Too little, too late

Sorry to steal a line from a 15-year-old (but hey, JoJo's song is #2 on the latest Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, for whatever that's worth), but that's how I feel about tonight's uninspiring 34-31 Louisiana Tech win over former Sun Belt superpower North Texas (who's now 2-7 on the year and ahead of only those mighty Warhawks from ULM and Fla. International in the conference standings) in the aptly-dubbed "Pillowfight of the Week" (ESPN.com).

I personally like Jack Bicknell, who's a really nice guy. But sometimes being a nice guy just doesn't cut it as a Division 1-A football coach. And it's become pretty apparent that Bicknell no longer can cut it at Tech (although that's been apparent for awhile to just about everyone but Tech AD Jim Oakes -- more on that later). While Tech remains alive for bowl eligibility, struggling to beat this North Texas team hardly gives Bulldog fans a good feeling for the rest of the year. Had Tech lost, there's no way they would have won another game. Even with the win, I don't really see another win on the schedule that includes at Hawaii (at 7-2, coming off a 63-10 won tonight, this is the hottest team in the conference, even hotter than undefeated Boise State), Nevada (6-3, coming off a big 45-7 road win over Idaho tonight, and probably the third best team in the WAC) and Fresno State (who, like Tech, has struggled this year, but maybe owes Tech after two straight losses) at home, and then a season-ending trip to New Mexico State (who hasn't won yet in the WAC), which is winnable, unless the Bulldogs limp home and are riding a three-game losing streak. Then Tech fans could see another 2003 debacle, when Tech was demolished at home against a horrible Rice team that ran for a school-record 672 yards.

The saddest part is tonight's game shouldn't have been close. Tech jumped out to a 21-0 lead at the end of the 1st quarter and could have ran away with it. Zac Champion, a buddy of mine from Ruston and one of the best guys I've met, threw 3 TDs in the first quarter. But Tech's defense, as it has all year long, fell apart. North Texas, who came into the game ranked last in the country offensively (of course, Tech was last defensively) scored 24 straight to take a 3-point lead into the half. Then, the Mean Green added another touchdown to go up 10 on the first drive of the second half. But Champion answered the call, and his many critics as well, leading Tech to a field goal, then throwing his 4th touchdown, a 46-yarder to senior tight end Anthony James, before leading the Bulldogs to a 4th quarter field goal, which turned out to be the game winner. In the game, Champion was 23-of-32 for a career-high 306 yards, 4 TDs and most importantly no INTs.

But, Tech's defense struggled, giving up more than 400 yards. And so did the running game. Playing without sophomore starter Patrick Jackson and with two true freshmen, the Bulldogs rushed for just 142 yards (70 by Daniel Porter, 49 by Will Griffin, and 23 by Champion). There are still many question marks on this team. Nine games in, there still is no identity. Nobody has stepped up and been a consistent leader. That should be Champion, but he has yet to show any type of consistency. He's been up (like tonight), but then he's been down. If Tech is to finish strong, he has to be consistently good the rest of the year. That means not only making plays, but also limiting mistakes.

Like I said, I like Jack Bicknell. I have fond memories of my time in Ruston and working with him, although we didn't always see eye to eye. But getting rid of the head football coach won't solve the problem. Check out this site. I think this site is right on, and it's not just because unlike Jack, I've never gotten along with Jim Oakes. I just simply think he's dropped the ball time and time again, and it's way past time to get a qualified athletic director at Tech who's willing to do the work to take the athletic department to the next level.

Tech fans have see way too little from Jim Oakes for the past 12 years, and it's way too late for him to do anything to save his job. Like the growing slogan says, the JOakes on us (Tech fans). Time to move on and forge ahead!