By Carl Flanagan
Matt Wells has Lubbock buzzing this week with the excitement of Tech’s home opener. The Red Raiders team is positioned to surprise the nation and restore Texas Tech football as a college powerhouse.
Many starters will return Saturday for the Red Raiders and fans are expecting a better showing than last season. It saddens me to admit, but I can’t say that I am among the many Tech fans predicting an NY6 bowl. These expectations set by Red Raider fans remind me of the Charlie Strong story, but not for the reasons you are thinking. I am talking about how The Texas Longhorn fans were impatient during Strong’s tenure. The Longhorn fan’s inability to allow Strong to develop his vision forced poor performance, unrealistic expectations and resentment of the program itself.
I have not met one person in Lubbock who has any doubt that Wells will lead the Red Raiders to greener pastures and I am among the people that think he will succeed, but only if we learn from Longhorn fans mistakes. I don’t mean to bring up the T school nor do I imply that their situation translates to Wells and Tech fans, but I think at least one person needs to consider the parallels. We need to remember…
This is not basketball or baseball… This team is not highly ranked nor are they expected to make major upsets. But to get to the point, it is Matt Wells first year as head coach and I think us Tech fans are forgetting that. Tech fans need to remember that he has not coached his own recruiting class yet and his vision, like all coaches, takes time. Wells is reinventing the spread offense by implementing a TE, which hasn’t been done at Texas Tech since Mike Leach. Last season, Wells produced his first 1,000 yard rusher and was his first time producing an offense in the FBS top 25 in scoring. His previous coaching job was at Utah State, who is in a smaller conference with less talent and national exposure. For Wells, the Big XII was only a flickering light in the distance this time last year. These small similarities, which I don’t think Tech fans have ignored, are important when grading the success of the ‘19-’20 season. Fans are just excited and there is nothing wrong with that, but there’s a thin line between excitement and expectation.
The two are commonly confused. I think that Lubbock is different than Austin, and even the world, in the sense that people here are more reasonable, loyal and supportive of the program, despite the team’s ups and downs. I understand the excitement around a new coach, I’m over the moon about it as well, but we cannot forget that the sun will rise tomorrow if we experience another season of “growing pains”. If the fans let Wells work through his process, I think we found the football teams “Chris Beard”. I have faith in the amazing fans and a supportive community, but we need to walk before we run.
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