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Although traditionally treated as a stepchild to the nationally renowned Texas Longhorns, the Texas Tech Red Raiders have performed with a consistently winning record and currently boast eleven conference titles.

The teams most recent rise is thanks to head coach Mike Leach.

Regarded as one of the most innovative offensive coaches in the U.S., Leach was featured on the cover of the 2008 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football with insider predictions that the Red Raiders would soon take over the title as the best in Texas football.

However, a scandal that broke at the end of the 2009 season - surrounding Leach's alleged abuse of players - cast a pall over his controversial coaching style that eventually led to his firing. Leach's sacking arose from an investigation into his treatment of receiver Adam James after the sophomore was diagnosed with a concussion.

As Leach's lawyers prepare a lawsuit over the firing, defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill has been named as interim replacement, and by all reports will mostly likely replace Leach as head coach going into the 2010 season.

Meanwhile, McNeill has also been appointed to lead Texas Tech into the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State on January 2.

Stay tuned...

2009 Texas Tech football schedule (all times ET)

09/05/09 vs. North Dakota Lubbock, Texas 7:00 p.m.
09/12/09 vs. Rice Lubbock, Texas 7:00 p.m.
09/19/09 at Texas Austin, Texas 8:00 p.m. TV: ABC
09/26/09 at Houston Houston, Texas 9:15 p.m. TV: ESPN2
10/03/09 vs. New Mexico Lubbock, Texas 7:00 p.m.
10/10/09 vs. Kansas State Lubbock, Texas
10/17/09 at Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska
10/24/09 vs. Texas A&M Lubbock, Texas
10/31/09 vs. Kansas Lubbock, Texas TBA
11/14/09 at Oklahoma State Stillwater, Oklahoma
11/21/09 vs. Oklahoma Lubbock, Texas
11/28/09 vs. Baylor Arlington, Texas
01/02/10 vs. Michigan State, Alamo Bowl, 9 p.m. ESPN

More about Texas Tech football around the Web:

Texas Tech Red Raiders - The official site featuring the latest news, feature stories & pictures, podcasts, schedule, stats, team history, game & ticket information.

ESPN - Texas Tech Red Raiders - Complete schedule, scores, news headlines & feature stories, fan message boards.

Double-T Nation - Message boards, intense fan discussions and up-to-the-minute questions, answers, and rumors on the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

RedRaiders.com - A feature spotlight on the team, from the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, with the latest news headlines, roster, schedule, coach profiles, pictures, wallpapers.

Also see -> College Bowl | BCS Championship

Orange Bowl | Rose Bowl | Super Bowl