Texas Tech Participating In 24th Bowl
December 11, 2000 | Football
Dec. 11, 2000
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders face the East Carolina Pirates Wed., Dec. 27, at 7 p.m. in the inaugural galleryfurniture.com Bowl at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. Texas Tech is appearing in its 24th bowl and ranks among the top 25 in all-time bowl appearances.
The Records
Texas Tech finished the 2000 regular season with a 7-5 record and 3-5 mark in Big 12 play. The Red Raiders knocked off Oklahoma State in the 11th game of the season to become bowl eligible for the eighth-consecutive season.
East Carolina wrapped up its regular season with a 14-9 at Southern Miss on Nov. 24. The Pirates are 7-4 overall and 5-2 in Conference USA play. ECU is making its second-straight bowl appearance.
The Series
This is the first meeting between the schools.
The Coaches
Mike Leach finished his inaugural season at Texas Tech with a 7-5 mark and is only the second Red Raider head coach to lead a team to a postseason bowl game in his first season. East Carolina's Steve Logan is in his ninth season at ECU and has a 58-44 overall mark at the school. Logan led the Pirates to a 7-4 record this season.
Texas Tech Becomes Bowl Eligible for Eighth-Straight Season
Texas Tech's win over Oklahoma State gave the Red Raiders their seventh win necessary to qualify for a bowl berth. This marks the eighth-consecutive season that Texas Tech has qualified for a bowl game.
Bowling in Houston
This may be the inaugural game of the galleryfurniture.com Bowl, but it's not the first time a Texas Tech team has played in a bowl game in Houston. The Red Raiders faced Nebraska in the 1976 Bluebonnet Bowl in the Astrodome. The Huskers won the game 27-24.
Texas Tech Bowl History
The Red Raiders are tied 20th all-time with 23 bowl appearances in the program's 75 years. In those 23 games, Tech is 5-17-1. In the last eight seasons that Tech has qualified for a bowl appearance, the Red Raiders have participated in five postseason games:
1998 Independence Bowl (L, 35-18 to Mississippi)
1996 Alamo Bowl (L, 27-0 to Iowa)
1995 Copper Bowl (W, 55-41 over Air Force)
1995 Cotton Bowl (L, 55-14 to USC)
1993 John Hancock Bowl (L, 41-10 to Oklahoma)
Tough Slate
Texas Tech faced one the toughest conference schedules in school history this season as four of the Red Raiders' eight league opponents were ranked among the top 20 at the time of the game. The games against Nebraska and Oklahoma mark the first time in school history that Texas Tech has faced two No. 1 teams in the same season. Kansas State was ranked 10th at game time, while Texas was ranked 20th. Texas A&M wasn't ranked when the Red Raiders travelled to College Station, but moved into the polls midway through the season.
Texas Tech vs. Conference USA
Texas Tech has faced three current members of Conference USA and trail the three teams 12-20-2. Of the 34 meetings, 28 of those came against Houston when both teams were members of the Southwest Conference.
Baker Posts Impressive Senior Campaign
Senior receiver Tim Baker finished the season with a Big 12-leading 69 catches for 765 yards -- both career highs. "Bake" caught seven touchdwon receptions and finished second on the team with 63.8 all-purpose yards per game.
Dorris Finishes Strong
Senior receiver Derek Dorris also had an impressive season, catching 56 passes for 574 yards. He led the team with nine scoring catches, including a school-record four TD receptions at Kansas. Dorris' nine touchdown catches ranked him second on the scoring list this season with 54 points.
Kingsbury Ranks Among Best All-Time
Kliff Kingsbury has set several Texas Tech passing records in his sophomore season and first year as the Red Raider signal caller. He also is moving up the career charts.
Getting the Most Out of Completions
Kliff Kingsbury completed a school-record 362 passes this season, 21 of those for touchdowns. Kingsbury averaged a touchdown pass every 17.2 completions. Kingsbury also led the nation in completions and was one of two quarterbacks to complete more than 300 passes.
Defense Provides a Little Offense
Texas Tech's SWARM defense showed its versatility during the season, scoring four touchdowns, two on interceptions and two on fumble returns. The special teams also added a touchdown on a blocked field goal return against Oklahoma State.
Tech Defense Leads Nation in Shutouts
The Texas Tech defense led the nation this season with three shutouts - Louisiana-Lafayette, Baylor and Oklahoma State. The Red Raiders also held a fourth opponent - North Texas - without an offensive score. The Eagles scored their lone touchdown on an interception return.
Dead End
Tech senior linebacker Dorian Pitts led the team with 16 tackles for 74 lost yards. Pitts, who had five tackles for loss against OSU, also recorded five sacks on the season and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Big 12 Leader
Sophomore linebacker Lawrence Flugence finished the season as the Big 12 Conference's top tackler with 156 tackles. His 156 tackles was second-best on Texas Tech's single-season list. Flugence was also fourth in the nation in tackles this year.
Curtis Collects Honors
Junior strong safety Kevin Curtis was named to several All-Big 12 teams, including first-team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press, Football News, The Sporting News, the Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle. Curtis was also a second-team All-Big 12 selection by the Big 12 coaches.
Paper or Plastic?
Sophomore defensive end Aaron Hunt wrapped up the season with a team-high eight sacks, which ranks him fifth on the single-season sack list. Hunt has tallied 13 career sacks in his two seasons as a Red Raider and ranks ninth on Tech's all-time sack list.
Making His Mark
Junior strong safety Kevin Curtis has compiled 319 tackles in his three year to put him ninth on the Red Raiders' all-time career list for tackles. He was second on the team in tackles this season with 121.
Take it Away
Senior corner back Antwan Alexander recorded a team-high four interceptions this season. Alexander got a pick in four games this year: New Mexico, Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State.
Top Tacklers
Texas Tech had five players rank in the top 10 in the Big 12 in tackles this season. Sophomore Lawrence Flugence led the league with 156 tackles, while junior strong safety Kevin Curtis was fifth with 121. Senior linebacker Dorian Pitts was seventh with 119 followed by senior free safety Mark Washington who was ninth with 114 and senior linebacker John Norman was 10th with 106.
Making the Grade
Ten current Red Raiders received their degrees during fall commencement ceremonies Dec. 16:
Seniors: Chris Birkholz, Derrick Briggs, Toby Cantu, James Easterling, Jonathan Hawkins, Rickey Hunter, Dorian Pitts, Eric Rosiles and Mark Washington. Juniors: Ricky Williams.
Williams Running to Be First
Senior running back Ricky Williams is only the seventh Red Raider running back to lead the team in rushing three-consecutive seasons (Williams received a medical redshirt for the 1999 season).
SBC Big 12 Players of the Week
Here's a list of Red Raiders who have been recognized as SBC Big 12 Players of the Week this season:
WR Carlos Francis September 9
Francis set the freshman school record with 234 receiving yards
PR Wes Welker October 30
Welker amassed 272 all-purpose yards against Kansas
LB Lawrence Flugence November 13
Flugence returned blocked field goal 79 yards for score vs. OSU