Monday Football Practice Report
August 16, 1999 | Football
Aug. 16, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech head football coach Spike Dykes termed the first day of full-squad practices ?better than expected? after the Red Raiders completed a pair of 90-minute workouts in shorts and head gear Monday.
Eighty Texas Tech upperclassmen practiced for the first time since spring drills Monday. They joined 25 newcomers, who went through four workouts last week. NCAA rules limit squad size to 105 during pre-season camps before school is in session.
?It was a good first day. The kids are in good condition with really good attitudes and that?s about all you can ask of them right now,? Dykes said. ?Truth is, we haven?t done too much, but the guys are in a lot better condition than when they left in the spring.
?What?s going on right now is really no big deal since we are limited in what we?re doing,? Dykes said. ?Without getting into it before we?re ready, there were three or four good things that I saw today that I didn?t expect to see.?
Both of Monday?s drills consisted of individual position group work, team periods and work on the kicking game. Dykes said that he expected Tuesday and Wednesday?s practices to be identical workouts.
The Red Raiders put on full pads for the first time Thursday afternoon, working toward the first scrimmage of the pre-season Saturday morning. When the pads go on, full gear workouts are scheduled for the afternoons, with morning practices conducted in shoulder pads and helmets.
Texas Tech opens the 1999 season Labor Day at Arizona State. The game, which will be televised by Fox Sports Net, is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CDT.