Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Post-Game Notes
August 30, 2003 | Football
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TEXAS TECH POST-GAME NOTES
GETTING STARTED
Texas Tech officially opened its 79th season of intercollegiate football tonight as the Red Raiders and SMU kicked off at 6 p.m. The game between Texas Tech and SMU marked the 41st meeting between the two in-state schools.
- The weather at game time was 72 degrees under cloudy skies with a north wind at 17 mph.
- SMU won the opening kickoff and elected to receive.
- Tonight's attendance was 44,364.
Texas Tech Starters (Offense) - LT Daniel Loper, LG Cody Campbell, C Toby Cecil, RG E.J. Whitley, RT Casey Keck, QB B.J. Symons, F Taurean Henderson, BH Sione Havili, Y Clay McGuire, X Nehemiah Glover, Z Carlos Francis. (Defense) - LE Seth Nitschmann, NT Chris Hudler, DT Ken Scott, RE Adell Duckett, SAM Mike Smith, MIKE Brock Stratton, WILL John Saldi, LC Chad Johnson, FS Vincent Meeks, SS Ryan Aycock, RC Marcus Boyd.
A DAY OF FIRSTS
- Keith Toogood scored Texas Tech's first points of the 2003 season on the Red Raiders first offensive drive of the game. He connected on a 31-yard field goal with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter.
- The following players made their first career starts: B.J. Symons (QB); Sione Havili (BH), Seth Nitschmann (LE), Chris Hudler (NT), Ken Scott (DT), Brock Stratton (MIKE), Chad Johnson (LC) and Marcus Boyd (RC).
- The stadium club/suite/press complex opened today bringing stadium capacity to an all-time high of 53,702.
- Doak Walker Candidate Taurean Henderson scored Texas Tech's first touchdown of the season, a three-yard run with 14:56 minutes left in the second quarter.
- True freshman Alex Reyes recorded Tech's first punt of the season when he punted the ball 42 yards to the SMU seven yard line.
- Junior kicker Wich Brenner recorded his first kickoff since the 2000 season when he kicked off following Johnnie Mack's 13-yard touchdown run. Brenner has battled injuries over the last two seasons.
DEFENSE HAS SOLID OPENING DAY
The Texas Tech defense under new coordinator Lyle Setencich had a big day as the unit caused three turnovers on the day and held the SMU offense to just xxx points. True freshman Brock Stratton recovered a fumble in the first quarter and both Ryan Aycock and Chad Johnson recorded an interception in the third. The defensive unit held the Mustang offense to 280 total yards (195 passing, 85 rushing). Junior Adell Duckett recordsed his second interception and second career touchdown in the fourth. His previous touchdown came against Ole Miss last season.
SYMONS LED OFFENSE COMES OUT FIRING
The B.J. Symons led Texas Tech offense came out firing today as the Red Raiders picked up 437 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns. Symons finished the day with 297 yards passing and three touchdowns. Sonnie Cumbie entered the game in the fourth quarter and was 3-3 concluding the game with 17 yards, all passing.
THIS AND THAT
- Doak Walker Candidate Taurean Henderson picked up his third multiple touchdown game of his career (first three-touchdown game) tonight as he scored Tech's first three touchdowns of the game. Henderson had two touchdowns against North Carolina State and Missouri last season.
- Junior Nehemiah Glover became the first player to score a touchdown other than Taurean Henderson when he caught an 18-yard pass from Symons in the third quarter. The touchdown reception is the 12th of his career.
- Senior Ryan Aycock picked up the sixth interception of his career in the third quarter when he intercepted SMU quarterback Richard Bartel.
- True freshman Chad Johnson intercepted a pass from SMU quarterback Richard Bartel in the third quarter giving him the first interception of his career.
- Fullback Johnnie Mack scored the first touchdown (13-yard run) of his career in the third quarter to give Tech a 37-3 lead.
- Mickey Peters' fourth quarter touchdown reception was the 11th of his career.
- Wes Welker's touchdown in the fourth quarter was the seventh of his career and ties an NCAA record for career punt returns for touchdown. His seven punt returns also ties the Big 12 record (David Allen, Kansas State).
