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Texas Tech football: Matt Wells isn’t only coach to struggle in first year

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders exits the team bus in front of the stadium before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Matt Wells of the Texas Tech Red Raiders exits the team bus in front of the stadium before the college football game against the Iowa State Cyclones on October 19, 2019 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

Mike Gundy went 3-9 in 2005

Two years before the famous “I’m a man!  I’m 40!” rant that put him on the national scene after a win over the Red Raiders in 2007, Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy had a tumultuous first season.  Elevated from offensive coordinator to head coach when Les Miles bolted for LSU, Gundy managed to go just 4-7 in 2005.

Seeing the first-time head coach fall flat on his face on the heels of three-straight bowl appearances, there had to be whispers of doubt in Stillwater about whether or not the former Cowboy QB had what it took to be a success as a coach.  What’s more, it’s not hard to imagine just how many eyebrows were raised in skepticism when Gundy dismissed eleven players from his team during his first season in charge.

Sometimes developing a culture is more important in a coach’s first year than winning games.  Gundy might have believed that to be true as may Wells, who dismissed some players such as DT Joe Wallace and RB Da’Leon Ward, both of whom were starters last year and the former of which would be a huge help this season.

Fourteen years ago, Gundy got off to a 3-0 start with wins over three non-Division 1 programs.  But once Big 12 play arrived, reality hit with a thud.  Despite playing four of the year’s first six conference games at home, OSU went just 1-7 overall in conference play.

The one win?  You guessed it.  It was over No. 13 Texas Tech in Stillwater.

After jumping out to a 14-0, the Cowboys had to score with :23 to play to break a 17-17 tie.  For the Red Raiders, QB Cody Hodges was not at his best completing just 29-42 passes for a mere 308 yards a TD and an INT.

That was the last time Mike Gundy produced a losing season as a head coach.  In the last 14 years, he’s won 123 games and reached 13-straight bowls while bringing the 2011 Big 12 title to Stillwater.

At times, OSU fans have grown a bit frustrated with Gundy because of his somewhat obstinate personality and his inability to beat rival Oklahoma with any regularity.  But after seeing what he’s accomplished from afar, Red Raider fans would kill to have Wells turn in the type of career in Lubbock that Gundy has in Stillwater.

Interestingly, the only Big 12 win Wells currently has on his resume came against…Mike Gundy.  Here’s hoping that proves to be an omen.

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