After a frustrating, one-point loss in Texas Tech’s first ever bowl game, the Red Raiders were able to get right back to another bowl game towards the end of the 1938 season, which is really impressive. Back-to-back bowl appearances back in the 1930’s wasn’t exactly easy to accomplish.
So, as we continue rolling through the Texas Tech Red Raiders’ history, let’s take a look at another bit of bowl game history. We’re exploring Texas Tech’s first ever trip to the Cotton Bowl. Which provided the Red Raiders a chance to play in front of roughly 40,000 fans.
Surely this didn’t go poorly, right?
We’ve already talked a little bit about how Pete Cawthon guided Texas Tech to its first bowl game and then suffered the Red Raiders’ first bowl loss. Now we’re going to talk about how he guided Texas Tech to its second bowl game and then suffered the Red Raiders’ second bowl loss.
Texas Tech football history: The Red Raiders were unable to take care of Slip Madigan and the Saint Mary’s Gaels in 1939
Yeah.
Uh, Texas Tech didn’t have a great first trip to the Cotton Bowl. I don’t know how else to put that. The Red Raiders faced off against *checks notes* Saint Mary’s. The Red Raiders had an unblemished 10-0 record at the time. Saint Mary’s, meanwhile, was 5-2.
TEXAS TECH LITERALLY HAD TWICE AS MANY WINS AS THE GAELS DID.
And, uh, in front of 40,000 college football fans, Texas Tech came up short. Saint Mary’s scored 20 unanswered points to take a solid lead rolling into the fourth quarter. TTU did score 13 points late in the game, but that wasn’t enough. Mostly because 20 points is more than 13 points.
Interestingly enough, the Red Raiders managed to move the ball through the air rather effectively. I mean, really, really effectively. Of the 283 yards that Texas Tech gained against the Gaels, 210 of those yards came by passing.
That’s a fun little tidbit. Throwing the ball wasn’t super common back then. Texas Tech did it well. Kinda. Almost. The Red Raiders completed 11 of their 31 attempts. Not great, but better than the 2-for-15 that Saint Mary’s had passing.
Unfortunately, Texas Tech threw FIVE interceptions. That’s not exactly a recipe for winning games. Whether that’s in 1939 or the 21st century. You throw five picks, it’s over.