To say that Texas Tech fans went through a rollercoaster of emotions on Saturday would be an understatement. Unfortunately, the way the day ended is what everyone is going to remember.
It started well with fans across Raiderland showing up in droves for FOX's Big Noon Kickoff pregame show. The passion of the fanbase was unmistakable throughout the two-hour broadcast as a deluge of tortillas rained down on the FOX set.
THEY WERENโT KIDDING ABOUT THE TORTILLAS IN LUBBOCKโผ๏ธ๐ณ@TexasTechFB x @TexasTech pic.twitter.com/0DhpkkYLzb
โ Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) November 9, 2024
Iโm taking @markingramII & @Brady_Quinn in a tortilla fight all day long ๐ฅ๐ช pic.twitter.com/TzCduT2fNF
โ Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) November 9, 2024
However, once the game started, things turned sour for the home faithful. With the Red Raiders blowing a 13-0 first-quarter lead to fall 41-27 to Colorado, the night didn't end the way anyone in Scarlet and Black hoped.
The problem was that the game had way too many controversial moments and questionable officiating decisions, most of which went against the Red Raiders. As a result, some fans began to throw trash and other items onto the Colorado sideline prompting head coach Joey McGuire to get on the stadium microphone and demand that the throwing of objects stop immediately before Tech was penalized for it.
That was just one way that Tech fans expressed their anger on Saturday, and of course, it was an unacceptable way to do it. The more healthy way for fans to vent was to take to social media where the vitriol was widespread.
Of course, the officials got their fair share of the blame from Red Raider fans on X.
Has there ever been a worse officiated game?
โ TXTech ๐ต (@_Red_Raiders_) November 9, 2024
Complete and utter ref job. I have no other words for this atrocity that I have witnessed. Completely inexcusable. You should be embarrassed @Big12Conference
โ Tricia Wurmstein ๐ต (@triciawurmstein) November 10, 2024
This Officiating Crew shouldnโt call another game in this conference or else people are going to tune out. @Big12Conference
โ The Rowdy Raider ๐ต (@RowdyRedRaider0) November 9, 2024
Iโve never seen a crew cheat more than this one.
โ Cotton Club Crew (@CottonCC_FFSN) November 9, 2024
I cannot wait till the suspensions come down because this is rigged.
Never let these refs work another game
โ Jack Anderson (@JackAnderson56) November 9, 2024
Even by Big 12 standards, that was some of the worst officiating I've ever seen.
โ Flatland Sports๐ต (@flatland_sports) November 10, 2024
That was awful officiating. No excuses made because we didnโt play well, but a @Big12Conference crew should be better than that.
โ Cody Campbell (@CodyC64) November 10, 2024
The officials were awful
โ Norense Odiase (@kingno_) November 10, 2024
Meanwhile, another target was offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, who has been one of the fan base's favorite dogs to kick all season long.
If weโre able to fire our beloved Kliff Kingsbury for the betterment of our program, then we can fire Zach Kittley.
โ Sidelines - Texas Tech ๐ต (@SSN_TTU) November 10, 2024
Hereโs what should happen
โ AustinK ๐ต (@AKKnotty) November 10, 2024
1. Fire Zach Kittley. Heโs a bum.
2. Bench Morton he wonโt lead you to glory
3. Start Hammond, your already bowl eligible get him the touches
4. Hire literally any Offensive coordinator that understands how to play in the flow of the game.
5. Cry
Zach Kittley needs to go. Iโve seen ENOUGH! pic.twitter.com/iKeGnG0l2E
โ JOHN REECE ๐ต (@JohnReece247) November 10, 2024
Zach Kittley is an awful coordinator.
โ Danny Gonzalez (@dannygo16) November 10, 2024
Zach Kittley has to be gone. And at this point play Hammond the last two games. See what you have
โ Blake Hartsfield (@bhartsfield10) November 10, 2024
Zach Kittley has absolutely no feel for how to call a game. Tahj doesnโt tough the ball in the red zone until itโs 4th and goal and the whole world knows heโs getting it
โ Josh๐ต (@JoshReed21) November 10, 2024
Meanwhile, after throwing an interception and losing a fumble while completing just 24 of 40 passes for 275 yards, starting QB Behren Morton was not free from criticism either.
Mortonโs time may be coming to an end, his pocket timing is hurting us
โ The Scarlet ลฆortilla ๐ต (@ScarletTortilla) November 10, 2024
Iโve mostly kept it to myself because he seems popular with the fanbase and heโs not a *bad* QB, but I truly believe this team will never contend for a Big XII title with Behren Morton. Donโt get me wrong, Iโm not impressed with Kittley either but I think weโre going to see aโฆ https://t.co/DLWBJOaEyd
โ Trey Day ๐ค (@pale_writer0) November 10, 2024
Behren Morton should probably never play another snap at quarterback again in his life. His decision making is horrendous
โ James Lavelle (@JLAVS1231_) November 10, 2024
Why arenโt we playing will Hammond??? Behren Morton is not the answerโฆ.
โ Htown032 (@Htown032) November 10, 2024
I think this game confirms that Behren Morton Is a "just a guy" quarterback. Nothing wrong with that, but I'll be hoping for better from Will Hammond or whomever ends up replacing Morton down the road.
โ Roger Hardy ๐ต๐๐ดโโ ๏ธ (@Roger__Hardy) November 10, 2024
Tech has to have a better option at QB than Behren Morton. He's a big reason they lost that game.
โ Landry Morren (@landrymorren) November 10, 2024
Behren Morton is absolute TRASH ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๏ธ pic.twitter.com/88Lso5yfCP
โ Thechek182 (@thechek182) November 10, 2024
However, one reason Morton struggled was that his offensive line was atrocious in front of him. That didn't go unnoticed by Texas Tech fans.
Texas Tech Offensive Line pic.twitter.com/3fSa9HgA0Z
โ Talkinโ Tech Podcast ๐(sad again) (@TalkinTechPod) November 10, 2024
Who is in charge of the offensive line coach? No excuses for Kittley he is god awful
โ Yosemite Sam ๐ดโโ ๏ธ (@TexasTechFB1) November 10, 2024
Texas tech offensive line getting beat like a dog
โ vlglkdr (@vlglkdr) November 10, 2024
Not to be overlooked, the Texas Tech defense was unable to offer much resistance after the first quarter of the game. That drew the ire of many Red Raiders on social media.
Texas tech may have the worst defense in the entirety of college football
โ Linus skol tips๐ป๐ฆ (@cookedbykwesi) November 9, 2024
Texas Tech has one of the worst defenses in regard to covering WR screens. Like, what are they even doing?
โ LeetLargo (@LeetLargo) November 9, 2024
Texas Tech defense refuses to make adjustments. CU has scored and gotten multiple explosive plays on screens and you still allow your corners to play soft coverage.
โ David Glasco (@GlascoII) November 9, 2024
Needing Texas Tech to sprout a defense may be my undoing.
โ Ty๐พ (@Tkrenzin) November 9, 2024
Finally, head coach Joey McGuire doesn't escape blame from the fans. In fact, he is getting roasted by many Red Raiders.
Joey McGuire is the worst in-game coach in CFB. That is not me speaking emotionally, I challenge you to find anyone worse. He has repeatedly cost Tech ball games. He is brain dead.
โ kstate_MAN (@kstateman14) November 9, 2024
The biggest issue with Joey McGuire is that he NEVER delivers when expectations are high
โ Linus skol tips๐ป๐ฆ (@cookedbykwesi) November 10, 2024
NEVER https://t.co/4oWNz10OXj
I donโt know how Joey McGuire survives this. (I actually do. Theyโre going to be 6-4 and Iโm being dramatic because I wanted Tech to win this) but this has been one of the worst managed football games I have ever seen. He has to get a dunce cap tattooed on his forehead.
โ scottwildcat (@scottwildcat) November 10, 2024
Weโve lost every single screen Colorado has thrown.
โ Cotton Club Crew (@CottonCC_FFSN) November 9, 2024
Touchdown Colorado.
Joey McGuire with the most inexplicable decision of the year and Tech pays for it immediately.
Let's be honest, Joey McGuire is a high school coach. Nothing more.
โ Lane (@lanecart07) November 10, 2024
The fact that Tech has 6 wins itโs terrible only cause Joey McGuire wonโt get fired.. that dude is one of the worst coaches alive
โ Javier Samaniego (@javiersam2014) November 9, 2024
How do Texas tech fans do it? This team is horrible. Joey McGuire is not it
โ Huevery Johnson ๐พ๐ฅ๐ณ (@SirSmores) November 9, 2024
GTFO with Joey McGuire. Bum.
โ MJ (@mj_from_kansas) November 10, 2024
Someone cancel Joey McGuire.
โ scottwildcat (@scottwildcat) November 9, 2024
In the end, it was a miserable ending to a day that had so much promise. Now, Texas Tech fans are left to stew in their anger for two weeks as the program has an open date next Saturday. This is not how the Red Raiders needed to go into that off week as it gives fans two weeks to complain and criticize. Maybe the basketball team will provide us with a distraction and something to be happy about during that time.
