On senior
day in 2011, the Red Raiders played possibly the worst game in the history of
the program, falling 66-6 to the No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowboys. This time
around, Tech will be seeking for a little revenge.
Seth Doege, during Monday’s press conference, talked a little bit about how
embarrassing that loss was in 2011.
“It
was an embarrassment, I think, for the entire program,” he said. “I mean, they were probably the better
football team last year, but there was no reason that it should have been that
lopsided. I didn't play-I probably
played one of my worst games I've ever played, and the defense didn't play a
very good game either. It was just
all around. It was just a terrible
football game by us. Definitely an
embarrassment. But we're a totally different football team than we were last
year. I don't think we'll lay an
egg like that ever again.”
While
this Saturday’s game will be a tough test from the Pokes, No. 23 Texas Tech
knows what they need to do in order to maintain focus in a place like
Stillwater, OK.
In
Doege’s career, the Tech gunslinger has a winning record on the road, with his
marquee victory coming last season against then-No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners, 41-38.
The
team knows what kind of challenges will be presented in an atmosphere like
Boone Pickens Stadium.
“Yeah,
they have these paddles and they hit these mats the whole time. It's loud,” Doege said. “They get into
the game and like you said, the fans are right on top of you. I'm sure everybody knows they love to
talk to you and say things to you.
But that's what makes it fun.
I think something about this football team really enjoys a challenge
like that.”
Doege
isn’t the only one looking for a little redemption against No. 24 Oklahoma
State.
“I
try to wash that out of my mind.
That was a tough one, man,” senior safety D.J. Johnson said. “I've never
in my wildest dreams even or nightmares even imagined getting beat like that,
you know what I mean? I know what
this team is capable of, and that was just a difficult loss. Nothing, it seemed like nothing was
going right that entire season. It
seemed every ball bounced the opposite way. We couldn't just get it, and that has an
effect. A lot of people don't know, but this senior class hasn't gotten a
victory against Oklahoma State as well.
People focused on like the UTs and things like that, but Oklahoma State
has been a good football team for some time now.
“They started to get credit and get respect, and it's about time they get their
respect. But it's going to
influence us or impact us to make us want to go out there and grind harder, go
out there and play to the best of our ability. We remember what happened last
year, and we definitely want to make sure that that doesn't occur again. If possible, we want to reverse it, and
make it occur the other way.”