No More Losing in Lubbock

Originally Published: Oct 16, 2010 8:35 PM CDT

Its gotta feel good for OSU fans to have the Lubbock losing streak behind them, but Im not sure how much attention current players paid to it.  None of them had been a part of more than 1 of the programs 11-straight losses in Lubbock.

Following the game Mike Gundy said they didnt talk about the Cowboys 66-year drought in Lubbock all week.  "But what I did tell the team Ive been out here with some good football teams and had my butt kicked," Gundy said. With the Cowboys and Tech both in the top 10 in 2008, Gundys OSU team went to Lubbock and lost 56 to 20. 

The huge play in the game was Brandon Weedens 62-yard touchdown pass to Justin Blackmon to start the third quarter.  Tech nearly jumped the route for a pick-6 that wouldve closed the game to 24 to 21 and it wouldve been game on.

Heres what we learned:

1. Justin Blackmon is for real.  Its not just the yards and the catches and touchdowns.  Its his ability to run after the catch.  The five-finger face plant he used on a player after a catch in the fourth quarter looked like NFL material.  And he senses when his team needs a big play.  With Tech within 24 to 14 to start the second half, Blackmon made a great catch on a Weeden sideline pass and took it 62 yards to the house.  You felt like the game was comfortable for the Pokes after that.

2. The defense is gaining confidence.  Did it seem like Orie Lemon was in on every tackle?  For the second-straight week they really only played one bad quarter.  And it wasnt that bad.  The second quarter at Louisiana let the Ragin Cajuns back into the game as did the second quarter at Tech Saturday.  But each week they backed it with solid play in the second half.  And OSUs young, athletic defensive backs are getting better each week.

3. Weeden still makes mistakes, but hes making fewer.  One of his interceptions was a bad read locked in on one receiver.  The other was a great play by a defensive back on a jump ball.  He still throws some passes into tough spots, but he gets away with it with arm strength.  The touchdown pass to Blackmon was a half second away from being a pick-6 the other way.  But he got the ball there and Blackmon made a terrific play.

6-0 is hard to argue with.  It could look better, but it could also be 4 and 2 (Troy and A&M).  This is a young football team that has exceeded expectations to this point.  So much for last in the South.