 "Photo: Texas Tech Athletics")
Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill flashed a heavy-duty afro before most Texas Tech students were born, and now that those days are long gone, it's safe to say he holds a deep appreciation for someone with a lot of hair.
Specifically the hair of strong side linebacker Bront Bird.
"I like it," McNeill said of the sophomore's long blonde locks. "I'm a baby boomer. I'm a 60s, 70s kid, so it doesn't bother me. I don't have any hair, so I like seeing somebody with hair."
McNeill also likes seeing someone making plays, which is something Bird is proving he can do in his first year as a starter.
Bird broke out in a tackling frenzy during a 35-19 win against Nevada - totaling 14 tackles and one sack, nearly surpassing the 16 tackles he recorded during his freshman campaign.
This season, Bird's 21 tackles trail only cornerback Jamar Wall, who has 22, and middle linebacker Brian Duncan, who has 28.
"He's real rangy," Tech coach Mike Leach said. "He's made a lot of plays. He's getting more and more kind of disciplined. I think that he's gonna be really good. His best days are ahead of him."
The 6-foot-3, 226-pound Bird, a native of Odessa, said it feels good to finally contribute to the team on a larger, more consistent basis, unlike when he was a backup who received little reps last season.
"I'm loving it," he said. "You're part of the team more and everything like that. Not to say that any guy that's second string isn't, but first string, you feel like the weight of the defense is on your shoulders. I love that, and I strive for that. It's been awesome. I'm soaking up the moment."
His ascent to the starting strong side linebacker role had a lot to do with his athleticism and length, McNeill said.
At Permian High School, Bird was a versatile weapon.
Playing offense and defense, he earned All-District honors at wide receiver and strong safety.
At wideout, he caught 45 balls for 824 yards and eight touchdowns, while recording 73 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries on defense.
It was that type of athleticism that allowed Bird to bump sophomore Brian Duncan from strong side to middle linebacker - where Duncan said he is more comfortable.
Also with veteran Marlon Williams manning the weak side, Tech's linebackers are having a productive season.
Bird said the new system McNeill installed after he took over for former defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich is a more simple approach to gap assignments and it gets easier each day he spends time in it.
"Just the amount of reps are helping out everything, because the more you see out there - the more reps you get the easier it is," Bird said. "The easier your mind develops plays, the faster you react to things and such and such."
One defensive category Bird seems particularly proud of is Tech's proficiency in third down situations. The Red Raiders have forced a three-and-out numerous times this season, holding opponents to a 22.2 percent third down conversion rate - good for third in the nation.
During his breakout game against Nevada, Bird remembers Tech's offense going for it twice on fourth-and-one around its own 30-yard line and committing a turnover on downs both times.
Bird said what McNeill told the defense after Leach's decision to go for it has stuck with the him and his teammates ever since.
"Coach Ruff said it doesn't matter what the offense does or where they put us," Bird said. "They don't get in the end zone. That attitude, of course everyone tries to think like that, but hearing that, I think the second after he said that everyone has kind of taken that personally, and tried to fulfill his wishes as good as possible."
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