Texas Tech University Athletics
Postgame Notes
September 02, 2006 | Football
Sept. 2, 2006
GETTING STARTED
- Texas Tech won the opening coin toss and elected to receive.
- Eight Red Raiders earned their first career starts this evening: (LG) Louis Vasquez; (QB) Graham Harrell, (F) Shannon Woods, (X) Todd Walker - Defensively: (SAM) Kellen Tillman; (SS) Joe Garcia; (FS) Darcel McBath. Dek Bake also made his first start since the 2004 season after missing all of 2005 due to injury.
- Today's game marked the first on the newly installed FieldTurf at Jones AT&T Stadium. The old AstroTurf was replaced over the summer and a new interior brick wall was also constructed around the perimeter of the field. The last time Tech debuted a new and different playing surface was on Sept. 16, 1970 when the Red Raiders beat Tulane 21-14.
- Tonight's attendance was 50,362 and marks the third-straight season that the Red Raiders have drawn 50,000-plus fans at Jones AT&T Stadium for the season opener. Last year's home opener against Florida International drew 50,156.
Starters - (Offense) - (LT) Glenn January, (LG) Louis Vasquez, (C) Brandon Jones, (RT) Gabe Hall, (RG) Manny Ramirez, (QB) Graham Harrell, (F) Shannon Woods (H) Danny Amendola, (X) Todd Walker, (Y) Robert Johnson, (Z) Joel Filani (Defense) - (LE) Jake Ratliff, (NT) Chris Hudler, (DT) Dek Bake, (RE) Keyunta Dawson, (SAM) Kellen Tillman, (MIKE) Brock Stratton, (WILL) Fletcher Session, (LC) Antonio Huffman, (SS) Joe Garcia, (FS) Darcel McBath, (RC) Chris Parker
TECH'S WIN . . .
- Gives Head Coach Mike Leach a 5-1 record on opening day and Texas Tech an all-time record of 53-26-3.
- Gives Head Coach Mike Leach a career record of 49-28. Leach is in his seventh season at the helm of the Red Raiders.
- Moves Tech's record to 39-2 (in Mike Leach era) when leading at halftime.
- Gives Tech a 10-game home win streak (longest since Tech won 11 straight between 1973 and 1974).
- Gives Tech a 13-0 record in home night games dating back to the 2001 season. Tech's last loss under the lights at Jones AT&T Stadium was against Kansas on Oct. 6, 2001.
- Gives Texas Tech an all-time record of 28-15 against SMU and an 87-75-3 record against opponents who currently make up Conference USA.
GRAHAM BUCKS THE TREND
Sophomore quarterback Graham Harrell (Ennis, Texas) bucked the recent trend of quarterbacks at Texas Tech as he became the first underclassmen QB to earn the starting nod since Kliff Kingsbury back in 2000. In each of the last three seasons, head coach Mike Leach turned over the reins to a fifth-year senior quarterback (BJ Symons in 2003, Sonny Cumbie in 2004 and Cody Hodges in 2005). During each of those three seasons, Texas Tech led both the Big 12 and the nation in passing.
- Harrell tossed his first touchdown pass of the season and the fourth of his career on Tech's second possession of the game. He connected with Todd Walker for an eight-yard strike with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter.
- Harrell completed passes to seven different receivers in the first half with nine of his 18 completions going to senior Robert Johnson.
- Harrell finished the evening 34-for-49 with 342 yards passing and five touchdowns.
JOHNSON ENJOYS CAREER NIGHT
Senior inside receiver Robert Johnson turned in a career effort tonight to help lead the Red Raiders to a 35-3 win over SMU. Johnson caught a 14-yard touchdown with 13:11 remaining in the second quarter to give Texas Tech a 13-3 lead. The touchdown was the fifth of his career and his first in five games (last TD was at Baylor on Oct. 29, 2005). Johnson added his second touchdown late in the third quarter that gave him his first multiple-TD game of his career.
- Finished the evening with 15 receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
- Established a new Texas Tech single-game record for receptions when he caught his 15th late in the fourth quarter. The previous mark was 14, set by Wes Welker against Texas in 2002.
- Reached the 100-yard receiving mark for the fourth time in his career.
- Tallied a career-high 15 receptions, smashing his previous career-high of nine recorded twice in 2005 against Florida International and Texas.
- Of his record 15 receptions, six of them went for either a first down or touchdown.
SWARM DEFENSE TAKES A STAND
The Texas Tech SWARM defense rose to the occasion again tonight and continues its drastic improvement under fourth-year defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich.
- The three points surrendered to the Mustangs was the fewest allowed by the Red Raider defense in a non-conference game since the 2005 season opener when they allowed only three points en route to a 56-3 Tech victory over Florida International.
- In total, the defense held SMU to a mere 189 yards, 118 rushing and 71 through the air.
- The 71 passing yards allowed by the Tech defense were the fewest since November 12, 2005 when they gave up just 94 at Oklahoma State.
NOTING THE RED RAIDERS
- The 35-3 win marks the second consecutive season that Tech has allowed just three points in the season opener. In 2005, they beat Florida International by a score of 56-3.
- Sophomore Todd Walker, who made his first career start this evening, scored the first points of the season for the Red Raiders when he caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Graham Harrell. The touchdown came on Tech's second possession of the game.
- Nine true freshman earned playing time this evening: Richard Jones (defense), Adrian Reese (offense and special teams), Jamar Wall (special teams), Blake Collier (special teams), Marlon Williams (special teams), Rajon Henley (defense), Dan'Tay Ward (defense), Brandon Williams (special teams) and Nathan Stone (special teams).
- Senior defensive end Keyunta Dawson moved into seventh place on the school career sack list with 14 ½. Dawson surpassed former Tech All-American Gabe Rivera who totaled 14 between 1979 and 1982.
- Texas Tech has now scored in 105 straight games which is the second longest streak in school history and fourth among Big 12 schools. Texas Tech can tie the school record of 106 games next week against UTEP in El Paso.
- Junior receiver Danny Amendola hauled in his first touchdown reception (45 yards) of the season (fifth of this career) to put Tech ahead 27-3 with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter. The 45-yard TD reception is the longest of his career and is the longest for a Tech receiver since Robert Johnson scored on a 50-yard reception at Baylor last season.
- Senior Joel Filani's first touchdown of the young 2006 season put Tech ahead 34-3 with 6:33 left to play in the fourth quarter. Filani's 11th career touchdown reception was his first since October 22, 2005 when he hauled in a six-yard score against Texas.
- Sophomore Shannon Woods carried the ball 15 times for 104 yards in tonight's game, his first career start at running back. That total eclipsed his previous career-high of 79, set last season against Iowa State.
Players Mentioned
Wide Receiver
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Defensive End
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Wide Receiver
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Free Safety
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Quarterback
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Quarterback
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Defensive Line
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Cornerback
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Offensive Line
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Inside Receiver
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Offensive Line
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Defensive End
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Linebacker
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Linebacker
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Linebacker
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Offensive Line
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Wide Receiver
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Running Back
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