LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Even though Red Raider safety Cole Wisniewski wasn’t alive during game six of the 1997 NBA Finals when Michael Jordan dropped 38 points against the Utah Jazz in what has since become known as “The Flu Game”, the Texas Tech coaches were. Now, they are now using it to reference his strong performance in Saturday’s 29-7 win over BYU, where he registered ten tackles- five of them for loss.
During the game, he was only second behind linebacker and potential Heisman candidate Jacob Rodriguez (14 tackles, five for loss). What makes Wisniewski’s defensive performance even more impressive- the fact he almost wasn’t in condition to play 24 hours before.
“Thursday night, I woke up midway through the night and didn’t have any more food in my body. I guess that’s the best way to say it, so I woke up, haven’t slept too great, had no energy in my body,” he said. “And, it’s really a credit to the coaching staff and our trainers and our doctors getting me ready for the game and doing everything they can in their power to allow me to rest up, get refueled, get rehydrated and be ready to play in the game, but yeah, I felt pretty dead all day Friday.”
During the weekly press conference, head football coach Joey McGuire also commended the sports medicine staff for preparing the Wisniewski in a short amount of time, and said No. 5 was ‘just an animal’ on defense against the Cougars.
“It was really impressive,” said McGuire. “I got to take my hat off to Dr. Phy and Mike Ramirez because Cole was sick all day Friday. He didn’t go to the movies with us on Friday night. We gave him some medication to help him sleep. He had his stomach bug, woke up the next day. We gave him an IV, and so it was kind of like his ‘flu game’, because man, he played lights out!”
Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood says his work ethic for Saturday’s game was as much of a driving factor along with the help received from the medical staff.
“And a guy like him, I wasn’t surprised. He’s a pro at everything he does. He’s got a ton of experience. He’s got a mastery of what we’re doing in terms of assignment and technique,” Coach Wood said. “He didn’t practice a lot on Friday, but that did not phase me in terms of being worried about his ability to be prepared. I thought he would come out and perform well and he did, and it’s just a credit to his toughness, physical toughness, with the sickness that he had and then just his preparation and maturity each and every week.”
This is Wisniewski’s one and only year as a Red Raider. He is on his sixth year of eligibility, after he spent the previous five years at North Dakota State.
“I’m on such borrowed time,” he said. “Three years ago I was a senior. Like, this is my third senior year. But I mean, I’m super appreciative of my entire college career. I think this last game was my 57th college game. That’s a lot of college football, but it’s just been such a journey, such a growth opportunity. I still feel like I’m getting better and better each week. I think the last three weeks is probably the best football I’ve played, and it’s been a really, really fun, fun journey.”
The Red Raiders, and the now-recovered Cole Wisniewski, will return to Jones AT&T Stadium for senior day, and take on the UCF Knights. Kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. The game will air on FOX34.
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