Red Raiders Enjoy 23rd Annual Lawry's Beef Bowl
December 30, 2005 | Football
Beef Bowl Photo Gallery
Dec. 30, 2005
DALLAS, Texas - The Texas Tech Red Raiders (No. 15 BCS/No. 18 AP) continued its work for the 70th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic with a 90-minute practice in perfect conditions for the third straight day at Texas Stadium. The Red Raiders take on the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide in the Classic on Monday, Jan. 2 at 10 a.m.
The squad worked out in pads and shorts in what was considered a "Tuesday" practice.
"Today was a good practice," head coach Mike Leach said. "I think we're where we should be at this point in the week, but we need to continue to improve tomorrow."
This will be Texas Tech's third appearance in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. The Red Raiders fell to St. Mary's of California, 20-13, in the 1939 Classic, and lost 55-14 to Southern California and MVP Keyshawn Johnson in the 1995 Classic. Ironically, both of Texas Tech's previous Classics were played on Jan. 2, as is the case with this year's game.
"Everyone has memories of the Cotton Bowl," said Leach, who was born in Susanville, California but grew up in Cody, Wyoming. "My best memory was when Georgia beat Texas in 1984 and involved (QB) John Lastinger, who I got to know when I was at Valdosta State. He couldn't run at all, but he found a way to score the winning touchdown."
Texas Tech is 8-19-1 in 28 bowl appearances. Since Leach arrived in Lubbock, Tech is 3-2 in five consecutive bowl games, having won its last three contests.
Attending today's practice was Jackie Sherrill, former head coach at Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Mississippi State and an alumnus of Alabama. Yesterday Sherrill attended Alabama's practice. Also attending was former receivers Rodney Blackshear (1987-1991), now an assistant coach at the University of Houston, and Trey Haverty, a third-team All-American in 2004.
Texas Tech is at full strength with no players injured heading into the Classic.
Tonight the Red Raiders will enjoy a team function at the Lawry's Beef Bowl in Dallas. Tomorrow both head coaches will participate in the traditional joint coaches' news conference from 9-9:45 a.m. at the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Las Colinas. The Red Raiders will practice from 12 noon until 2 p.m. at Texas Stadium. TOMORROW'S PRACTICE IS CLOSED TO THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC. Coach Leach will be available for interviews following practice.
The 70th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic will be nationally televised by FOX Sports. Westwood One will handle the national radio broadcast on Jan. 2.