OU football team prepares for Texas Tech

(Norman-AP) -- Oklahoma's football team is hoping for a more pleasant trip to Texas Tech this year. The Sooners' last trip to Lubbock was two years ago. <br><br>OU had a 21-to-10 lead in the game,

Wednesday, November 14th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Norman-AP) -- Oklahoma's football team is hoping for a more pleasant trip to Texas Tech this year. The Sooners' last trip to Lubbock was two years ago.

OU had a 21-to-10 lead in the game, but Tech rallied in the second half to win 38-to-28.

To make matters worse, OU's chartered plane broke down and the team wound up riding back to Norman on buses.

But OU is a different team this year. The Sooners are ranked Number Three in the country and are trying to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl to play for the national championship.

Coach Bob Stoops says the '99 Sooners weren't mature or tough enough to overcome adversity, particularly on the road. But Stoops say this year's team is.

Texas Tech is different, too. The Red Raiders are 6-and-3 and 4-and-3 in the Big 12.

They've won three straight, are third in the league with 35 points per game and they lead the league in passing with an average of 336 yards per game.