LA Tech Article

mgsteve · October 18, 2005

JIMMY WATSON: Louisiana Tech hopes to stay in the hunt for a WAC championship

October 18, 2005

Talk about setting your fans up for a letdown.

The Louisiana Tech football team had things going its way two weeks into the WAC season with lopsided victories at home over New Mexico State and over Hawaii.

The Bulldogs' offense was in high gear behind a running game that appeared unstoppable. Their defense was shutting down opponents, holding the Aggies and the Warriors to a combined 28 points with just half of those coming against the first-team defense.

Tech fans were talking possible WAC championship or at least a bowl bid as the WAC's second-place team. A 7-0 league mark before Boise State hits town on Nov. 26 seemed like a sure bet.

Those hopes took a major detour in Reno, Nev., on Saturday afternoon against a Wolf Pack team that hadn't beaten Tech in four consecutive tries. Nevada was a one-point favorite over coach Jack Bicknell's club, but that seemed like just so much hype to get bettors on both sides of the mark.

With the roll the 'Dogs were on, many people figured they'd win by at least two touchdowns. But the road has been very unkind for the Bulldogs. Tech has won just once on the road since defeating Nevada in Reno during the 2003 season.

Nevada didn't just beat the Bulldogs, it dominated them and that left the Tech faithful wondering what happened. Although the final scored didn't appear to be that bad (37-27), and Tech did give up a late touchdown after going for it on fourth down deep in their own territory, the score could have been a lot worse without a couple mistakes by the Wolf Pack.

Nevada lost one fumble in the end zone and another at the 1-yard-line, which were converted into 14 points by the Bulldogs.

With the loss, the Bulldogs are left in the unenviable position of being unable to afford another loss, while hoping that other teams get beat. This weekend's 3 p.m. homecoming contest against hapless North Texas has little meaning, except to possibly rejuvenate the Tech offense.

Anything less than a blowout over the Mean Green could mean that Tech is in even more trouble.

Nevada still must play Boise State, Hawaii and Fresno State, but gets the latter two games at home. Boise has to beat Nevada in Boise and must win on the road at Tech and at Fresno.

Fresno must win on the road at Hawaii and at Nevada, but gets Tech and Boise at home. There are still some tough games ahead for all four contenders, so all is not lost for the Bulldogs.

Nevada showed the other WAC contenders that Tech's running game can be shut down, even with an undersized defensive line. If Tech is going to stay in contention, Matt Kubik will have to become more effective throwing the ball and his receivers will have to catch it.

"To be honest, it wasn't all Matt, because we aren't protecting very well right now," Bicknell said. "We had too many third and long situations and that's where you get the pressure."

The Bulldogs will be dealing with a lot of pressure over the next four weekends, if they hope to stay in the WAC title hunt.

NT91 · October 18, 2005

"hapless North Texas"

Kiss my .....

PlummMeanGreen · October 18, 2005

Fast La Technical Institue of Lower Learning Facts:

La Tech will not win the WAC. Their Nevada loss last week sealed the deal on that.

La Tech will not go bowling even if they have 6 wins. No publications or sports websites projected bowl line-ups even list them as a remote possibility.

La Tech is way behind in D1-A football related facilties, ie, an athletic center, no field turf, exagerrated attendance numbers and with no apparent blueprints on the table to change any of this. The Tulane/UTEP game in Ruston did not impress either ESPN or CUSA officials inasmuch as Greater Ruston should have supported that game with any semblance of fan support.

La Tech's game this Saturday against the Mean Green is a much bigger deal for them than it is to us. We are still (basically) a young team that is rebuilding and a Mean Green win would be a bonus that would help us toward finishing our SBC season on a positive note and start building a foundation for the future.

GMG!

All the above thoughts IMHO, of course...

Edited October 18, 2005 by PlummMeanGreen