Postgame Notes
September 04, 2007 | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
| Photo Gallery 2
GETTING STARTED
- Today's game against SMU marked the beginning of the 83rd season of Red Raider Football. Tech has an all-time record now of 483-383-32.
- Texas Tech wore white jerseys with red pants for just the second time under Mike Leach. The last time Tech wore this uniform combination was at UTEP last season (38-35 overtime win).
- Today's game was televised nationally by ESPN HD and marked Tech's first appearance on ESPN since the 2004 Holiday Bowl against California. It also marked the first time for Red Raider Football to be broadcasted in high-definition.
- Texas Tech won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. SMU elected to defend the north endzone.
- A total of 10 Red Raiders made their first career starts on the afternoon: Offensively - Rylan Reed, Shawn Byrnes, Jake Johnson, Michael Crabtree, and Kobey Lewis: Defensively - Richard Jones, Rajon Henley, Brandon Williams, Chad Hill, and Jamar Wall
Starters - (Offense) - (LT) Rylan Reed, (LG) Louis Vasquez, (C) Shawn Byrnes, (RT) Jake Johnson, (RG) Brandon Carter, (QB) Graham Harrell, (F) Shannon Woods (Y) Danny Amendola (X) Michael Crabtree, (F) Kobey Lewis (Z) L.A. Reed (Defense) - (LE) Jake Ratliff, (NT) Richard Jones, (DT) Rajon Henley, (RE) Brandon Williams, (SAM) Kellen Tillman, (MIKE) Paul Williams, (WILL) Chad Hill, (LC) Jamar Wall, (SS) Joe Garcia, (FS) Darcel McBath, (RC) Chris Parker
TECH'S WIN. . .
- Gives Head Coach Mike Leach a career record of 57-33. Leach is in his eighth season at the helm of the Red Raiders.
- Gives Texas Tech a 29-15 lead in the all-time series against SMU in what was the 44th meeting between the two schools.
- Gives Texas Tech 12-straight wins in the series against SMU (dating back to 1989).
- Gives Texas Tech and 89-75-3 record against teams that currently make up Conference USA.
- Gives the Red Raiders five-straight wins in season openers (last loss was at Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic in 2002).
AMENDOLA SETS TONE FOR TECH OFFENSE
Senior Danny Amendola lived up to his preseason expectations on Monday afternoon as he led the Texas Tech receiving corps with a career-high 149 yards on 10 catches and one touchdown. Amendola had his career day in the books by halftime as he racked up 102 receiving yards on 7 catches in the first half. His previous high was 92 yards against Texas last season. He was responsible for Tech's second touchdown of the game as he scored on a career-long 49-yard pass from Graham Harrell (previous long was a 45-yard TD catch last season against SMU).
CRABTREE SHINES IN RED RAIDER DEBUT
Redshirt freshman receiver Michael Crabtree shined in his Red Raider debut this afternoon at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. He became the first freshman receiver in the Mike Leach era to score three touchdowns in a season opener. Crabtree finished the game with 106 yards on 12 receptions and three touchdowns.
- Scored the first touchdown of his career with two seconds left in the first half (one-yard pass to give Tech a 20-6 lead).
- Second touchdown was a 42-yard strike that gave the Red Raiders a 27-6 lead in the third quarter.
- Picked up his third touchdown with 1:14 remaining in the third quarter that gave Tech a 34-6 lead (caught a two-yard pass from Harrell).
DAVEY O'BRIEN CANDIDATE HARRELL TURNS IN ANOTHER GREAT OUTING
Junior quarterback and Davy O'Brian candidate Graham Harrell turned in another outstanding day for the Red Raider offense. Harrell finished the day 44-for-59 with 419 yards passing and four touchdowns. It marked the 10th 300-plus yard passing game of his Texas Tech career and his sixth game with four or more touchdowns.
- Moved into sixth place on the career passing yardage list, surpassing Sonny Cumbie.
- Finished the game with a career-high 44 completions (previous high was 42 last season against Texas).
DEFENSE KEY IN WIN
The Texas Tech defense was outstanding in today's win over SMU. The defense held SMU without a touchdown and it marked the first time Tech held a Division I team without a TD since the TCU game last season. The Red Raiders held the SMU offense to just 270 yards of total offense.
- Anthony Hines picked up his first career interception late in the third quarter to give the defense it first turnover of the season.
- Marlon Williams recovered the first fumble of the season for the Tech unit and returned it 63 yards to set up the Red Raiders' sixth touchdown of the game.
- Daniel Charbonnet picked up his first career interception as a Red Raider with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter.
NOTING THE RED RAIDERS
- Sophomore Edward Britton returned the opening kickoff 46 yards to set up Tech's first score of the game. The kickoff return was longer than any that Tech had last season (longest was a 38-yard return by Shannon Woods at UTEP).
- Junior quarterback Graham Harrell scored Tech's first touchdown of the season on a one-yard quarterback sneak at the 10:16 mark in the first quarter. The drive went 51 yards in 10 plays and was the first offensive series of the season for the Red Raiders. Tech did not score on its season opening possession last year but did in 2005 when Taurean Henderson scored on a 20-yard run to open the game against Florida International.
- Four true freshmen earned playing time in today's game: Jonathan LaCour (punter), Colby Whitlock (defensive tackle), Lyle Leong (wide receiver), Bobby Agoucha (defensive line) and Justin Keown (center).
- Junior running back Shannon Woods scored his first rushing touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter to give Tech a 41-6 lead. Woods scored his second rushing touchdown on a five-yard run with 2:02 left in the game. That score marked Woods' fourth multiple touchdown game of his career.
- Today's 49-9 win over SMU is the most lopsided Tech win over the Mustangs in Dallas ever with the previous coming in 1977 season when Tech won 45-7.
