Buddy Holly Would Be Smiling

The Odyssey’s trip to Lubbock was a milestone as it was the last significant college town West of the Mississippi to which we paid a visit.  Texas Tech was hosting TCU in would might have been dubbed the “Disappointment Bowl.” In August, the Odyssey would have pegged the odds that this tilt in West Texas would involve 2 teams without winning records as quite close to zero.

The seasons of the Red Raiders and the Horned Frogs have paralleled each other in 2 striking elements.

Both starting QBs were sidelined last night.  Neither team has recovered from a disheartening loss to a Pac12 team.  The Deion hype machine went into overdrive after CU’s comeback, spine tingling 45-42 victory in which Shadueur Sanders and Travis Hunter made Heisman turns.  Oregon has been touted as the “team nobody wants to play” yet the Red Raiders had Oregon on the ropes in Lubbock.

Texas Tech’s entertaining victory by a 35-28 count was attributable to Tech’s QB play behind Behren Morton being more consistent than TCU’s backup, Josh Hoover.  Morton was 28 for 36 for 282 yards.  Not bad.  Hoover was up and down.  After TCU had stormed back from a 20-7 halftime deficit to take a 21-20 lead, Hoover threw a costly interception in TCU territory that set up the Red Raiders for the go ahead score.  Another Hoover interception with a minute to go spelled doom for the Horned Frogs.

A great irony exists in that QBs seem to instantly go into the portal if the starting job is not theirs.  Last night’s games indicate that instatransfers will, in some cases, be premature.  In last night’s Duke-Wake Forest tilt, the Blue Devils prevailed behind a third-string QB.  Arizona’s surprising season (to some, NOT to the Odyssey) has been fueled by backup QB, Noah Fifita.  We wonder if the touted Jayden de Laura will ever get his job back.  Thursday’s third game was also greatly impacted by a QB injury.  Troy had an easier-than-expected 28-10 triumph over rival South Alabama, due in large measure to an injury last week to USA starting quarterback Carter Bradley.

The Odyssey was delighted that the TCU band made the 314 mile trip from Fort Worth.  Always more fun when 2 bands are involved.  We were scratching our heads when we heard Earth Wind and Fire’s “In The Stone” at halftime for the 2nd time in less than 3 weeks, having recently heard the catchy tune in Logan, Utah. We mused to ourself, doubly weird,  since “In The Stone” was not even one of EW and F’s biggest hits.

But enough about the game.  The Odyssey was really impressed with the enthusiasm of the crowd.  When one supports a team rabidly when they sport a 3-5 mark, that support says worlds for the fan base.  The reputation of the passion of fans in West Texas (think “Friday Night Lights) was definitely upheld.  Guns WAY up, Red Raider fans!  We cannot shake one element of sadness which has haunted us in 2023.  The haughty Texas Longhorns will no longer be making regular trips to Lubbock.  We can only imagine how the locals got amped up when UT came to town.

Several interesting aspects of Lubbock.  Their airport is named after a Smith and the stadium named after a Jones.  After being used to long lines to get through airport security, I was amazed when I showed up for an 8:35AM departure at 6:50AM and immediately waltzed through security.  When my driver’s license was examined, the security employee must have seen my surprise.  He smiled and said, “You are the line.”  After my plane landed at 2PM the previous afternoon, I stayed on for 20 minutes to charge my phone.  I felt like I was in a ghost town.  In contrast to the teeming hordes in California, both surprising and refreshing.

As an author of a book on Rock & Roll history, I would like to think I am pretty knowledgeable on the subject – hence the title of this article.  When I saw Mac Davis Boulevard dead ending at the stadium, I said WOW!  Who knew Mac Davis was brought up in Lubbock?  Not me.  With such musical luminaries having grown up in Lubbock, how dare ANYBODY think that Lubbock is in the middle of nowhere.