August 8Aug 8 I grew up in Snyder, 80 miles south of Lubbock which is really close by west Texas standards. We went to Lubbock just to see a movie, hit the mall and have fajitas at Chilis. We loved going to Tech games. Everyone I grew up with that had talent of any kind developed a deep passion to leave by the time they were in 6th grade. That place makes you hunger desperately to be somewhere else, somewhere relevant. Somewhere the wind isn’t constantly blowing. Somewhere with a tree or an interesting undulation in the earth to break up the endless flatness. It might not be true for all of them but many of these money whipped athletes are going to yearn to be elsewhere at some point. They are going to see the amazing places college football is played on their TV every Saturday and know they can have that experience. Tech might win some recruiting battles but the portal is going to be a big problem.
August 8Aug 8 If Tech is now playing in a world where its donors can throw down huge sums of money to compete in the college football arms race, they need to strongly consider tossing some of that money at a coach better than Joey fucking Maguire. #statingtheobvious
August 8Aug 8 7 hours ago, Brian Fantana said: That number is completely made up, there's a 0% chance he did anything but pull that out of his ass for clicks. It is what it is. No one is saying Lubbock is a destination city lmao, just that many traditionally strong football schools are located in non-destination cities. It doesn't matter nearly as much as you want it to, especially now that it's much more about business. It's absolutely wild what a hornet's nest shit like this stirs up. Ohio State spent a gazillion dollars on a roster to win a natty, no one says a word, Arkansas spent more than anyone else to end up with an NCAA tourney 10 seed, etc etc, but Tech spending a mint to try and build a program is unacceptable to so many. I'm not saying that's the sentiment on Surly, it's just the wild shit I see on Twitter etc from SEC fans. From NYT/Athletic article: Quote “We can’t say, ‘Someone offered this player $500,000, so we’re going to match.’ That’s not gonna work,” Blanchard said. “You’ve got to put your ego and pride to the side and say, ‘If one of the top five schools in the country offered $500,000, for us to be equal, we have to offer $675,000. That would be a 35% premium in (Tech GM) Blanchard's own words.
August 8Aug 8 If Tech is now playing in a world where its donors can throw down huge sums of money to compete in the college football arms race, they need to strongly consider tossing some of that money at a coach better than Joey fucking Maguire. #statingtheobviousJoey Mugshot is coaching for his job this year. Anything less than a conference championship appearance & he'll be run out of town. Then they've got the choice to make: splash hire reclamation coach or an up & comer they hope will bring them attention & wins? I'm sure they'll find a way to cock it up regardless.
August 8Aug 8 44 minutes ago, Magus Ossis said: From NYT/Athletic article: That would be a 35% premium in (Tech GM) Blanchard's own words. This is a different argument to make, though. This is an increased premium over what a top 5 school is offering, not just to get any good recruit to Lubbock.
August 8Aug 8 57 minutes ago, Brian Fantana said: This is a different argument to make, though. This is an increased premium over what a top 5 school is offering, not just to get any good recruit to Lubbock. I am not the one who said his number was completely made up. Perhaps a better claim would have been: "The number is potentially completely made up with respect to players that are not good enough to be courted by any top 5 programs even though it is actually less than the publicly known number that applies to recruits who can actually help win something meaningful." Or you could gracefully admit that the number was not completely made up.
August 8Aug 8 I'm still stuck on anyone except some country bumpkin Fox News watching hayseed thinking Austin is "Calcutta without the cows"
August 8Aug 8 27 minutes ago, Magus Ossis said: I am not the one who said his number was completely made up. Perhaps a better claim would have been: "The number is potentially completely made up with respect to players that are not good enough to be courted by any top 5 programs even though it is actually less than the publicly known number that applies to recruits who can actually help win something meaningful." Or you could gracefully admit that the number was not completely made up. Yeah, fair enough, I just assumed Elliot was saying in general we would have to pay that for any recruit which is like...silly.
August 8Aug 8 12 hours ago, Satchel said: Stop being so sensitive. You’re acting like there’s some comparison to made between Austin and Lubbock. I guess you really don’t want to be told about Texas Tech on a thread about Texas Tech. Go figure. You’re the one deciding to die on a hill made of cow manure. You’re acting like there’s a comparison to be made between Lubbock and Ann Arbor. You’ve made yourself an easy target. I’ve said nothing about Austin. I’ve only pointed out that the analogies you’ve attempted to make are moronic. Not sure what about my response makes me the sensitive one. You’re continuing to double down on stupid takes and an apparent reading disability. Enjoy the consequences. Edited August 8Aug 8 by Chili dog
August 8Aug 8 Tech has to go to the B12 CG, for the first time, for the season to be successful, right? 9-3, 6-3 in conference, isn’t going to work, right?
August 8Aug 8 8 hours ago, GhostOfTomJoad said: Joey Mugshot is coaching for his job this year. Anything less than a conference championship appearance & he'll be run out of town. Then they've got the choice to make: splash hire reclamation coach or an up & comer they hope will bring them attention & wins? I'm sure they'll find a way to cock it up regardless. That’s not what the BMDs have said. They view their portal and recruiting hauls as a starting point of a deliberate process designed to elevate their program long term. Because McGuire’s tenure has been the most successful of their recent coaches, there’s very little reason to believe they won’t continue to improve, especially given he’ll coach their most talented roster ever.
August 8Aug 8 1 hour ago, statsman said: Tech has to go to the B12 CG, for the first time, for the season to be successful, right? 9-3, 6-3 in conference, isn’t going to work, right? A good question. I would assume some expectations have been placed upon the head coach by the AD, but who knows what they actually are. I would assume competing for a conference championship would be part of that conversation. But, as Satchel has pointed out, this is a starting point. It's meant to establish a baseline for moving forward, but I would assume some improvement at the very least is expected. It doesn't mean they're going to pack up and give up if a remarkable and immediate improvement isn't apparent, but it might spell trouble for McGuire if that ends up being the case.
August 8Aug 8 I'm going to say much the same thing that Alot said. I grew up in Brownfield, about 50 miles south of Lubbock. Everyone I knew that had ambition and drive was ready to leave town by the time we were in middle school. We scattered as quickly as we were legally allowed to. Before my parents moved away to Midland, I only had 2 friends to visit when I'd go back home. Everyone else was gone. And most of them in the "I'm not coming back unless I have to" kind of way. I went back once since my parents moved, and that was for my dad's funeral. I'll go back one more time whenever it's time to bury my stepmother. Otherwise, I'll never ever be back in that town again. I did like the South Plains Mall, though. At least the 80's version of it was fun. For what it's worth, Midland is even worse than Lubbock if you want to talk about a desolate setting.
August 9Aug 9 6 hours ago, statsman said: Tech has to go to the B12 CG, for the first time, for the season to be successful, right? 9-3, 6-3 in conference, isn’t going to work, right? That's what I expect at a minimum. Fuck history. LOL. The outlay of resources is there. Time to deliver.
August 9Aug 9 22 hours ago, Chili dog said: Lubbock is a shit hole surrounded by hundreds of miles of desolation and tumbleweeds. At least it’s on the way to Colorado.
August 9Aug 9 22 hours ago, Chili dog said: The cloak room… The Lubbock of Surly. I mean I’m down with the CR hate to a degree but come on? It’s more like the Castro in SF … we liberal, loud and we are GAAAAAY!!
August 9Aug 9 I think Tech has no excuse if they can’t win the big 12 consistently. Yeah it’s in a shithole town but most towns in the big 12 are. Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona state are different - maybe Houston and UCF - but the money and location - in Texas closer to Texas talent - even if the water tastes like dirt and the wind ruins everything should be a difference maker. But really, which of those other schools can compete financially with tech? I don’t have any inside knowledge but I’d bet none. I guess I’m looking at this the other way, tech will be a miserable failure if they can’t climb to the top of this league and be one of the top 2-3 if not the top team in the league for a sustained period of time.
August 9Aug 9 56 minutes ago, Js1 said: If Joey fails, Jimbo is ready for a comeback Tanned, rested, and ready.
August 9Aug 9 16 hours ago, South Austin said: If Tech is now playing in a world where its donors can throw down huge sums of money to compete in the college football arms race, they need to strongly consider tossing some of that money at a coach better than Joey fucking Maguire. #statingtheobvious No…..let Maguire do the coaching….if they can’t figure it out, we sure ain’t gonna give them any help.
August 9Aug 9 14 hours ago, GhostOfTomJoad said: Joey Mugshot is coaching for his job this year. Anything less than a conference championship appearance & he'll be run out of town. Then they've got the choice to make: splash hire reclamation coach or an up & comer they hope will bring them attention & wins? I'm sure they'll find a way to cock it up regardless. Tech should go up & comer, because the last reclamation project they hired left for fuckin' Cincinnati. Humbling
August 9Aug 9 15 hours ago, Iceman said: Dan Jenkins claimed that TCU used to get the West TX and Panhandle talent before Tech joined the SWC. So I guess the rivalry is real. Guns up
August 9Aug 9 4 hours ago, Coelenterate Fuccboi said: I found @closetojumping’s X account. There is NO scenario where Tech is ranked #1 at 4-0.
August 9Aug 9 3 hours ago, troph said: But really, which of those other schools can compete financially with tech? I don’t have any inside knowledge but I’d bet none. The Mormons have a lot of money.
August 9Aug 9 5 hours ago, DFW Horn said: Dan Jenkins claimed that TCU used to get the West TX and Panhandle talent before Tech joined the SWC. So I guess the rivalry is real. Guns up Sammy Baugh and Bob Lilly say hi, I guess.
August 9Aug 9 For Lubbock's shortcomings, and it has plenty, being a shitty college town is not one of them. Going to games as a visitor=/= being a student there.
August 9Aug 9 8 hours ago, NameAlreadyInUse said: I'm going to say much the same thing that Alot said. I grew up in Brownfield, about 50 miles south of Lubbock. Everyone I knew that had ambition and drive was ready to leave town by the time we were in middle school. We scattered as quickly as we were legally allowed to. Before my parents moved away to Midland, I only had 2 friends to visit when I'd go back home. Everyone else was gone. And most of them in the "I'm not coming back unless I have to" kind of way. I went back once since my parents moved, and that was for my dad's funeral. I'll go back one more time whenever it's time to bury my stepmother. Otherwise, I'll never ever be back in that town again. I did like the South Plains Mall, though. At least the 80's version of it was fun. For what it's worth, Midland is even worse than Lubbock if you want to talk about a desolate setting. it's a common story. You go back as long as close relatives are there, but once they all die or move, any remaining bond is severed. And yeah, Midland is no treat, either. But it does beat Odessa by a nose. I'd take Lubbock over either, though. But at least West Texas has an excuse. There's only so much you can do with that weather and terrain. It's not like Aggie, who has a fairly run-of-the-mill geography within easy driving distance of civilization, but who has deliberately chosen to be as freakish as possible.
August 9Aug 9 7 hours ago, Js1 said: Jimbo is throwing out some feelers since his aggy contract was so stupid they forgot to include an offset if he got another job.
August 9Aug 9 9 hours ago, Js1 said: I mean, If Joey fails, Jimbo is ready for a comeback Being someone who went to both Tech and A&M the similarities between the two after realignment are staggering
August 9Aug 9 2 hours ago, Iceman said: Gabe was a hoss, that car wreck really derailed what could’ve been a HoF NFL career
August 9Aug 9 2 hours ago, Tired Horn said: it's a common story. You go back as long as close relatives are there, but once they all die or move, any remaining bond is severed. And yeah, Midland is no treat, either. But it does beat Odessa by a nose. I'd take Lubbock over either, though. But at least West Texas has an excuse. There's only so much you can do with that weather and terrain. It's not like Aggie, who has a fairly run-of-the-mill geography within easy driving distance of civilization, but who has deliberately chosen to be as freakish as possible. Lubbock is slowly adapting a sort of Eastern New Mexico vibe over the wannabe DFW suburb thing it’s has over my lifetime
August 9Aug 9 Lubbock is kind of funny. First time in :Lubbock was a conference back in '93. The boundaries have pushed out since then, but it comes off as a suburb that, rather than bordering a city or another suburb, rather abruptly ends in cotton fields.
August 9Aug 9 3 hours ago, Tommy Shelby said: Lubbock is slowly adapting a sort of Eastern New Mexico vibe over the wannabe DFW suburb thing it’s has over my lifetime Is this a good thing?
August 9Aug 9 10 hours ago, Brian Fantana said: The Mormons have a lot of money. They’ve gone all in on basketball though, it seems. Smart plan too - Self won’t be around much longer and they are already positioned in the top tier of the conference while having to deal with him
August 9Aug 9 21 hours ago, Satchel said: That’s not what the BMDs have said. They view their portal and recruiting hauls as a starting point of a deliberate process designed to elevate their program long term. Because McGuire’s tenure has been the most successful of their recent coaches, there’s very little reason to believe they won’t continue to improve, especially given he’ll coach their most talented roster ever. Most talent ever based upon the ratings of people whose opinions truly don't matter, the recruiting experts right?
August 9Aug 9 2 minutes ago, PGFrog said: Most talent ever based upon the ratings of people whose opinions truly don't matter, the recruiting experts right? I also think Tech going 16 -11 in conference play during Joey's 3 years pretty damn telling if that is the most successful string they have had since the late 2000's.
August 9Aug 9 7 hours ago, MrBig said: Jimbo is throwing out some feelers since his aggy contract was so stupid they forgot to include an offset if he got another job. Is this true? Could they be even stupider than I thought? 🤔
August 9Aug 9 3 minutes ago, TrashMaster G said: Is this true? Could they be even stupider than I thought? 🤔
August 9Aug 9 13 minutes ago, TrashMaster G said: Is this true? Could they be even stupider than I thought? 🤔 But, what BCS team would be dumb enough to hire Jimbo?
August 10Aug 10 On 8/7/2025 at 10:36 PM, TwiceHorn said: Well, to a certain extent, a college campus can be pretty self-contained and the city/locale becomes a bit less of a factor. Therefore, schools in crappy locales may not be ideal, but they will still be able to recruit. Probably by selling that the campus is self-contained, whether actually true or not. This is VERY MUCH the case with Tech and Lubbock. The campus is nothing like the rest. As long as you don’t have to do any driving away from campus it is pretty nice.
August 10Aug 10 13 hours ago, DFW Horn said: Is this a good thing? I don’t know yet, but I guess we’ll find out.
August 10Aug 10 Tech unveiled a couple of Tech branded pump jacks near the stadium this Friday. Pretty sharp. And the fact they gotta pizz off the Greta Thunberg crowd makes them even better Edited August 10Aug 10 by CustersDoctor Spelling
August 10Aug 10 10 hours ago, PGFrog said: Most talent ever based upon the ratings of people whose opinions truly don't matter, the recruiting experts right? Sure. Whose opinion should be considered here? Yours?
August 10Aug 10 On 8/8/2025 at 11:10 PM, TrashMaster G said: There is NO scenario where Tech is ranked #1 at 4-0. This. If Tech is ever #1 in football it won't happen until the end of the last game of the year. Their big money boosters have been throwing around a lot of NIL money and the expectations are pretty high. Lots of new stadium construction, too.
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