It was reported on a TT forum today that Ausberry said, “The AD at [Texas Tech] wanted to play. The head coach turned it down. People are not going to play home and home with LSU.” However, Mike Leach is quoted as saying “I never talked to the guy at LSU.” We needed a home game and I never heard of anything about LSU planning to come here. I never heard anything about that. I never talked to anybody from LSU. We needed a home game, and all I heard was that they wanted it up there.”
Now I'm confused, either nobody wants to play us or it is hard to schedule a home and home in such short notice. I don't trust the Atheltic Administration nor Mike Leach on this.
When home and home series are scheduled something a decade in advance or more (Ga Tech announced a home and home in the '20's) it's easy to assume it isn't something that is easily worked out. Especially, when you figure the 12th game has only been here a couple of years. If I were Leach or the TTU AD, and wasn't offered the opportunity for a return game to Lubbock, I'd walk away in a heart beat as well.
When Leach came to Lubbock the game at AU was canceled because there was no return game. They have been adamant about getting a return. As more schools demand the same it is easy to see why how schedules are filled with the rent a win games. You can't get 8 game home schedules to pay for these stadiums and programs if you sign up to go somewhere else, and the other guys want the same.
At the same time, why would LSU, Bama, AU or any big school want to go on a trip where the gate was from a 50K stadium. You need TV dollars to make this happen, and you aren't getting those $$$ for games 10 years out.
I understand your point, but it would be a fair shake in a series like this with a BCS conference school. (coming from TTU's perspective) If the problem is looking at the 50K, take it to another locale. Play the game in Houston, Dallas, or another large venue that can accommodate a larger crowd. I firmly believe we'll be seeing more and more single game match-ups at neutral sites. If I'm not mistaken, ND has one or two coming up. I know the ATL committee is going to be looking at scheduling another game for the beginning of next season ('10) and hoping to bring in two top teams. I don't know if LSU and TTU looked at that as a possibility, but it is a good pay off for both teams if the right pieces fall into place.
