Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Press Conference Following Acceptance to the Sylvania Alamo Bowl
December 03, 2001 | Football
Dec. 3, 2001
Tech AD Gerald Myers
"On behalf on our Administration, Board of Regents, the athletic department and all of our fans I want to express our appreciation to the Sylvania Alamo Bowl selection committee for giving us the opportunity to play in this bowl. I don't think that the interest, support and enthusiasm for Tech football has been any greater than it is now. With the enthusiasm we have across the state, we feel confident that our fans are going to step up and show their support for this team at a major bowl."
"I want to send a message across the West Texas, Dallas, Houston and the entire State to get their tickets early and to go through our ticket office so that they can sit in a section with other Tech alumni, friends and boosters at the game."
"We will have a major campaign to sell tickets throughout the state and the local area, starting immediately."
"We are excited to be playing a team like Iowa, we are both football programs on the rise. They had a good turn-around season in the Big Ten and our team showed improvement in each game all year long."
Tech Coach Mike Leach
On getting the offer to the Alamo Bowl -- "The decision was a no brainer to me. But given the dynamics that exist I would really like to thank the Sylvania Alamo Bowl and credit them with doing what I think was completely the right thing."
On why going to this bowl was so important -- "San Antonio is such a large recruiting base for us. Plus we have a lot of players from there and the other thing is I feel like Iowa is a great opponent. I have never been to the Alamo Bowl but I am familiar with it and I think that it is one of the finest bowls in the country."
"This team has improved tremendously this season and I think that the fans deserve a lot of credit for their support. It is crucial that we have a huge showing in San Antonio, not just for our team but our whole program and fans everywhere. It is crucial that we fill that place up."
Tech QB Kliff Kingsbury --
On being selected to play in the Alamo Bowl -- "It feels good. I thought after our season we had it locked up but coach Myers and coach Leach put a lot of work in and we owe a lot to them, I am just glad that we got this bowl bid."
On preparing for the game -- "We have to work hard. We have improved each game and I think that this is a good time, to not only get ready for the bowl game just improve as an entire team for next year too. We have got to take these practices seriously and try to improve as much as we can over the next month."
On what the fans need to do -- "I have heard that there a lot of people fired up about this game, so they need to put their money where their mouth was and lets get down and have some fun, San Antonio is a fun town and this is a fun game."
