College football insiders have had a field day with the non-conference schedule of Texas Tech. Noting the ineptitude of Florida International, Sam Houston State, and Indiana State, these critics claim that the Red Raiders couldn’t possibly have had an easier slate. To prove these naysayers wrong, the school has scheduled a two-year series with Lubbock’s Evans Junior High School for 2006 and 2007.
The announcement is very controversial amid the debate about whether 13 and 14–year-olds should be competing against college players. However, Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach defended the move, noting the buzz the games will spark in the Lubbock area. “They’ll be real backyard brawls,” gushed Leach. “Besides, kickoff will be in the afternoon and won’t interfere with the Evans players’ curfews.”
The Fighting Eagles, for their part, are looking forward to the challenge. Sure, the annual tussle with Dunbar Middle School gets the juices flowing. But taking on a member of the Big 12 is the ultimate challenge. Well, except for puberty. And talking to that cute girl in algebra class who probably doesn’t know you exist.
Indeed, Evans may be as much of a challenge as this year’s opponents. Florida International, a 56–3 victim, was rated 119th among Division I-A teams in Sports Illustrated’s college football preview. Out of 119. But at least they’re in I-A. Texas Tech pounded I-AA Sam Houston State 80–21. The victims, known as the “Bearkats,” were so dizzy from the trouncing that they couldn’t spell their nickname correctly. Indiana State completed the trilogy by falling 63–7 in Lubbock. The Sycamores aren’t even competitive in I-AA, having been pummeled 42–10 by St. Francis of Indiana. Which isn’t even one of the St. Francis colleges I’ve heard of.
However, after taking a 56–0 halftime lead, Texas Tech was played to a 7–7 second half by Indiana State. This result was apparently too close for comfort for the Red Raiders. Learning their lesson, next year they’ll pick on the ninth graders.
