30 Greatest Games in Texas Tech History
Nov 2, 2013; Lubbock, TX, USA; A general overview of Jones AT&T Stadium during the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
No. 10 – vs. Oklahoma 1999
On November 20, 1999 one Red Raider legend saw his career come to an end in the same game during which another Red Raider legend was born making this the 10th greatest game in Texas Tech football history.
Texas Tech trailed 21-17 at halftime when, in something resembling a scene from a Hollywood movie, head coach Spyke Dykes (the school’s all-time wins leader at the time) announced to the team that he was going to retire following the game. Then, Dykes called upon another Texas Tech legend, college football Hall of Fame member E.J. Holub to deliver a message to the team.
Whatever Holub said worked to perfection. Under the guidance of a redshirt freshman quarterback named Kliff Kingsbury who was making his first collegiate start, Texas Tech rattled off 18 straight points in the third quarter en route to a 38-28 victory.
Kingsbury, who would leave Texas Tech with 12,429 yards passing and 95 touchdowns (both school records), threw for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns in the upset of Oklahoma.
He later appeared on the Spyke Dykes television show to discuss his debut.
This game marked the end of an era for Texas Tech. When Spyke Dykes, the former west Texas high school football coach retired, the school shifted philosophies both on the field and in its ambitions.
Dykes successor, Mike Leach brought a revolutionary passing attack to Texas Tech football and the university began to strive for national prominence in the Big 12. Texas Tech began raising money necessary to upgrade the football stadium and facilities in order to reach that goal. Aside from Leach, Kingsbury would become the face of the new style of Texas Tech football.
But for one November afternoon in 1999, the old school and new school overlapped to beat the Sooners in a game that was a symbolic passing of the torch for Texas Tech football.
Next: vs. Texas 1976