Red Raiders Visit Texas A&M
September 25, 2000 | Football
Sept. 25, 2000
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Texas Tech (4-0, 0-0 Big 12) at Texas A&M (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Saturday, September 30, 2000
Kyle Field (80,650)
FOX Sports Net * 11:30 a.m. (CT)
The Game
The Red Raiders venture out on the road for the first time this season Sat., Sept. 30, at Texas A&M. Texas Tech opened the season with four-straight home games and have an open week prior to the Big 12 Conference opener at College Station.
Texas A&M is playing its third home game after opening the season the road at Notre Dame. The Aggies have hosted Wyoming and UTEP in their last two games.
The Records
Texas Tech enters the game with a 4-0 mark, all coming in the friendly confines of Jones SBC Stadium, where the Red Raiders have won eight straight. The last time Texas Tech opened the season with four home games was in 1980 and the Raiders finished that stretch 2-2.
Texas A&M is 2-1 on the season and has put together wins at home over Wyoming (51-3) and UTEP (45-17). The Aggies opened the season with 24-10 loss at Notre Dame.
The Last Time These Two Met... Texas Tech 21, Texas A&M 19 (Oct. 2, 1999)
If Spike Dykes were asked to define his legacy at Texas Tech, he might say that it was helping players pick themselves up, dust themselves off and go back into battle.
Following a loss to unheralded North Texas, the Red Raiders were faced with the task of taking on sixth ranked Texas A&M. Tech had a chance to let its season crumble, but didn't. Instead, the Raiders dug in and defeated the Aggies 21-19.
Texas A&M took a first-quarter lead on a 36-yard field goal by kicker Terence Kitchens and Jay Brooks' 9-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown.
The Red Raiders started their first offensive series of the second period at the A&M 46. Rob Peters led an attack that effectively mixed run and pass as Tech moved within striking distance. Peters capped the six-play, 46-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dee Jackson, closing the gap to 10-7.
Peters found Derek Dorris on a slant pattern to jump-start the Raiders next possession. Dorris ran 19 yards to get Tech into the A&M end of the field at the 41. From there, Sammy Morris took over, gaining 10 and 29 yards on consecutive carries to the Aggie 2. Morris scored from two yards out to give Texas Tech a 14-10 lead.
The Red Raiders were finished moving the football in the first half. Peters and the offense began their last drive of the half with 2:28 to go and quickly moved toward the A&M goal line.
Morris broke away for an 18-yard run to ignite the march. Then Peters threw to Jackson for a 15-yard gain and, two plays later, the Tech quarterback kept for 17 yards to the Aggie 24. After a 13-yard run by Morris, Peters made the drive count with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Jones.
Texas A&M edged closer in the second half with three Kitchens field goals. With the game on the line, the Aggies tried to get into scoring position on their final drive.
Texas A&M moved to the Tech 27, but a holding penalty and a sack of Randy McCown by Aaron Hunt pushed the Aggies out of field goal range. On fourth-and-28 from the Tech 45, Antwan
Alexander intercepted McCown's desperation pass to seal the Tech win.
For the second time in his career Morris sunk A&M. The Raider fullback-turned-tailback proved to be the star of the game as he rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown. Peters completed 13-of-18 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Red Raiders on Television
The Red Raiders have played 14 games on FOX Sports and are 9-5 in those games. Overall, Texas Tech is 46-61-3 on the tube. The Red Raiders have faced the Aggies 12 times on TV and hold a 7-5 advantage.
Red Raiders in Big 12 Openers
Texas Tech is 3-1 in Big 12 openers, losing only to Kansas State (21-14) in the inaugural league game Aug. 31, 1996. The Red Raiders have since won three-straight Big 12 openers.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| Aug. 31, 1996 | Kansas State | Manhattan, Kansas | L, 14-21 |
| Oct. 4, 1997 | Baylor | Waco, Texas | W, 35-14 |
| Sept. 26, 1998 | Iowa State | Ames, Iowa | W, 31-24 |
| Oct. 2, 1999 | Texas A&M | Lubbock, Texas | W, 21-19 |
On the Road Again
Although the Red Raiders haven't played a road game this season, the team is opening Big 12 play on the road for the fourth time in five seasons. Tech traveled to Kansas State in 1996, Baylor in 1997 and Iowa State in 1998, before opening league play at home in 1999 against Texas A&M.
Primetime Receivers
Four Red Raider receivers have caught 19 or more passes in the first four games. Shaud Williams leads the team with 23 receptions and Tim Baker follows with 21 catches. Carlos Francis and Ricky Williams each have 19 catches. Francis leads the Red Raiders with 15.3 yards per catch and posted the biggest receiving game for a freshman at Texas Tech with 241 yards on seven catches against Utah State. Baker is second with 13.4 yards per reception.
Defense Ranks High
The Texas Tech defense ranks sixth in the nation in total defense, allowing only 200.5 yards per game. The passing defense leads the way, ranking fourth nationally, allowing only 99.3 yards in the air per outing. The rushing defense is ranked 31st.
Freshman Leads Red Raider Return Specialists
True freshman Wes Welker leads the Red Raiders with eight punt returns on the season for 169 yards (21.1 per return). He returned a punt 63 yards for his first collegiate touchdown against UL Lafayette.
Give It Up
The Texas Tech defense has 10 takeaways in four games. The Red Raiders have recovered five fumbles and snagged five interceptions and have returned two fumbles for scores. Five different players have picks this season, while Aaron Hunt leads the way with two fumble recoveries.
Williams Moving Up Rushing List
Senior running back Ricky Williams is climbing his way up the career rushing yardage and rushing attempts list at Texas Tech this season:
Rushing Yardage
| 1. | Byron Hanspard (1994-96) | 4,219 yards | |
| 2. | James Gray (1986-89) | 4,066 yards | |
| 3. | Byron Morris (1991-93) | 3,544 yards | |
| 4. | James Hadnot (1976-79) | 2,794 yards | |
| 5. | Ricky Williams (1997-00) | 2,744 yards |
Rushing Attempts
| 1. | Byron Hanspard (1994-96) | 760 attempts | |
| 2. | James Gray (1986-89) | 742 attempts | |
| 3. | Byron Morris (1991-93) | 638 attempts | |
| 4. | Ricky Williams (1997-00) | 580 attempts | |
| 5. | Larry Isaac (1973-76) | 538 attempts |
Kingsbury Setting Records
Kliff Kingsbury obviously has adjusted well to the new offense. The sophomore quarterback has already established school records in 2000:
Most Passes in a Game
55 vs. North Texas (9/9)
Most Completions in a Game
47 vs. North Texas (9/9)
Most Yards Passing
456 vs. Utah State (9/2)
Birkholz Streak Continues
Placekicker Chris Birkholz's consecutive string of extra points remains intact. Birkholz entered the season having nailed 53-of-53 career point after attempts. He is 11-of-11 this season and has made all 64 career attempts. Birkholz also leads the team in scoring with 7.3 points per game.
Leach Second to Win First Four
Mike Leach is only the second head coach in Texas Tech football history to win his first four games as head coach. Dell Morgan won his first five games during his first season in 1941.
Defending the Score
The Texas Tech defense has allowed only two touchdowns on the season, both to Utah State. The Red Raiders have not allowed a rushing TD and have held the opposition without a touchdown in the first half all season. The Texas Tech defense ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense, yielding only 6.5 points per game.
Leader, Not a Follower
The Red Raiders have not trailed on the scoreboard this season. Tech jumped out to a 7-0 lead against New Mexico and a 14-0 advantage against Utah State and never looked back. The Red Raiders led North Texas 13-0, before the Eagles posted their lone score in the fourth quarter.
Kingsbury Leads Big 12 (By Wide Margin)
Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury leads the Big 12 in passing with 30 completions per game. He has 120 completed passes in four games and leads Oklahoma's Josh Heupel in second place by 78 completions. Kingsbury also is the only signal caller in the league with over 100 pass attempts (186).
About Face
Texas Tech scored 17 times on the ground and 13 times in the air last season. The Red Raiders have found the endzone via the air seven times and twice on the ground this season. Tech also has scored twice defensively and once on a punt return.
Leaderboard
The Red Raiders have out-scored the opposition 75-26 in three games this season. Tech is averaging 25.0 points per game and is holding opponents to 8.7 points.
Air Attack
The Red Raiders are averaging 292.3 yards per game through the air this season. Tech tagged Utah State for a school and Big 12 record 511 yards above ground and have 1,169 yards on the season. Seven of Tech's 11 touchdowns are courtesy of the passing game.
Go For It
Texas Tech is 7-of-12 when going for it on fourth down this season for a 58.3 percent success rate. The Red Raiders attempted a fourth down conversion 10 times all of last season and were successful three times.
Bowl Eligible Streak
Texas Tech has been bowl eligible for each of the last seven seasons. During that span, the Red Raiders have played in the John Hancock Bowl (1993), Cotton Bowl (1994), Copper Bowl (1995), Alamo Bowl (1996) and Independence Bowl (1998).
Happy at Home
The Red Raiders are currently on a seven-game home winning streak dating back to last season. The streak began with a 21-19 win over Texas A&M Oct. 2, 1999. Tech is 13-2 in its last 14 at home. The Red Raiders are 269-138-13 all-time at home.