Arguably one of the most innovative coaches in the country, Mike Leach has not only transformed Texas Tech Football, but also the face of college football with an all-out aerial assault. This is evidenced by the number of programs incorporating more passing into their schemes than before. Leach’s offense has become a hot commodity as coaching staffs from across the country have come to Lubbock get a glimpse into what makes the program tick; but none have mastered it like the ninth-year Commander-in-Chief.
Leading the nation’s most prolific passing offenses in the country, Leach, who received the All-American Football Foundation’s Johnny Vaught Head Coach Award in 2006, spreads the field with his exciting brand of football and has guided the Red Raiders to five NCAA passing titles and three total offense titles during his tenure. Leach’s offense produced school records in nearly every passing category in 2000, but surpassed those numbers in each of the last eight seasons. His eight teams have combined for over 151 team and individual records at Tech.
The 2007 season was special for the Red Raiders as a team and individually. Freshman wide receiver and Biletnikoff Award winner Michael Crabtree led the nation in receptions (134), receiving yards (1,960) and touchdown receptions (22), all NCAA freshman records. For his efforts, he was been decorated as a unanimous consensus All-American, being named to first team of the top five All-America teams (AFCA, FWAA, Walter Camp, Associated Press and The Sporting News). Additionally, he was the first freshman and Big 12 Conference receiver in the history of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award to win the honor.
Commander in Chief Record |
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| Year | Record | Bowl |
| 2008 | 11-1 (7-1) | |
| 2007 | 9-4 (4-4) | Gator |
| 2006 | 8-5 (4-4) | Insight |
| 2005 | 9-3 (6-2) | Cotton |
| 2004 | 8-4 (5-3) | Holiday |
| 2003 | 8-5 (4-4) | Houston |
| 2002 | 9-5 (5-3) | Tangerine |
| 2001 | 7-5 (4-4) | Alamo |
| 2000 | 7-6 (3-5) | GalleryFurniture |
The Red Raiders’ appearance in the tradition-rich Gator Bowl in 2007 was a testament to the team’s performance and ability to overcome tremendous losses from the previous season. The graduation of four offensive linemen and three receivers had everyone writing off the offense, while the departure of three key defensive players left many wondering what the 2007 season had in store. The answer: the nation’s leading offense; the nation’s leading receiver and quarterback; a defense that held Oklahoma to 106 rushing yards, its lowest of the season; and two 100-reception receivers to name a few.
The Texas Tech program has established itself as one of the nation’s leading producers of productive quarterbacks since the 2000 season. Current quarterback Graham Harrell threw for 4,555 yards in his debut as the starter in 2006 and became the sixth player and third Red Raider in NCAA history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season with his 5,705-effort in 2007. He also is the third quarterback under Leach to win nine games in a season. Former quarterback Kliff Kingsbury in 2002 and Cody Hodges in 2005 each posted nine-win seasons during their careers, while 2003 and 2004 signal callers B.J. Symons and Sonny Cumbie each won eight games in their respective seasons as the starter.
The Red Raiders have improved their total offensive numbers from 324.8 yards per game to 529.6 yards per game since Leach’s arrival. The last eight seasons rank as the top eight all-time at Tech in total offense, while scoring went from 23 points per game in 1999 to 40.9 points last season. The most significant increase has been in the passing game, where the Red Raiders averaged 470.3 yards per game in 2007 compared to 175.4 yards in 1999.
The running game has flourished as well under Leach. Former Red Raider Taurean Henderson holds the NCAA career record for receptions by a running back. The Red Raiders’ 25 total rushing scores in 2005 were the most for a Tech team since the 1996 campaign yielded 27. Despite Tech’s offense revolving around the pass, Leach has done a tremendous job of incorporating the running back position into the mix. Henderson finished his career with 303 receptions, which ranks first in NCAA history among running backs and fourth overall.
The Red Raiders are not solely known for their play on the scoring side of the ball. The Texas Tech defense also has flourished during Leach’s eight seasons. The Red Raiders tied for the national lead with three shutouts in 2000 and followed with others in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006. Combined with the six shutouts are five other games where the opposition was held without an offensive touchdown. Tech’s shutout of Baylor in Waco during the 2005 season marked Tech’s first blanking of a conference opponent on the road since the inception of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
The play of the special teams has improved with each season as well. Recently graduated placekicker Alex Trlica holds the NCAA record with 233 career extra points and another record with extra points made without a miss. He finished with 377 career points, which ranks among the top ten in NCAA history among kickers.
While leading the Red Raiders to 65 wins in his eight seasons, Leach is the only coach in school history to lead his first eight teams to bowl games. The 65 wins are the third-most among Big 12 coaches since the 2000 season.
Although Leach’s presence has been felt throughout the team, it also has been beneficial for the players individually.
Symons was the second Tech quarterback to receive The Touchdown Club of Columbus’ Sammy Baugh Trophy (Kingsbury in 2002), while Harrell was the recipient of the award in 2007.
Kingsbury, a 2002 All-Big 12 first-team quarterback and sixth-round draft pick of the Patriots, led the Big 12 Conference in several passing categories over his final three seasons and was a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2002. He also was named the Verizon Academic All-American of the Year for football and was awarded an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in a ceremony in New York City.
In 2004, inside receiver Trey Haverty became the first Associated Press All-American since Montae Reagor in 1998, when he was selected to the third team. Free safety Dwayne Slay earned first-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated in 2005, marking the first in seven seasons. Slay was one of the country’s most punishing tacklers that year and led the conference and finished second nationally with eight forced fumbles.
In addition to Slay, linebacker Lawrence Flugence and defensive end Aaron Hunt also gained national attention during their careers. Both were named to All-America teams in 2002 and were listed as candidates for various national awards.
Texas Tech sent Danny Amendola to the 2008 NFL Combine. Leach has coached several players who have gone on to the NFL, including Kingsbury, Couch, Heupel and Symons. While at Tech, 13 players have been drafted and 21 others have signed free agent contracts. Offensive guard Manny Ramirez was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by Detroit and is currently on the roster there, while wide receiver Joel Filani was taken in the fifth round by Tennessee. Defensive end Keyunta Dawson enjoyed a successful rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts after being drafted by the organization in the seventh round last year.
The program continues to make strides academically as well under Leach. For the last eight years Tech has been recognized as one of the nation’s top institutions for consistently being above a 70 percent graduation rate, according to the American Football Coaches Association. In 2007, 16 players were named to the Big 12 Conference Academic Football Team, the second-most of the league institutions.
