Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Prepare For First Road Test
September 06, 2006 | Football
Sept. 6, 2006
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Texas Tech has had a long run of passers that have benefited from a complex offensive scheme. Graham Harrell, the team's latest quarterback, appears to have some intangibles that can help the system.
After a strong first showing, Harrell leads the 24th-ranked Red Raiders as they visit UTEP on Saturday.
Harrell received high praise from his favorite receiver after a 35-3 win over SMU last Saturday in Texas Tech's season opener.
"Graham Harrell reminds me of Tom Brady," said Robert Johnson, who caught two of Harrell's five touchdown passes. "He's a calm guy out there. He's just cool."
Red Raiders quarterbacks have led the nation in passing the past four years, but the five touchdown passes by Harrell - holder of the Texas high school record for TD passes in a season with 67 - bested first-outing performances by his four predecessors.
Cody Hodges had four TDs in his debut last year, as did Sonny Cumbie the year before. B.J. Symons had three in his first game and Kliff Kingsbury threw two.
Harrell calmly picked apart the Mustangs, throwing for 342 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 8, 12, 14, 45 and 3 yards, two more scoring strikes than he threw all last season as the backup.
"I thought he had pretty good composure in there," Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said.
The Red Raiders were without Jarrett Hicks, one of their leading receivers who is awaiting word from the NCAA on an appeal of his academic eligibility. So Harrell focused on Johnson, a quarterback turned receiver who set a team record with 15 catches for 139 yards.
"He knows where the open area of the field is, and he knows how to get there and get open," Harrell said. "With a player like that, all you have to do is put it near him and let him work."
Harrell, whose 45-yard scoring pass went to Danny Amendola late in the third quarter to put Tech up 28-3, completed passes to eight receivers. Despite a good showing, Harrell said he knows there's work still to be done.
"I think we did some good things out there," he said. "We have to continue to improve, and I'm sure coach will emphasize that."
UTEP beat San Diego State 34-27 in its season opener on Aug. 31, an important victory for coach Mike Price after the Miners dropped their final three games last year, including a blowout loss to Toledo in the GMAC Bowl. UTEP went 8-4 in each of its first two seasons under Price.
The Miners struggled on offense against the Aztecs, though, as their 243 yards was the team's lowest total under Price and fewest in a victory since amassing 231 in a 24-17 win over TCU on Nov. 15, 1997. UTEP's 38 yards rushing were its second-fewest under Price.
"There's a lot of work that needs to be done - obviously we need to do a better job with the running game," Price said.
Jordan Palmer threw for 205 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions in the opener, and has thrown at least one TD pass in 21 straight games.
The Miners are 3-42 all-time against ranked teams, including seven straight losses. Their last win over a Top 25 team was on Nov. 1, 1997, when they beat No. 25 Brigham Young 14-3.
"Texas Tech is very good. The pressure's on them. They're supposed to win. We have nothing to lose," Price said. "We're going to have tons of fun and we're going to play hard. We're going to play a little bit better than we did the first game, and execute our offense and tackle better."
Texas Tech leads the all-time series 10-6-1.
