kˈʌmbi plˈeɪd kˈɑːlɪdʒ fˈʊtbɔːl æt tˈɛksəs tˈɛk ænd wʌzðə tˈiːmz stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ kwˈɔːɹɾɚbˌæk dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ sˈiːzən, wˌɛn hiː lˈɛd ðə nˈeɪʃən ɪn pˈæsɪŋ ænd tˈoʊɾəl əfˈɛns ænd ɐ ɡˈaɪdᵻd ðə ɹˈɛd ɹˈeɪdɚz tə wˈɪn ɪnðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ hˈɑːlɪdˌeɪ bˈoʊl, ˈɜːnɪŋ ˌɛmvˌiːpˈiː ˈɑːnɚz fɚðə ɡˈeɪm.
Cumbie played college football at Texas Tech and was the team's starting quarterback during the 2004 season, when he led the nation in passing and total offense and a guided the Red Raiders to win in the 2004 Holiday Bowl, earning MVP honors for the game.