Texas Tech coach Chris Beard has given up beer, dessert but not Pop Tarts
Chris Beard, according his memory, has been to 24 Final Fours — if you count the times he was drinking draft beers in lobbies. This Final Four, he is hoping to coach Texas Tech to a championship, and no, there will be no alcohol in Minneapolis for Beard.
Beard and his team are all making sacrifices this season, and the 46-year-old coach has given up beer and dessert.
“It has’t been easy, but we make sacrifices every year,” Beard said in a press conference on Friday. “LeBron James eliminated social media in the playoffs. Tom Brady enjoys a beer from time to time too, he gives it up in the NFL season. It’s just the idea of elite people making sacrifices and having discipline.”
According to Beard, his players have strayed away from indulgences such as social media, fried food and Netflix after 9 p.m.
“For me, this year it’s no dessert and no candy. I haven’t had any ice cream, candy, cake, beer, since the first day of practice,” Beard said.
It’s hard to argue that the strategy has not worked, considering that Beard has led the Red Raiders to their first Final Four appearance in program history. Texas Tech and its stifling defense triumphed over Michigan in the Sweet 16 and toppled No. 1 Gonzaga in the Elite 8.
Chris Beard with just a next level quote on SVP tonight when asked about him going to his first Final Four compared to Tom Izzo's eighth.
"I've been to like 24 Final Fours, I was drinking draft beer in the lobbies....but I've been to the Final Four." pic.twitter.com/tpdIwjq2Mo— Eric Kelly (@EricKellyTV) April 4, 2019
And Beard has coached the whole way without a sip of beer or a taste of sweets. Except for, well, one thing.
“Did you know a Pop Tart is not a dessert?” he said. “That’s a breakfast. I’ve eaten a lot of Pop Tarts since October.”
That’s a hot take and a questionable characterization of Pop Tarts, but we’ll take coach at his word.
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