Louisiana Tech Looking for Signature Win
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have caught fire in each of the last three seasons. The 2017 schedule sets the table for a similar run, but can Skip Holtz and the ‘Dogs get things going even sooner this year?
Louisiana Tech won 5 games in a row in 2014. The next year, the Bulldogs won 7 of 8 in the middle of their schedule. In 2016, Holtz and Co. won 7 games in a row. Each year, Tech has had a new starting quarterback. Also, most G5 teams have a tough schedule starting out the season with a couple of P5 games.
The early conference portion of the schedule hasn’t done Tech any favors. Tech has had September road games at WKU in 2015, MTSU in 2016, and WKU again in 2017.
Tech has come close to winning a big early game under Holtz. Even in his first year, against Kansas in 2013, the Bulldogs had more yards, time of possession, and fewer penalties. Two timely turnovers proved costly and Tech lost 13-10.
In 2014, Tech went on the road and lost to Marshall 26-23 in the CUSA championship game. In 2015, Tech lost to Kansas State 39-33 in triple overtime. In 2016, Tech lost to Arkansas 21-20. In last season’s CUSA championship game, Tech lost 58-44. Tech was down 48-44 with 14 minutes left to play in the game. In all of the other previously mentioned games, Tech was ahead at one point in the fourth quarter. All of the above games were on the road.
This season, Tech has opportunities to get that big win. First up is Mississippi State this week. Later this month, Tech goes to South Carolina. Can Tech get that big win early this season? “I think we will have our players’ focus this week as we get ready for Mississippi State," Holtz said at his weekly press conference.
The Bulldogs started 2-3 in 2014 and 1-2 in 2015. Last season, Tech started 1-3. They always get hot and go on a run and Holtz has three straight 9 win seasons to show for it.
Tech can win big games. The Bulldogs have beaten Western Kentucky twice in Ruston and Holtz is 3-0 in bowl games. In those bowl games the Bulldogs beat a ranked Navy team and in 2014 they beat Illinois, giving Holtz a win over a P5 team.
So what happens if Tech beats a team from the SEC? What if they start October with a 3-2 record or better instead of being under .500? A quick look at the depth chart suggests this might not be the year. The Bulldogs have a new quarterback again and only 7 (3 on offense, 4 on defense) starters are seniors.
Although this is a young team, this is a very deep team. Holtz had the foresight to sign a recruiting class that was full of high school players in 2015 as he looked to build a program. As you go back and look at the class, look at the names of players who contributed this past Saturday.
J’Mar Smith, Rhashid Bonnette, Courtney Wallace, Oshea Dugas, Jordan Bradford, Collin Scott, James Jackson, Javonte Woodard, Devante Lovett, Ethan Reed, Immanuel Turner, Jaqwis Dancy, Trey Spencer, Aaron Roberson, LaDante Davenport, and Brandon Durman: That’s 16 players from that 2015 class that are already contributing by 2017. Ephraim Kitchen makes 17 – he’s injured this season but he played well last season.
That’s fantastic to say the least. The recruiting class was ranked 77th by Rivals.com and is Tech’s best class since 2009 when several high school standouts were signed including future NFL players Justin Ellis, IK Enempkali, and Jordan Mills.
Holtz didn’t rebuild his roster with a ton of junior college players that year, players that would have played the past two years and would already be gone. He went for the long road and now has a deep team full of young players.
Can Tech get that big win? The answer is yes, of course they can. Tech beat Mississippi State in Ruston back in 2008. That 2008 team was a veteran team with seniors like Brannon Jackson, Josh Wheeler, Patrick Jackson, Chris Keagle, Anthony Harrison, Quin Harris, Weldon Brown, and a grad transfer at quarterback in Taylor Bennett. Not to mention two dynamic undergrads named Daniel Porter, Antonio Baker, Dennis Morris, D’Anthony Smith, and Phillip Livas.
This team is possibly just as talented (or even more) as that team, but they are not very experienced. It will take a big effort to knock of Mississippi State again. "Getting ready for Mississippi State this week will be an incredible challenge," said Holtz. "An SEC team coming into Ruston I know is not an event that happens every year, so it is one we are really excited about and having the opportunity to host such a talented football team with such a great reputation"
This is what makes watching this team a lot of fun. They have a ton of potential and if that get that big, early season win; then that's great for them and the fans. If not, they still can play for another winning season and another bowl berth - with almost everybody coming back next year. This is a young and talented team, enjoy this Tech fans.
