Football Newcomers Work Out
August 04, 1999 | Football
August 11, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - Twenty-five Texas Tech newcomers officially began their Red Raider football careers with a pair of workouts in shorts and helmets Wednesday.
Coach Spike Dykes and his staff put the new Red Raiders through a pair of 90-minute workouts on the grass practice fields just South of Jones Stadium. The 25 newcomers include 13 offensive players, 10 on defense and a pair of kickers.
"We had a couple of good practices considering we are working with a skeleton crew," Dykes said following the afternoon workout. "It gives the kids a chance to get their feet on the ground and the coaches a chance to get to know the kids. It was a good day for everybody."
Stopping short of singling players out, Dykes did say that some freshmen could work their way into playing time. He said it was tough to speculate on that with so few players at some positions, however.
"I think it is fair to say I wouldn't be surprised if some of these guys don't work their way into a lineup later on," Dykes said. "We've had years when we expected a lot of freshmen to play and had very few, but we've also had years when we didn't think anybody could help us right away and several did.
"This group is in good condition, maybe better than I expected, and they have a good spirit." Dykes said. "On top of that they are good football players."
The newcomers will work out two more times as a group Thursday before being joined by upperclassmen on Friday evening. The first full-squad practices are set for Monday.