of season for anybody.
13:48
SPEAKER_00: And he, you know, he it doesn't work out over at TCU with him.
13:52
SPEAKER_00: He he decides to come back to Lubbock and his alma mater, where he was former quarterback, and y'all know the whole story of Sonny Cumbee.
13:59
SPEAKER_00: But for him to take over this squad after Matt Wells gets fired, um for him to keep everybody in it and keep everybody together, you don't see an interim do that very often.
14:13
SPEAKER_00: Um, and you know, after eight games, Matt Wells is gone and he's got to finish out the season.
14:20
SPEAKER_00: And we're we have a tough, tough schedule.
14:22
SPEAKER_00: You play Oklahoma, you play Oklahoma State, you play Baylor, you play Iowa State, four really good teams in this conference, and he manages to get that sixth win to bring us to a bowl and then manages to win the bowl game by a lot.
14:36
SPEAKER_00: And this is after he's hired by Louisiana Tech because Louisiana Tech sees something, they see a guy who is a leader, who is a program builder, who's a uh just a constant competitor.
14:49
SPEAKER_00: Um, and I'm I'm I couldn't be happier for Sonny Cumby and his new start over in Louisiana Tech.
14:56
SPEAKER_00: I think there's no coach that deserves it more than him.
14:59
SPEAKER_00: Um, and as much as I would like him to come back to Texas Tech, especially after this last game, uh, man, it's only right for him to lead his own program.
15:08
SPEAKER_00: And uh I I couldn't couldn't be happier for Sonny Cumby.
15:11
SPEAKER_00: Uh all these coaches that are moving on.
15:13
SPEAKER_00: I mean, uh Coach Cheetah, uh, Coach Filani, you know, all these guys that are are have been hired and and are going to different programs, but decided to come back for the bowl game to lead this team one more time and go out on top like that.
15:28
SPEAKER_00: And uh I can't thank everybody enough and all of Red Raider Nation, I'm sure, agrees with me on that.
15:34
SPEAKER_00: Uh for the way they went out and the the way they coached these this team and these guys, and um just super happy for everybody involved.
15:42
SPEAKER_00: Uh Texas Tech Football.
15:45
SPEAKER_00: Um so you know, seven and six didn't end up being a pretty bad season.
15:49
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, I I predicted what did I predict?
15:52
SPEAKER_00: Eight and five, I think I predicted.
15:54
SPEAKER_00: Um, but you know, uh one one game short, but overall, not not terrible, not a bad season.
16:00
SPEAKER_00: I mean, uh matched for win total from 2015.
16:04
SPEAKER_00: Um, and it, you know, you can only you can feel the program trending upward.
16:10
SPEAKER_00: Uh Joey Maguire coming in and taking over this squad.
16:14
SPEAKER_00: Um, players, it seems like a ton of players are coming back.
16:18
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I haven't had any indication, uh, besides, you know, of course, Henry Columbi, who opted not to play uh during the bowl game and you know, the seniors and everything, but um, you know, a bunch of talent is coming back to this team, talent that we didn't really necessarily see.
16:34
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and then and then you look how they play against Mississippi State in the bowl game, and you're like, okay, we got some guys coming back.
16:40
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and then we have Joey Maguire leading the way.
16:42
SPEAKER_00: We have Zach Kitley's firepower offense coming in, uh, you know, still having the rushing attack of Brooks and Thompson.
16:50
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's gonna be a really fun year next year.
16:53
SPEAKER_00: And I think uh this program's moving in such a positive direction and recruiting wise and everything of the sort.
17:00
SPEAKER_00: So um, you know, uh gotta give to give a special shout out to the seniors, to the guys that aren't gonna come back.
17:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry if I'm missing a few of them, but I got a few written down.
17:10
SPEAKER_00: You know, you start with the linebackers, you start with Colin Schooler, you start with Rico Jeffers.
17:15
SPEAKER_00: Those two uh were really, really valuable pieces to this team, and leadership-wise and on the field, they competed their butts off every single night.
17:25
SPEAKER_00: Rico homegrown.
17:26
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he was with tech the entire time, and uh he came back and and ended up winning a bowl game.
17:31
SPEAKER_00: And uh Colin, you know, you know, schooler, he's he brought it every day.
17:36
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, we do have these linebackers leaving, and it's it's a big deal.
17:40
SPEAKER_00: And uh we wish those guys the best uh moving forward if they try for the NFL, if they're just moving on with life.
17:47
SPEAKER_00: But um we do have some good returning linebackers, you know.
17:50
SPEAKER_00: Kose Eldridge uh is coming back, he's the one who forced the fumble there, kind of towards the end of the game in the Liberty Bowl.
17:56
SPEAKER_00: Uh Josiah Pierre, I'm really hyped for that guy.
17:59
SPEAKER_00: I think he's a he's a freshman uh coming in, an older freshman, though.
18:03
SPEAKER_00: So um he was transferring from Florida, so obviously he had something in him that that Florida saw, and uh he had some good moments this season.
18:11
SPEAKER_00: Uh potentially Krishna Merriweather's coming back.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: I don't uh he hasn't announced that yet.
18:15
SPEAKER_00: He hasn't made the decision, but uh it would be really good getting him back.
18:18
SPEAKER_00: He's such a good run defender uh for this linebacking core.
18:22
SPEAKER_00: Um, but this linebacking core is going to be fine.
18:26
SPEAKER_00: Uh, it's not gonna be, you know, it's hard to replace guys like Schooler and Jeffers, but uh I think I think we have a lot of guys that could potentially take that position and and be really successful uh under Coach Tim DeRuder coming in.
18:40
SPEAKER_00: Um shout out Dawson Deaton, man.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: He's another great lineman that uh the line had its ups and downs this this season, but he was always consistent.
18:51
SPEAKER_00: He was one of the best centers in the entire country last year.
18:54
SPEAKER_00: He's gonna be an NFL player.
18:56
SPEAKER_00: Uh, shouts out to him.
18:57
SPEAKER_00: Josh Berger, kind of one of the underappreciated guys on the offensive line.
19:01
SPEAKER_00: Uh, when Dawson Deaton was hurt or out with uh something this season, he came in and played center for a game or two.
19:08
SPEAKER_00: And uh he he was vital.
19:10
SPEAKER_00: Uh, he was one of those transfers that Wells brought in.
19:13
SPEAKER_00: Um, Eric Monroe, like I said earlier, uh just the guy that came in and and competed his butt off.
19:19
SPEAKER_00: Uh Dalton Rigdon, who didn't do much this season, but uh 2020, he he provided some good moments uh at at the slot receiver position.
19:28
SPEAKER_00: Seth Collins.
19:30
SPEAKER_00: Seth Collins is gone uh that after his, I believe, seventh year of college football.
19:36
SPEAKER_00: Uh constant injuries for this dude.
19:38
SPEAKER_00: Uh a couple, I mean, he switched positions what seemed like yearly with him, and uh he always stuck through it.
19:44
SPEAKER_00: He's he's a red raider, man.
19:46
SPEAKER_00: You you gotta love a guy who comes in and hustles his butt off and you know comes in for certain possessions, plays special teams and all that sort of stuff.
19:53
SPEAKER_00: So shouts out to those guys.
19:55
SPEAKER_00: Uh, if I missed a few, I apologize.
19:57
SPEAKER_00: Um, oh, I should say Eric Ezukama.
19:59
SPEAKER_00: Eric Ezukama uh did announce he's going to the NFL.
20:03
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, when when I thought of it, I was disappointed.
20:07
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, when you first see it, you're like, man, if you just play in Kidley's system, you will be really, really good.
20:13
SPEAKER_00: You can be putting up some unbelievable numbers, but uh then you start thinking about okay, well, he he's gonna woo some people in the combine and uh you know all his intangibles and training and all that sort of stuff.
20:26
SPEAKER_00: And uh he didn't necessarily have the numbers that you wanted him to have these last few years, but that dude is capable of so much.
20:33
SPEAKER_00: Um, I I really see him having a super successful career in the NFL, uh, no matter what what round he goes in or whatever, I think that dude's gonna work his butt off and find a way on on NFL rosters and be very successful.
20:49
SPEAKER_00: I fully believe that.
20:50
SPEAKER_00: So uh we always, you know, we always wish the best of those guys if they leave early, if they uh don't leave early, if they come back, whatever.
20:58
SPEAKER_00: We wish them all, they're all red raiders.
21:00
SPEAKER_00: Um, and Erica Zukama is one of the bright spots in what was a really low point in Texas Tech Sports, and he was super talented receiver through and through.
21:09
SPEAKER_00: So shouts out to Easy.
21:10
SPEAKER_00: Uh, we're gonna miss him for sure, but uh, you know, we're rooting for him next level.
21:15
SPEAKER_00: Um oh, I did uh I forgot something about the the Mississippi State game.
21:20
SPEAKER_00: Uh Will Rogers had 10 straight games of 300 plus passing yards, and that was playing against you know good defenses, and we broke that streak.
21:29
SPEAKER_00: He only had 285.
21:33
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he threw 52 times, uh, and you only get 285 passing yards from that.
21:37
SPEAKER_00: That's that's a damn good defense.
21:39
SPEAKER_00: Uh that goes to everybody in the in the defensive packs and the safeties and uh linebackers and defensive line getting to him and and pressuring him and everything like that.
21:50
SPEAKER_00: I mean, uh we really made him uncomfortable all game.
21:53
SPEAKER_00: So that was a cool, that was a cool stat that I saw.
21:56
SPEAKER_00: Um, but yeah, I mean that that does it.
21:58
SPEAKER_00: Liberty Bowl was.
22:00
SPEAKER_00: Unbelievable.
22:01
SPEAKER_00: Uh probably the best the best version of that game happened for us Texas Tech fans.
22:07
SPEAKER_00: And um I totally wasn't expecting it.
22:10
SPEAKER_00: So I was just taking in the moment.
22:12
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, I was watching it alone.
22:15
SPEAKER_00: Uh my my fiance was still back uh visiting relatives over the holidays.
22:19
SPEAKER_00: I came back because I had to work and uh you know I was just slamming down beers and watching Texas Tech whoop Mississippi State and whoop Mike Leach.
22:27
SPEAKER_00: So uh it was a great day, it was a great day for everybody.
22:30
SPEAKER_00: Uh forget anybody who says these bowl games don't matter because these are building blocks for the future and uh super hyped for the future of this program, future of this team.
22:42
SPEAKER_00: Can't wait for Joey Maguire to get all his guys together uh for spring ball and you know, figure out the quarterback situation for next season and uh all sorts of good stuff.
22:51
SPEAKER_00: And he's not done recruiting.
22:53
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he's still probably in line for a couple transfers here, and uh, you know, we'll keep y'all updated with that as uh as we move forward through the offseason.
23:02
SPEAKER_00: But uh football season, college football season that is officially over uh for Texas Tech.
23:07
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, what a what a great time, what a what a great way to end it off for all these guys.
23:13
SPEAKER_00: Um let's go on to basketball.
23:16
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk some basketball because um we had a couple good wins, uh solid wins over poor opponents, you know, uh Eastern Washington, Alabama State.
23:25
SPEAKER_00: Uh we got both those dubs in Lubbock and uh finished 10 and two in non-conference plays.
23:30
SPEAKER_00: So um really good first non-conference for coach Mark Adams.
23:34
SPEAKER_00: Uh he had a really tough sledding.
23:36
SPEAKER_00: Those three uh big time games uh against Providence, Tennessee, and Gonzaga.
23:40
SPEAKER_00: He managed to win one of them.
23:42
SPEAKER_00: That I was happy with that.
23:43
SPEAKER_00: I was like, if they if we go one and two during that stretch, I'm happy with it.
23:47
SPEAKER_00: I'm cool.
23:48
SPEAKER_00: Uh we didn't have Shann for the Gonzaga game, so that you know that's a that's a big if.
23:52
SPEAKER_00: You know, I'm not saying we would have won that game with Terrence Shannon, but uh it definitely would have changed the tides a little bit.
23:59
SPEAKER_00: Uh and we beat a good Tennessee team.
24:01
SPEAKER_00: Um, and Providence, I mean, Providence is I think they have five quad one wins already, and they're the only team in college basketball at this point to have that.
24:11
SPEAKER_00: So Providence is a good team, man.
24:13
SPEAKER_00: Um, we and I still think we should have won that game.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: So good non-conference for Texas Tech basketball.
24:20
SPEAKER_00: Um, the we were supposed to open up with Oklahoma State in Big 12 play on New Year's Day.
24:26
SPEAKER_00: That game has been postponed until January 13th.
24:30
SPEAKER_00: Uh, Oklahoma State has some COVID issues going on with the program.
24:35
SPEAKER_00: Um, but you know, if you want to look at the bright spots, uh, Terrence Shannon gets a little more time to rest his back spasms.
24:41
SPEAKER_00: He's he hasn't played in uh in the last two games, uh, well, last three, I guess.
24:47
SPEAKER_00: Um, so you know, it it's a good thing and a bad thing.
24:52
SPEAKER_00: Obviously, you hate seeing all the covet issues that all these sports are having, professional and college, uh, bowl games getting canceled, the NBA can't get five guys to play a basketball game.
25:04
SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's it's it's crazy out there, and it's tough, and you're seeing protocols get changed and everything like that.
25:10
SPEAKER_00: So hopefully, as we kind of move out of December, I you know, hopefully this stuff gets solved.
25:16
SPEAKER_00: But it's just kind of the life we're living in uh these days, and you just got to move past it and try to do what you can with what you got.
25:23
SPEAKER_00: So, um I I Terrence Shannon not out for COVID, but out for uh back spasm issues.
25:30
SPEAKER_00: Uh, apparently he's dealt with them before, and just need those type of things, just need time to rest.
25:36
SPEAKER_00: I mean, uh, you know, hopefully he's full go for um January 5th, because that is when we open up Big 12 play against Iowa State uh in Ames.
25:47
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna find out a lot.
25:48
SPEAKER_00: Go go watch.
25:49
SPEAKER_00: It seemed like the one Big 12 game that didn't get canceled was Iowa State Baylor, uh taking place on New Year's Day.
25:56
SPEAKER_00: So watch that game.
25:57
SPEAKER_00: That's gonna tell you a lot about Iowa State because uh they're undefeated.
26:00
SPEAKER_00: They have definitely been the surprise of college basketball uh under new coach TJ Ottelberger.
26:07
SPEAKER_00: But um, you know, they've had some pretty decent wins.
26:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, what looked like at the time better wins, like the Memphis game, you know, beating them at the at the point that they did, uh, you thought was a better win, but Memphis has kind of fallen out pretty pretty good there.
26:21
SPEAKER_00: Uh, they did beat Creighton.
26:23
SPEAKER_00: Um, they've beaten some good teams.
26:25
SPEAKER_00: So I, you know, I'm not saying Iowa State is bad.
26:27
SPEAKER_00: I'm not saying Iowa State's even overrated, but I I feel like this this Baylor game, you're gonna figure out a lot.
26:34
SPEAKER_00: So so try to watch that if you can.
26:36
SPEAKER_00: Um Malik Wilson also underwent a uh minor surgery uh and should be back probably January, February area.
26:44
SPEAKER_00: That's what Mark Adams said.
26:46
SPEAKER_00: It wasn't it was a very minor surgery, so he'll be back this season.
26:49
SPEAKER_00: Uh, give us another ball handler.
26:51
SPEAKER_00: But uh, I really like the way this team is playing defensively.
26:54
SPEAKER_00: I think um they're really bringing it uh on the defensive side of the floor, and they're playing a Mark Adams brand of basketball.
27:01
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, that's that's always lovely to see getting a lot of steals and getting hands on balls and all sorts of stuff.
27:08
SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's really cool to see.
27:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, Adonis Arms playing his butt off, man.
27:13
SPEAKER_00: Uh defensively, he is a nightmare for a lot of guys.
27:16
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he is one of the most athletic players in college basketball, and he's playing his tail off defensively and uh getting his shot going and getting to the rim.
27:27
SPEAKER_00: And Davion Warren had a good game against Alabama State uh on the defensive side and the offensive side.
27:32
SPEAKER_00: Uh Kevin O'Banner's kind of had a rough go um to start the year.
27:37
SPEAKER_00: He's he's kind of struggling without having a true point guard, I think.
27:40
SPEAKER_00: Um, but you know, those shots will fall, and uh he's still a pure shooter.
27:44
SPEAKER_00: So uh we'll manage to find him open uh defensively.
27:47
SPEAKER_00: He's got some some work to do.
27:49
SPEAKER_00: Bryson Williams still needs to show it against the good teams.
27:52
SPEAKER_00: Uh it seems like Daniel Boccio brings it every single night, no matter who he's playing.
27:56
SPEAKER_00: So uh, you know, if it comes down to it, we still got bocho.
28:00
SPEAKER_00: So Kevin McCullough's Kevin McCullough.
28:02
SPEAKER_00: Kevin McCullough is is fantastic.
28:04
SPEAKER_00: I love that guy.
28:05
SPEAKER_00: Um, and he he had seven assists, I think, against Alabama State.
28:08
SPEAKER_00: So he's really kind of he's he's coming into his own.
28:10
SPEAKER_00: I know it's a it's a transition going from being kind of a wing to handling the ball a lot, being the being your main facilitator.
28:18
SPEAKER_00: But uh I think K Mac, you know, he works he works his butt off.
28:22
SPEAKER_00: So um I trust him probably more than anybody else on this team.
28:27
SPEAKER_00: Um, so basketball, you know, doing well.
28:30
SPEAKER_00: Uh we open up with three straight top 10 teams in Big 12 play, uh, going two aims against Iowa State, then we host Kansas, and then uh we go to Waco and play the number one team in the country.
28:42
SPEAKER_00: So kind of a tough go uh to start off conference play, but uh you know the Big 12's a gauntlet.
28:48
SPEAKER_00: You got to bring it every single night against every single good team.
28:51
SPEAKER_00: And I think a Mark Adams team will be doing that.
28:55
SPEAKER_00: Um, some interesting stuff out of Austin, uh as of late.
29:00
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you may remember Jalen Tyson, uh former four-star recruit.
29:06
SPEAKER_00: Uh, was during Chris Beard's last year at tech, uh, was the only guy that he recruited uh from high school.
29:13
SPEAKER_00: Jalen Tyson was uh four-star product, uh, really good player.
29:18
SPEAKER_00: Um, and then of course, when Beard goes to Austin, he follows him and goes to Austin and realizes that he is not gonna get the playing time on this UT team, and and he's already transferred out.
29:31
SPEAKER_00: And this is a familiar sight with a Chris Beard coach team.
29:34
SPEAKER_00: We saw it here at tech with namari Burnett and uh uh you know Joel and Tobway, some of these type of transfers that uh that he brings in and he they can't find a way on the team.
29:45
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, there's rumors swirling all over the place that uh it's getting worse for him, and and we haven't had any updates yet on that, but um I heard some crazy things going on down in Austin and Chris Beard kind of losing that program a little bit.
30:00
SPEAKER_00: So uh, you know, uh I don't I don't want to say too much because I it's not like I don't think that place is um I don't think UT is you know just free falling here.
30:12
SPEAKER_00: Uh they still have a they still have a good team, they still have good players, and um, but you know, you already got one guy transferring out, potentially another couple uh transferring out.
30:21
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, uh it's not so much paradise over there for Chris Beard right now.
30:27
SPEAKER_00: Um, but Jalen Tyson also, by the way, looking at coming back to Texas Tech.
30:32
SPEAKER_00: If you look at some of his likes on Twitter, it's it's a lot of Texas Tech there.
30:36
SPEAKER_00: Uh some edits coming back, and you know, he was committed to the program before, so why you know why not come back?
30:42
SPEAKER_00: And we could use his shooting, we could use some of his athleticism.
30:45
SPEAKER_00: Uh, I think he'd he'd find a spot on this team.
30:48
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, and and I'd be happy, I'd be happy to welcome him back.
30:52
SPEAKER_00: There's no hard feelings, you know.
30:53
SPEAKER_00: Uh recruits do what recruits need to do and what they think is right.
30:57
SPEAKER_00: And you know, if Beard recruited him, I I can see why he'd want to follow him.
31:01
SPEAKER_00: But you know, the thing with Chris Beard is you're he may promise you something, and that may not remain true.
31:08
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, for as as much of a skeis and a slime ball, I want to call him, uh, you know, he's he's still a pretty good coach, but uh it's kind of showing here.
31:17
SPEAKER_00: Uh Texas started off pretty disappointing, and he's already had a guy transfer out.
31:22
SPEAKER_00: So that should tell you all you need to know about what's going on down there uh in a beard run Texas program.
31:28
SPEAKER_00: But uh look out for basketball, it's fun, it's uh we're getting in the heat of it.
31:33
SPEAKER_00: So football season officially over.
31:35
SPEAKER_00: You can start focusing 100 on basketball.
31:38
SPEAKER_00: So we're gonna give you all the best basketball coverage that we can um over here on the Talk and Tech podcast.
31:44
SPEAKER_00: Um had a couple, had a shout out, uh, a couple shouts out, actually.
31:49
SPEAKER_00: Uh one to uh Kirsten Davis signing uh her contract with Racing Louisville FC of the NWSL.
31:57
SPEAKER_00: Shouts out to her, fantastic soccer player at Texas Tech.
32:00
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, back I think she was back to back Big 12 offensive player of the year, something like that.
32:06
SPEAKER_00: So uh really cool to see her get a professional opportunity.
32:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, she deserves it, she's one of the best out there, she's explosive as ever.
32:14
SPEAKER_00: So um cool, cool of her to join that program.
32:17
SPEAKER_00: And uh, I think racing Louisville FC is actually a newer program.
32:21
SPEAKER_00: I think they've started off in the last year or so, uh year or two, but um, you know, she's gonna be a big addition to that team.
32:28
SPEAKER_00: Uh, and then a final shout out to uh the late grade John Madden.
32:32
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, talk about a guy who was an icon, was a when you think of football, you think of John Madden.
32:42
SPEAKER_00: From the video game, or from if you're old enough to have watched him coach or watched him in the broadcast booth, you know, me and Tristan are both in the 25 range.
32:51
SPEAKER_00: Uh he, you know, he's about to turn 26.
32:53
SPEAKER_00: So actually, shouts out Tristan almost almost turning 26.
32:55
SPEAKER_00: But um no, John Madden was an icon.
33:00
SPEAKER_00: I mean, everything he did that involved football was great.
33:04
SPEAKER_00: Um, from his broadcasting, from his coaching, from uh the video games that that we can all enjoy these days.
33:11
SPEAKER_00: So um, you know, I I I haven't seen the the documentary that dropped on Christmas about him, but uh can't wait to watch that and and just see how impactful he truly was uh to the game of football and everything like that.
33:23
SPEAKER_00: So rest in peace to John Madden, an absolute icon of the game of football.
33:30
SPEAKER_00: Um and that's gonna that's gonna do it.
33:32
SPEAKER_00: You know, I I talked all I can.
33:34
SPEAKER_00: It's kind of weird being here by myself, but uh, you know, Tristan will be back for the next next episode.
33:40
SPEAKER_00: But you know, since that beatdown of the Liberty Bowl, we we originally we weren't gonna record this week, uh, you know, just kind of giving us some holidays off and everything like that.
33:48
SPEAKER_00: But uh after that beatdown, I had to say something.
33:51
SPEAKER_00: So I appreciate y'all hanging in there for just me today.
33:54
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, Tristan will join again next week, but I do have to finish with a song of the week like we always do on Talking Tech Pod.
34:01
SPEAKER_00: It's just gonna be me.
34:02
SPEAKER_00: Tristan didn't send one in.
34:03
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I'm just gonna do it and I'm gonna pick a song that I was playing uh the the entire night on Tuesday after we kicked uh Mike Leach's ass.
34:15
SPEAKER_00: Um, my song of the week is It's a Great Day to be alive by Travis Tritt.
34:21
SPEAKER_00: Uh just a classic, everybody knows it, but man, I I put out a video.
34:26
SPEAKER_00: I you know, I had a had a beverage or two, so I was I was I was having a good time and and jamming out to some Travis Trit uh playing that song over and over again.
34:35
SPEAKER_00: And uh it's just a classic and exactly you know, just shows how you feel after a big time win.
34:41
SPEAKER_00: So that is my song of the week.
34:42
SPEAKER_00: It's a great day to be alive by Travis Tritt.
35:03
SPEAKER_00: And all right, that's gonna do it for this week's episode.
35:06
SPEAKER_00: Hope y'all enjoyed it.
35:07
SPEAKER_00: Hope y'all uh kind of relived a little bit of Tuesday with me.
35:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, this is this was fun.
35:12
SPEAKER_00: This is a good time.
35:13
SPEAKER_00: Maybe, maybe I'll tell Tristan to not come back, you know, because I I kind of enjoyed this solo talk, uh, just you and me.
35:19
SPEAKER_00: But um, you know, we're we're gonna end it off like we always do on Talking Tech Pod with some plugs.
35:25
SPEAKER_00: You can follow both me and Tristan on Twitter.
35:27
SPEAKER_00: Tristan is at Tristy Mick.
35:28
SPEAKER_00: I am at L underscore S underscore Rodriguez.
35:31
SPEAKER_00: Follow the pod on Twitter at Talking Tech Pod.
35:33
SPEAKER_00: Uh, we've been getting a lot of love uh on Twitter.
35:36
SPEAKER_00: So I appreciate that um from all of you out there.
35:39
SPEAKER_00: You know, keep telling your friends and your family about us.
35:42
SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, if if you could like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast.
35:47
SPEAKER_00: Uh, it goes a long way for us, kind of tells us where we're at, what the people are liking, what episodes they don't like, and um, you know, reviews are always welcomed.
35:55
SPEAKER_00: Uh, so follow our songs of the week playlist.
35:58
SPEAKER_00: It is on Spotify and Apple Music, got all these great songs of the week for you.
36:02
SPEAKER_00: Um, and then, you know, I think that's gonna do it here.
36:06
SPEAKER_00: Uh end it off like we always do.
36:08
SPEAKER_00: Always recum tech.
36:10
SPEAKER_01: Uh wow.
36:11
SPEAKER_01: First of all, uh got a lot of respect for Steven and Tristan.
36:16
SPEAKER_01: Uh their program, tough guys, just uh a lot of fun.
36:20
SPEAKER_03: I love the game of basketball, but I also love West Texas.
36:24
SPEAKER_04: And I love Steven and Tristan.
36:26
SPEAKER_03: So I'm extremely proud.
36:27
SPEAKER_03: Well, I don't know where we go from here.
36:29
SPEAKER_03: I'm I'm thinking I'm just gonna sit back down.
36:31
SPEAKER_03: It's just not getting better than this.
36:33
SPEAKER_04: I would like to thank uh Steven and Tristan.
36:36
SPEAKER_04: This is incredible.
36:37
SPEAKER_00: These guys have a passion and a love for this school.