Ttech Adds Eastern Washington To Fb Schedule

[SUMG]

(from the DMNews blog. Now TTech has two 1-AA schools on their 2008 football schedule:

LUBBOCK – Texas Tech has added Eastern Washington to its 2008 football schedule as a replacement for Tulsa in the Red Raiders’ season opener Aug. 30 at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Tulsa left the Red Raiders little time to find a replacement for their season opener when the school informed Tech in mid-January that it was exercising a $150,000 buyout clause to terminate the contract of a two-game series over the next two seasons. Tulsa replaced Tech on its schedule with a game against Arkansas on Nov. 1.

“I think it’s bad business. They dropped us with seven months to go, which I don’t think’s good,” Tech coach Mike Leach said. “It’s one thing to shuffle around the schedule, but certainly they could do it a year in advance.”

Tulsa backing out seven months before the game left Tech scrambling trying to find a team that also had an open date on its schedule. With most Football Bowl Subdivision teams having already completed their schedules long ago, Tech had to fill its opening with a second Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) team on its 2008 schedule. Tech also plays FCS-team Massachusetts on Sept. 20.

Leach said he wasn’t concerned about having two FCS teams on the 2008 schedule.

“Any opponent is fine,” Leach said.

[runt96]

Oh, they have TWO DI-AA opponents ? Maybe they are preparing to make that move of moves......................................................They're moving to the SLC !!!!!. BIG XII, here we come.

I'll put the whiskey up and go to bed.

[NT80]

Tulsa left the Red Raiders little time to find a replacement for their season opener when the school informed Tech in mid-January that it was exercising a $150,000 buyout clause to terminate the contract of a two-game series over the next two seasons.

So, did Tulsa also give up a future home game with Tech with this? That would have been nice.

[emmitt01]

So tech will fatten up on 1aa teams...and neither recruits nor the general public will make note of this when discussing their overall 2008 record. Glad we keep loading up the big boys.

[foutsrouts]

Cowards knew that we have been in a recent schedule shuffle but wimped out on calling us. Tired of getting butt whippings from the boys from Denton I guess.

[Guest 97and03]

Cowards knew that we have been in a recent schedule shuffle but wimped out on calling us. Tired of getting butt whippings from the boys from Denton I guess.

They did call.

[flyeater]

They're pulling out the late-notice card on Tulsa. Maybe some truth, but they were shameless in 2005 with Sam Houston State and Indiana State (both I-AAs) on the schedule. If I recall, Kevin Wieberg (Big 12 commish) stepped in the next year and told ADs/coaches to stop loading up on those games because the TV people were furious it had gotten out of control. By blaming Tulsa this time, they get a pass. All they care about is more home games at Tech, but it cheats their fans (especially out-of-towners who spend $ to attend) out of good competition. I've been to a Tech day game when they blasted some poor slob (not UNT) by halftime, and the folks crammed into the uncovered side were miserable in the blazing sun by 2 p.m. Pretty sure I heard a few home folks say "this ain't worth it." The drunk ones don't care, but it's BS to make that kind of investment for two home games that don't amount to crap. It's just a giant money grab and easy W for the school.

Can't believe I'm actually standing up for their fans.

Edited February 8, 2008 by flyeater

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

Didn't someone cancel on Arkansas on short notice, causing them to make a sweetheart deal to Tulsa? Isn't that what started the game of musical chairs? It's hard to point fingers at anyone because four are pointing back at you. The whole situation was unfortunate and I wish we could have taken advantage of it. We cancelled and been cancelled on as well and it's no fun. Either write game contracts with no buyout clauses or be prepared for the worst.

[GreenAlums]

Didn't someone cancel on Arkansas on short notice, causing them to make a sweetheart deal to Tulsa? Isn't that what started the game of musical chairs? It's hard to point fingers at anyone because four are pointing back at you. The whole situation was unfortunate and I wish we could have taken advantage of it. We cancelled and been cancelled on as well and it's no fun. Either write game contracts with no buyout clauses or be prepared for the worst.

Technically 3, you can't point your thumb back at yourself unless you are real good!

[russell360]

They're pulling out the late-notice card on Tulsa. Maybe some truth, but they were shameless in 2005 with Sam Houston State and Indiana State (both I-AAs) on the schedule. If I recall, Kevin Wieberg (Big 12 commish) stepped in the next year and told ADs/coaches to stop loading up on those games because the TV people were furious it had gotten out of control. By blaming Tulsa this time, they get a pass. All they care about is more home games at Tech, but it cheats their fans (especially out-of-towners who spend $ to attend) out of good competition. I've been to a Tech day game when they blasted some poor slob (not UNT) by halftime, and the folks crammed into the uncovered side were miserable in the blazing sun by 2 p.m. Pretty sure I heard a few home folks say "this ain't worth it." The drunk ones don't care, but it's BS to make that kind of investment for two home games that don't amount to crap. It's just a giant money grab and easy W for the school.

Can't believe I'm actually standing up for their fans.

Sheesh what a conspiracy theorist..

Tulsa dropped Tech at the last minute, how can you with a straight face suggest that it was a plot?

[flyeater]

Sheesh what a conspiracy theorist..

Tulsa dropped Tech at the last minute, how can you with a straight face suggest that it was a plot?

Not what I said, Einstein. Only explained that two I-AA's on Tech's schedule isn't anything new, and it's really of no consequence to them that Tulsa backed out, although they bitch and moan to make themselves out the victim. They just grab up the first available I-AA, because money's money. The bonus is no return trip involved (don't know if they had one with Tulsa).

What the hell plot did I suggest?

[russell360]

Not what I said, Einstein. Only explained that two I-AA's on Tech's schedule isn't anything new, and it's really of no consequence to them that Tulsa backed out, although they bitch and moan to make themselves out the victim. They just grab up the first available I-AA, because money's money. The bonus is no return trip involved (don't know if they had one with Tulsa).

What the hell plot did I suggest?

You're calling me Einstein and you think that Tech would just as soon play Eastern Washington than Tulsa at home?!

"grab up first available?" do you work for the athletic director? Don't you understand that at this late date schedules have long been set? It is very dificult to find a big-name school that will come. They want a home-and-away which makes it hard because you have to find an opening in the next few years that both have free. Really big names will just not come to Lubbock(just like some schools won't come to Denton) because what Tech can pay them isn't enough. Tech may get 52k attendance $ to pay the big-name school. Big-name can just as easily play at home in front of 90k and make more... There is relatively small pool of school to pick from. Did you know that they contacted NT?

They had a home-and-away with Tulsa. The objective is to play regional teams at Lubbock and at the regional schools home for recruiting exposure. Tech has developed a nice recruiting pipeline in OK recently. Tech wants to play at Tulsa. Same reason Tech plays Rice, TCU, SMU and UTEP...

Tech vs Tulsa would probably be televised.

Plain and simple: what Tulsa did was bush league at best and what most athletic directors would consider dishonorable.

[flyeater]

You're calling me Einstein and you think that Tech would just as soon play Eastern Washington than Tulsa at home?!

"grab up first available?" do you work for the athletic director? Don't you understand that at this late date schedules have long been set? It is very dificult to find a big-name school that will come. They want a home-and-away which makes it hard because you have to find an opening in the next few years that both have free. Really big names will just not come to Lubbock(just like some schools won't come to Denton) because what Tech can pay them isn't enough. Tech may get 52k attendance $ to pay the big-name school. Big-name can just as easily play at home in front of 90k and make more... There is relatively small pool of school to pick from. Did you know that they contacted NT?

They had a home-and-away with Tulsa. The objective is to play regional teams at Lubbock and at the regional schools home for recruiting exposure. Tech has developed a nice recruiting pipeline in OK recently. Tech wants to play at Tulsa. Same reason Tech plays Rice, TCU, SMU and UTEP...

Tech vs Tulsa would probably be televised.

Plain and simple: what Tulsa did was bush league at best and what most athletic directors would consider dishonorable.

Apparently you're not getting my context, and maybe that's my fault. I NEVER said Tech would "rather" play EW. But it works out nice for them -- no return trip, probable sellout and easy W for the home fans. Their world is not crumbling. Quit making Tech out to be some victim. Why are you so turned inside-out over Tulsa pulling out of a two-game series that realistically might have seen Tech lose a game? Looks like a win-win deal for them.

Mike Leach would gladly take Bunghole U. at home anytime over Tulsa, New Mexico, TCU, or [fill in team here]. They dumped a LONG series with NM 3 years ago at his begging. That's a fact. Guess there's always a chance EW could be next App. State, but I doubt it.

Give the poor Tech act a rest.

[russell360]

Apparently you're not getting my context, and maybe that's my fault. I NEVER said Tech would "rather" play EW. But it works out nice for them -- no return trip, probable sellout and easy W for the home fans. Their world is not crumbling. Quit making Tech out to be some victim. Why are you so turned inside-out over Tulsa pulling out of a two-game series that realistically might have seen Tech lose a game? Looks like a win-win deal for them.

Mike Leach would gladly take Bunghole U. at home anytime over Tulsa, New Mexico, TCU, or [fill in team here]. They dumped a LONG series with NM 3 years ago at his begging. That's a fact. Guess there's always a chance EW could be next App. State, but I doubt it.

Give the poor Tech act a rest.

I'm making Tech out to be the victim because Tech WAS dropped at the last minute which somehow that gets turned into Tech is the bad guy..... Can't you see that Tech was the "victim"?

"Tulsa, New Mexico and TCU"' : Tech was dropped by Tulsa and just finished series with New Mexico and TCU...

Tech is something like 33-6 against UNM and NM is hardly a recruiting hot bed. Do you think that Mike Leach was just too scared of the Lobos or maybe playing at NM did little to benefit Tech? Tech plays regional schools TCU, SMU, UTEP and Rice to gain regional exposure. Not much to be found in NM...

Tech also does not play away-only games at big schools for a paycheck. How is Tech playing EWU worse than NT playing at OU or LSU for the $$s?

[flyeater]

Buhbye

[nautique]

Lets trade Tech E. Washington for LSU!

[flyeater]

Lets trade Tech E. Washington for LSU!

Me Likey. We can take that other I-AA off their hands, too!

[nautique]

More wins and more home games sound pretty good.

[Dodge2007]

More wins and more home games sound pretty good.

MG program needs more $$ than wins at this point.