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Texas Tech football classics: “Sticks”, defense humble Nebraska in 2009

By Matthew Conner

Oct 30, 2010; College Station, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Steven Sheffield (1) throws a pass against the Texas A&M Aggies in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Texas A&M defeated Texas Tech 45-27. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2010; College Station, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Steven Sheffield (1) throws a pass against the Texas A&M Aggies in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Texas A&M defeated Texas Tech 45-27. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2009; Lincoln, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach talks with Brandon Sharpe (92) during the game with the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Leach was fired as coach. Texas Tech won 31-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2009; Lincoln, NE, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach talks with Brandon Sharpe (92) during the game with the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Leach was fired as coach. Texas Tech won 31-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Tech’s defense steals the show

It was supposed to be all about the Nebraska defense taking on the Texas Tech offense.  And the television announcers were certain to heap gobs of praise on the Blackshirts.  But make no mistake, it was the Red Raider defense that took center stage in this contest.

Granted, that year’s Nebraska offense was woefully pedestrian (and that may be kind).  They would score fewer than 20 points in six games in 2009 and their struggles seemed to begin with this loss to Tech.

Coming into this game, they had averaged 36.8 points per game.  But against Tech, they would play more QBs than they would score touchdowns.

Replacing starter Zac Lee with true freshman Cody Green in the second half, the Huskers would manage only 285 yards of total offense and would score their only TD of the game in the middle of the 4th quarter when things had already essentially been decided.

Brian Duncan would lead the team with eight tackles (and one huge play that we will discuss shortly).  Meanwhile, Brandon Sharpe would have a monster day with four sacks.  It was a stellar contest for the senior defensive end who would finish the year with 15.0 sacks and 18.0 tackles for loss.

That season, Tech would field one of the program’s best defenses of the “Air Raid” era as Tech would finish 49th nationally in total defense by giving up 352.4 yards per game.  Also that season, the Red Raiders would hold opponents below 20 points on six occasions while only three times giving up over 30 points.

The defensive coordinator that season was Ruffin McNeil, who would be one of the two candidates to replace Leach (along with Tuberville) later that season and who would have been a much better head coach in hindsight.  It’s another case of “what if” from this game as it was apparent that this team loved playing for McNeil as he seemed to finally have figured out how to play defense to complimentary to Leach’s high-powered offense.

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