Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Face Third Conference USA Foe
September 13, 2007 | Football
Sept. 13, 2007
Texas Tech (2-0) at Rice (0-2)
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007 - 2 p.m.
Rice Stadium - Houston, Texas
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SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
Texas Tech faces its third Conference USA opponent in as many games when the Red Raiders travel to Houston to face Rice this weekend. The matchup of former Southwest Conference foes is the first for each since the 1995 season. Tech enters the game with a 2-0 mark after posting wins over SMU and UTEP. Rice is 0-2 with losses to Nicholls State and Baylor last weekend.
RADIO COVERAGE
The Texas Tech Sports Network is comprised of 48 stations and the game can be heard on Sirius Satellite Radio (143). Brian Jensen will handle the play-by-play duties, while John Harris and former Red Raider quarterback Sonny Cumbie serve as analysts. Armen Williams will comb the sidelines for the network. Flagship station 1340 KKAM and KFMX 94.5 carry the games in Lubbock.
TELEVISION COVERAGE
The game against the Owls has been picked up by FSN Southwest and will be shown regionally. Greg Lucas (play-by-play) and Chris Sanders (analyst) will call the action. The game is the second television broadcast of the season for the Red Raiders (SMU). Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. from Rice Stadium.
RED RAIDERS AND OWLS
This will be the 47th meeting between the two schools with a majority of the matchups coming during Southwest Conference play. Tech leads 25-20-1 and the teams have split the last seven dates, each winning at home. Tech's last win in Houston was a 38-36 win in 1988.
RED RAIDERS IN THE POLLS
Texas Tech received votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll for the second-straight week. Red Raider opponents earning top 25 status include Texas (6/6), Oklahoma (3/5) and Texas A&M (25/18), while Missouri received votes in both polls. (AP/USA Today)
LEACH vs. NON-CONFERENCE
Mike Leach is 27-8 record in non-conference games, including the last 9-of-11, dating back to the start of the 2005 season. Leach has only dropped back-to-back non-conference games once - the Alamo Bowl against Iowa in 2001 and the opener in 2002 at Ohio State.
HARRELL TURNS IN ANOTHER GREAT OUTING
Junior QB and multi-award candidate Graham Harrell blistered the UTEP defense for 484 yards and four touchdowns on a personal-best 48 completions in Tech's 45-31 win. The game marked the second straight for Harrell to eclipse 400 yards and throw four TD strikes.Against SMU, Harrell finished the day 44-of-59 with 419 yards and four touchdown tosses. The two games are the 10th and 11th 300-yard passing games of his Texas Tech career and his sixth and seventh games with four or more touchdown passes. He also sneaked in for another score against SMU.
CRABTREE SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR A FRESHMAN
Redshirt freshman WR Michael Crabtree turned in another big game for the Red Raider offense against UTEP as he hauled in two touchdowns for his second straight multiple-TD game. He is the first freshman in school history to notch multiple-TD games in his first two games as a Red Raider. Crabtree finished the night with 15 receptions and 188 yards.
- Cut the UTEP lead to 21-13 with 11:40 remaining in the first half when he hauled in a six-yard pass from Graham Harrell. The touchdown marked his fourth of the season after catching three at SMU.
- Hauled in his second TD catch of the game on Tech's opening possession of the second half. Caught a nine-yard pass from Harrell that cut the UTEP lead to 28-23.
- Tied the school record for receptions in a game with 15 (Robert Johnson) and bested the freshman receptions record of 13, set by Taurean Henderson in 2002.
RED ZONE DEFENSE PLAYING TOUGH
Despite an 88 percent success rate for opponents in the Tech red zone this season, of the seven scores by the opposition, only three have gone for touchdowns. The Red Raiders held SMU out of the end zone the entire game, while UTEP managed three scores in the first half.
GARCIA, McBATH PROVIDE SAFETY NET
The safety duo SS Joe Garcia and FS Darcel McBath are once again among the defensive leaders. The pair ranks among the top three on the tackles chart with McBath tied for first with 14 and Garcia third with 13. McBath has a team-leading three pass breakups, while Garcia has one. Additionally, Tech's two interceptions against SMU were initially tipped by McBath.
