The ShowGirl

  (3:51 PM)

Welcome to The Show! Special guest Cody Hodges will be joining us on Thursday. He'll be taking your questions on the Cotton Bowl, and more. Send 'em in now, using the fields below!

Cody Hodges

  (1:04 PM)

Hi, welcome to the chat. We're working hard for the Cotton Bowl.

Michael - Birmingham, AL

Cody, are you looking forward to going against Bama's defense?

Cody Hodges

  (1:05 PM)

I am. Bama's defense is one of the top defenses in the nation. It's going to be a tough challenge for our offense.

Ryan Fort Worth,TX

Being the fourth of a great string of QB's, did you feel alot of pressure going into this season.?

Cody Hodges

  (1:05 PM)

Into the season, I did. I was great friends with all the guys ahead of me.

Gil: (Mobile, AL)

What do you think will be the biggest challenge facing the Tide defense?

Cody Hodges

  (1:06 PM)

Getting completions. They're pretty stingy against the pass. We need to get first downs. My job is to take care of the football and not hurt our team.

JoeFlop, Austin TX

Have you learned to read the cover 2? How has this helped you improve as a QB?

Cody Hodges

  (1:07 PM)

Yes I have learned. It's helped because in the cover two they give holes in the vertical routes. You have to make quick decisions.

chris lubbock

i keep hearing about a reverse where ROJO passes long... is this true and do you think we will see it in the cotton bowl?

Cody Hodges

  (1:08 PM)

We do have some trick plays. But I'm not going to tip off Alabama if they're in the chat!

Scott, Lubbock

Cody, What are you thoughts on the Rose Bowl, USC vs. Texas?

Cody Hodges

  (1:09 PM)

Personally, I think it's going to be a great football game. The two top teams in the nation. USC hasn't lost in two years. A lot of scoring will take place.

Dillion, LA

Cody, Your high school was the Hereferd Whitefaces? What a Whiteface?

Cody Hodges

  (1:09 PM)

A whiteface is a cow. A steer.

Bastrop,Texas

Texas Tech has always been a passing threat. Do you think you rank in those top quarterbacks?

Cody Hodges

  (1:10 PM)

I really don't know. The thing that I came into the season with was winning as many games as possible. When I'm gone, I want people to remember me by winning the Cotton Bowl.

Jared (Lubbock, TX)

What is more thrilling, Throwing touchdown passes against inferior teams or finally winning the Intramural All-University Basketball Championships after losing 3 years in a row.

Cody Hodges

  (1:11 PM)

Definitely throwing touchdowns. That's why I'm here at Tech.

riley (winston-salem, north carolina)

Is it frustrating to be one of the best passers in division one and still not get the respect that the other top quarterbacks get?

Cody Hodges

  (1:12 PM)

It is to a certain extent. But that's just how it has been at Tech. The guys before me really didn't get much attention. When you're competing against Leinart, Quinn, Young, you're up against stiff competion. But that's not why you play, you play to win football games.

Russ Hodges, Vega, TX

Cody, Just wanted to say that you have done an awesome job this year, and I am very proud of the way you have represented Texas Tech and your home town. Keep it up and Good Luck on the 2nd. Merry Christmas.

Cody Hodges

  (1:13 PM)

Thank you.

Cody Hodges

  (1:13 PM)

That's very nice.

Brent - Irving, TX

Great season and all Tech alum are pumped for the Cotton Bowl - with Bama being so quick and fast on defense, are we going to be able to get the ball down the field to Hicks or Johnson?

Cody Hodges

  (1:13 PM)

We are. Bama plays a lot of man coverage. Any time a team goes man, we need to attack them vertically. and we will throw down field.

Cole Smith (jacksonville, AL)

is your offense going to be able to pass like you usually do against defenses? is the awesome Alabama too much to handle?

Cody Hodges

  (1:14 PM)

We'll see. That's why we're going to play the game. Here at Tech, we respect anyone we play. We're not going to go scared into any game, though.

Alpine texas

can bama stop your passing game given the month leach has had time to prepare

Cody Hodges

  (1:15 PM)

Completely? I don't think so and that's not being cocky. Bama is going to be good and they're going to make plays, but for four quarters, I don't think they will be able to stop us.

Mike (Austin, TX)

With the overwhelming success that TT has had on offense, why don't we see more schools going to the same offense?

Cody Hodges

  (1:16 PM)

I think a lot of schools are just set in the ways of what they do. The other coaches have done what they have for 5, 10, 15 years. If you want to use our offense, you have to completely sell out to it if you're going to be successful at it.

Ed in Tampa

Being an Allum in Fla, tell us why we should make the trip to Dallas.. can we really win????

Cody Hodges

  (1:17 PM)

Yeah, we can win. If we play well, we have a chance to win. Any time you play, you have the chance. Ed, come to the Cotton Bowl and see it.

Jeremy (Lubbock, Texas)

What are your plans for after the season?

Cody Hodges

  (1:18 PM)

I'm playing in the Hula Bowl in the middle of January. Then I'm just going to try to make it to a camp and see what happens.

Mike (Austin, TX)

How do you answer your critics that say that your record is just the product of an extremely weak schedule (playing only one ranked team)?

Cody Hodges

  (1:19 PM)

There's another team in our conference that's played only one ranked team - Texas. Are they a product of a weak schedule. Playing in the Big 12, you have to come to play every weak. Every one's going to criticize. Everyone's entitled their own opinion.

Chester (Newburgh,NY)

Cody, What other team(s) have you played this year, that is comparable to Bama's Defense

Cody Hodges

  (1:19 PM)

I would say Texas, athletically. And also OU. OU plays an aggressive, smashmouth defense.

Josh (Dallas, TX)

With such a great receiving corp., who is your favorite target? It seems you were throwing the ball to Filani much more at the beginning of the season. Was this because the defenses were aiming at taking away Hicks? Good luck in the Cotton Bowl and I will be there cheering you on....

Cody Hodges

  (1:20 PM)

Early on in the season, Hicks was double-teamed a lot, leaving others open. My favorite is whoever is open and makes a catch. My job is really easy.

Mark (Ann Arbor)

Would you consider playing baseball if football doesn't work out?

Cody Hodges

  (1:21 PM)

I haven't played baseball since the seventh grade, so probably not.

Ryan Fort Worth,TX

What game did you feel was the hardest one and how did you try to overcome it?

Cody Hodges

  (1:22 PM)

The hardest game was after the loss to Oklahoma State. That was the worst we've played all year. With one game left after that, either we were going to quit or rally. My job as QB is to make sure to get everyone to focus and not go into the tank.

Dallas Texas

is your back up ready to play next season

Cody Hodges

  (1:23 PM)

He is. Graham is going to be a great quarterback. He still has three years to play. He'll be ready to play and start.

IWB Lubbock

I hear you a renowned balloon animal artist. Is this true?

Cody Hodges

  (1:23 PM)

(laughs) I am. And actually, IWB taught me everything I know about that.

Tom (Levinrill)

Who is your back up? Have you been used as a recruiting tool at all?

Cody Hodges

  (1:24 PM)

My backup is Graham Harrell. I've been used some as a recruiting tool, but not much. They want to talk to guys that will be here.

Bionic T (Wichita)

Hoe has Keyunta Dawson looked at LB in practice? Will he be playing LB in the Cotton Bowl?

Cody Hodges

  (1:25 PM)

In the Cotton Bowl, he'll play defensive end. He has looked good at LB. In the spring, he'll try LB. Regardless of where he is he'll make some plays.

Lubbock, TX

Cody, the last time Texas Tech was in the Cotton Bowl was 1995 when Tech was blown out against a very talented USC team. Has any of the 1995 Cotton Bowl loss been used as a motivational tool to get you guys ready for this years cotton bowl?

Cody Hodges

  (1:26 PM)

Not really. Coach Leach at all. We're playing at a chance to win our fourth straight bowl game, which hasn't been done in our history.

Cody Hodges

  (1:27 PM)

Appreciate your questions and your support. We look forward to playing in the Cotton Bowl.