Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury is searching for answers in his second season

Kliff Kingsbury received a hero’s welcome at Texas Tech. A former-record setting quarterback for the program with a flashy resume, picture-perfect looks and GQ style excited a fan base that often seemed disinterested during the Tommy Tuberville era.

Then came a 7-0 start, and the optimistic excitement that initially surrounded Kingsbury grew into full-blown adulation. Season tickets sold out and the Red Raiders extended Kingsbury’s contract through 2020.

That some are now wondering if he can win long term is a sign of how fickle the coaching business can be, but it is also a sign of how rocky things have been at Texas Tech since Kingsbury’s dream start. The Red Raiders have lost seven of their last 10 games, quarterbacks have transferred out of Lubbock in alarming numbers and defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt resigned mid-season following reports that alleged he was under the influence of an unknown substance while on campus.

In less than a calendar year, the coach that helped Johnny Manziel win a Heisman Trophy and beat Alabama at Texas A&M has gone from white-hot to lukewarm. Barry Tramel, a sports columnist with the Oklahoman, went so far as to write: “Kliff Kingsbury is college football’s Anna Kournikova. Known for their looks, not for their games.”

The comparison is a stretch, but there is no denying Texas Tech (2-2) has looked mediocre this season. Arkansas rushed for 438 yards against Texas Tech in a 49-28 victory. Oklahoma State capitalized on 158 yards worth of Texas Tech penalties to win 45-35. Even Texas Tech’s wins have been shaky, holding off Central Arkansas 42-35 and rallying to beat Texas-El Paso 30-26.

“Each season is a different challenge and a different group and a different team,” Kingsbury said. “We haven’t played as well as we would have liked so far this year, but that’s football. As a coaching staff, we have to do a better job of getting our players ready and getting our players coached up. We are excited about our remaining schedule. We know it is only going to get tougher, but I think if we clean some things up, we have a chance to be a pretty good football team.”

Up next is a trip to Kansas State, which is coming off a 58-28 drubbing of the same UTEP team that held a fourth-quarter lead on Texas Tech. The Wildcats are an early 12-point favorite, so pulling off a road upset won’t be easy. Also working against Texas Tech: K-State has dominated this series since the departure of Mike Leach.

While Leach won five straight against K-State, often by wide margins, the Wildcats have won three in a row against Tuberville and Kingsbury. The average score in those games: 48-28.

Still, K-State coach Bill Snyder respects Kingsbury.

“He has developed that confidence that their offense can move the ball anytime, anywhere against anyone in any way,” Snyder said. “For the most part, they have been successful doing that.”

Texas Tech players know they will need to get back to their high-scoring ways to turn things around.

“This season has been stressful,” receiver Jakeem Grant said. “People are already thinking there goes the season. But it’s not over. We lost two games, but we still have a lot of games ahead of us. We can still pull this thing out. If we go back and win all the rest of them, we will be in it for the Big 12 championship. That’s what I keep telling the guys. We are all mad about the losses, but we have to worry about the next week.”

Kingsbury doesn’t want his team to hold anything back.

One thing that separates him from other head coaches is his youth. At 35, he can relate to his players in ways others cannot. He talks to them about music and dating, and that helps him guide them on the field. Time will tell how the remainder of the season, and Kingsbury’s career, will play out, but for now his players believe in his message.

“He just keeps telling us we have nothing to lose,” Texas Tech linebacker Sam Eguavoen said. “Everyone is counting us out, so let’s just get out there and run after the ball and make some plays. That’s what I like about him as a coach. He is a realist and he will talk to you like you’re a man. He is cool and relaxed and has been in our shoes. We all respect him.”

This story was originally published October 1, 2014 at 12:07 PM with the headline "Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury is searching for answers in his second season."