When you think Texas Tech you think crazy passing numbers, amazing offenses, and probably what happened with Mike Leach, right? Well, the Red Raiders decided to take a trip into the way back machine to hire one of it's all-time greats, Kliff Kingsbury, as their next head coach in a hope to repeat those memories.
Kingsbury replaces the departed Tommy Tuberville, who shocked the college football world by bolting from the Big 12 school to the Big East's Cincinnati Bearcats.
Kingsbury and athletics director Kirby Hocutt announced the hire via a twitter video (someone should tell them always go landscape mode, but ya…) with the simple statement, "Wreck 'em Raiders", and of course the obligatory "Guns Up" sign as well.
The name should be familiar to fans of college football old and new as he was a QB at Texas Tech from 1998-2002, playing in 43 games and setting 39 records in his career, some of which still stand today. He finished his career with 12,429 yards passing, 95 touchdowns and just 40 interceptions.
It's safe to say he's the man that put Texas Tech QB's on the map. But, for those not young enough to know him as an actual player you may know him as the man behind the likes of Case Kennum from Houston and some guy that just won the Heisman trophy – Johnny Manziel – at Texas A&M?
After leaving pro football following the 2007 season Kingsbury became the QB coach and then the offensive coordinator under Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin and was hired to the same role at Texas A&M ahead of this past season.
Kingsbury is only 33 years old and is the youngest head coach in all of FBS football.
One thing is clear with this hire, it's about finding a man who's about Texas Tech, gets the culture and will stick around to help stabilize a program that had some issues between the fans and the last head coach.
For more of Andy's musings on college football, the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Big Ten follow him on Twitter and make sure to follow all of us on Twitter at @CrystalBallRun.
