Well... I said I would do this before the season ends and here we go. We are almost a month out from the season... so it begins.


We'll start w/ tech... Now as much as an A&M as I am... I do have a lot of respect for the Texas teams and will always root for them outside of playing each other. One thing I have a lot of respect for the 3 major teams is because they each are filled w/ Texas born kids and the three coaches continue to recruit Texas.

I like the 3 coaches for various reasons.

Mac is an excellent recruiter.
Fran honestly is a classy respectable guy. I think that situations have painted a different picture... But he is genuinely a nice guy who knows his football.
Mike Leach is the funniest man in sports. Always has something humorous to say and is quick w/ a comeback. Here's a compilation:

Mike on Lubbock
Mike does the weather
Mike being Mike



I say this... because I'm unbiased. really.


so w/out further adieu

The best darn review of TTU.

Well strange year for the pirates in 07...

Beat A&M... lose to Missouri and Colorado???? I don't get it. Very inconsistent. The real problem seemed to lie in the second half.



Harrell had good days and bad ones last year. He definitely improved over the year but was shut down at points by some better defenses. TCU stymied him. A&M shut him down the last half (except for one throw... tons of cred to him on that one. outstanding toss. perfectly placed) Mizzou caused him to flip off his own fans.




Woods is actually the 2nd on the list of returning rushers for the BigXII. I don't think that will be the case this year. Charles, Goodson, Savage (OSU), and Patrick will all probably come out as better backs this year w/ more yards. It's hard when you're in the offense that he's in. It says a lot when your predecessor holds the record for most TD receptions by a RB. The most shocking thing.... is that he's second on the depth chart at this point. Koby Lewis apparently has taken the starting position for now. I'm sure that'll change. If anything.... Leach doesn't put up w/ a lot of crap from his players. Except maybe his QB

O-Line - Only one starter returns... but I've never known tech to have a particularly bad offensive line. You can't run the offense TTU does and not have strong line play.

WR - This is the first year in recent history that there doesn't seem to be a featured receiver. Filani, Hicks, and Johnson are all out of there. But here's the deal. I doesn't matter if there's a superstar at receiver. Leach trains these guys to have good hands and that's what counts. They make their catches. For all of Techs receiving yards... their YAC isn't that impressive. Not saying it's bad... but not impressive. Short quick routes is Leaches key to keeping this offense going. If you can keep quick guys in there w/ good hands... the system continues. Amendola will the one of the more veteran guys to produce. RS Frosh Crabtree is expected to become the star receiver. The real problem is that no matter how great of receivers they get in there... None is going to be noted as a superstar. You're going to be considered a Tech receiver.




Secondary - Hit or miss really... Tech always has a decent Passing defense.... and they should. They pass against the top receiving corps in the nation. SS Garcia should be a 1st or 2nd Team All Big XII. Parker did decent last year w / a 2nd team nod and 50 tackles... pretty good for somebody in the secondary. Really the strongest unit the raiders have overall.

Linebackers and DLine - I group these because this is one of Tech's most inconsistent areas. You can literally run on them all day. Dawson's gone. What's shocking is on the front line average weight is like 250-260. That's not horribly small but there are no 300 lbers. Not that common. I really think run heavy teams will have their way with Tech this year.



Overall.... I just don't know... I mean I can see this team being 10-2... and I could see them ending up 6-6. Tough call. Harrell returning will be huge and I think that will be a deciding factor.

Here's my call:

W SMU - Pretty easy win. SMU is slowly coming back though.

W UTEP - Ugly win. The miners took it to the wire last year. This game intrigues me.... It really seems like it could turn into a good rivalry. UTEP has definitely improved under Mike Price. (For fandoms sake... I'd love for UTEP to win this just to put that little bit of rivalry there)

W RICE- Decent win. Rice has improved along w/ SMU.

L oSU - Okie Lite is very confusing to me.... No consistancy... Lose to Houston and KSU... come back and thump KU. Lose to A&M... come back and dominate north champ Nebraska. Dominate Baylor. Get thwacked by Texas. Barely lose to OU... Win nailbiter against Bama

W Northwestern State - It wouldn't be tech football w/out one Div III team

W ISU - I don't think Chizik has them going quite yet. Give it a year. Brett Meyer and Todd Blythe will upset the D a bit i think.

L TAMU - I think the road isn't going to scare A&M much this year. This is probably Fran's best team since he's been at A&M. The D showed a lot of improvement last year. A&M's Peterson was literally about 3 inches from accidentally deflecting the gamewinner last year. The secondary will be able to shut them down a bit more. I fully expect this one to be a great game. Neither team wins by much

L Mizzu - Mizzu has too much on offense for Tech I think. This one will be close

W Colorado - I just don't think Hawkins has this team going quite yet. Next year would be different

W Baylor - It's Baylor. Let's say it together.... It's Baylor. They lost their QB Bell... who was outstanding. Ziegler's out. Sheldon's Gone... I really think we need to trade the Bears for the Frogs. No offense... but I just don't think Baylor can get very competitive in the Big XII south. I could be wrong though

L Texas- I just don't think this is the year.

W Oklahoma - Am I the only one who isn't that impressed w/ the Sooners this year? Patrick was a good fill in... QB 's unproven. Defense lost a few. Despite making it to the BCS bowl this last year... I don't think they were that superb of a team. I mean it took Texas losing two close games that they shouldn't have for them to get there. And if Fran didn't forget he had JLane on 3rd and goal from the 2 there would have been another loss.


So 8-4. That's my call. Hope that's satisfactory Jay.