Texas Tech University Athletics
Back to Work
September 15, 2011 | Football
The Red Raiders are set for their first road trip of the season.
September 15, 2011
by Britton Drown
Texas Tech Athletics Communications
At first glance, it may not have been the most ideal way for the 2011 Texas Tech football schedule to play out.
Throughout training camp, head coach Tommy Tuberville and his coordinators often talked about the early bye week as a bit of an awkward break. However, as the week arrived, the coaching staff and the Red Raiders alike warmed up to the idea of an early week off.
"We kind of took it as an extended week of fall camp," junior quarterback Seth Doege said. "We had to get better because everyone else in the country is getting better, and I think that is what we did."
Now, with two weeks of practice under their belts, the Red Raiders are ready to get back on the field, and are prepared for the next challenge in front of them--the first road trip of the season.
 | "We put a lot of pressure on our players in terms of challenging each other for positions. It's worked out pretty good for us. Now it's time to get back to work." - Tommy Tuberville |
"We pushed them hard all week long," head coach Tommy Tuberville said. "They are hungry and they are ready to play."
Texas Tech (1-0) is coming off of a 50-10 season-opening win over Texas State on Sept. 3, while New Mexico (0-2) will enter the game fresh off of a 52-3 loss to Arkansas.
The Red Raiders and the Lobos met last season in Albuquerque in a game that Texas Tech won 52-17, and the Red Raiders lead the all-time series 34-6-2 having won 12 of the last 13 meetings.
This is a young team though, and a team that was exposed early in the first half against Texas State. It's something Tuberville is well aware of and has heavily emphasized during the extended time off.
"We put a lot of pressure on our players in terms of challenging each other for positions," Tuberville said. "It's worked out pretty good for us. Now it's time to get back to work."
The results of that will be seen on the field Saturday. Texas Tech has two freshmen, Blake Dees and Sam Eguavoen, listed as starters at linebacker. Meanwhile, sophomore Eric Ward will make his first start of the season at receiver, and freshman running back Ronnie Daniels, an Albuquerque native, is expected to make his season debut.
"There are so many young guys that are playing," Tuberville said. "We're trying to get as much game experience with as many players as we can before we get in conference play."
In preparation for New Mexico, the Red Raiders completed their last full practice on Wednesday before holding a light practice and walk-thru on Thursday afternoon.
"It was a good practice," Tuberville said on Wednesday. "The guys were into it and running around. We looked like we were in pretty good shape. We are going to have to play a lot faster and a lot earlier than we did in the last game."
In their season opener, the Red Raiders got of to a slower than expected start, as Texas State scored the first ten points of the game and held a 10-9 lead at halftime.
Two playmakers the Red Raiders will certainly be looking towards on Saturday will be receivers Darrin Moore and Bradley Marquez. Moore, a junior, exploded against Texas State for 221 yards on 12 receptions and one touchdown.
Meanwhile, Marquez made his Texas Tech debut by catching the first Red Raider touchdown of the game late in the first quarter.
"He's [Marquez] a very explosive player," Doege said. "He's a young guy, but I think he is doing well for a young guy. He's a guy that we can get the ball to, and he will make something happen with it."
Now, after two weeks away from the game field, it's clear the Red Raiders are primed to get back to game action.
"I'm just excited to play again," Doege said.
