Mike Leach Firing Provides Perspective
Unless you've spent the last few weeks ice-fishing in Antarctica, you've heard all about Mike Leach's termination as head coach at Texas Tech. In his own defense, Leach pointed out that the 84 wins the Red Raiders accumulated in his time as head coach were the most ever over for the program in any ten year period and also made him the winningest coach in school history. It's no wonder then, that fans were so quick to rally to support Leach. What's interesting, is that if you look at the win-loss records for Nebraska and Florida State over the same period - two teams seeking to put the last decade behind them, they've won 84 and 85 games respectively.
Ask most Husker fans and they'll tell you that the last decade was easily the most difficult they can recall. That is, unless they have a clear recollection of the 1950's or 1940's NU squads. But look at what actually transpired. In 2000, the team started the season #1 and held that ranking until losing to the eventual national champion. A one-point loss at Kansas State (that included a field goal miss by the Huskers) left the team 10-2 and playing in the Alamo Bowl. That team set a bowl record by stomping the Big Ten co-champions 66-17. But fans were grumbling about Craig Bohl's defense. The next season, the Huskers again ascended to the #1 ranking with a home victory over the defending national champion. After a bad loss on the road at Colorado, Nebraska played for the national championship but was outclassed by Miami and finished 11-2. Fans again were smarting and Bohl was still a heavy target of criticism. 2002 was Nebraska's first non-winning season in 40 years and featured some bad losses, but NU still played in a bowl game on its way to a 7-7 record that year. In 2003, the Huskers seemingly bounced back with a retooled staff at 10-3 but Frank Solich was fired after winning "only" 75% of his games or an average of close to ten wins a year. Enter Bill Callahan. Things went downhill from there. In 2004 Nebraska fell one game shy of bowl eligibility at 5-6. In 2005, Nebraska went 8-4 with another Alamo Bowl victory. In 2006, Nebraska won the Big 12 North but finished 9-5 with a loss in the Cotton Bowl. In 2007, the Blackshirts became one of the worst defenses in college football and Nebraska finished one game shy of bowl eligibility at 5-7. In 2008, Nebraska improved to 9-4 with a Gator Bowl victory and 2009 was a 10-4 season with a Big 12 North title and a Holiday bowl win. While not as consistent as Texas Tech, this last decade would have provided highlights not achieved by the Red Raiders. Namely the division titles and national championship game appearance. The worst decade of Husker football in half a century matches Tech's best. Maybe things weren't so bad.
Likewise, Florida State forced the savior of their football program and author of about every great moment in the program's history to retire. The Seminoles opened the decade by losing in the national championship game but then regressed to lesser bowls for most of the decade (three other BCS bowls were mixed in there - all losses). His last five seasons saw the program finish 8-5 (after losing an Orange Bowl), 7-6, 7-6, 9-4, 7-6. Perhaps not the envy of all college football, but still a winning program. Talk to an FSU fan in recent years and you heard, "I love Bobby, but it's time for him to go". Be careful what you wish for. A lot of schools would be grateful for 85 wins.
Red Raider fans seemed resigned to their fate. The next decade may not be as great as the last. Eighty-four wins may be out of reach. But FSU fans are hoping that the next ten years won't produce "only" 85 wins. Likewise, Nebraska fans are optimistic that a decade with "just" 84 wins isn't what's in store under Bo Pelini. Maybe just maybe, Husker and Seminole fans should consider that there are worse things for a program than winning an average of 8.4 games a year.
1/8/2010
Steve, we should consider, but we shouldn’t settle either. That’s the difference between Nebraska or FSU and, say Texas Tech—Nebraska wants to be and get better, while Tech is content wading in the shallow end as long as the pool is black and not red.
Had we considered, we’d still be content with Bill and his drinking buddy on defense.
1/8/2010
It’s not really a fair comparison. When you are talking about Nebraska and FSU, you’re talking about two of the winningest programs of the ‘90s. Two programs who are used to and expect to be competing for Conference Championships and National Championships, year in and year out. Texas Tech was a doormat before Leach came. They rivaled K-State of the 80s. An 8-4 season for Texas Tech is like a 10+ win season for Nebraska or FSU. Although 9 win seasons were the norm for Nebraska, even those seasons were veiwed as less than stellar. I’ll admit this last decade probably gave us a much needed dose of reality and taught us to appreciate 9 and 10 win seasons a lot more, but I wouldn’t want the next decade to mirror the last.
1/8/2010
When I think of Texas Tech or anyone else with coaching vacancies or issues, I think back to the removal of the previous regime and the dark days of November 2007. All the uncertainty that followed. Who would it be? How soon will they be here? Where will be going?
It’s so good to not have these problems. The stability that we have from Dr. Tom Osborne on down is so reassuring and comforting that I look at places like Lubbock, South Bend and take great reassurance with what we have in place. I know who we have, where we’re going, and what we’re trying to be. . .
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his removal I will talk about what he did do on the field. Texas Tech never was going to become the king of the South. No shame there. But they did become a serious program. One that could win it’s 9, 10, or 11 games and year-in-year-out you knew what you got. 4,000+ yd passers no matter who was in control and a wide-open attack that could seriously blow the windows out of an opponent if things got out of control. They were never going to outrecruit Texas or Oklahoma or LSU for that matter in Texas but they could develop players to make them work in their system. That stability that Texas Tech loses will not be easy to replace, if it ever is. . .
1/8/2010
And in that decade we never managed to beat TT, and suffered the most humiliating defeat in my lifetime in Lubbock. I for one am glad Leach is gone if for no other reason than we may be able to finally handle Tech. They have two years to get a new system in place, while we tweak ours.
I enjoyed the physical play of Alabama last night even though I wanted a UT win. Undoubtedly that’s the direction Bo wants to take this team. Very physical on both sides of the ball. It’s hard to argue the results when the SEC owns the Big XII in championship games.
Winds are a changin! GBR!!
1/8/2010
Texas Tech is in a whole different conference than Nebraska. To say that USF or Nebraska even play the same competition as Tech is just plain dumb. Ofcourse you will have more wins when you play colorado, iowa state (even though you lost to them),kansas state, and kansas every year. Tech would have 10 win seasons every year too if they didn’t have to play OU, Texas, and OK state every year. Please realize that Tech has whooped Nebraska everytime in the last decade. There is no comparison who the better team is and even though you try to justify more wins, that doesn’t mean you are in the same category.
1/8/2010
In the past decade Texas Tech would be the leader in the Big XII north without any doubt from anyone so why make this silly comparison. How many ranked opponents does USF for that matter play? What about Nebraska? One sided story telling is weak. Call Red a red and black a black. Pat yourself on the back all you want, but you can’t compete in the south and won’t be able to even when tech and texas are rebuilding.
1/8/2010
Hey TTU fan give me a break…over the last 4 years Kstate has beaten Texas EVERY TIME they played them….does that mean Kstate is the better team (without comparison)? I didn’t think so….and if you actually watched last year in Lubbock and 4 years ago in Lincoln you wouldn’t be calling those “whoopings”
1/8/2010
nebraska,
TT is a different DIVISION than Nebraska, but they are in the same CONFERENCE. NU doesn’t play OU and UT every year, but they always play at least one of them. And as division champ, they’re guaranteed to play the best Big 12 South team. In the fourteen seasons since the conference was founded, there were six seasons where the Big 12 South had the most top ten teams, five seasons where the Big 12 North had the most top ten teams and three where each division had the same number of top ten teams. While it’s been less balanced in the more recent history, that’s about as balanced as you can get over fourteen years. CU and KSU had their moments beating up on South teams and more recently KU and MU did too. These things are cyclical. By the way, did you catch the Big 12 title game? Can you say in all intellectual honesty that Nebraska couldn’t play with Texas? Did you notice the Huskers beat the Sooners this year?
And Florida State is FSU, not USF - that’s South Florida. I’ll grant you that South Florida doesn’t play a murderous schedule. But the Seminoles play Miami (who won a national title this decade, played for another, and has ESPN producing two-hour long informercials for the school) every year and Florida (who’s been as good as any team this decade). Not to mention matchups with Virginia Tech. That’s no easier than facing Texas and OU.
There’s no question the South has been better RECENTLY. But that doesn’t make it stronger, FOREVER.
1/8/2010
Texas Tech was a regular 7 win team before Leach came along. He raised them to a regular 8-9 win team. Leach was not the savior some people are making him out to be, and Texas Tech was not a dormat before he arrived.
1/8/2010
wow… this is one of the most ill-informed articles I’ve read in a long time. Tech is one of the 13 teams that has had 9 or more wins the last 3 years, has finished in the top 25 the last three years (and four of the last 6), has been the only team in the Big XII to consistently challenge OU and Texas for the last five years (consistent NCG contenders), has not had a losing season, has won 8 or more games the last 8 years, and played in a bowl for the last 10 years. If your premise is true (that Tech and NU and FSU are equal over this time), can those schools boast the same things? No, they cannot. Also, during this time, Tech has taken 4 games from Nebraska—two in Lincoln. One of those games was the largest defeat in Husker history. Tech’s four game streak against NU is one of the longest in NU history—I believe tied with UT’s current 4 game streak. Further, Tech has done this all in the Big XII South—arguably one of the toughest divisions in all of college football.
Please, do your homework a bit more before you write things…
1/8/2010
Jon,
Which facts are wrong? Did Nebraska not win 84 games between 2000-2009? Did Leach not win 84 games over that same period? Did FSU not win 85 at the same time? Were Husker fans not disappointed with this decade? Were TT fans not sad to see Leach go? Was Bowden not pushed into retirement?
All of the facts are correct. You’re bothered that I define a decade as ten years versus just the last 8 or the last 5? I think you may be the one who’s ill-informed.
Wakita, Oklahoma
1/8/2010
Hmmmmm,
Oklahoma beat Oklahoma this year. Beat up and Bradfordless, no less.
1/8/2010
“Oklahoma beat Oklahoma this year. Beat up and Bradfordless, no less.”
Not so much. our QB and RB were injured BADLY all year.
One side of the ball for NU was better than both sides of OU’s team.
Yes, Bradford was a loss… but I will take a healthy QB vs one with a torn throwing elbow any day.
1/8/2010
Texas Tech has no branding when it comes to college football. That HAS to carry some weight.
1/8/2010
What is Texas Tech record vs the big XII north? What is Nebraskas record vs the big XII south? There is no comparison here. TTU> Nebraska since the conception of the big XII. No one can refute this. Now if you want to pat yourselves on the back for being great when your grandpa was playing so be it. But it is truely sad to see you guys try to justify your position as being better than Texas Tech when you can’t even beat them. Really really sad…. I can’t even remember the last time Texas Tech lost to a team in the north. Its easy to win 10 games a year vs high school teams. Move on to basketball, or something else worth writing about.
1/8/2010
TT was an exciting up and coming program under leach. NU was a heavyweight looking for a new corner man. While wins are wins tere are quality wins v those preseason tune me up wins.. Maybe the best way to compare teams is to compare quality wins not just a number. Hell I’ll take wins over OU & UT over beating up Baylor or CU ANY day. I do love the fact my best friend is from NU & I’m a tech grad. Wreck em!
1/9/2010
“TTU> Nebraska since the conception of the big XII.”
Really? How many conference titles has TT won?
Oh, that’s right… 0!
1/9/2010
And oh yeah…
Consider your program wrecked!
Welcome back to the lower end of mediocrity, Tech. Missouri missed you.
San Diego, Ca.
1/9/2010
If I were a TTech fan, I too would be upset over the “Pirate’s” booting out. I’d also take his side over the James kid abuse, natch.
“All over but the shoutin,” as they say.
Whew, glad I’m not a TTech fan!
Their Bowl win was impressive.
Maybe they’ll play Nebraska in the Conference title game, in the next couple. (Probably not).
Got to be quite the aggravation for their fans, with how this went down.
The trend has been programs hiring opposites, in expertise and or, personality. There’s a few guys standing at the opposite corner of Mike Leach. With Turner Gill upgrading the character of Kansas, there’s one fewer available. I like their interim guy, but I like everybody.
Other than that, I’ll let those people handle their own business.
“Mike Leach Firing Provides Perspective”
The story wasn’t quite what I expected from the title, but hey, it’s all about Nebraska anyway, as Steve’s post clearly demonstrates.
If I wanted objective, unbiased analysis, I’d read “Pravda English edition.”
I’m sure Red Raider blogs are scrupulously objective… I’ll never know.
Nebraska’s trending toward toughness, in all it’s simple yet various facets. It’s always been the Nebraska way when the team’s successful, because it’s the only way.
Just gotta break through the 4 (or more) loss a season schnide which has flavored Nebraska for low these last 6 seasons.
1/9/2010
nebraska please,
Texas Tech has a slightly better win percentage in the regular season against the other 5 Big 12 South teams. The winning percentage for NU is 56% and Texas Tech is 59%. Head to head the two teams are 4-4 in conference play. But Nebraska’s is WAY better against the other Big 12 North teams than Texas Tech’s. Texas Tech’s win percentage against Big 12 North teams is…wait for it…52%! That’s right, Tech has had an easier time against the South than the North (and that’s excluding their .500 record against Nebraska). The Huskers on the other hand have a 74% winning percentage against the other 5 teams in the Big 12 North. That’s 22% higher. Nebraska wins about 3 of 4 games against North teams while Tech only wins 2.
Nebraska can’t beat Tech? The last ten games I saw between the schools Nebraska went 6-4. Two of those four losses by Nebraska couldn’t have been closer (none of the wins were). In 2005, Nebraska fumbled the ball after an interception where the defender could have iced the game by falling down. In 2008, Texas Tech had to convert a 4th and 10 on their own side of the field to get to overtime where Nebraska threw a dumb interception.
Just to update you, Texas Tech lost to Missouri and Colorado in 2007. That gave Tech a 1-2 record against the Big 12 North that year. Wow, you can’t remember 2007? That explains a lot. But if college football has only existed for two years and Tech is so much better, how come Nebraska’s ranked #14 and Tech is ranked lower than that after this, the second year of college football?
1/9/2010
Talk about undermining the article. The nature of this article wasn’t to compare 3 said football programs and explain why two of them are better than the latter.
No, this article had everything to do with the struggles of two programs and the negative perspective associated with those struggles compared to the recent mishap at TTU and its scrutiny there.
Mike Leach was the best thing TTU had going for its football program. Every year I worried about how well we would play against the TTU spread offense. Every year I would wonder if they would scorch us or we would keep it close and combative. Mike Leach brought you to the pinnacle of your program’s history. You cant refute that. Now that TTU has ousted him, you have to wonder what if the last 10 years was the exception of success. Do you expect to go back to south mediocrity and be content with it or do you go on to consistently push the envelope in the Big XII? If its the latter, then surely you must question the removal of your coach! Otherwise, I speak on behalf of us all who support other Big XII teams that we are content with your contentment.
1/9/2010
stupid tech fans….CFB wasnt invented in 2005 you guys were completely irrelevant to the CFB scene until then. you guys are just like colorado fans you beat us a couple time and u think you can win 5 national titles and a buttload of conference titles. you might win one because leach is a great coach… o ya thats right you retards fired him and sided with lil bitch adam james… congrats you guys just became the new baylor of the south overnight
Kansas City, MO
1/9/2010
Tommy Tuberville now named next head coach at Texas Tech. It’s funny how the ESPN article about it said that he’s averaged 8.5 wins per year over the last 10 years. At least they got someone on par with Leach in terms of number of wins.
1/9/2010
Yeah it’s a lot easier to win the big twelve championship when u only have to play the big xii south powerhouse in the championship game. Beat the poor buffaloes to get there and let’s all cheer for our four lose season in the weak north. It’ll be fun continuing to stomp nu now that tubbs is here. Enjoy the overrated position until u play someone in the south:) and when u are frustrated maybe another one of ur football players can deck a fan
1/11/2010
Steve, Not sure what they taught you in math in Nebraska, but my count for the last 10 years of Tech over the North is 19-11. That comes to… wait for it…63%. Oh, yeah, and the last 6 years the record is 14-4. That comes to…wait for it…78%. Ummm, there is really no comparison between the North and South. Kansas had a spurt that only equaled what either Tech or OSU does each year. Missouri had a couple of years. Other than that, what?
1/11/2010
Raider,
“What is Texas Tech record vs the Big XII North?” was the question posed. It wasn’t framed in time. It’s no surprise that Texas Tech fans that come here would want to shorten that time frame. But I’ve been watching college football for close to 30 years, and my memory goes back to the beginning. I also expect to be fan for another forty or fifty years, if I should live so long. I remember learning that life wasn’t fair in 1982 against Penn State. I remember freezing in miserable conditions and watching Oklahoma win the “Game of the Century II” in 1987. If you’re a Nebraskan, these games stay with you. I’ll probably never forget what Leach did to Nebraska in 2004 either.
But if you think the South will enjoy some permanent advantage over the North, I can’t say I fully agree (if for no other reason than Baylor is a South team). Texas and Oklahoma will probably be good more often than they’re bad. I put Nebraska in that category too. Iowa State and Baylor will probably be bad more often than they’re good. The rest of the teams I’ll call wild cards. With OSU’s money, they have a chance to be good for a long time, but there’s no guarantee, we’ve seen them struggle in a lot of years. Texas A&M seems to recruit well, but it’s not clear why they’ve had such trouble winning consistently in recent years. Texas Tech has been above average in the conference, but take out Baylor and they’re a .500 team. So are they only going to be good if Baylor stays bad? Missouri has a good recruiting base with two sizeable cities in its borders. Will they finally learn how to use it? Will CU return to what they were in the 90’s? Will KSU go back to what they were under Snyder or will they look more like what we saw in the 80’s? Was KU a mirage under Mangino?
You can pretend you know the answers to all that. I consider them open questions. We all get to wait and see. That’s the fun of college football.
1/11/2010
“I can’t even remember the last time Texas Tech lost to a team in the north.”
Colorado, 2006
Colorado, 2007
Mizzou, 2007
Wakita, Oklahoma
1/11/2010
I would trade Baylor for ISU any day. ISU is a better challenge and a good way to lay off of the cupcakes.
1/12/2010
I would not assume to know all that you have listed. And notice that I did not say Tech has not lost to a team in the North. By the way, CU seems to have our ticket for some reason.
But living in the past is living in the past. I’m sure Minnesota still lives in the past too. When you ain’t winning like you used to, what else are you gonna do?
San Diego, Ca.
1/12/2010
Raider
Have you been winning so much more now, than you’ve ever won? At least Minnesota…
Your depth of perspective got drained as quickly as a shot of whatever you’re drinking.
I mean, since the BRN blogger knows more about your team than you do, and you don’t assume to know…
You’re fortunate your team’s got this much attention. Then again, your former Coach gets the ASS of the new century award.
That’ll always rate attention.
If the Oscars gave an award for AHs, Leach would sweep the votes!
Nebraska likely plays in the Conference Title games, the next two seasons.
So, obviously TTech will be there to face them, as many times as they always have…