WSU and Texas Tech isn’t just a battle of versatile offenses. It’s a meeting of best friends

Sep. 4—PULLMAN — When they worked together at Houston Baptist and when they reunited at Western Kentucky a couple of years later, Zach Kittley and Ben Arbuckle grew close.

Kittley was the offensive coordinator and Arbuckle was an offensive quality control coach, long before Kittley became Texas Tech’s offensive coordinator and Arbuckle became Washington State’s, which brought them together on the field too many times to count.

But really, Kittley was the mentor and Arbuckle was the student. Kittley had a little more experience in the coaching industry than Arbuckle, so he imparted lots of lessons.

Have a personal relationship with everyone in the building. Make sure everyone knows you care about them. Show them respect and they’ll do the same for you. Be a good person.

“The biggest things that Coach Kittley taught me really weren’t even football,” Arbuckle said.

When Texas Tech and WSU clash this weekend, Arbuckle will try to teach Kittley a little something of his own.

Arbuckle’s Cougars and Kittley’s Red Raiders might be in for a shootout. WSU racked up 637 yards of offense in last week’s 70-30 win over Portland State. Texas Tech totaled 539 in a 52-51 overtime win over Abilene Christian. The numbers are one thing. The approaches are another.

WSU and Texas Tech’s offenses have long been similar: Spread it out. Throw it all over the field. That’s what happens when a coach like Mike Leach implements the same offense, the Air Raid, at both schools. It’s what happens when one team’s offensive coordinator trains under the other team’s.

“I think it’s the exact same,” WSU coach Jake Dickert said of these teams’ offenses. “I think they call things the same. They signal things the same. I said it on Monday — it’s gonna be about execution. I think we’re very familiar with it, but at the same time, what makes (Tech’s) offense…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/wsu-texas-tech-isnt-just-020200537.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2024-09-05 02:02:00

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