LUBBOCK, Texas — Before he walked up the ramp that led to the visitor’s locker room following Saturday night’s 24-14 win against Texas Tech, Texas safety Blake Gideon bent down and planted a kiss on the turf at Jones AT&T Stadium. As goodbye smooches go, few could be more satisfying.
“It was going to be the last time I play here,” Gideon said. “It’s probably going to be the last time I take a trip to Lubbock. So this is my farewell. I left everything I had. All of me, for my team, I left out on the field.”
Two years ago, the Texas offense brought the top-ranked Longhorns back against feisty Texas Tech. Had the defense held, Texas probably would have played for the 2008 BCS title. Texas Tech’s run seemed over as Gideon tracked a ball that had bounced off Red Raiders receiver Edward Britton. But the ball slithered through Gideon’s hands and onto the ground. On the next play, Graham Harrell found Michael Crabtree. Texas cornerback Curtis Brown had Crabtree in his grip, but Crabtree shook loose for the touchdown that ruined the Longhorns’ season.
Saturday, the Texas defense needed to bail out the Texas offense. Once again, Gideon tracked a tipped ball — this time in the first quarter. This time, he caught it. “That’s funny how things like that work out,” Gideon said. In the third quarter, Brown received his own shot at redemption. With the score tied at 14, Texas Tech had driven to the Texas 16-yard line. Quarterback Taylor Potts fired. Brown grabbed the ball and sprinted the other way. If not for an Usain Bolt impression from Texas Tech back Baron Batch to run down Brown, the senior would have wound up in the same end zone Crabtree escaped to in 2008.
Full story: Longhorn defense bails out its offense – Andy Staples – SI.com