Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Take On Ole Miss
September 22, 2003 | Football
Sept. 22, 2003
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Texas Tech (2-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. MISSISSIPPI (2-1, 0-0 SEC)
Saturday, September 27, 2003 - 6 p.m. (CT) - Oxford, Miss.
THE GAME
Texas Tech travels to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss., for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Southeastern Conference member Mississippi Sat., Sept. 27, 2003.
TEXAS TECH-MISSISSIPPI SERIES
The Red Raiders and the Rebels meet for the fourth time in the series and the first in Oxford. The first two meetings between the two schools came in the 1986 and 1998 Independence Bowls in Shreveport, La. The series extended to Lubbock last season, where Texas Tech picked up a 42-28 victory. Ole Miss won the first two games 20-17 and 35-18, respectively, before Tech's win last season.
TELEVISION
Saturday's game will not be televised, but can be seen over the World Wide Web at www.OleMissSports.tv. The University of Mississippi will provide a webcast of the game for $20. Log-on to Ole Miss' website for details.
RADIO
The All Sports Radio Network, with its flagship station KKAM 1340-AM, carries the live broadcast of every football game throughout the state of Texas on its 26-station network. Play-by-play man Brian Jensen calls the action with longtime Lubbock broadcasting fixture John Harris as the color analyst. Mark Finkner provides the sideline coverage, while Tim Chambers serves as "the stats behind the stats."
THE COACH: Mike Leach
Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach is 25-17 at Texas Tech and is in his fourth season at the helm of the Red Raider program. In his first three seasons, Leach won 23 games, was the first coach in Tech history to lead his first three teams to bowl appearances, and helped Red Raider players set 125 school records. He also produced NCAA record-setting QB Kliff Kingsbury, who set 17 NCAA marks and tied four others during his three seasons as the starter. Leach's three-year record of 23 wins ties former Red Raider head coach Steve Sloan with the most over a three-year span.
MISSISSIPPI PREVIEW
Mississippi enters the weekend with numbers similar to those of the Red Raiders. The Rebels are averaging 39.0 points per game over the first three, including a 59-point output against Louisiana-Monroe two weeks ago. UM opened the season with a 24-21 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville and dropped a 44-34 decision at Memphis, before opening its home schedule with a 59-14 win over ULM. Mississippi had a bye week last week. The Rebels are averaging 318.0 passing yards per game, behind the arm of Heisman Trophy candidate Eli Manning. The UM senior is averaging 306.7 passing yards per game. Tremaine Turner leads the Rebel rushing attack with 55.7 yards per game, while receiver Chris Collins is the only Rebel player with double-digit receptions at 21. He also leads with 265 receiving yards and is tied with Taye Biddle with two touchdown receptions. Defensively, Eric Oliver leads with 25 tackles.
TEXAS TECH VS. THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Texas Tech has faced seven longtime members of the Southeastern Conference on 12 occasions, including three against Mississippi. Add to that 35 meetings with former Southwest Conference member Arkansas. The Red Raiders are 12-40-2 all-time against the league.
A LOOK BACK - September 14, 2002 * TEXAS TECH 42, MISSISSIPPI 28
Kliff Kingsbury passed for 270 yards and two touchdowns to become the Big 12's career passing leader as Texas Tech beat Mississippi 42-28 at Jones SBC Stadium. Kingsbury's 8,392 career-passing yards topped the previous Big 12 record of 8,353 yards, set by Texas' Major Applewhite.
The Red Raiders scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams to send the Rebels to their first non-conference loss in 25 games.
The Red Raiders scored twice in the final five minutes of the second quarter for a 28-7 halftime lead. The first came when defensive end Adell Duckett, in his first collegiate start, intercepted an Eli Manning pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. After going three-and-out on its next possession, Mississippi's punter couldn't handle the high snap and was downed on the UM 11. Four plays later, Kingsbury ran in from the 2-yard line to give Tech the commanding halftime lead. In the second half, Wes Welker returned a punt 71 yards for Tech's first score of the second frame.
Anton Paige led the Tech receivers with 94 yards on seven catches. The Red Raiders totaled 450 yards of total offense.
