Texas Tech University Athletics
The Home Finale
November 11, 2011 | Football
Saturday's game against No. 2 Oklahoma State will serve as both the Wounded Warrior game and Senior Day.
Nov. 11, 2011
Gameday Central | Meet the Wounded Warriors | Texas Tech Game Notes | Oklahoma State Game Notes
by Britton Drown
Texas Tech Athletics Communications
Seth Doege remembers his high school friend serving in Afghanistan. The Facebook messages he received from him just before last year's Wounded Warrior game meant something to him.
Head coach Tommy Tuberville remembers the two trips he took overseas to visit troops, the young soldiers not unlike his own players.
Yes, the Wounded Warrior game, now in its second season, has certainly left its mark on the Red Raider football team, and not just with the custom-designed jerseys.
"It was one of the most special things I've ever been a part of," Doege said. "When those guys came in and talked to us and talked to the team, told us stories and let us know that they're behind us...that was special."
This year, the theme of the Wounded Warrior game is "Believe in Heroes" and will kickoff at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The game, which will also serve as the final home game for 19 seniors, will be televised regionally by ABC.
 | "It was one of the most special things I've ever been a part of. When those guys came in and talked to us and talked to the team, told us stories and let us know that they're behind us...that was special." |
The Red Raiders will be wearing customized jerseys designed by Under Armour. Texas Tech will wear cleats, gloves, helmets and uniforms that commemorate the Wounded Warrior Project. Game jerseys will be auctioned on TexasTech.com the week after the game and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.
This year, Texas Tech enters the Wounded Warrior match up with the No. 2 Cowboys riding a two-game losing streak and a three-game home losing streak. Texas Tech dropped last week's game to Texas in Austin 52-20. However, the Red Raiders enter their final home game of the season still confident that they are a squad that can compete with the top teams in the country. After all, they are still the team that knocked off No. 1 Oklahoma in Norman just three weeks ago.
"I feel confident in our ability to win football games," Doege said on Monday. "And I feel confident in our ability to move the ball on anybody we play. If you are sitting in our meetings and you're watching film with us, you would understand that the only time we're ever stopped is when we stop ourselves."
Both Texas Tech and Oklahoma State feature offenses ranked in the top-15 nationally. The Cowboys, led by quarterback Brandon Weeden rank No. 2 in the country. Meanwhile the Red Raiders, under Doege, rank No. 11 in the country.
Perhaps most importantly, the Red Raiders will look to secure bowl-eligibility for a Big 12 record 19th consecutive season. With three games remaining on the season, Texas Tech is set to make a final push as the season draws to a close.
"We can be very good once we put everything on the table and play like we know how to play." Doege said.
