Texas Tech News, Notes & Links: Bradley Marquez Says Thank You; ESPN's All-Big 12

Bradley Marquez Says Thank You.

I really think it is the other way around as we say thank you.

Good Gosh O'Mighty. Check out our friend, Eddy Clinton on the Plano East and Tyler John Tyler game from SportsCenter last night on that game's 20th anniversary:

ESPN's All Big 12 Team. The ESPN Big 12 blog guys named their first team and second team All-Big 12, with LT Le'Raven Clark making the first team and LB Pete Robertson and RB DeAndre Washington making the second team.

Hope and Concern. Also from the ESPN, they have reasons for hope and concern heading into the 2015 season. Here's one for hope:

Kliff Kingsbury and company can recruit: The Red Raiders have five ESPN 300 prospects on the commit list, including quarterback Jarrett Stidham and defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko. Tech's five commitments from ESPN 300 members is more than Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU and West Virginia. Turning the program around starts in the living rooms of recruits, and the Red Raiders are doing an exceptional job securing top talent despite their on-field stumbles.

And two for concern:

Defense, defense, defense: Finding a CEO for his defense is Kingsbury's most important task this offseason. He's done a solid job with the Red Raiders' offense (outside of the turnovers) but the defense's struggles have prevented true success. Tech is gathering some talent on that side of the ball, but some semblance of continuity and direction would go a long way. It starts with landing a quality defensive coordinator who can be handed the reins and be left to do his thing by Kingsbury.

The Red Raiders need wins to turn momentum around: Tech is 5-13 since Kingsbury's 7-0 start to his head coaching career. High-scoring offense, superb season ticket sales and improving inroads on the recruiting trail will only get you so far. The Red Raiders need some tangible success, preferably early in 2015, to erase questions about Kingsbury's head-coaching ability and get the program moving back in the right direction.