By many accounts, the 2008 season was the most successful in recent memory. The Red Raiders started the season 10-0 behind the brilliant efforts of Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, producing the most memorable game in school history, beating the then number one ranked Texas Longhorns after ESPN’s College Gameday visited campus. Ranked second in the country at one point, Tech finished 11-1 with a Cotton Bowl bid.
Seasons like this open the booster’s wallets, and Tech saw an influx of donations after this season. Then AD Gerald Myers and chancellor Kent Hance took that money and unintentionally set the Texas Tech program back in terms of recruiting for many years to come.