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Texas Tech football classics: Red Raiders stun Aggies in 2002

By Matthew Conner

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Nehemiah Glover #6 of the Texas Tech University Red Raiders carries the ball during against the University of Oklahoma Sooners during the game at Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2002 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 60-15 to advance to the Big 12 Championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: Wide receiver Nehemiah Glover #6 of the Texas Tech University Red Raiders carries the ball during against the University of Oklahoma Sooners during the game at Memorial Stadium on November 23, 2002 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 60-15 to advance to the Big 12 Championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Kliff Kingsbury was at his best despite being roughed up most of the afternoon

We’ve been so wrapped up in Kliff Kingsbury the head coach over the past six years that we tend to forget what he was as a player.  Long before he was defined by his looks and GQ style, Kingsbury was one of the toughest quarterbacks we’ve ever seen.  And against the Aggies, that warrior mentality was on full display.

All afternoon, Texas A&M’s defensive line dominated the Red Raider o-line making life unpleasant for Kingsbury.  The Aggies registered eight sacks while pressuring the Tech QB on eleven other passes and hitting him at least four times.

In all, Kingsbury was under duress on 24 of his 67 (35.5%) dropbacks.  What’s more, he had to scramble five more times to avoid taking extra sacks, something that was not a huge part of his skillset.

Still, he was never rattled and stood in the pocket all afternoon.  The result was a ridiculous 49-59 (83.1%) passing effort for 474 yards and five touchdowns.  He did throw one interception in the red zone and lost a fumble when he was blindsided on a sack but it is hard to hold those mistakes against him.

It was his second-most yards and touchdowns in a game as a Red Raider and his highest completion percentage of this college career.  Afterward, he admitted to being a little extra motivated to face the Aggies on the road.

"“I think this was my best game ever,” Kingsbury said. “I wanted to come here out of high school and I’ve been thinking about this for four years. To win in one of the toughest atmospheres boosts our confidence even more.”"

What people that never watched Kingsbury play don’t realize is that he was as tough as any QB we have seen in Lubbock.  There were a number of times when he took a beating in games but he always got up and missed just one game in three years as a starter.  And never was that toughness on display more than when he led his team to the comeback win over the Aggies in his senior season.

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