Inquire of Behren Morton about the most memorable aspect of Texas Tech’s greatest season, and the quarterback might recall a match he missed due to injury, which happened to be the sole defeat for the Red Raiders.
That occasion in the Arizona desert in October is significant for Morton as the Lubbock native is more familiar than most with the unremarkable football history in the West Texas plains.
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The Red Raiders started the season with six consecutive victories before succumbing 26-22 to Arizona State, and the senior was among those who believed the younger teammates required a crash course in the team’s past that following week.
“We gathered everyone together and asked, ‘Is this going to be just another season for Texas Tech with eight wins and a respectable bowl game, or do we possess something unique?’” Morton stated.
The Red Raiders and their signal-caller are convinced they are on track to find out.
Texas Tech (12-1) established a school record for victories by defeating BYU 34-7, securing the program’s first Big 12 championship and earning a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
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The No. 4 seed is set to face fifth-seeded Oregon (12-1), a winner over James Madison in the opening round, in an Orange Bowl quarterfinal on Thursday. Both teams are ranked similarly in The Associated Press poll.
Morton’s career has been marred by shoulder troubles, transitioning to a season focused on lower-body injuries — first, a hyperextended knee as stated by coach Joey McGuire, and subsequently, what was noted as a hairline fracture in his right fibula.
This fracture rendered Morton sidelined for the game against the Sun Devils and during a 42-0 victory over Oklahoma State when backup Will Hammond’s season-ending knee injury compelled Morton to don his uniform at halftime. However, he did not have to participate.
McGuire is tight-lipped regarding the reported fibula injury, only mentioning that the medical staff has insisted Morton wear a walking boot for most of the time — against his preference. He will have enjoyed nearly four weeks of recovery prior to facing the Ducks.
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“This is absolutely the best I’ve felt, likely since the Kansas game,” Morton remarked, alluding to the Oct. 11 encounter where the injury occurred during a sack. “I’ve been able to get out of the boot more frequently, though I still need to wear it now and then. But during practice, coach permits me to remove the boot and really get into it, so that’s been encouraging.”
Morton was born in Lubbock while his father, James, served as head coach at a local high school. He took on the role of quarterback under his dad in Eastland, a small town situated 220 miles southeast of Texas Tech’s campus.
As a child, Morton idolized Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, who combined for the most iconic play in what was previously regarded as Texas Tech’s best season before this year.
The 2008 squad was unbeaten at 10-0, boasting a thrilling 39-33 win over Texas via the Harrell-to-Crabtree touchdown with just 1 second left, before falling to Oklahoma, thereby missing out on the BCS Championship — the two-team playoff era — and finishing with an 11-2 record.
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Indeed, even Morton contemplated departing from his cherished school amid the current transfer portal climate. He experienced yet another change in offensive coordinators during the offseason.
Morton opted to remain, choosing instead to welcome a highly acclaimed transfer class recognized as one of the finest in the nation. Many of these transfers, alongside returning linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, have transformed Texas Tech into one of the country’s top defenses, overcoming the historical hindrance that held the Red Raiders back.
“We proudly proclaim that we are ‘The Brand,’ the hardest, most dedicated, and most competitive team in the nation,” Morton expressed. “From day one, when these new players joined us, we communicated our culture and what ‘The Brand’ embodies, and they truly embraced that. With just one year of eligibility left, one might assume a player is solely focused on himself. You know, he’s receiving substantial compensation, eyeing the (NFL) next year; however, that has not been the reality whatsoever.”
McGuire clinched three Texas state championships while coaching high school in Cedar Hill, near Dallas. Both he and Morton share a deep commitment to Lubbock and a strong connection to the state’s rich football legacy.
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This likely explains their June discussion regarding the pursuit of a Big 12 championship at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, where all twelve high school championship games are held each December.
This also explains why Morton’s father sent McGuire a text during the week of the Big 12 title game, urging the coach to ensure they snapped a photo together with the quarterback before departing AT&T Stadium.
McGuire conveyed that message on game day morning.
“We connected, and emotions ran high,” Morton remarked. “I hold a deep love for this university and what it represents. I believe this town merits the return of championships.”
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Morton isn’t the only one with this sentiment. He stands alongside Harrell and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City, who, astonishingly, never won a bowl game at Texas Tech. Harrell was his recruiter. Mahomes frequently communicates with him, whether by text or in person, as he did during the defeat of Oklahoma State.
Additionally, there was a time, approximately 60 years ago, when the Red Raiders occasionally contended in the old Southwest Conference.
“I still receive texts from an 85-year-old man expressing his pride in this team and his allegiance to being a Red Raider,” Morton noted. “It’s truly unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
It’s a situation Lubbock has never encountered either.
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