Countdown to Kickoff: 39 Days
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 50 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 41 | 40
Texas Tech's 2016 football season will begin in exactly 39 days with a Sept. 3 kickoff against Stephen F. Austin.
Today, we continue our Countdown to Kickoff series with a notable way the number 39 relates to Red Raider football.
39: Sonny Cumbie completed 39 passes in Texas Tech's Holiday Bowl victory over No. 4 Cal in 2004.
Texas Tech wasn't expected to provide much of a challenge to No. 4 California in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. The Bears had been in contention for an at-large Rose Bowl selection, and the thought was the Jeff Tedford's team had been snubbed when that spot was ultimately filled by Texas. The Red Raiders, meanwhile, had finished off a somewhat up-and-down 7-4 campaign.
Oddsmakers pegged Cal as 11-point favorites entering the game.
Oops.
Sonny Cumbie completed 39-of-60 passes for 520 yards and 3 TD, out-dueling Cal's Aaron Rodgers, as the Red Raiders topped the Bears 45-31.
Texas Tech actually trailed 14-10 at the midway point of the second quarter but scored two touchdowns before halftime and led 24-14 at the break. The Red Raiders opened the second half scroring with a 60-yard bomb to Joel Filani and the rout was on.
Tomorrow: 38 - We look at Texas Tech's record versus another Power Five conference.