Leading Off

I’m finally getting over the holiday hangover, getting back into a groove after working, then taking days off, then back, then off. I hope everyone has a great Friday.

Lady Raider Basketball

Lady Raider Fans!
We need you on Sunday. Join us at the USA as we host #7 Baylor.

Tipoff is set for noon. #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/TkjfdlWFVR

— Lady Raider WBB (@LadyRaiderWBB) January 3, 2019

Texas Tech Basketball

This whole dancing in the locker room has gotten a bit out of hand, but I sure as hell hope that it doesn’t change what Beard does and how he does it. I’d guess that they dance and have a good time after each win. I know they did it a ton last year, including at home in Lubbock, so this isn’t some sort of thing where Beard and the team decided to dance in Lubbock. They’ve done this a lot, so I’d say that West Virginia is trying to make this about them, which . . . whatever.

Huggs calls Texas Tech’s postgame locker room dancing “classless,” “a bad deal,” and “bad for our game” on weekly radio show. He said he still loves Tech coach Beard though.

— Todd Murray (@ToddTheMurr) January 4, 2019

Let’s dance.

They celebrated IN the locker room after their first ever win at West Virginia.

It’s not like they treated the court like a dance floor in Elmore City, Oklahoma. (Thanks @hphuffman86 for the inspiration) #WreckEm #4to1 pic.twitter.com/ecetmkjYaC

— David Collier (@CollieronTV) January 4, 2019

And I think it has been pointed out numerous times to Beard and the basketball Twitter handle that John Denver is actually a Texas Tech alum and not a West Virginia alum. I’m guessing that Beard addresses this at some point, perhaps in a later fireside chat.

Last night @CoachBeardTTU found time to sit by the 🔥 postgame and preview Saturday’s Big 12 home opener.

Remember, this will be our 1st game serving 🍻 and friendly-priced concessions, so don’t miss out! 🌭

🎵 selections: Gin & Juice (Multiple versions) #4To1

🔴#WreckEm⚫️ pic.twitter.com/OndFbx3TTp

— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) January 3, 2019

Texas Tech Football

A-J Media’s Don Williams reported yesterday morning that Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells is bringing in Washington State chief of staff, Antonio Huffman, to take over the same job for Texas Tech. Huffman is a former Red Raider footballer who played for Mike Leach from 2003 through 2006, then became the director of operations at East Carolina under Ruffin McNeill, and then worked for Leach from 2007 through 2018. CougFan detailed what Huffman did for Washington State on a day-to-day basis:

At Washington State, Huffman oversaw daily operations for the coaching staff, worked with NCAA compliance officials in the Athletic Department and worked with players on academics and conduct. He was also responsible for coordinating team travel and directed WSU football camps and clinics.

I’m going to be totally biased here and tell you that this just feels right and feels like an absolute terrific move and unexpected move from Wells. Obviously, this isn’t an on-the-field position for recruiting purposes, but it does link some of the most successful times for Texas Tech to the current staff and I’m really pleased with this move.

There are two more on-the-field assistant coach positions to fill.

Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Evan Barnes reports that the Kevin Johns, last year’s offensive coordinator, has been hired at Memphis ot do the same job. I really liked Johns and thought that the offense was as good as it could have been expected last year given the injury issues and it was Johns who would be introducing the tight end to the offensive side of the ball, recruiting Simon Gonzalez.

USAToday’s Dan Wolken writes that it wouldn’t surprise him if Kliff Kingsbury should get a shot at an NFL job:

Despite his pretty boy image, Kingsbury didn’t fail at Texas Tech because he wasn’t serious about his craft or didn’t work hard enough. He was known as a grinder, even if that didn’t always translate to wins and losses, and a guy who wanted badly to get better as a coach.

Even with his record in Lubbock, everyone in college football expects him to turn around USC’s offense and land another Power Five head coaching job in relatively short order.

Viewed through that prism, it doesn’t seem so crazy that NFL teams who want to build a modern offense around a young quarterback are enamored with Kingsbury’s potential as an NFL coach. It may not be the conventional path, but given the league’s shallow pool of new coaching talent, it may be worth the gamble.

Yahoo! Sports’ Nick Bromberg writes about how high school 7-on-7 offenses have changed football forever. There’s lots of Mike Leach, Hal Mumme, Texas Tech, and Patrick Mahomes references here that I think you’d enjoy this article.