Texas Tech’s Eric Stephens (25) leaps over Michigan State’s Jeremy Ware in the second quarter. Texas Tech held off Michigan State, 41-31, on Saturday in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

San Antonio ? The focus never completely returned to football even with Saturday night’s entertaining Valero Alamo Bowl after a brutally long week in Red Raider nation.

Texas Tech fans made known their displeasure about coach Mike Leach’s firing vocally and with T-shirts and signs. And the back-and-forth between Leach and Tech continued through game day and was reflected in ESPN’s telecast.

But all that ugliness contributed to making Tech’s rather dramatic 41-31 victory over Michigan State a cathartic experience worthy of crazy celebration. Despite the drama, the Red Raiders outlasted the Spartans in front of a crowd of 64,757 after coming from behind twice in the second half.

They took the lead on backup quarterback Steven Sheffield’s 11-yard TD pass to Detron Lewis with 5:03 to play. Sheffield was inserted to lead the go-ahead drive after starter Taylor Potts apparently suffered an injury after throwing for 384 yards and two TDs.

Sheffield led the eight-play, 77-yard drive that included a 43-yard pass to Lyle Leong on third-and-12.

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill — who has openly campaigned for the Tech job — got a win in his first try as a head coach. Though McNeill’s defense allowed MSU big plays all night, safety Franklin Mitchem intercepted MSU late.

Then Tech helped run out the clock by going for it on fourth down — a trademark of Leach’s — and converting. Running back Baron Batch added a 13-yard TD with 2:08 left to leave no doubt.

Leach was fired after 10 seasons on Wednesday, for alleged mistreatment of receiver Adam James and for insubordination.

James, who did not play in the game due to injury, was mildly booed leaving and returning to the field before and after the half.

In the crowd: A sign with Tech chancellor Kent Hance’s last name with a slash through it. One man wore a hat decorated with pacifiers, labeled “Adam James Commemorative Pacifiers.” Several “Team Leach” shirts were also spotted — as were fans wearing pirate hats, a tribute to their former coach.

MSU dealt with its own adversity — missing 14 players, most of them suspended after a November brawl.

Tech’s offense, which was always called by Leach, was turned over to his protege, Lincoln Riley. It started hot, with Tech taking a 20-14 lead into half. Tech’s second touchdown was set up by a 50-yard flea-flicker from quarterback Potts to Austin Zouzalik.

But MSU stayed close with big plays — a 46-yard TD run by Edwin Baker and a 48-yard TD pass by Kirk Cousins to Keshawn Martin.

Then Keith Nichol scored on a 7-yard run to give MSU its first lead of the game, 21-20, just after Tech lost a fumble on the second half’s opening kick return.

But Potts connected with Jacoby Franks for a 14-yard touchdown to retake the lead, 27-21, in the middle of the third.

Still, Cousins connected on a 49-yard gain to Blair White. A pass completion out of a fake field goal attempt kept the drive alive, and MSU retook the lead, 28-27 late in the third.

Potts threw an interception to open the final quarter, and MSU hit a 44-yard field goal to increase its lead to 31-27 with 8:05 to play.