The Daily Toreador - Student Newspaper of Texas Tech

Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: File Photo

Although Texas Tech coach Mike Leach helped establish a productive system for years to come as offensive coordinator for Oklahoma in 1999, that does not mean fans take it any easier on him when he makes the trip to Norman, Okla.

"I wouldn't think," said Leach, whose No. 2 Red Raiders take part in another pivotal game against No. 5 Oklahoma at 7 p.m. Saturday in Norman. "I haven't really found that to be the case; going to Owen Field is not a take-it-easy-on-somebody environment really."

He has not fared well at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium since his arrival in 2000, nor has he prospered against ranked Big 12 Conference opponents on the road. In eight years under Leach, Tech is 1-14 in that department and 0-4 in Oklahoma.

Yes, Tech's defense is improved. Yes, its running game is too. But if there is one thing left on Leach's Christmas list, it's to beat OU in Norman, especially this year. One more win and Tech would lock up a spot in the Big 12 Championship game, setting up games against Baylor and Missouri - much easier competition considering what Tech has dealt with in the past three weeks.

If Oklahoma wins, Tech will root for Oklahoma State next week when the Cowboys play the Sooners in the Bedlam Series. If the Sooners take care of business in Stillwater, Okla., then most likely the Sooners will be highest in the BCS standings, giving them the tiebreaker and sending them to the Big 12 Championship. But that issue will be dissected more and more down the road.

With program-altering wins week after week, Tech (10-0, 6-0) has proved so much to the college football world and to the sports world in general for that matter. However, the Red Raiders have not proved they can win against a Big 12 power on the road. Beating an overrated No. 19 Kansas team in Lawrence, Kan., does not count, seeing as how the Jayhawks are 6-5 overall and 3-4 in conference play.

Then there is the well-known fact that Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1)rarely loses at home. Bob Stoops' last and only Big 12 loss in Norman was to Oklahoma State, 16-13, in 2001. Overall, the Sooners are 59-2 under Stoops' guidance at Owen Field. However, since 2001, the closest Stoops has come to losing a Big 12 game in Norman was against Tech two years ago.

The Red Raiders went up 24-10 late in the second quarter, but OU dominated the rest of the game, putting up 24 straight points to secure a 34-24 win. Of course, that game is sandwiched between two losses to Tech, both played in Lubbock: A 23-21 win in 2005 and 2007's 34-27 upset.

Continued...

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