Red Raider Ravioli: the same old soup

Ciao a tutti,

I want to tell you a divertente (funny) story. Last week, while talking with other VTM staff members, I was taught a new word I never heard before: aghast. I promised I would have used it in an article as soon as possible, but I couldn’t imagine I would have done it so early.

We all still have in our eyes how the Red Raiders threw away -because we’re talking of this, no doubt- the game against South Florida, a game the Red Raiders could win and that they lost. It was a habit, in 2017.

I’m aghast (I did it!) the way Texas Tech lost this Birmingham Bowl because it showed once again the chronic weaknesses that always seem so unsolvable. I can’t deny Quinton Flowers and his receivers had a good game, but seeing that every time the Bulls threw deep balls there were only open players and grasslands in front of them is a thing I didn’t want to see again.

It’s a matter of players, of course, and it’s a matter of coaches as well. It’s frustrating seeing, once again, that the efforts of the rushing defense were wasted in this way.

Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports

Now, chapter Shimonek. I think his last throw of the game, and by analogy, his last throw in a Red Raiders uniform, was the perfect metaphor of his season, a growing mix of “almost”, “narrowly”, and “close”.

Texas Tech wouldn’t have played this Birmingham Bowl without Shimonek’s performance out of the bench against Texas, but at the same had some bad games in which he couldn’t handle his offense and that resulted in avoidable losses.

Now, the season is officially over: we suffered together, we gloated together, like every season we shared our joys and our waves of anger and probably, next August we’ll be back, ready for another season.

Personally, I take the occasion to wish you all readers un Buon Natale (“a Merry Christmas”), full of Red Raider spirit.

Ciao!

P.S.

Before the season started, the VTM staff tried to predict the season. Here there’s mine. What can I say? I’m a genio (“genius”).

“In my opinion our season record will be 6-6, and we'll get a Bowl berth. I am confident about Shimonek and I'm confident about the defense, that will make some forward steps that will allow us to go 3-0 off conference and win three Big 12 games to get us bowl eligible and back to playing in late December.

Prediction: 6-6”