Red Raider Gridiron | Doege Hopes to Bounce Back

DOEGE HOPES TO BOUNCE BACK | The big meme yesterday was QB Seth Doege saying he has to be better and that he looks to bounce back against West Virginia. LAJ's Nick Kosmider writes that about this from yesterday's press conference:

"I think it’s my job," he said. "My play wasn’t great in the second half, and they deserve better from their quarterback. It wasn’t the fact that mentally I was out of the game or anything. I just didn’t perform, and I think if I perform those guys will catch on and understand our mindset is to score."

First, I am glad that Doege appeared at the press conference. He has appeared at all of them thus far. He's there in the good times and bad. He wasn't there after the game, so I worried a bit. It was also interesting to hear WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen talk about Doege:

"You talk about a determined kid that never gave up," Holgorsen said. "That’s how he plays the game, too. He just never gives up. Obviously, he hung on there and stayed the course at Texas Tech, did a good job and got the opportunity to play. He’s made the most of it. I’m proud to see him doing that."

Maybe it's just me, but that's some high praise. I'd also point you to LAJ's Nick Kosmider who editorializes that it is premature to talk about benching Doege. I don't think it is premature to discuss it. What Kosmider does not account for is the conference vs. non-conference numbers with Doege (see 2012 and 2011) and those are somewhat discouraging. That's the tough thing and if those numbers continue then I think having the conversation about whether or not Doege is the guy isn't premature. Doege does have great numbers, but a lot of those numbers were accumulated in non-conference play.

As mentioned, there was a very long article about the relationship between Doege and Holgorsen in the Charleston Gazette:

"We recruited him when he was a sophomore in high school and then never saw him play again,'' Holgorsen said. "I'm really proud of him being in the situation he's in because he had a great sophomore year, transfers to a bigger school in Lubbock and doesn't play for two years. And I was there. It was heartbreaking to see the kid not be able to play.''

NOTEBOOKS | LAJ's Nick Kosmider and DT's Michael DuPont II get all notebooky. Kosmider's notebook notes that RB Kenny Williams is okay after spraining his ankle a bit on Saturday. Also noted is that DT Michael Starts is still undergoing tests and that the team gave up 150 yards after contact. Yeesh. DuPont writes about Doege, the defense sliding in standings and making plays in the open field.

MISCELLANEOUS | Turburner's Jay Beck with his weekly Big 12 power rankings . . . per the LAJ, Gabe Rivera will return to Lubbock for an on-campus salute for being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday . . . 1340 The Fan's Steve Dale had Kirby Hocutt on to discuss lots of things. This was a good listen . . .