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 No. 12 Red Raiders Head West For Clash At Nevada
 
Kickoff set for 8:05 p.m. (CT) at Mackay Stadium in Reno
 

TEXAS TECH at NEVADA
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Mackay Stadium - Reno, Nev.
8:05 p.m. (CT) Kickoff

Media Coverage

Television - None
Webcast - www.nevadawolfpack.com
Network Radio - Texas Tech Sports Network
Satellite Radio - Sirius Channel 122
Texas Tech Game Notes  |  Nevada Game Notes  |  Big 12 Game Notes

Noting The Red Raiders

Eric Morris led the Red Raiders with 164 yards receiving last week against Eastern Washington.
SATURDAY'S GAME
Texas Tech faces Nevada at 8 p.m. CT Saturday in Reno, Nev., at Mackay Stadium. The game will not be televised, but can be heard live on Sports Radio 1340 in Lubbock and any one of 48 affiliates on the Texas Tech Sports Network. Fans also can listen on Sirius 122 or at www.texastech.com.

SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
Nevada cruised to a 49-13 win over Grambling State in its season opener last weekend in Reno. The Wolfpack rolled up 629 yards of total offense, 426 coming on the ground. The UNR defense held GSU to 230 total yards and only five rushing. Nevada grabbed two interceptions, while GSU completed 13-of-27passes. Offensively, one player, Vai Taua, rushed for 103 yards, while nine total players recorded double-digit rushing yards. The Wolf Pack scored seven times on the ground. QB Colin Kaepernick rushed for three scores to lead Nevada, while he also completed 10-of-17 passes for 122 yards and an interception.

SEASON OPENERS
Texas Tech extended its season-opening win streak to six after Saturday's 49-24 win over Eastern Washington. The Red Raiders are 55-26-3 all-time in season openers. The Red Raiders opened the season at home for the 56th time and have an overall mark of 43-11-2 in those games, including the last nine. The last time Tech lost in a season opener at home was against Oklahoma in 1992.

HOME OPENERS
The Red Raiders improved to 63-18-3 all-time in home openers, including the last nine straight. The last Tech loss in a home opener came against North Texas in 1999.

RED RAIDERS AND WOLFPACK
Texas Tech and Nevada are meeting for the first time.

FIRST-TIME MEETINGS
Eastern Washington and Nevada are the 125th and 126th different opponents to make an appearance on the Texas Tech ledger. Texas Tech has faced 14 programs for the first time under Mike Leach and is 12-2 in those games, including the last eight. Other first-time meetings under Leach include Northwestern State and Virginia in 2007; Southeastern Louisiana and Minnesota in 2006; Florida International, Sam Houston State, Indiana State and Alabama in 2005; California in 2004; Navy in 2003; Clemson in 2002; Stephen F. Austin in 2001; and East Carolina in 2000. A first-time matchup has taken place 25 times in bowl games, with the opponents holding a 14-10-1 advantage (Tech 5-2 under Leach in first-time matchups in bowl games).

TEXAS TECH 12th IN AP POLL
After receiving its highest preseason ranking in 31 years, Texas Tech remained at No. 12 in the latest Associated Press poll. Associated Press Poll Notes

  • The current ranking is the highest in the poll for Texas Tech since a No. 8 showing in 1977
  • Texas Tech has appeared in nine final AP polls throughout the program's 83-year history
  • Texas Tech set a school record of 22-straight weeks in the AP top 25 from 2004-06; the previous high was 20 weeks during the 1976-77 seasons
  • The Red Raiders spent three-straight weeks at No. 5 in 1976, Tech's highest-ever ranking
  • The Red Raiders spent eight weeks in the top 10 in 1976
  • The most recent high ranking for Texas Tech was No. 10 in 2005 (Oct. 16)
  • Texas Tech is currently in a five-year streak of being ranked in the AP poll, the longest streak in school history

    TEXAS TECH JUMPS TO 13TH IN COACHES POLL
    A panel of FBS coaches voted the Red Raiders No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, following Texas Tech's season-opening win over Eastern Washington. The ranking is the highest in the poll since a No. 8 ranking in 2005 (Oct. 16).

    KICKING OFF IN AUGUST
    Last weekend's game against Eastern Washington marked the sixth time Texas Tech opened the season in the month of August and the fourth time under Mike Leach. The Red Raiders are 3-3 in those games.

    HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
    Since the start of the 2003 season, Texas Tech boasts a 27-5 record at Jones AT&T Stadium. The .844 winning percentage is tied 11th with West Virginia during that stretch. Only Oklahoma (1st/.969) and Texas (8th/.871) have higher percentages among Big 12 schools.

    SEASON TICKETS SOLD OUT
    For the first time in the program's 84-year history, Texas Tech has sold out of season tickets. The department announced August 20 that 41,773 season tickets were sold for the upcoming season. The number surpasses the previous high of 40,436 sold in 2005.

    QUICK SCORES
    The Red Raiders had 37 scoring drives in under two minutes in 2007, with 32 of those going for touchdowns. Tech was third nationally behind Tulsa (41) and East Carolina (38). Kansas (36) and Central Michigan (36) were fourth and fifth.

    QUICKER SCORES
    Texas Tech had 13 scoring drives under a minute last season, 11 of those going for touchdowns. The Red Raiders tied Navy and Missouri for third nationally, behind East Carolina and Tulsa, respectively.


    Tech managed one in the opener against Eastern Washington last week on the last score of the game. The Red Raiders capitalized late in the fourth quarter off of EWU's turnover on downs. RB Baron Batch carried the ball in from 26 yards out, capping a drive that took only 49 seconds.

    RED RAIDERS AMONG ANOTHER TOP 25
    Since the start of the 2003 season, Texas Tech has 43 wins to its credit, which ranks among the top 25 during that span. Only Oklahoma (55) and Texas (55) have more wins among Big 12 schools.

    GOING FOR IT ON FOURTH DOWN
    Texas Tech was successful on 19 fourth-down conversions last season, tying Navy and Notre Dame for the national lead. The Red Raiders converted 61 percent (19-of-31) on the season. The Red Raiders were unsuccessful on two attempts in this year's opener.

    SCORING IN BUNCHES
    The Red Raiders have scored 30 or more points in 17 of the last 19 games, including the last five straight to end the 2007 campaign. Only Florida (8), Navy (7) and Central Michigan (7) have more consecutive games 30-point games entering the season. Tech is tied with Texas.

    TEXAS PROUD
    Eighty-four of the 105 players that reported to preseason camp hail from the state of Texas. Of those, 37 are among the offensive and defensive two-deep. All 11 offensive starters and eight on the defensive side are Texans.

    REACHING COAST-TO-COAST AND BEYOND
    Of the 21 players on the 105 that hail from outside the state of Texas, nine of those jumped the border from Oklahoma. Texas Tech's reach extends across the continental U.S. from Georgia (2) and South Carolina (1) to California (2) and points in between - Arizona, New Mexico, Tennessee, Louisiana, Kansas and Arkansas are represented with a player each. Additionally, Hawaii has a player on the Texas Tech roster.

    PROGRAM APPROACHING A MILESTONE
    Texas Tech Football is nine wins away from the 500th win in program history. Beginning with the first win against Montezuma on Oct. 17, 1925, to the Red Raiders' win in the Gator Bowl against Virginia in January, the program has accumulated 491 wins to 387 losses and 32 ties. Other Milestone Wins
    100 at Oklahoma A&M (16-6) - Oct. 3, 1941
    200 West Texas State (38-14) - Sept. 17, 1960
    300 at Baylor (17-7) - Sept. 10, 1977
    400 Air Force (55-41) - Dec. 27, 1995

    TECH STEADY AT HOME OUT OF CONFERENCE
    Since Mike Leach's arrival in 2000, the Red Raiders boast an 18-1 non-conference record at Jones AT&T Stadium. Overall, Texas Tech is 31-8 in non-conference matchups, including five bowl wins. The program is 7-4 on the road and 6-3 at neutral sites.

    PICKS COME FROM ALL THREE UNITS
    Texas Tech grabbed three interceptions against Eastern Washington, with players from the defensive line, linebacking unit and secondary collecting picks. It also marked the first time since Oct. 29, 2005, at Baylor that Texas Tech had grabbed three INTs. LB Brian Duncan intercepted EWU QB Matt Nichols on the game's first play, setting up the Red Raiders' first score. DT Rajon Henley made his first-career pick, snagging a Nichols pass out of the air at the line, while SS Daniel Charbonnet grabbed his second-career INT early in the fourth quarter. Henley's pick was the first for a Texas Tech defensive lineman since current defensive GA Chris Hudler snagged one at Oklahoma State during the 2005 season.

    NICE START FOR McNEILL
    Although he served as defensive coordinator on an interim basis last season, Ruffin McNeill's first play with the interim tag removed got his tenure off with a bang. LB Brian Duncan took a deflected pass off of EWU receiver Aaron Boyce on the initial play of the game. Tech scored eight plays later.

    WOODS COMES BACK STRONG
    RB Shannon Woods reclaimed the starting nod at the position in the preseason and had a nice debut to start 2008. Woods scored twice on the ground, including the first score of the season. He finished the game with a productive 52 all-purpose yards, including 37 on the ground.

    FOUR RED RAIDERS GET FIRST STARTS
    SAM Bront Bird, CB Brent Nickerson, WR Detron Lewis and SS Daniel Charbonnet made their first-career starts against Eastern Washington and each turned in some of the top performances of the night. Nickerson, who had 10 total appearances for the Red Raiders in the previous two seasons, finished the game fourth with six solo tackles and a pass breakup. Lewis exploded for 163 yards on nine receptions, including a 76-yard catch. Charbonnet collected his second-career interception in the fourth quarter and had five tackles and a pass breakup.

    TIME TO START A NEW ONE
    Freshman PK Donnie Carona's second PAT attempt was blocked by Eastern Washington and brought to an end Texas Tech's 234-consecutive PAT run that dated back to the opener in 2004. Alex Trlica accounted for 233 of those and holds the NCAA record for PATs made without a miss in a career.

    TECH SCORES FIVE ON THE GROUND
    Texas Tech's running game was the scoring machine in the opener as the ground troops scored five times. RB Shannon Woods scored twice, RB Baron Batch and RB Aaron Crawford once each and QB Graham Harrell once. The five scores were the most in a game since Tech's Insight Bowl win over Minnesota in 2006.


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