Texas Tech was 8-2, ranked 18th in the nation and headed for a bowl as the 1989 Southwest Conference football season wound down.
In this Nov. 21, 1989, Dirk West cartoon, the Red Raider had been window-shopping and found just the bowl he wanted.
The Raiders did have an outside chance to reach the Cotton Bowl. Arkansas and Texas A&M were tied for the conference lead at 5-1, and Tech was right behind with a 5-2 conference mark.
For Tech to get the Cotton Bowl bid, the Raiders would have to win their last game, which would be against Houston in the Astrodome. The Aggies would have to beat Arkansas, and then Texas would have to upset the Aggies.
None of the scenarios played out. Tech lost to 13th-ranked Houston, Arkansas defeated A&M, and the Aggies whipped Texas. Arkansas won the SWC championship and went to the Cotton Bowl.
However, Tech accepted an invitation to the All-American Bowl and beat Duke 49-21.
Rice had beaten Baylor 6-3 the previous weekend, giving the Bears a 4-6 record. But Baylor would finish the season by crushing Texas 50-7.
Dirk, an avid golfer with many golfer friends, made an inside joke with Uncle Upright's remark. The Scrooge-like comment came from the Houston Cougar.
Dirk often drew Santa Claus in editorial cartoons and his advertising business but seldom put the likeness of the jolly old elf in a sports cartoon. Even in this rare instance, the bearded character turned out to be one of Santa's helpers.
