Texas Tech coach Mike Leach has talked about his self-conscious ways quite a few times this year.
Two weeks ago, he said he’s too self-conscious to do stand up comedy, and on Saturday, he admitted dancing isn’t his thing because of the same reason.
He was referring to the House of Pain song, “Jump Around,” which has become the background music for the last two games between Oklahoma and Tech. Apparently, it’s the in-game party song for whichever team is up by multiple touchdowns.
It’s simple really: People dance, players have fun, memories are made, the other team is humiliated, and so on and so forth.
That was the scene during Tech’s 41-13 win against Oklahoma on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium, where the now 6-5 Sooners were paid back for the beating, and jumping, they gave the Red Raiders a year ago.
The song played several times, and those wearing red and black suddenly were at a rap concert.
“Especially when you look over there and see how they were looking, ‘Like man, they’re doing exactly what we did to them last year,’” cornerback Jamar Wall said. “It was just sweet revenge and you couldn’t ask for better.”
Leach had all the reason in his incredibly interesting world to dance until the rubber on his shoes disappeared. He had reason to run on the 50-yard line and do a polka dance, to do a cartwheel even.
No one would’ve said a darn thing, coach. You deserved it.
I know what fans are thinking, why would he dance when his team is a measly 7-4, especially after last year’s banner 11-2 season?
Here’s why: The win against OU on Saturday may have saved a season full of unwelcomed surprises.
And making it even sweeter was the timing of it all.
He got the 83rd win of his career as head coach of the Red Raiders, moving him past former coach Spike Dykes as the winningest football coach in school history.
Tech is bowl eligible for the 17th straight season.
Quarterback Taylor Potts got his swagger back by changing his jersey name to “Nick,” after former Kansas linebacker Nick Reid, who Leach said personified what a football player should be.
That, honestly, is one of the strangest — and strange things happen around this program all the time — I have ever seen when it comes to sports. But strange works sometimes, and Leach is a perfect example of that.
And finally, it all took place on one of the more memorable Senior Days in Red Raider football history, and against Oklahoma no less.
And now Tech fans and players can listen to “Jump Around” without feeling queasy.
Tech cornerback LaRon Moore talked about the motivation behind the song, which was drilled into players’ heads during a painful 65-21 loss to the Sooners last season in Norman, Okla.
“All year they had been playing it in the weight room, especially last year,” he said. “Nobody really liked that song. They would play it, and they would remind us of OU. We didn’t even know they were gonna play it (on Saturday). We were just out there working hard and then it came on and it felt good to give them a little taste of what they gave us last year.”
As far as national title hopes go, the game may not have been as important as least year, but knocking off the Sooners is an achievement for the Red Raiders, who have now beat Bob Stoops’ team three consecutive times in Lubbock.
And it’s not often you see the Oklahoma Sooners get beat by four touchdowns.
Who cares if it’s the worst team Stoops has had since his arrival in 1999.
With losses to Houston and Texas A&M, it’s been an unstable kind of season. Ups and downs, as Potts — or Nick – put it after the game.
Realize, though, that this team still has a shot at salvaging its season.
A win to remember took place on Saturday, regardless of the season circumstances and close losses.
Tech plays Baylor this week, in the Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium, and has a chance to make the Holiday Bowl or even the Cotton Bowl, again depending on how Oklahoma State finishes up.
Assuming Texas wins out and finishes 13-0 after beating Texas A&M and then Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference title game, the Cowboys — if they beat OU next week — will be 10-2 and 7-1 in league play.
Let’s say Tech beats Baylor, now you have Nebraska and Tech both with four losses.
If Oklahoma State gets selected to the Fiesta Bowl, that means Nebraska and Tech would be up for the Cotton Bowl and Holiday Bowl. Remember that Tech beat the Huskers 31-10 earlier this season, so the head-to-head record could be a deciding factor.
Then again, if Oklahoma State does not get chosen for a BCS game, then they’ll be in the Cotton Bowl and Tech will either be in the Holiday Bowl or the Alamo Bowl.
Whatever happens, with everything surrounding it, Tech’s win against Oklahoma on Saturday was reason enough for Leach to dance and throw his self-conscious ways to the wind.
5 comments
The best part of the whooping TTU gave OU last weekend--TTU added insult to injury to the OU program this year. And I mean that literally and figuratively.
So take that loss up your @ss like TTU and TTU fans did last year and try to figure out how to walk and sit down for another 12 months. You'll get the hang of it after awhile.