Red Raiders Head To Louisiana
September 07, 1999 | Football
Sept. 7, 1999
Texas Tech vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
September 11, 1999 - 7:00 pm(CDT)
Cajun Field - Lafayette, La. - (31,000)
COACHES
Spike Dykes (Stephen F. Austin, ?59) is in his 13th season as head coach of the Red Raider football program. The "Dean of the Big 12 Coaches," Dykes has a career record of 76-63-1 at Tech. Dykes has served in his current position longer than any coach in school history. He is tied with Pete Cawthon atop the all-time wins list at Tech with 76 wins.
Jerry Baldwin (Mississippi Valley, ?75) is in his first season at UL-Lafayette and his first year as a collegiate head coach.
SERIES
Texas Tech leads 3-0 in a series which began in 1994. This will be the first trip to Lafayette for the Red Raiders, with each of the first three games in the serries played at Jones Stadium.
RADIO
The All Sports Radio Network is in its fourth season of broadcasting Texas Tech football games on a network basis. The 22-station network covers the state of Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Jack Dale (play-by-play) and John Harris (color) provide gameday coverage.
The USL Sports Network carries Ragin? Cajun football. Don Allen and Jay Walker provide the commentary.
IN ESPANOL
All Texas Tech football games are broadcast in Spanish via KXTQ in Lubbock. Mario Montez and Israel Aguilar provide commentary. The Spanish broadcast, like the English broadcast on the All Sports Radio Network, can also be heard on the internet at www.texastech.com.
Two For the Road
Saturday?s contest at Louisiana-Lafayette will mark just the fourth time in school history the Red Raiders have opened the season by playing two consecutive road games. In 1983, the TTU opened with a 28-13 loss at Air Force before winning at Baylor, 26-11. In 1961, Texas Tech lost 6-0 at Ole Miss and then lost 42-14 at Texas. The 1931 Tech team is the only one to open with three straight road games, beating West Texas Teachers College (21-0) and New Mexico A&M (7-0) before losing to the Haskell Indians (8-0).
Three in 13
Saturday?s game against the Ragin? Cajuns will be the second of three games in 13 days for Texas Tech. The Red Raiders opened the season with a 31-13 loss at Arizona State on Labor Day and will play both Louisiana-Lafayette and North Texas by Sept. 18.9
The Last Time Out
Texas Tech opened its season by losing, 31-13, at Arizona State. J.R. Redmond rushed for 157 yards and a pair of scores to lead the Sun Devils. After scoring the game?s first touchdown, the Red Raiders managed just 246 total yards as four offensive starters left the game with injuries.
The Last Time vs. Ragin? Cajuns
The last time Texas Tech played the Ragin? Cajuns they were still going by their maiden name, Southwestern Louisiana. The Red Raiders won that game, 59-14, at Jones Stadium in the 1997 home opener. Ricky Williams and Zebbie Lethridge both ran for 88 yards as the Red Raiders rang up 580 yards total offense. Lethridge tied a school record with five touchdowns (3 rushing/2 passing).
Ragin? Cajun Series
Texas Tech leads the series with Louisiana-Lafayette 3-0. The Red Raiders and the Ragin? Cajuns began playing in 1994 and this will be Texas Tech?s first trip to Cajun Field in Lafayette. Tech has averaged 51.3 points in the three games vs. Louisiana-Lafayette.
Bouncing Back
Texas Tech is 4-1 in games following road losses to open the season under Spike Dykes, with an average margin of victory in those four games of 27.3 points. "Morning after" victims include Colorado State (33-24) in 1987, Missouri (41-14) in 1995, Oklahoma State (31-3) in 1996 and Southwestern Louisiana (59-14) in 1997.
Cross Ties With A Buzz
Louisiana-Lafayette assistant head coach Gary Bartel played his college football in Jones Stadium for the Red Raiders, lettering from 1972-74. Bartel played on Tech teams which went 8-4, 11-1 and 6-4-2, going to three bowl games.
On the flip side, Texas Tech associate athletic trainer Mark "Buzz" Chisum is a 1982 graduate of Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Awards Chase
After rushing for 1,582 yards last season, junior tailback Ricky Williams is poised to make a run at college football?s top awards in 1999. The second-leading returning rusher in the nation, Williams was a preseason All-America pick by several publications.
The 2,500 Yard Club
Even though a knee injury slowed Ricky Williams? 1999 debut last week and limited the Heisman hopeful to just 33 yards, it was enough to put him in an elite group of Texas Tech runners. Williams is one of only six ball carriers in Tech history to rush for over 2,500 career yards. He now has 2,509 yards and joins Byron Hanspard (4,219), James Gray (4,066), Bryon Morris (3,544), James Hadnot (2,794) and Larry Issac (2,633) in that exclusive club.
Same Day Travel
Texas Tech will be traveling via chartered flight to Louisiana-Lafayette the day of the game. This is not an unusual plan for the Red Raiders, dating back to a 1985 trip to Tulsa under previous coach Jerry Moore. Under Spike Dykes, the Red Raiders are 6-1 while traveling on game day. Last week?s loss at Arizona State was the first. Wins on same day trips have come over Baylor (1997), Texas (1997), Oklahoma State (1989), New Mexico twice (1990, 1995) and North Texas (1998).
Ricky on The Web
Follow Ricky Williams? Heisman chase on the world wide web at www.texastech.com/rickywilliams.
Sammy?s Back
Senior fullback Sammy Morris picked up right where he left off before being declared academically ineligible following the Texas A&M game in 1996. Morris? touch in 1996 was a game-winning 81-yard touchdown reception against the Aggies. IN his first touch after sitting out just over two seasons, Morris hauled in 37-yard pass to set up Tech?s first touchdown against Arizona State.
Top Fullback
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper has called Texas Tech?s Sammy Morris the top fullback in the upcoming National Football League draft. Before exiting at halftime against Arizona State with a bruised shoulder, Morris had caught three passes for 68 yards and ran three times for 11 yards.
Magic "35" Lives On
Freshman tailback Shaud Williams kept the magic of number 35 alive in the season opener at Arizona State. In his first action as a Red Raider, Williams carried five times for 40 yards and averaged 23.5 yards on two kickoff returns.
Some of the best players in recent Texas Tech football history have started their careers in the number 35. Doak Walker Award winners Byron Hanspard and Byron "Bam" Morris both began their Red Raider careers wearing the number. Current tailback and all-star candidate Ricky Williams wore 35 as a freshman before switching to number 2 last year. All-America linebacker Zach Thomas kept 35 throughout his storied Tech career.
He Scoops, He Scores
Defensive end Aaron Hunt put his name in the scoring column in his first action as a Red Raider last week at Arizona State when he scooped up Sun Devil quarterback John Leonard?s fumble and rambled 53 yards for the touchdown. Hunt was also credited with three tackles, a sack and a caused fumble.
Busy Night For Curtis and Bownds
Texas Tech safety Kevin Curtis may have been the busiest man in a Texas Tech uniform Monday night in the Arizona desert and Raider Reagan Bownds saw his share of action as well. According to official coaches? film stats, Curtis rang up a career-high 17 total tackles, while Bownds was credited with 10.
It Was Blocked
Contrary to the ruling in the Arizona State press box during the game, Dorian Pitts did indeed block Arizona State?s first punt of the night. The official ruling said ASU punter Nick Murphy "whiffed" on the punt attempt so no block should be charged. Upon further review, and the first-hand account from Pitts, the punt was blocked leading to Texas Tech?s first TD. In addition to his blocked punt, Pitts also made four tackles, broke up a pass and was credited with one quarterback pressure.
A Perfect 4
In addition to starting at the Raider position for Texas, senior Keith Cockrum has finished with a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the last four consecutive semesters. An MIS/Finance/Economics major, Cockrum is a member of the Texas Tech Student-Athlete Advisory Board.
The Third Degree
Red Raider inside linebacker Tim Duffie goes into the 1999 season already in possession of what his teammates are all working for. Duffie, from Jefferson, Texas, completed requirements for his Exercise and Sport Sciences degree at the end of summer term. Duffie?s inside linebacker partner Kyle Shipley and quarterback Rob Peters will finish MBA programs this spring.
Academic All-Conference
Texas Tech had the second-most Academic All-Big 12 first team selections last season with 14. First team selections are regular players who posted at least a 3.2 grade point average. The list of academic all-conference selections can be found on page 141 of the 1999 Big 12 Football Media Guide.
Learning From Experience
To say Texas Tech players have a chance to learn from experience may be the understatement of the season. The 10 full-time members of the Red Raider staff have a combined 259 years of coaching experience, 156 of those years at the collegiate level. This staff has coached a collective 68 years at Texas Tech.
Dean of Big 12
Coach Spike Dykes is the dean of Big 12 head coaches, in his 13th season at the controls of the Red Raider program. Kansas State coach Bill Snyder and Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum are next on the list, both having been with their programs for 10 years.
Back-to-Back Triple Digits
Inside linebacker Kyle Shipley will be looking to finish his career with back-to-back season of triple digit tackles and got off to a good start in Tempe last week with eight stops. Shipley led all Texas Tech tacklers a year ago with 112. The senior from Arlington, Texas has 12 career tackles for loss.
It?s Up, It?s Good
Chris Birkholz returns for his junior season as a legitimate all-star candidate. Birkholz? name dots the Tech record book. The Temple, Texas native made 16 of 21 field goal attempts and all 23 extra point tries last season. He shares the school record for field goals in a game with four against Texas last year and his 53-yarder against the Longhorns is tied for the fourth-longest in school history.
Preseason All-Conference
- Kyle Allamon, TE, Athlon, Lindy?s, Football Action 99
- Jonathan Gray, OT, Sporting News, Athlon, Lindy?s
- Curtis Lowery, OL, Sporting News, Football Action 99
- Taurus Rucker, DE, Athlon, Lindy?s, Football Action 99
- Ricky Williams, RB, Sporting News, Athlon, Lindy?s, Football Action 99
Captains
Texas Tech captains have already been elected for the 1999 season. The five players selected by their teammates to represent the Red Raiders are running back Ricky Williams, fullback Sammy Morris, quarterback Rob Peters, linebacker Kyle Shipley and defensive end Taurus Rucker.
Home Grown
Of the 92 players listed on the Texas Tech preseason roster, 88 hail from Texas. Eight Red Raiders call Lubbock home.
Louisiana,Texas Players
Texas Tech has no players on its roster which hail from the state of Louisiana. Conversely, there are 13 players on the Louisiana-Lafayette roster which call the Lone Star State home.
1-800 TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech?s home opener next week against North Texas will mark the 800th game in the history of the program. The first game in Tech football history was Oct. 3, 1925, a 0-0 tied with McMurry with 4,500 looking on.
New Turf
When the Red Raiders finally open at home next week against North Texas they will do so on brand new Astroturf. Final touches to the new surface are being completed. The previous playing surface was installed in 1988.
Coming Next Week
Starting with next week?s release there will be updated Texas Tech player thumbnail sketches and career stats. The plan was to have them ready for this week, but since this note package is being finished at 4:25 a.m. after a long night at Sun Devil Stadium the committee ruled in favor of a postponement.
TRACKING TEXAS TECH?S 1999 OPPONENTS
Opponent (Date vs. TTU) W-L Last Week (S. 4) This Week (S. 11)at Arizona State (S. 6) 1-0 beat Texas Tech, 31-13 Idleat UL-Lafayette (S. 11) 0-1 lost at Oklahoma St., 24-7 TEXAS TECHNORTH TEXAS (S. 18) 0-1 lost to UNLV, 20-0 at LSUTEXAS A&M (O. 2) 1-0 beat Louisiana Tech, 37-17 Idleat Oklahoma St. (O. 9) 1-0 beat UL-Lafayette, 24-7 TULSACOLORADO (O. 16) 0-1 lost to Colorado St., 41-14 SAN JOSE STATEat Baylor (O. 23) 0-1 lost at Boston Coll., 30-29 at UNLVat Missouri (O. 30) 1-0 beat UAB, 31-28 IdleIOWA STATE (N. 6) 1-0 beat Indiana St., 33-7 IOWAat Texas (N. 13) 1-1 beat Stanford, 69-17 at RutgersOKLAHOMA (N. 20) 0-0 DNP INDIANA ST.SERIES
Texas Tech vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
TTU ULTotal Offense 246.0 158.0Points Scored 13.0 7.0First Downs 11.0 13.0Rushing Yards 154.0 211.0Passing Yards 139.0 47.0Time of Possession 27:07 28:303rd Down Conversion % .231 .140Points Allowed 31.0 24.0Yards Allowed 389.0 357.0Rushing Yards Allowed 210.0 203.0Passing Yards Allowed 179.0 154.0STATISTICAL LEADERS - RUSHING YARDS
Texas Tech L-LafayetteWilliams, S. 40 Brister 48Williams, R. 33 Bernard 41Peters 22 Dyer 15
PASSING YARDS
Texas Tech L-LafayettePeters 124 Folse 39Kingsbury 15 Dyer 8
RECEPTIONS
Texas Tech L-LafayetteMorris, S. 3 Wilridge 2Dorris 3 Brister 1Jones 2 Bernard 1
POINTS SCORED
Texas Tech L-LafayetteWilliams, R. 6 Stewart 6Hunt 6 Bergeron 1
TACKLES
Texas Tech L-LafayetteCurtis 14 Schwartz 12Shipley 10 Tillman 9Rucker 7 Hebert 8TEXAS TECH TEAM SUPERLATIVES
Points Scored 42 vs. TexasLow 10 at Texas A&MOPPONENT TEAM SUPERLATIVES
First Downs 31 vs. MissouriLow 11 at Texas A&M
Rushing Plays 61 at North TexasLow 33 at Texas A&M
Net Rushing Yards 324 vs. Texas-El PasoLow 94 at Texas A&M
Passes Attempted 42 vs. TexasLow 15 vs. Oklahoma State
Passes Completed 21 vs. MissouriLow 8 vs. Fresno St., Oklahoma St.
Had Intercepted 3 at North TexasLow 0 vs. four teams
Net Passing Yards 322 vs. TexasLow 74 vs. Oklahoma State
Total Offensive Plays 97 vs. TexasLow 56 vs. Texas A&M
Total Net Offense 538 vs. BaylorLow 205 vs. Oklahoma St., at Texas A&M
Fumbles 4 vs. seven teamsLow 0 vs. Iowa State
Fumbles Lost 3 vs. Missouri, at OklahomaLow 0 at Texas A&M
Penalties 12 vs. TexasLow 0 at Oklahoma
Penalty Yards 96 vs. TexasLow 45 vs. Oklahoma State
Points Scored 35 by TexasLow 0 by North Texas
First Downs 21 by BaylorLow 5 by North Texas
Rushing Plays 58 by Texas A&MLow 29 by North Texas
Net Rushing Yards 195 by Oklahoma StateLow 9 by Fresno State
Passes Attempted 37 by Iowa StateLow 11 by Texas A&M
Passes Completed 20 by Fresno State, BaylorLow 4 by Texas A&M
Had Intercepted 3 by Texas-El PasoLow 0 by five teams
Net Passing Yards 349 by Fresno StateLow 49 by Oklahoma
Total Offensive Plays 72 by three teamsLow 48 by North Texas
Total Net Offense 381 by BaylorLow 125 by North Texas
Fumbles 5 by Texas A&MLow 0 by Oklahoma
Fumbles Lost 2 by Oklahoma St., Texas A&MLow 0 by three teams
Penalties 13 by North TexasLow 2 by Colorado
Penalty Yards 132 by Oklahoma StateLow 15 by Colorado, Texas A&M