Opinion: The honeymoon is over for Kliff Kingsbury and Texas Tech

There comes a point in every marriage where the honeymoon ends, the butterfly feelings wear off and the real work begins.

For Texas Tech and Kliff Kingsbury, the honeymoon is over.

His first year in Lubbock was exciting to say the least. Tommy Tuberville quit and left the program in the lurch after three mediocre years of sloppy play and average recruiting, and Red Raiders were hungry for a newer, more exciting relationship. Texas Tech was, in every sense of the word, vulnerable.

Along comes this handsome, confident young coach who has a history with Tech. He was new and exciting, yet familiar and comforting. Red Raiders were instantly head-over-heals because he was one of their own and because he promised to bring new life to an ailing program.

He was successful, as well. In just three years as an offensive coordinator at Houston and Texas A&M he coached the all-time FBS passing leader and a Heisman Trophy winner.

A love affair quickly blossomed and bloomed into unbridled passion after Tech started the 2013 season 7-0. Kliff had done it, he had instantly changed the culture and it was paying off on the field with wins.

The future looked so bright.

But then signs of trouble started to appear. Tech lost to Oklahoma, breaking the win streak. Then Oklahoma State, creating a losing streak. Then Kansas State, Baylor and Texas.

As with all young love, these seemingly minor annoyances weren’t thought to be longterm problems that could jeopardize the relationship, especially after Kliff brought a makeup gift in the form of a bowl victory. All was momentarily right with the world.

But now, the honeymoon is over.

Kliff spoke a lot about “swagger” and getting the mistakes on the field fixed when he first arrived in Lubbock, and so far there hasn’t been much movement on those two goals.

Oct 12, 2013; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury before the game with the Iowa State Cyclones at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Now, after squeezing by Central Arkansas and UTEP, the Red Raiders look more like the team that lost five strait in 2013 than the team that dominated the Holiday Bowl.

They showed signs of trouble in two close calls to open the season but overcame turnovers and penalties with talent and athleticism. Arkansas finally made them pay for those mistakes and routed the Red Raiders on their home turf 49-28.

Kliff spoke a lot about “swagger” and getting the mistakes on the field fixed when he first arrived in Lubbock, and so far there hasn’t been much movement on those two goals.

Since playing Kansas in September last year, Tech has lost the turnover battle 11 games in a row and is currently -18 in turnover margin during that time. He reiterated his desire to clean up penalties and turnovers this season after dwelling at the bottom in both those statistical categories last year, but through three games there’s been little-to-no improvement.

Tech has turned the ball over six times and committed 30 penalties for 264 yards so far this year.

Add to those numbers 37 points and 297 rushing yards given up per game and you have a pattern of sloppy play that’s making fans restless.

What were minor annoyances now look like patterns and the relationship, once ablaze, is losing steam.

Even during the darkest days of the losing streak last year, Tech fans stood by their man, and rightfully so. No one expected Kingsbury to turn this team around over night, and if anything he surpassed expectations from a win-loss standpoint. Good teams take time to build and culture doesn’t turn on a dime.

But it certainly feels like Red Raider nation is growing impatient with this young hotshot, especially after another summer of ESPN interviews, Ryan Gosling comparisons and endorsements from big names around the country. His hype reinvigorated Tech’s confidence in the offseason, but he’s failed, so far, to back it up with actual results.

But to be totally fair, we shouldn’t forget how young Kingsbury is. He’s still very much a spring chicken from a coaching standpoint and this is his first gig as a head man at any level. That should at least buy him a few years, but the hype built up around him unintentionally propelled expectations skyward.

This year’s team was supposed to be a dark horse Big 12 title contender and Davis Webb was supposed to be the quarterback of the future. Now Tech looks more like a conference bottom dweller and Webb could be a couple more bad games away from the bench.

The only real consolation in all this is that Kingsbury knows exactly how fans and alumni feel. Remember, this is his alma mater, too.

All relationships take work and good work takes time, that’s a given. But Texas Tech fans have waited a long time − and struggled through the Tuberville era − for their next shot at relevancy.

2008 sinks deeper into obscurity every time an opponent rolls up 300+ rushing yards.

The future’s still bright with Kliff Kingsbury at the helm, certainly. It’s just further in the future than we thought.