Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Set To Face TCU In Top-25 Showdown
September 11, 2006 | Football
Sept. 11, 2006
TEXAS TECH (24/20) at TCU (20/20)
Saturday, Sept. 16 - 4:30 p.m. (OLN)
Amon Carter Stadium - Fort Worth, Texas
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SATURDAY'S GAME
Texas Tech faces its second former Southwest Conference member (SMU two weeks ago) this weekend when the Red Raiders travel to Fort Worth for a 4:30 p.m. CT kickoff at TCU. The Red Raiders and Horned Frogs have a long history as Tech holds a 28-22-3 advantage in the series' 53 games, a majority of those coming while both teams were members of the Southwest Conference. TCU's spot on the 2006 schedule marks the second time since 1995 that the teams have met. The Red Raiders knocked off the Horned Frogs, 70-35, in Lubbock in 2004.
Mike Leach - TEXAS TECH SEVENTH-YEAR HEAD COACH
Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach is in his seventh season at the helm of the Red Raider program. One of the game's top offensive minds, Leach has guided the Red Raiders to four-straight NCAA Passing Titles, including B.J. Symons' single-season NCAA mark of 5,833 in 2003. Leach has a 50-28 overall record and 27-21 mark in Big 12 play. He led the Red Raiders to their best Big 12 finish in 2005 with a second-place showing in the South Division and an overall 9-3 season. With the win over UTEP, Leach passed former Tech head coach DeWitt Weaver (1951-60) and is in third place on the Tech wins list. Leach also reached his win total quicker than any of Tech's previous coaches and has taken the team to an unprecedented six-straight bowl appearances.
TRLICA GETS REDEMPTION, WIN AT UTEP
PK Alex Trlica dreamed of a scenario like this, but the road to get there was a little bumpy. On fourth down on Tech's first possession of overtime, Trlica caromed a career long 49-yard field goal attempt off of the left upright and watched it bounce through, giving Tech a tough-fought victory. However, it was the missed 34-yarder with 4:15 to play in the fourth quarter that he sought to redeem. A make would have put the Red Raiders ahead by 10. UTEP instead took advantage and scored with a little over a minute remaining to send the game to overtime.
TACK ON SEVEN INSIDE THE 20
The Red Raiders have carried over last year's success in the red zone and are enjoying an 84.6 percent success rate inside the 20. Of 13 attempts on the season, all 11 successful attempts have gone for touchdowns. Tech opened the season 4-of-5 against SMU and went 7-of-8 at UTEP. Despite an 80 percent rate for the opposition, the Red Raider defense has allowed only five trips into the red zone in two games this season.
HARRELL ALONE AT THE TOP
Sophomore QB Graham Harrell leads the country in Points Responsible For per game with 26.0. The first-year starter has thrown seven touchdown passes this season and rushed for another. Traditionally, Red Raider quarterbacks rank high in this category: Hodges (6th in 2005), Cumbie (5th in 2004), Symons (1st in 2003), Kingsbury (1st in 2002).
BILETNIKOFF CANDIDATE LEADS TECH RECEIVING CORPS
Senior WR Joel Filani leads the Red Raiders with 223 receiving yards on 14 receptions, including a 169-yard performance against UTEP. Filani caught 10 passes against the Miners, including his second touchdown catch of the season. Filani hauled in a 5-yard toss from Graham Harrell in the second quarter to give the Red Raiders a 17-6 lead. He currently averages 15.9 yards per reception and is averaging 111.5 receiving yards per game, ranking 11th nationally.
JOHNSON MAKES TWO
Senior IR Robert Johnson teams with Filani as one of two receiving duos in the country ranked among the top 20 in receiving yards per game. Filani currently is 11th, while Johnson comes in at 18th, averaging 101.5 yards per game (New Mexico State is the other). They also make up the only duo in the country with over 100 receiving yards per game each. Additionally, Johnson is the team leader with three touchdowns on the season.
McBATH SETTLING INTO ROLE
The move from corner to safety last spring for Darcel McBath proved to be a good one for the sophomore and a great move for the Red Raiders. McBath grabbed his first two career interceptions against UTEP, both coming at crucial times. With 6:23 to play in the fourth quarter, McBath grabbed a pass that scraped the fingertips of a UTEP receiver, halting a potential game-tying drive. The Red Raiders couldn't capitalize and UTEP tied the game with a minute to play. On UTEP's seventh play in the first overtime period, McBath came through again, hauling in a pick off of a deflection at the line. The Red Raiders scored on their first OT trip for the win. McBath is tied third on the team with 11 tackles (Dawson).
TRANSITION A GOOD ONE FOR RATLIFF
DE Jake Ratliff has been active since assuming a starting role on the defensive line this season. Recruited as a defensive tackle, Ratliff saw little time on the defensive front during his redshirt freshman season a year ago. Starting in place of Seth Nitschmann, who continues to work his way back into playing form, Ratliff has logged eight tackles, including one for loss. His biggest play of the young season came in overtime at UTEP when he batted a pass on the Miners' first overtime possession, leading to a Tech interception and eventually the win. The 6-foot-8 Ratliff has two batted passes on the season.
STRATTON LEADS DEFENSIVE EFFORT AT UTEP
Senior LB Brock Stratton looked like the Brock of old, posting a team-high nine tackles in Tech's win at UTEP. Traditionally one of the team's leading tacklers, Stratton missed much of last season with an injury. He opened the season with four tackles and leads the team with 13.
SESSION PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
With key cogs missing from its normal lineup last season, Texas Tech inserted LB Fletcher Session in as the starter at middle linebacker, moving him over from his outside position. The move was a productive one for Session. He made the move four games into the season and increased his productivity since. After posting 12 tackles over the first three games, Session stepped up in the middle and made 69 tackles the remainder of the season. Back at weakside LB this season, Session has 10 tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
At this time last season, instead of the focus being on the 2005 edition of the Red Raider Football team, much of the attention was directed toward Texas Tech's schedule. With two of the three non-conference opponents coming from the Division I-AA level, many criticized the scheduling practices of the program. Once again, proof that the Big 12 Conference is one of the toughest, if not the toughest, conferences in the country is in the fact that Texas Tech wrapped the season with the 10th-strongest schedule in Division I, according to the NCAA.
