Opinion: Building a Program Is a Process
At some point, Texas Tech fans have to let go of the past and look forward to the future.
The past six years have been a roller coaster of coaching changes, defensive struggles, big time victories as well as big time letdowns. When I first came to Lubbock as a freshman in 2008, I’ll admit it, I got spoiled from that 2008 season. I expected Texas Tech to continue to win 10-11 games nearly every year. Boy was I wrong.
Sep 6, 2014; El Paso, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury reacts as his team faces the UTEP Miners at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre-USA TODAY Sports
We all know about the saga that was the end of Mike Leach’s tenure in Lubbock, and we all are aware of the mediocrity of Tommy Tuberville’s era on the South Plains. When Kliff Kingsbury, one of the most beloved Texas Tech players of all time, was hired in December of 2012, Red Raider fans were understandably excited.
As much as Texas Tech fans hate to think two Big 12 football programs that were once easily under them on the Big 12 totem poll are now far above them, Baylor and Oklahoma State had to go through big time growing pains before they both won the Big 12 title in 2013 and 2011 respectively.
The Baylor Bears and the Oklahoma State Cowboys were obviously in a much worse state when head coaches Art Briles and Mike Gundy took control of their respective programs. That could be looked at as a good sign for Texas Tech. While the Red Raiders haven’t been world beaters the past five years, they have been continual 7-8 win teams. The Bears and Cowboys were struggling to reach 4-5 wins before Briles and Gundy arrived.
In both of their first years as head coach at their current schools, they each won four games. After they got their own players in the program and gained some experience, each coach made gradual strides and have won ten or more games multiple times in their tenures.
Art Briles:
Mike Gundy:
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big 12 Conference) (2005–present) | |||||||
| 2005 | Oklahoma State | 4–7 | 1–7 | 6th (South) | |||
| 2006 | Oklahoma State | 7–6 | 3–5 | T–5th (South) | W Independence | ||
| 2007 | Oklahoma State | 7–6 | 4–4 | T–3rd (South) | W Insight | ||
| 2008 | Oklahoma State | 9–4 | 5–3 | 4th (South) | L Holiday | 18 | 16 |
| 2009 | Oklahoma State | 9–4 | 6–2 | 2nd (South) | L Cotton | 25 | |
| 2010 | Oklahoma State | 11–2 | 6–2 | T–1st (South) | W Alamo | 10 | 13 |
| 2011 | Oklahoma State | 12–1 | 8–1 | 1st | W Fiesta† | 3 | 3 |
| 2012 | Oklahoma State | 8–5 | 5–4 | T–3rd | W Heart of Dallas | ||
| 2013 | Oklahoma State | 10–3 | 7–2 | T–2nd | L Cotton | 17 | 17 |
| 2014 | Oklahoma State | 3–1 | 1–0 | ||||
| Oklahoma State: | 80–39 | 46–30 | |||||
| Total: | 80–39 |
The reason I point this out, is because if Baylor and Oklahoma State, two programs that were once either mediocre (Oklahoma State) or cellar dwellers (Baylor) can become year in and year out contenders, then there’s no reason Texas Tech can’t under Kliff Kingsbury if they give him the time and resources to do so.
Right now, Kliff Kingsbury is still relying heavily on the recruits Tommy Tuberville brought into the program. Two of the top recruits from the Tuberville era (which coincidentally were both defensive tackles, which is arguably the most needed position for Texas Tech) left the program before they had any kind of memorable playing time. These two players were Michael Starts and Delvon Simmons.
If Texas Tech wants to get to where Baylor and Oklahoma State are now, they have to produce some consistency in both recruiting and coaching. Right now, they have very little of both. There is hope though, the 2015 recruiting class is shaping up to be one of the most solid classes the Red Raiders have had in years and it starts with two cornerstone recruits: quarterback Jarrett Stidham and defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko.
Now, its hard to put the success of a program on the backs of two kids who haven’t even got on campus yet as students, and I’m not saying they’re the sole hope to take Texas Tech to the next level, but they both have the potential to be program changers. They’re the foundation for the future and Kliff Kingsbury will need to take advantage of their commitments with a snowball effect on recruiting.
Sep 25, 2014; Stillwater, OK, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Cameron Batson (80) makes a catch as Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Kevin Peterson (1) tackles him during the second quarter of a game at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
If coach Kingsbury is expected to build a program that has been stuck in a sort of football purgatory, used to winning 7-8 games a year, into a Big 12 title contender, he must be given the proper amount of time and resources. His recent contract extension and “Fearless Champions” facilities upgrades have given him just that. Now, Kingsbury and his coaching staff will need to continue with their recruiting success and provide some stability for the program. If things fall in the right place, maybe, just maybe, the Red Raiders will see their first Big 12 championship in the next few years.