Red-Black Game Scheduled for March 27
June 21, 1999 | Football
January 30, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech will begin preparations for the 1999 season next month when it conducts its annual spring drills and Red Black Game, head coach Spike Dykes announced.
The annual Red-Black Game will be played on March 27 at 10 a.m. in Jones Stadium. The game will feature a number of promotions this year, including a Lettermen's Golf Tournament on Friday and a Bar-B-Que following the game. Fans will once again be able to select the starting lineups for the Red team through online at www.texastech.com and through the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. The Masked Rider's public transfer of the reins, Raider Red, the award-winning Goin' Band and other attractions are planned as well.
The Red Raiders will begin spring practice on Tuesday, March 2 and will conduct a total of 15 workouts that will culminate on Thursday, April 1. Texas Tech will conduct a total of eight sessions the first two weeks prior to spring break, then seven sessions, including the Red-Black game, following the week off.
Texas Tech returns six starters on defense and eight on offense from its 7-5 team that advanced to the Sanford Independence Bowl last season. Offensively, the Red Raiders return the top tailback in the Big 12 in Ricky Williams, starting quarterback Rob Peters, as well as flanker Derek Dorris, fullback Jonathan Hawkins, tackles Jonathan Gray and Steve McFadden, all-Big 12 guard Curtis Lowery and tight end Kyle Allamon.
Defensively, the loss of All-America defensive end Montae Reagor will be offset by the return of former roommate and starting defensive end Taurus Rucker. In addition, the SWARM will return starters including all-Big 12 defensive tackle Kris Kocurek, linebacker Kyle Shipley, cornerback Oscar Solis, free safety John Norman and Raiderbacks Keith Cockrum and Reagan Bownds.
"Spring practice is always a good time to get some of the younger players more experience in our system," said Dykes, who is entering his 13th season as the dean of the Big 12 coaches. "As freshmen, most of those guys end up playing on a lot of the scout teams and don't get a chance to get fully integrated into the lineup. We have a lot of younger talent returning next year so it will really be crucial for us to have a good spring."
TEXAS TECH SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE
March 2 Shorts 3:45 March 23 Shorts 3:45 March 3 Shorts 3:45 March 24 Pads 3:45 March 4 Pads 3:45 March 25 Pads 3:45 March 6 Scrimmage 2:00 March 27 Red-Black 10:00 March 8 Pads 3:45 March 30 Pads 3:45 March 9 Pads 3:45 March 31 Pads 3:45 March 10 Pads 3:45 April 1 Pads 3:45 March 11 Scrimmage 3:45