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<\/p>\nTexas Tech didn\u2019t hide from reality this season. They spent big. They invested heavily. They were unapologetic about the resources poured into this roster. They knew what it would take to compete for, and win, a Big 12 championship.<\/p>\n
And they did it. They won. <\/p>\n
Players hear the narratives. They get the questions every time new national media is in town, and it\u2019s fine. They get it, they understand it and they don\u2019t back down from it. So when one media member asked about the perception that Tech is \u201cthe best team money can buy,\u201d star linebacker Jacob Rodriguez grinned and fired back:<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we are going to buy a team, why not buy the best?\u201d<\/p>\n
But inside the locker room? That\u2019s never been the story.<\/p>\n
The money built the roster.
The people built the team.<\/p>\n
And no one explained that dynamic better than the players themselves.<\/p>\n
Coy Eakin, a former walk-on who didn\u2019t receive a major offer until after his senior year at Stephenville High School said the outside conversation has never been the players experience. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of money being thrown around, whatever, but it doesn\u2019t feel like that at all. We walk in, it doesn\u2019t matter how much you make. If you don\u2019t make a dime or if you make the most on the team\u2026 we are all happy someone scores. It doesn\u2019t matter who it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Or as Eakin finished his comments off with,<\/p>\n
\u201cThe play doesn\u2019t care who makes it.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To which his teammates nodded along before fifth-year senior quarterback and Lubbock native Behren Morton added his own perspective. A player that watched McGuire piece the roster together while constantly reinforcing the culture behind it over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, he told me this offseason, \u2018We\u2019re going to go get some guys. We\u2019re going to go win this thing.\u2019 And when he got hired four years ago, he told me, \u2018Hey, Behren, just trust me.\u2019 And I have ever since that day. When he said we\u2019re going to go get these guys, I said, \u2018Let\u2019s go, Coach. Let\u2019s build this culture.\u2019 And we all did. Everybody bought in. There was no selfish, no \u2018I\u2019m getting this amount of money,\u2019 no \u2018I\u2019ve got one year left so this season is about me.\u2019 None of that. It hasn\u2019t been that at all in the locker room. Guys just want to win football games at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
McGuire himself pointed to the players who stayed through the build. Jacob Rodriguez could\u2019ve declared for the NFL Draft. Ben Roberts pledged loyalty years ago. John Curry grew up in Lubbock and became an early cultural anchor.<\/p>\n
And just like those players, the fans stayed. They\u2019ve waited for this, prayed for this and on Saturday many cried for this as the confetti fell around the team surrounded by a packed out AT&T Stadium that made Arlington feel like home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this town deserves championships to be brought back home,\u201d Morton said.<\/p>\n
Doing just that was something Morton and McGuire talked about back in June when the two told each other they would walk off this field as Big 12 champions together. Two guys who have been through a lot, taken hits both on and off the field and remained committed to finishing what they started. When the final seconds ticked away, they found each other and kept the promise they made months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found each other and we both got emotional\u201d said Morton on the moment. \u201cIt\u2019s been a crazy, crazy ride. Spent all five years at Texas Tech and I just love this university and I love everything it stands for.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Though getting to that moment wasn\u2019t easy. BYU struck first with a 90-yard touchdown drive on their first possession, putting Texas Tech in an early hole. But the Red Raiders responded the same way they have all season. A field goal, a seven-play touchdown drive and another field goal pushed them into a 13\u20137 halftime lead.<\/p>\n
Then their vaunted defense took over. Texas Tech forced four turnovers, including two interceptions from Ben Roberts who became the first player in Big 12 Championship Game history with multiple picks. The offense turned that into 21 unanswered in the second half, and 34 total, while holding BYU to just 110 total yards over the final three quarters to win 34-7.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so proud of this team, proud of the way we played today,\u201d said McGuire. \u201cAnd, man, I can\u2019t wait to see where the CFP puts us tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Join the conversation with other Red Raiders on the\u00a0Inside The Double T<\/a>\u00a0forum.<\/p>\n Subscribe today<\/a>\u00a0to get the most in-depth Texas Tech sports and recruiting coverage.<\/p>\n Follow us on X:\u00a0@RedRaiderSports<\/a><\/p>\n Like and follow us on Instagram\u00a0@rrs_rivals<\/a>\u00a0& like us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n