Texas Tech-Eastern Washington Game Notes (Pre-game)

Eastern Washington Eagles Weekly Release - Official Site

Texas Tech Red Raiders Weekly Release - Official Site

Random Saturday Morning Texas Tech News

• The Dallas Morning News has a story on how Texas Tech looks to avoid an upset in the Red Raiders season opener against Eastern Washington.
  
• The Lubbock A-J reports on how the hype about this year's Red Raider football team is helping pump money into the local economy.
  
• The Goin' Band will show off their new uniforms at this evening's game and the Daily Toreador has a story on the new look.
  
• KCBD reports that the Texas Tech Hurricane Research Team is headed for the gulf coast and hurricane Gustav.
  
• The Texas Tech women's soccer team dropped its Big 12 opener with a 3-2 loss to Colorado last night.
  
• The Seattle Times has a story on Eastern Washington starting quarterback Matt Nichols.

Random Wednesday Texas Tech News

• Texas Tech merchandise is flying off the shelves with the hype of the upcoming football season. KCBD has a story on how sales have increased this season.
  
• The Dallas Morning News as a quick glance at the Texas Tech football team just before the season opening against Eastern Washington.
  
• The Austin American-Statesman has a story on how the spread offense is taking over college football and the article has a mention of Mike Leach in it.
  
• Seth over at Double-T Nation compares the Texas Tech offense against the Eastern Washington defense.
  
• Hopefully I'll be able to get some more pictures posted from the construction around Jones AT&T stadium Thursday or Friday as the activity builds before Saturday evening's kickoff.

New TTU Campus Pictures-8/22/2008 Edition

The newest pictures of the Texas Tech campus were posted today on Raider Power.

This batch includes continuing construction on the Marsha Sharp Freeway near the Texas Tech campus in and around Jones AT&T Stadium.

Traffic is now flowing on the flyover that leads traffic from east bound 4th Street to the east bound access road directly north of the Stadium. This flyover will eventually be the ramp that takes the east bound 4th Street traffic to the east bound freeway. The permanent ramp for the east bound access road is still under construction. There is currently no traffic light, or intersection for that matter, now at the old 4th Street/Brownfield Highway area.

The north bound University Avenue bridge is now open over the freeway with the access road turn around due open by the first football game along with an area for foot traffic across the bridge.

The Town and Country Shopping Center is now just a lot of dirt except for the Hastings building as that area will serve as a prime tail gate location.

The pedestrian bridge is still a ways off from being ready before the first game. Concrete railing is now going up, but it doesn't look like it will be ready for the August 30th game against Eastern Washington. Be prepared to walk to the University Avenue bridge to get across the highway.

The constructions continues in the North Overton area as well with crews now working on the third floor of The Centre II, directly east of The Centre. The Overton Hotel and Conference Center is now standing at 12 stories tall. The steel work on the new Ruby Tequila's is also moving along.

Please feel free to post comments or ask questions.

Pictures below: #1- View of Jones AT&T Stadium approaching from the eastbound 4th Street flyover. #2 - Pedestrian Bridge entrance near the southwest corner of the stadium.

Construction Around Jones AT&T Stadium (Update-8/20/2008)

I hope to have some pictures posted tomorrow or Friday.

The north and south bound traffic on University Avenue is now running over the Marsha Sharp Freeway on the north bound bridge. They are removing dirt so the south bound bridge can be constructed. They have also provided an area on the west side of the north bound bridge for foot traffic.

There is now no traffic light at Fourth Street and Brownfield Highway. East bound traffic on fourth street has been re-routed to the flyover that will take drivers to the east bound access road. The flyover currently being used is temporary and will eventually be the flyover that takes traffic to the east bound freeway. The flyover for the east bound access road is not completed yet.

The view coming over the flyover is great as you have a full view of the west side portion of Jones AT&T stadium.

They are now clearing debris from the Town and Country Shopping Center. The only building standing is Hastings.

The railing is starting to take shape on the pedestrian bridge just to the southwest of the stadium.

The Overton Hotel and Conference Center now stands at 11-12 stories tall. Ruby Tequila's has a lot of steel work done.

It even sounds like football season now as the Goin' Band has begun practice this week. They will have their practice march to the stadium Friday morning at 7:30.

View from the Cheap Seats

The college football season is now only two weeks away here are some random thoughts before the opening kickoff. Nobody in the Big 12 comes close to Graham Harrell in passing yardage (I'm sure you didn't need me to tell you that, but read on anyway), Baylor really has a problem with conference games, the Red Raiders set the bar when it comes to points after touchdowns, a misleading stat, bulletin board material for the Longhorns as if they needed any, and an Eastern Washington "Did you know."

Pass Happy – Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell threw for over 300 yards a game every time he took the field in 2007, with his high a 646 yard performance against Oklahoma State. The 13 times Harrell topped the 300 yard mark was tops in the Big 12 conference, while Missouri's Chase Daniel was second, surpassing the 300 yard mark eight times.

0 for Big 12 – Baylor started the 2007 season 3-1, and then the Bears realized they still had to play a Big 12 schedule and promptly lost eight straight games. This season the Bears play a little tougher schedule before beginning conference play in 2008. Wake Forest and Washington State visit Waco for non-conference games along with a game at Connecticut.

Just for Kicks – Former Texas Tech place kicker Alex Trlica never missed an extra point in his career with the Red Raiders, including going 67 of 67 last season. Two other teams were also perfect during the 2007 season with extra points. Missouri was also 67 of 67 and Nebraska was 46 of 46.

Red Raiders Underachieving in the Red Zone? – The 2007 season provided some interesting red zone stats for the Texas Tech offense. The Red Raiders were the ninth as the most efficient team in the conference scoring from inside the opponent's 20 yard line. Tech scored on 56 of 68 possessions for an 82.4% success rate while Missouri topped the conference by scoring 91% of the time while in the red zone. However, this is a case where the stats are misleading as the Red Raiders scored the most touchdowns from the red zone last season with 51 compared to Mizzou's 45.

Bulletin Board Material – I wouldn't want to be a Florida Atlantic player when the Owls visit Texas on August 30^th. FAU head coach Howard Schnellenberger was quoted in the school's newspaper that Texas is not a physically tough team. Schellenberger denies making the comments, but we may have the season's first instance of "foot in mouth" disease.

Eastern Washington University Tidbit – The Eagles have won two national championships at the Football Championship Subdivision level. EWU won national titles in 1997 and 2001. (Info courtesy of the EWU official website.)

Lady Raider Basketball Releases 2008-2009 Schedule/Women’s Soccer Teams Begins Season Thursday

The Lady Raider 2008-2009 basketball schedule has been released with the regular season beginning on November 14^th with a home contest against Idaho. The highlight of the non-conference portion of the schedule will be November 27-29^th as the Lady Raiders travel to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam. Texas Tech will face Iowa, California, and South Florida as part of the tournament. The Lady Raiders will begin Big 12 Conference play on January 10^th, 2009 with a home game against Texas.

The Texas Tech women's soccer team kicks off the 2008 season with a pre-season exhibition match against West Texas A&M. The match will begin at seven on Thursday, August 14^th at the John Walker soccer complex on the Texas Tech campus. The regular season begins on August 22 with a non-conference contest against Lamar.

2008-09 Texas Tech Women's Basketball Schedule

Day	Date	Opponent	Location Time
Sun.	Nov. 2	Melbourne Roos (exhibition)	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Sun.	Nov. 9	Houston Jaguars (exhibition)	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Fri.	Nov. 14	Idaho	Lubbock, Texas	TBA
Sun.	Nov. 16	Washington State	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Fri.	Nov. 21	Lamar	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sun.	Nov. 23	Texas-Arlington	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Paradise Jam
Thurs.	Nov. 27	vs. Iowa^	St. Thomas, Virgin Islands	5 p.m.
Fri.	Nov. 28	vs. California^	St. Thomas, Virgin Islands	7:30 p.m.
Sat.	Nov. 29	vs. South Florida^	St. Thomas, Virgin Islands	5 p.m.
Tues.	Dec. 2	UNLV	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sat.	Dec. 13	New Mexico	Albuquerque, N.M.	TBA
Thurs.	Dec. 18	Prairie View A&M	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sat.	Dec. 20	Sacramento State	Lubbock, Texas	TBA
Mon.	Dec. 29	UCLA	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sat.	Jan. 3	Arkansas	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Sat.	Jan. 10	Texas*	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Tues.	Jan. 13	Texas A&M*	College Station, Texas	TBA
Sat.	Jan. 17	Kansas*	Lawrence, Kan.	7 p.m.
Wed.	Jan. 21	Kansas State*	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sat.	Jan. 24	Baylor*	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Wed.	Jan. 28	Colorado*	Boulder, Colo.	TBA
Sat.	Jan. 31	Oklahoma State*	Lubbock, Texas	1 p.m.
Mon.	Feb. 2	Savannah State	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sun.	Feb. 8	Texas*	Austin, Texas	TBA
Wed.	Feb. 11	Texas A&M*	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sat.	Feb. 14	Nebraska*	Lincoln, Neb.	TBA
Tues.	Feb. 17	Oklahoma*	Lubbock, Texas	7 p.m.
Sat.	Feb. 21	Oklahoma State*	Stillwater, Okla.	TBA
Wed.	Feb. 25	Baylor*	Waco, Texas	TBA
Sat.	Feb. 28	Iowa State*	Lubbock, Texas	8 p.m.
Wed.	Mar. 4	Oklahoma*	Norman, Okla.	7 p.m.
Sat.	Mar. 7	Missouri*	Lubbock, Texas	2 p.m.
Thurs.-Sun.	Mar. 12-15	Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship	Oklahoma City, Okla.

^Paradise Jam, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
*Big 12 Conference Game
All home games in Bold
All times are Central
Dates and times subject to change

Twas the Night Before Kickoff (Red Raider Edition)

I found myself watching the pre-season NFL game last night between Green Bay and Cincinnati wishing it was a regular season college game of any kind. In the boredom, I found myself thinking of the upcoming Texas Tech season and came up with the following piece for Red Raider fans. I'm not sure why I came up with it, but I should probably stick with posting my campus pictures and let someone else do the writing.

Twas the night before kickoff, when all through "The Jones",
Mike Leach was stirring, he was in his own zone.
The jerseys were hung in the lockers with care,
In hopes that players soon would be there.

The fans were ready all decked out in red,
While visions of touchdowns danced in their head.
And mom in her double-t shirt, and I in my Tech cap,
Had just settled in our seats for the season's first snap.

When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
We rose from our seats to see what was the matter.
Away to the end zone it flew fast and free,
Another touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree.

The new stadium turf reflected the hot Texas sun,
knowing the opponents soon would be done.
When, what to my wondering ears should I hear,
But Ruffin McNeill, shouting "play better D" to those anywhere near.

With a head coach, with such a quick wit,
We knew with the fans he'd be a quick hit.
The one-liners he told were as good as the game,
Even when he called out the refs and said they were lame!

He was dressed all in red, from his head to his toes,
He was ready for those Big 12 foes.
A helmet on his head and pads on his back,
And he looked like a player, just ready to smack.

"Now, Harrell! Now, Crabtree! Now, Morris and Woods!
On, Reed! On, Britton! On Duncan and Williams!
To the top of the standings! A Big 12 title for all!
These Red Raiders are standing tall!

Look left, look right, the passes they fly,
To Morris, to Britton, to Crabtree, oh my.
So straight to the end-zone the receivers run,
That quarterback Harrell has some kind of gun.

And then, in a twinkling, the black horse flew,
On his back, the Masked Rider too.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
The Goin' Band kicked in, man what a sound.

The crowd sprang to its feet, the band played the school song,
Another Red Raider win, as the victory bells go ding dong.
I heard fans exclaim, 'as they drove out of sight,
"Go Red Raiders, we are number-one tonight!"

Random Tuesday Morning Texas Tech News

• Defensive lineman McKinner Dixon has been ruled eligible for the 2008 season, but it will be a slow climb up the depth chart for Dixon as ESPN's Tim Griffin writes.
  
• Griffin also writes about wide receiver Michael Crabtree and linebacker Bront Bird mixing it up after practice.
  
• Griffin spends five minutes with converted cornerback L.A. Reed talking about his new defensive position.
  
• The Houston Chronicle looks at the Texas Tech defense in an article posted this morning.
  
• The Lubbock A-J reports that the new freshmen will have a tough task seeing playing time this fall because of the talent of the upper classmen.

Random Monday Michael Crabtree News

There are a couple of articles out there today on Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree. The first is from the Dallas Morning News on how the Biletnikoff Award winner worked out daily during the summer.

The second article is from the Lubbock A-J and takes a look at Crabtree when he's not on the football field.

Random Saturday Morning Texas Tech News

There is not a lot of news out there on this Saturday morning, but I was able to find a couple of tidbits.

• The Texas Tech volleyball team reported to fall practice for the first time yesterday. Coach Nancy Todd's squad begins the season on August 22^nd at the Mean Green Volleyball Classic in Denton, Texas. Tech's first match of the season will be on September 12^th against McNeese State.
  
• The official website of the Big 12 Conference unveiled its site redesign on August 1^st. The new site is much easy to get around and has a sleeker look.
  
• Perhaps the biggest news of all this morning is that McKinner Dixon still may have a shot a playing for the Red Raiders this fall. The Lubbock A-J has the latest on this story.

Random Friday Morning Texas Tech News

A couple of non-sports stories highlight the news this morning.

• The Lubbock A-J reports that two businessmen will assist with a $1 billion fund raising campaign for the university.
  
• Funding for the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso is a top priority as reported by the El Paso Times.
  
• In a partnership with Harvard University, Texas Tech researchers may have found an AIDS cure. KCBD has a report on the story.
  
  • Newsweek Article: Researchers get closer to a more effective HIV treatment—and possibly a vaccine
    

Stadium Renderings Released by Texas Tech

Texas Tech University has released the renderings for the renovation of the east side of Jones AT&T Stadium. Construction will begin after the 2008 football season and is expected to be completed in time for the 2010 season. The cost of the expansion is expected to be $25,000,000.

Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance:

"We are obviously very excited about the plans to expand the east side of the stadium," said Chancellor Kent Hance. "With our football program in the national spotlight this season, now is the perfect opportunity to get all our friends and supporters behind this project."

Tech Athletic Director Gerald Myers:

"The completion of the east side will make Jones AT&T Stadium one of the most attractive football facilities in the country," said Gerald Myers, Texas Tech athletic director. "It will be a source of pride for students, alumni and fans."

Fundraising video from Texas Tech University.

Random Thursday Texas Tech News

• The Dallas Morning News has notes from the third day of Texas Tech football practice. Wednesday's session was the first practice in pads for the 2008 Red Raiders.
  
• Don Williams writes about the Jones AT&T stadium expansion planned for the east side. Construction should begin at the end of the 2008 season.
  
• The Lubbock A-J has a story on Tech president Guy Bailey saying faculty need salary increases to keep the university competitive.
  
• Not Tech related, but Lubbock related, Barnes and Noble Booksellers are planning a new two-story store in the South Plains Mall.

New TTU Campus Pictures-8/7/2008 Edition

The newest group of TTU campus pics has been posted at Raider Power. This batch includes shots of the Marsha Sharp Freeway near the Texas Tech Campus, the razing of the Towne and Country shopping center, North Overton, the Overton Hotel and Conference Center, and the Engineering renovation of the Livermore Auditorium.

The two new pedestrian bridges over the Marsha Sharp Freeway near Indiana Avenue and the Gaston apartments are nearly complete. Both bridges now have the concrete railings in place. The pedestrian crossing near Jones AT&T stadium is not that far along. However, this bridge has the most activity around it as it appears they may be trying to get it completed by the time football season roles around.

The demolition of the shopping center just to the north of the stadium continues as well. Hastings is about the only part of the building that is still standing.

The Overton Hotel and Conference center now stands at ten stories tall. Brick work has started on the east side of the conference center portion. The Centre II, which is directly east of The Centre, is going up at a rapid pace. The apartments around the parking garage are taking shape. Steel has also arrived near the new Ruby Tequila location on University, directly east of the stadium and it appears structures may soon go up at that location.

The Engineering renovation continues at the Livermore Auditorium. The exterior of the buidling is taking on the southwest spanish style of campus.

Please feel free to leave any questions or comments.

Pictures below: #1 North Overton #2 Pedestrian Bridge over the Marsha Sharp Freeway near Jones AT&T Stadium

Random Wednesday Texas Tech News

• The Lubbock A-J reports that the Lubbock economy enjoys the return of students to town for the fall semester.
  
• The official Texas Tech athletics website has information on the school hosting first and second round games of the 2009 NCAA women's basketball games at the United Spirit Arena.
  
  • Related Lubbock A-J story.
    
• The Dallas Morning News has a report from the second day of Red Raider football practice.
  
• The Tulsa World has a preview of the 2008 Texas Tech football team.

Random Tuesday Evening Texas Tech News

• The Sporting News is running down their top-50 teams and Texas Tech comes in at number-20. A much lower ranking for the Red Raiders than in other polls that have already been released.
  
  
• The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a story on the passing game of the Red Raiders.
  

  
  

• I also hope to have new batch of campus pictures posted on Thursday or Friday. Today, I sat and ate my lunch in the parking lot under a tree directly east of Jones AT&T Stadium and was amazed at the changes going on any direction you look.
  

  To the north, the shopping center continues to be razed and construction continues on the pedestrian bridge and Marsha Sharp Freeway.
  

  The north bound University Avenue bridge over the freeway is close to being open. They'll reroute both north and south lanes on the new bridge once that is complete so the south bound bridge can be constructed.
  

  The Overton Hotel and Conference center now stands nine stories tall and The Centre II has taken shape. There is also an increase at the new Ruby Tequila site just across University from the stadium. Just think, the east side of Jones AT&T stadium will also soon be a construction site as well. Anyway, pictures to come soon.

Football is Here, Players Report

The first sign that the college football season is upon us, Texas Tech players have reported for fall workouts. Kickoff can't get here soon enough!

Random Sunday Morning Texas Tech News

• The Kansas City Star has a story about the premier quarterbacks in the Big 12 Conference.
  

  Tech head football coach Mike Leach on what he likes to see in a quarterback:
  

(From the Kansas City Star) "They say a guy has to be 6-4 so he can drop back and throw over a guy who is 6-7," Leach said. "That's a falsehood right there. It's more about passing lanes. It's better to be short and on target than tall."

• The Lubbock A-J has a story on the partnership between Texas Tech and Lubbock during the city's first 100 years.
  
  
• The Deseret News has a story on former Texas Tech basketball player Jonathan Plefka who is now playing minor league baseball in Utah. The story reflects on Plefka playing for Bobby Knight and his current baseball career.
  

(From the Deseret News) "It was just a great experience," Plefka said. "It's something I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. If I could do it again, I'd do it every single time. It was probably the hardest 2 1/2 years of my life, but I think I've become a better person and just a better player through his work ethic." Plefka can recall numerous lessons Knight taught him, but one that really stands out is the importance of staying disciplined in all situations. "Every game counts," Plefka said. "You've got to play every game 100 percent. You never know what will happen at the end of the year, and if you struggle one game you might not make the tournament. You've got to take every game seriously."

Pre-Season Polls for Tech’s Non-Conference Opponents

Everyone has seen the predictions for the teams in the Big 12 conference, but what are expectations for Texas Tech's four non-conference opponents in the 2008 season?

Eastern Washington, who made it to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, is predicted second by both coaches and media in the Big Sky Conference behind Montana.

Nevada is also predicted to finish in the top-half of the Western Athletic Conference. Boise State and Fresno State are predicted to finish in front of the Wolfpack in both the media and coaches polls of that conference.

SMU is predicted fifth in Conference USA's West Division as the Mustangs will have to adjust to new head coach June Jones.

Massachusetts is picked as the top team in the Colonial Athletic Conference. The Minutemen, who will be the Red Raiders final non-conference tune-up, are selected to win the north division of the CAA and garnered the overall most first place votes in the poll.

Random Saturday Morning Texas Tech News

• Texas Tech's new president, Guy Bailey, begins work on Monday, August 4^th. Bailey will be introduced as the University's 15^th president at 10:00 Monday morning at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion.
  
• The Dallas Morning News has a story about the Big 12's presence in the first USA Today football coach's poll.
  
• Fox Sports Net begins its college football preview this afternoon with a look at the Big 12 south teams. The Baylor preview begins the festivities at 1:30 while Texas Tech will be featured at 2:00. The teams from the north will have previews air on Sunday.
• Safety Terrence Bullitt tells SuperPrep.com he is still solidly committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
  

New Blog Look and Name Change

Since a new football season is just under a month away, I decided to tweak the look of the blog slightly to get ready for the season.

I have noticed that if you search for "Totally Tech", it not only brings up links to Texas Tech, but a lot more links for "Technology" in general. So the blog name is now officially "Totally Texas Tech".

The color scheme has also been changed with more red and black added to the site. The most notable change is the photo at the top of the page.

Let me know your thoughts about the new changes.

Random Friday Evening Texas Tech News

• Tim Griffin of ESPN has ranked his top receivers in the Big 12 and to no one's surprise, Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree tops the list. Teammate Detron Lewis is number nine on the list, but no love for Eric Morris.
  
• The official website of Texas Tech Athletics has a story on the Red Raider Club adding two new staff members.
  
• Tim Griffin also has a top-ten list for clutch performers in Big 12 history with Graham Harrell making this list. I would have to include Wes Welker in this list.