A Double-T leading “The Double-T”

(AP Photo/Todd J. Van Emst)

Tuberville brings to Texas Tech the most proven head coach to take over as a new hire since Jim Carlen came in from West Virginia in 1970. However, Tuberville’s credentials blow away even Carlen’s, who went on to great success in the early 70′s at Tech. For A.D. Gerald Myers, President Guy Bailey, and Chancellor Kent Hance it is also vindication that the job at Tech was of value and that they weren’t locked in on some imaginary hire like Art Briles or Ruffin McNeill just because it was cheap, easy, or expedient.

If it took a few more days to get it right, it was worth it if Tommy Tuberville is the man I hear he is from those who have worked with him and the coach I think he is from the results we’ve seen in the past.

Tuberville positions himself as a great recruiter and he’d better be. His first order of business is going to be recruiting the current Tech players to get on board with he and his coaches after coming out so publicly for Ruffin. I’d be shocked if McNeill or really any of the current Tech assistants are retained, but it is possible. Not much is broken X’s and O’s wise at Tech and Tuberville may want to maintain some of that. If not though he’ll have to get the players behind him first, the current recruiting class after that and then make a huge sales-pitch to Red Raider fans everywhere that he’s got a boat big enough for everyone, even the disenfranchised pirates out there. (hell, maybe he’s a Jimmy Buffet fan!)

We said the minute that Tech fired Mike Leach that you wouldn’t be able to make a completge judgement about the impact of the story until you knew who Tech hired to replace him. As of now it looks like Tommy Tuberville is that guy. If that’s the case the Tech admnistration has sent a strong signal that status quo just wasn’t good enough both in terms of relationship with Leach and maybe even where they felt this program could go under Leach and Co.

It will be interesting to watch the reaction of Tech fans over the next 24 to 48 hours. I think those that are on Team Leach will begin to realize that life is going on with or without them. Those on Team Ruff will also come to realize that like Baron Batch said, the Double T is bigger than one man and if you support the Double T, love Texas Tech football and want to see  the program grow they’ll get on Team Tubby. If not they’ll end up being responsible for their own unhappiness, Kent Hance might tell them.

We live in interesting times…

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HYATT