BILLY; IF YOU WILL, PLACE THIS SHORT PIECE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE 2018 ARTICLE LOOKING BACK TO 2008
PROLOGUE TO Lubbock 2008, Ten Years After
Sept. 20, 2021
by Larry Carlson
Dateline: Lubbock, November 10, 2018
Many of us began the elevator shuttle from the press box down to the floor of Jones AT&T Stadium, with about six to seven minutes on the clock. Texas had entered the fourth quarter with a lead of 17 points. The biggest moments for Tech followers had been again seeing many Red Raiders who had participated in the 2008 upset of top-ranked Texas in Lubbock. That Mike Leach-coached squad had been honored at halftime by the sold-out crowd, though QB Graham Harrell (coaching at North Texas) and Michael Crabtree (Baltimore Ravens) were unable to commemorate the biggest play in Red Raider annals. Their connection for a touchdown with one second left in the '08 matchup will live on in replays and in the hearts of Tech supporters forever. It delivered the season's biggest upset with ESPN Gameday as the backdrop. And it likely cost Texas a national title. (This writer will always believe UT's '08 team that finished 12-1 was clearly better than the '09 edition that played Alabama for the championship.)
But back to 2018. As we rode the elevator down, the operator let out a yelp of joy, tore off his headset and roared to a crammed chamber, "WE just recovered the onside kick!"
By the time media members got to the sidelines, UT's lead was down to seven. A few moments later, the game was tied and the noise from a previously somnambulant crowd was rocking the stadium. Doc Brown and Marty McFly were furiously feeding tortillas into a time machine.
There we were, my colleagues and I, in the same corner of the stadium where Crabtree's magic had happened. This time, though, Texas was driving as the clock moved to under one minute. Sam Ehlinger feathered up a well-thrown ball and Lil' Jordan Humphrey went up as if doing the standing broad jump over a West Texas grain silo. He came back to earth with the ball and scored a touchdown. Texas survived the final 28 seconds for a 41-34 victory.
You could say, accurately, that the stakes of this game were penny-ante, compared to the chips won and lost on the same square of gridiron real estate ten years earlier. But without the win in Lubbock, Texas would certainly not have celebrated New Year's in New Orleans with a convincing win over favored Georgia.
The 2019 Horns-Raiders game in Austin wasn't nearly so dramatic. Texas rolled up 610 yards and crushed the visitors, 49-24. But the scoreboard blowout came after Tech had led early, 14-0.
Last season's game ended up, you'll likely recall, as UT wildest successful late charge ever in games on the South Plains. Refresher course: Texas frittered away a second-half lead and trailed by 15 with 3:13 to play. A calm Sam Ehlinger told Tom Herman the Horns would still win.
Then he hit Brennan Eagles for a TD. Then the Steers pulled off an onside kick and Slingin' Sam hit Joshua Moore for six points and Eagles for the conversion. Sam stayed en fuego for OT and hit Moore for another touchdown and Texas won, 63-56, in its wildest win ever out on the Caprock, where the Comanches and buffalo once roamed.
So now it's time for the resumption of the rivalry that, at least for now, looks like it will continue as a non-conference affair even after Texas heads east for the SEC. The tailgate menu for Saturday's game will feature breakfast tacos for an eleven a.m. kickoff.
But first....a glance back at a very, very notable game for both teams back in the autumn of 2008.
Photo is Larry decades ago with Kirk Bohls
PROLOGUE TO Lubbock 2008, Ten Years After
Sept. 20, 2021
by Larry Carlson
Dateline: Lubbock, November 10, 2018
Many of us began the elevator shuttle from the press box down to the floor of Jones AT&T Stadium, with about six to seven minutes on the clock. Texas had entered the fourth quarter with a lead of 17 points. The biggest moments for Tech followers had been again seeing many Red Raiders who had participated in the 2008 upset of top-ranked Texas in Lubbock. That Mike Leach-coached squad had been honored at halftime by the sold-out crowd, though QB Graham Harrell (coaching at North Texas) and Michael Crabtree (Baltimore Ravens) were unable to commemorate the biggest play in Red Raider annals. Their connection for a touchdown with one second left in the '08 matchup will live on in replays and in the hearts of Tech supporters forever. It delivered the season's biggest upset with ESPN Gameday as the backdrop. And it likely cost Texas a national title. (This writer will always believe UT's '08 team that finished 12-1 was clearly better than the '09 edition that played Alabama for the championship.)
But back to 2018. As we rode the elevator down, the operator let out a yelp of joy, tore off his headset and roared to a crammed chamber, "WE just recovered the onside kick!"
By the time media members got to the sidelines, UT's lead was down to seven. A few moments later, the game was tied and the noise from a previously somnambulant crowd was rocking the stadium. Doc Brown and Marty McFly were furiously feeding tortillas into a time machine.
There we were, my colleagues and I, in the same corner of the stadium where Crabtree's magic had happened. This time, though, Texas was driving as the clock moved to under one minute. Sam Ehlinger feathered up a well-thrown ball and Lil' Jordan Humphrey went up as if doing the standing broad jump over a West Texas grain silo. He came back to earth with the ball and scored a touchdown. Texas survived the final 28 seconds for a 41-34 victory.
You could say, accurately, that the stakes of this game were penny-ante, compared to the chips won and lost on the same square of gridiron real estate ten years earlier. But without the win in Lubbock, Texas would certainly not have celebrated New Year's in New Orleans with a convincing win over favored Georgia.
The 2019 Horns-Raiders game in Austin wasn't nearly so dramatic. Texas rolled up 610 yards and crushed the visitors, 49-24. But the scoreboard blowout came after Tech had led early, 14-0.
Last season's game ended up, you'll likely recall, as UT wildest successful late charge ever in games on the South Plains. Refresher course: Texas frittered away a second-half lead and trailed by 15 with 3:13 to play. A calm Sam Ehlinger told Tom Herman the Horns would still win.
Then he hit Brennan Eagles for a TD. Then the Steers pulled off an onside kick and Slingin' Sam hit Joshua Moore for six points and Eagles for the conversion. Sam stayed en fuego for OT and hit Moore for another touchdown and Texas won, 63-56, in its wildest win ever out on the Caprock, where the Comanches and buffalo once roamed.
So now it's time for the resumption of the rivalry that, at least for now, looks like it will continue as a non-conference affair even after Texas heads east for the SEC. The tailgate menu for Saturday's game will feature breakfast tacos for an eleven a.m. kickoff.
But first....a glance back at a very, very notable game for both teams back in the autumn of 2008.
Photo is Larry decades ago with Kirk Bohls
