I Haven’t Slept in Three Days and Tech Plays Notre Dame Tomorrow
This ain’t a normal article. I apologize in advance for whatever comes out of my brain right now.
Texas Tech plays Notre Dame tomorrow. Tomorrow. TOMORROW. In like 23 hours my guys are gonna run out of that tunnel in South Bend and I’m probably gonna have some kinda medical episode.
I haven’t slept right since the BYU game. Sunday night I got maybe four hours. Monday was worse. Tuesday I just gave up and watched film until 3 AM like some kinda psycho. Wednesday I tried melatonin and it didn’t do jack.
My girlfriend asked me this morning if I was okay and I just stared at her for like ten seconds without blinking. She’s concerned. Honestly I’m kinda concerned too.
What’s Going On In My Brain
I keep watching the same plays from the championship game over and over. The Jacob Rodriguez sack in the third quarter. The Tahj Brooks touchdown where he dragged three defenders into the end zone. The Morton scramble on third-and-twelve.
I’ve probably watched each of those clips fifty times. I ain’t learning anything new. I just can’t stop.
Mike says this is unhealthy behavior. Mike’s probably right. Mike can also shut up because his team went 3-9 and he don’t understand what it’s like to be one win away from the quarterfinals.
Mike’s note: I’m genuinely worried about him. He called me at 6 AM yesterday to discuss Notre Dame’s third-down defense. I didn’t answer. He called back twice. Then he texted me a screenshot of their defensive coordinator’s Wikipedia page. This is not normal.
The Irrational Confidence Thing
Here’s the thing. I KNOW Notre Dame’s favored. I KNOW they’re at home. I KNOW they got more talent and more experience in big games and all that crap.
But I also know — I KNOW in my bones — that we’re gonna win this thing.
Can’t explain it. It ain’t based on logic. It ain’t based on any kind of real analysis. It’s just this deep, irrational certainty that this team is special and tomorrow’s their moment.
Is this how people feel before they make terrible financial decisions? Probably. Don’t care.
The Superstitions
I’m wearing the same shirt I wore during the BYU game. Washed it once because my girlfriend threatened to leave if I didn’t. Other than that it hasn’t come off.
Same pregame meal — Whataburger, spicy ketchup, Dr Pepper. Same bar with the same people in the same seat. Called ahead to make sure my spot would be available. The bartender definitely thinks I’ve lost my mind. He ain’t wrong.
The Fear Part
Okay I gotta admit something. Underneath all the confidence, I’m scared as hell.
What if we lose? What if we get blown out? What if the magic from the BYU game was a one-time thing and we go to South Bend and just… don’t show up?
I’ve been a Tech fan my whole life. I’ve seen us choke in big games before. I’ve seen us get embarrassed on national TV. I know what it feels like to have your heart broken by a football team.
If we lose tomorrow, I’m gonna be devastated. Like genuinely might need a personal day on Monday.
But if we win?
If we win…
I don’t even know what I’ll do. Might cry. Might run into the street screaming. Might just sit there in stunned silence while everyone around me loses their minds.
Bottom Line
I’m a mess. An absolute mess. A grown man who can’t function properly because of a football game.
But you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is what being a fan is. This is what it means to care about something irrational. The anxiety. The hope. The fear. All of it mixed together until you can’t tell which emotion is which.
Tomorrow, Texas Tech plays for a spot in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. I’ll be at a bar in my lucky shirt, eating Whataburger, surrounded by friends, watching my team try to shock the world.
Whatever happens, I’m grateful to be here. Thirty-one years of waiting led to this moment.
Let’s go win a football game.
Wreck ‘Em forever.
— Jake
Mike’s note: Good luck tomorrow, man. Genuinely. I’ll be rooting for the Big 12. Just… maybe try to sleep tonight? You sound absolutely unhinged.
Jake’s response: SLEEP IS FOR PEOPLE WHOSE TEAMS AIN’T IN THE PLAYOFF
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