Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech Football: Looking back at memorable season openers

By Matthew Conner

STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders flag flies outside the stadium before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - SEPTEMBER 25: The Texas Tech Red Raiders flag flies outside the stadium before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys September 25, 2014 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys defeated the Red Raiders 45-35. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
(Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) /

1954:  No. 19 Texas Tech 49 – Texas A&M 9

By now, Bear Bryant’s brutal 1954 training camp in Junction, Texas prior to his first year at Texas A&M is college football folklore. While the epilogue to the story almost always includes a summary of Bryant’s success in turning around A&M and then building a dynasty at Alabama, we almost never hear about what happened the first time the “Junction Boys” hit the field.

That is because the 49-9 home field drubbing they endured at the hands of the Texas Tech Red Raiders does not fit the narrative.  Coming off the best season in program history to that point, the 1954 Red Raiders punished the Aggies.

To be fair, Texas Tech was the far better team that season.  The Red Raiders finished 7-3 on the season while the Aggies went just 1-9.

Beating the Aggies in College Station is always special for the Red Raiders but this win was historically significant given the football landscape of Texas at that time. Looking to build on increased national prominence that included an impressive 1954 Gator Bowl win to cap the previous season,  Texas Tech was desperate to join the Southwest Conference but in-state schools were actively working to prevent that and Texas A&M was one of the leaders of the resistance.

Knocking off the Aggies that year was expected.  But embarrassing Bryant’s team and sending a message to the A&M faithful in their own stadium was a moment that transcended the scoreboard.  In addition, handing the most legendary head coach in the game’s history his worst ever defeat turned out to make this win all the more significant.

Home/Texas Tech Red Raiders News