Texas Tech University Athletics
Doege Leads New-Look Red Raiders into Media Day
July 25, 2011 | Football
July 25, 2011
by Britton Drown
Texas Tech Athletics Communications
Seth Doege seems to embody each of those unique storylines that define a quarterback.
He is the son of a football coach, a local product and reminisces of the frequent trips on fall Saturdays from his home in Wolfforth, Texas just 10 minutes down State Highway 82 to Jones AT&T Stadium.
Those trips to watch the Red Raiders, combined with the unique environment of Texas Tech football sparked a dream inside Doege to one-day stand as a quarterback in that very stadium.
It wasn't easy and, Doege's story, like so many others, includes adversity. Two injuries to his knees kept him off the field during both his junior and senior season at Frenship High School.
He had talent though, and Texas Tech remained loyal. Doege was destined to play football in Lubbock.
"For me growing up as a small-town West Texas kid and graduating 10 minutes from the stadium, it's a dream come true," Doege said.
Ah yes, there are several compelling storylines circulating Doege as he enters the 2011 campaign as the signal-caller at Tech, and now he will have the chance to tell them.
Today, Doege will join head coach Tommy Tuberville along with teammates Cody Davis and Mickey Okafor at Day 2 of the Big 12 Football Media Days in Dallas. Together, they will meet with the Big 12 media to discuss the progress the Red Raiders have made throughout spring and summer workouts.
Media Day is scheduled to begin at 10:00AM at The Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas.
"I'm ready to represent Texas Tech," Doege said. "It's an honor to represent this team. I have developed a lot of good friendships on this team. A lot of guys can vouch that I am the spokesman of the team. I'm excited to tell the world that we have worked hard and we are continuing to get better and that we are going to be a team to be dealt with when it comes to Big 12 play."
Yes they do respect him. Doege not only impressed a crowd of over 12,000 at the annual Spring Game in late March by throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, but he has earned the respect of his teammates throughout his career at Texas Tech.
"He has done a great job as a leader and as a player," junior wide receiver Alex Torres said. "He is just putting in a tremendous amount of work and really getting comfortable with everyone our offense and even everyone on our defense. They know that he is going to be the leader that everyone is going to look up to offensively and defensively."
Many say it's his leadership, and with an impressive lineage of quarterbacks at Texas Tech that includes the likes of Kliff Kingsbury and Graham Harrell who both threw over 100 touchdowns throughout their careers, it's a quality that's essential.
"The thing that is different about [Seth] Doege is that he carries a little persona to himself about being a leader." junior linebacker Sam Fehoko said. "He knows a lot of people on the team, he's a great guy and he is humble."
Taking young quarterbacks to Media Day is nothing new to Tuberville.
"I try to take quarterbacks, especially the guys that are inexperienced that can learn and understand what they are getting into," Tuberville said. "They can meet the media guys and understand them. They just kind of grow up in that situation."
Doege enters the 2011 season with six appearances at quarterback, and one start (at Kansas in 2009) during his career.
Texas Tech is entering a new-look Big 12 conference that includes a challenging schedule the Red Raiders have never faced before. With trips to Austin and Norman on tap for the season the Red Raiders will need their new quarterback to step up.
"He is a lot more comfortable with himself." Fehoko said. "I know that Seth Doege will be ready for the 2011 Texas Tech football season. He has been working hard. For a young leader to be put in that position, I feel like it's a hard job, but he works hard enough to uphold that job."
Texas Tech opens its 2011 season on Sept. 3 when the Red Raiders host Texas State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Jones AT&T Stadium.
