Big 12 State of the Union:  Texas Tech

A year ago, I dismissed Texas Tech as a going nowhere program content to play in minor bowls and never a serious threat to win the Big 12. While my view hasn't shifted radically, it's hard for a Nebraska fan not to appreciate the value of being able to sustain a winning program.

Before Bob Devaney built Nebraska into a national champion, Nebraska had already done a lot right in keeping fans interested in the game. Despite losing seasons for most of two decades (1941-1961) the Huskers continued to attract fans with the famous “knothole� section that let kids come to games for a nickel. When the good times finally arrived, Nebraska had no problems getting fans that were already following the program to fully support it.

Likewise, Mike Leach – even if he never wins the Big 12 South – is generating interest in the Red Raiders. He's building a fan base. He may not be the man who'll build Texas Tech into a national contender, but he might be laying the foundation for that to happen down the road. Look at a program like Northwestern that managed to win or share three Big 10 titles between 1995 and 2000 after years as a laughingstock. The Wildcats never were able to translate that into great support and to elevate their program to compete nationally. Perhaps if they'd had a better foundation keeping fans interested, they'd have been able to better capitalize on their success. Instead, they seemingly have very little to show for those breakthrough seasons.

So maybe Oklahoma and Texas will continue to own the Big 12 South division for years to come and Texas Tech will continue to be a novelty and a spoiler. A winning tradition has value and Leach is building that tradition. I don't relish seeing them on the schedule even if Bo Pelini would seem better prepared to handle their high octane offense than Kevin Cosgrove did. Because something good is happening in Lubbock.