Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Will Face Ohio State in Pigskin Classic
January 28, 2002 | Football
Jan. 28, 2002
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and ABC Sports have reached an agreement with Ohio State University to serve as host of the 2002 Pigskin Classic, one of the two preseason football games sponsored by the Association. Due to NCAA regulations, this is NACDA's last Pigskin Classic.
The Buckeyes will host Texas Tech University in the recently renovated 101,568-seat Ohio Stadium. It will be nationally televised on ABC Sports on Saturday, August 24. Tickets, which cost $47.50, will be sold as part of Ohio State's season ticket package.
"We are excited about the opportunity to host the Pigskin Classic," says Ohio State Director of Athletics Andy Geiger. "We want to play at a high level and bring outstanding opponents to Ohio Stadium and this game certainly allows us to do that. NACDA has done a marvelous job with the Pigskin Classic, and we are proud to be able to offer our support. It is an honor to host the final game."
Jim Tressel's Ohio State team completed the 2001 season with an overall record of 7-5 and finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference with a 5-3 mark. After a win over archrival Michigan in the regular-season finale, the Buckeyes ended the season with a loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Texas Tech, under the direction of Coach Mike Leach, was 7-5 in 2001 and was 4-4 in the Big 12 Conference. The Red Raiders defeated Stephen F. Austin in their final regular season game, before losing to Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.
"We are looking forward to participating in the 2002 Pigskin Classic, one of the oldest and most prestigious games in college football," says Gerald Myers, director of athletics at Texas Tech. "On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff, we are excited about the game against the Buckeyes. With the addition of Ohio State, we believe we have one of the most challenging football schedules in the country."
Texas Tech and Ohio State have met once before, in 1990 at Ohio Stadium, with Ohio State coming out on top, 17-10.
This is Ohio State's second appearance in the Pigskin Classic. The Buckeyes defeated Fresno State in 1994. Ohio State also played in NACDA's Kickoff Classic three times, beating Boston College in 1995 and losing to Miami (Fla.) in 1999 and Alabama in 1986. Texas Tech is making its first appearance in a NACDA preseason game.
"We're excited about Pigskin Classic XIII," says Mike Cleary, executive director of NACDA. "We feel that Ohio Stadium, one of the largest collegiate-owned stadiums in the country, is an excellent venue to host our grand finale."
Proceeds from the Pigskin Classic go to the participating institutions, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), NACDA and the NACDA Foundation. As a result of this game and the NACDA-sponsored Kickoff Classic, close to $500,000 in postgraduate scholarships are awarded annually. This includes a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship being awarded one student-athlete from each of the four schools participating in the preseason games. Since 1983, the NACDA Foundation has provided more than $10 million in postgraduate scholarships.
The NACDA Foundation provides educational assistance to NACDA members and to student-athletes. The Foundation annually sponsors workshops and clinics to continue in the educational efforts of its member athletics directors, assistants and associates. This includes workshops for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), marketing, facilities and fund raising workshops, and seminars on the administrative issues of interest to athletic directors. The Foundation also sponsors an internship program for aspiring athletics administrators. Currently, more than 100 students have benefited from this program, working from three to nine months at NACDA's national office.
