Texas Tech football: Disappointing losses haven’t always spelled doom for Red Raiders

2009: Texas Tech lost at Houston in week four but finished ranked

The 2009 loss at Houston was not a surprise to many national pundits.  After all, Texas Tech entered the game unranked while Houston was 17 in the polls.

However, not one Red Raider fan expected to leave Houston that night with a loss.  But, in a physical nip-and-tuck game that felt very similar to this year’s Wyoming game, a costly in-game decision by Leach led to a 29-28 defeat that sent the team to just 2-2 on the year.

Early in the 4th quarter, Leach decided to try a QB sneak with his big QB, Taylor Potts, on 4th and goal instead of kicking a field goal.  That decision backfired as Potts was stuffed and Houston would take over.  Those three lost points would be massive in a one-point loss.

After that game, All-American offensive lineman Brandon Carter was suspended for a game as the season took on a soap opera feel.  Of course, it would end with the ultimate drama between Leach and one of his players, Adam James, a situation that led to Leach’s firing before the bowl game.

Still, the loss to Houston was not a death knell for the Red Raiders.  They would win seven of their final nine games including an improbable win at No. 15 Nebraska behind backup QB Steven “Sticks” Sheffield.

That 2009 Houston team was thought of more highly than this year’s Wyoming team is.  That year, Houston would end up 10-4 but would not win their conference title.

Might Wyoming have similar success this year?  That isn’t out of the question.  If the Cowboys can beat the Red Raiders, they should believe they could beat any team in the Mountain West Conference.

In the end, we have to realize that, while the loss in Laramie was ugly and was a true kick to the gut, it doesn’t mean that the season is hopeless.  What’s more, this weekend provides a perfect opportunity to wash that bad taste right out of our mouths.