So, do you believe in the Texas Tech Red Raiders yet?
It’s something Tech fans struggle with: the fear of being let down.
Let’s be 100% honest here. There have been a number of times when Texas Tech has been on the verge of greatness, only to lose to a team they were expected to beat. Losing to a better team is one thing, but with Tech, it always seems like the heartbreak comes when you least expect it.
I’ve been asking people nearly every week whether they think this team is “real.”
The reactions have been mixed, and I probably should have expected that. It’s not like I was polling college football experts. When you ask the public at large, you’re likely to get people voting for their favorites rather than taking a good, hard look at what’s actually happening on the field.
This past weekend, Texas Tech dismantled Arizona State 53-25 in Lubbock. Tech took Sparky and the bunch to the woodshed, leading 43-10 at halftime and never really looking threatened.
The Red Raiders remain unbeaten at 6-0 and have climbed to #8 in the AP poll. They even picked up a first-place vote, something that hasn’t happened since the magical 2008 season.
The interesting thing about this team is that there doesn’t seem to be a standout personality to latch onto, like Jacob Rodriguez was last year. Sure, there are some exceptional players, but it feels more like a complete team getting the job done.
And that’s not just a good thing. That’s a GREAT thing.
Personally, I still don’t know if I’m all in.
Am I afraid of having my heart broken again? Or is there something to the argument that Tech’s schedule hasn’t exactly been a murderer’s row?
There are plenty of people out there saying that once Tech faces a “real” opponent in the playoffs, it’ll be one and done. Some of those people probably know a whole lot more about football than I do. Others might just be haters who can’t stand the idea of Texas Tech crashing the party.
I suppose we’ll find out.
In the meantime, Texas Tech heads to Cincinnati this Saturday for its first-ever game at Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats have lost two straight, which probably makes this exactly the kind of game that gives longtime Red Raider fans a nervous twitch.
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Maybe that’s the real question here.
Is Texas Tech finally a team we can believe in, or have we just been conditioned to expect the worst?
I want to believe. I really do.
I’m just not sure I’m ready to put my heart on the line again.
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