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Texas Tech football: Wild and jubilant overreactions to win over OK ST

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr #96 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders holds up the ball after recovering a fumble during the first half of the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 05: Defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr #96 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders holds up the ball after recovering a fumble during the first half of the college football game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on October 05, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Matt Wells is going to get this program back to competing for Big 12 titles

With Saturday’s win, Matt Wells has already equaled the number of home wins over ranked teams that his predecessor managed to put up in six years.  What’s more, he has also equaled the number of wins over Oklahoma State that his predecessor picked up.

But it isn’t just that Wells won a game over a top-25 team at home.  It was the resilience his team showed that was most encouraging.

How many times in recent years have we seen losses like last week’s snowball into season-crushing losing streaks?  Given that this team was without Bowman, starting safety Adrian Frye, Anderson, and inside receiver Xavier White in addition to losing safety Thomas Leggett and corner Des Smtih during the game, it would not have been hard for Wells’ team to feel sorry for itself.

Fortunately, the team we saw take the field was one that seemed determined to author a different narrative in 2019.   This is a team that exhibited the type of mental toughness that Wells’ teams at Utah State were known for.

It will be imperative for the Red Raiders to play with that type of attitude all season because the talent on the roster is not going to overwhelm anyone.  Following the lead of middle linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who had 19 tackles and three sacks, and displaying the qualities its head coach has been trying to instill, this team took on a personality that is different than the one we’ve come to expect when the chips have been down.

Next. Wells takes first crucial step by beating Cowboys. dark

That’s why Matt Wells was hired.  He isn’t an offensive or defensive guru nor was he a big-name coach.  He is a program builder and a leader of men, both qualities this program was desperately lacking.  If what we saw against Oklahoma State is an indication, he is well on his way towards molding Texas Tech football into the type of program that can finally compete in the Big 12.  After all, he just dominated a program that has been doing just that for the last ten years.

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