Texas Tech coach Mike Leach wasted little time Monday reflecting on last year's 65-21 humiliating loss to Oklahoma. And he wants his players to take the same philosophy.
"They need to not worry about it,'' Leach said. "They need to forget it. All that counts is the next game.
"Nothing from that game impacts this game. There’s not one play that we made or they made that affects this game. Any reflection on that is a complete waste of time.''
The Raiders (6-4, 3-3 in the Big 12) host Oklahoma (6-4, 4-2) at 11:30 Saturday morning.
Leach paid homage to OU's defense, which is ranked fifth in the nation in fewest points allowed (12.1 ppg), and sixth in yards allowed (262.4 ypg). The Sooners are also tied for second in the nation in sacks with Tech with 3.3 per game.
"The biggest thing they do is the basic sound defense, the ultimate basic fundamental defense,'' Leach said. "They go out there with great fundamentals and energy. I think they do that as good as anybody.''
Leach is just 2-7 against OU coach Bob Stoops, last winning in 2007 in Lubbock, 34-27.
Of course, Leach was Stoops' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 1999 _ a year before he became the Raiders' coach.. And besides getting another shot at playing against one of college football's most prestigious programs, Leach is ready for his team to flush last Saturday's 24-17 disappointing loss to Oklahoma State out of their system.
"We're looking forward to them as well as coming in and playing another game,'' Leach said. "We missed too many opportunities this last game.
"We're preparing to do the best we can and see where it takes us. Right now we are a team that is explosive, but we're not real consistent.''
Leach also acknowledged that the OU game is the final home game for this year's group of seniors. But he cautioned the seniors -- and the underclassmen -- not to get caught up in all the family members and friends who will be in town for the game.
"It's kind of a milestone that it's their last home game,'' Leach said of the seniors. "We have two more games after that (if they are bowl eligible) and we don't need a bunch of bologna.''
-- Dwain Price
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