Texas Tech University Athletics
The Ending in Omaha ... For Now
June 17, 2014 | Baseball
Hunter Redman reacts after Ole Miss scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Rebels defeated Texas Tech 2-1 and eliminated the Red Raiders from the College World Series.
June 17, 2014
By Blayne Beal
Associate AD/Communications
Sometimes things just don't go your way.
The first eight innings of today's game and the bottom half of the ninth are bitter proof of that.
Texas Tech made its magical run to the College World Series on a pair of one-run games and it will be sent back home thanks to a couple of one-run games.
That's the cruel reality this group of Red Raiders will face when they board the charter flight home to Lubbock on Wednesday morning.
Losing is never easy, even when it's in Omaha.
As difficult as the last three days have been for this team, I've never been more encouraged about the future of a Texas Tech team.
In my 14 years at Tech, I've been around a lot of teams and have seen a many a season come to an end. Inevitably they've ended with tears and hugs and the traditional goodbye speeches to the senior class.
Today, I saw something different and you had to be there to understand.
Through the tear-soaked eyes of our team was a look of fierce determination and a feeling of unrealized potential. They want redemption and another chance to prove they belong on the grandest stage in college baseball.
In the post game news conference, an emotional Tim Tadlock was asked about what this trip to Omaha has meant for him, his program and for Texas Tech.
With tears in his eyes he responded; "We're going to lay our head down every night and wake up every morning trying to get back here."
For those outsiders who don't know much about the job Tim Tadlock has done at Texas Tech and believe Tech's trip to Omaha was a fluke. Think again.
Two years ago, Texas Tech couldn't manage one of the eight spots at the Big 12 Tournament and now they are one of the last eight teams standing in all of college baseball.
His blue-collar work ethic and integrity are traits long embodied and celebrated by Red Raiders and they have helped lay the foundation for a championship level program.
Texas Tech's time here in Omaha may be over for now, but rest assured the Red Raiders will be back.
We're going to lay our head down every night and wake up every morning trying to get back here.
