Texas Tech Faces Kansas In Conference Opener
September 26, 2005 | Football
Sept. 26, 2005
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Saturday, October 1, 2005
6:00 p.m. (CT)
Jones SBC Stadium (52,882)
Texas Tech vs. Kansas - Gameday Central
Texas Tech (3-0) opens Big 12 Conference play Saturday against the Kansas Jayhawks (3-0) of the Big 12's North Division. The two teams are meeting for the second time in as many years, but will take a two-year hiatus beginning next season as part of the league's divisional rotation. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT at Jones SBC Stadium.
GAME BEGINS TRIFECTA AGAINST THE NORTH DIVISION
The Red Raiders' game against the Jayhawks this weekend is the first of three straight against members of the league's North Division. Games against Nebraska and Kansas State follow this weekend's game and marks the first time since the 2002 season that Tech has faced each of the three North Division members on consecutive weekends. Iowa State, Missouri and Colorado were on Tech's schedule in a three-week span three seasons ago.
TECH CONTINUES CLIMB
Texas Tech enters the week at the No. 13 slot in the coaches poll, while moving up three spots to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll. The No. 13 ranking is the highest for a Tech team since Oct. 15, 1977, when the Red Raiders were ranked 13th in the AP. This is the fifth-straight week the Red Raiders have been in the polls and the longest such run under head coach Mike Leach.
RED RAIDER FOOTBALL IN 81st SEASON
The 2005 season marks the 81st year of Texas Tech Football on the South Plains. Over that span, the program has 468 wins, 375 losses and 32 ties.
TECH IN MIDST OF BEST START SINCE 2000
Texas Tech's 3-0 record to open the 2005 season is the best since the team opened the 2000 season 3-0. Tech went 4-0 in 2000, before dropping its first game. The school record for consecutive games without a loss to open a season is eight when the Red Raiders were 8-0 during the 1976 season. That team finished 10-2 and is the last team to win 10 games.
LAST TIME OUT
Red Raider RB Taurean Henderson blistered the Indiana State defense for 141 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries in the first half as Tech took a 49-0 cushion into halftime. After opening the game with a punt, touchdown and interception on its first three possessions, the Red Raiders rattled off seven-straight scores, including six to close the first half. Henderson scored the game's first three touchdowns, followed by touchdown receptions by WR Jarrett Hicks, WR Joel Filani and IR Robert Johnson. WR Brandon Douglas blocked a punt for a touchdown to end the half. The block was the first for a score since the 1991 season against Wyoming. Henderson and most of his first-team teammates sat during the second half as the younger guys took advantage of additional playing time. Hodges completed 25-of-32 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, before yielding the second half to Graham Harrell. The freshman finished the game 5-of-19 for 69 yards with a passing score. Filani led the receiving corps with five receptions, while three others had four catches. Defensively, true freshman DE McKinner Dixon recorded the earliest start for a true freshman under Leach. Dixon also led the team with six tackles and a tackle for loss. The Red Raiders also forced all three of Indiana State's fumbles. DE Brett Bischofberger had an active game in the backfield with a sack and three quarterback hurries.
LEACH IN SIXTH SEASON
Aside from Spike Dykes' 13 seasons (1987-99), the last Texas Tech coach to spend more than six seasons in Lubbock was JT King, who was at the helm of the program from 1961-69. Leach has seen continual improvement in each of his first five years, highlighted by last season's 45-31 win over California in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Leach has posted a 42-25 record and 21-19 record in Big 12 play, including last season's 5-3 league record and Big 12 third-place finish, the highest finish for Tech in the league standings. He is the first coach in school history to lead each of his first five teams to bowl games and also to win three-straight post-season games. His Tech teams have combined for over 151 team and individual records. Additionally, the Red Raider offense has led the nation in passing the past three years and total offense the last two.
MORE ON LEACH
The Sporting News acknowledged Mike Leach in its preseason Big 12 issue as the second-best coach in the Big 12 Conference. In a league littered with outstanding coaches, only OU coach Bob Stoops ranked higher than Leach. Texas' Mack Brown, Kansas State's Bill Snyder and Colorado's Gary Barnett ranked third through fifth.
BIG 12 LEADERS
Texas Tech leads the Big 12 in six statistical categories and is tied for the lead in three others. Tech tops the charts in scoring offense (66.3), pass offense (488.0), total offense (653.7), turnover margin (+1.67), first downs (98) and opponent penalty yards (78.0). The Red Raiders are tied for the lead in PAT kicking (100%), fourth-down conversions (100%) and redzone offense (100%). Individually, QB Cody Hodges leads the league in passing (372.3), pass efficiency (199.5) and total offense (393.7). IR Robert Johnson tops the receptions per game chart (6.3), while RB Taurean Henderson leads in scoring (16.0).
NCAA LEADERS
Texas Tech also leads the country in passing, scoring offense and total offense. The Red Raiders also rank among the top 10 in scoring defense and pass efficiency. Hodges leads the country in total offense and passing, while Henderson is the nation's leading scorer.
SCORING, SCORING AND MORE SCORING
The Texas Tech offense continued its potent attack against Indiana State. Texas Tech has now scored 40-plus points in each of its last four contests dating back to a 45-31 win over California in the 2004 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Tech also put up 49 points in the first half for the second-straight week which ties the school record set against Baylor in 2001 and against Sam Houston State.
REDZONE OFFENSE AMONG NATION'S BEST
The Texas Tech offense has made 22 trips into the opponent's redzone this season and has come away with scores each time. Tech has 21 touchdowns, including 12 on the ground, and a field goal. The Red Raiders' 22 visits leads 13 teams nationally who have a perfect 100 percent rate in the redzone. Missouri has 21 redzone opportunities, while Illinois and Toledo follow with 18 and 16, respectively. Three teams, including Kansas, are perfect on 14 attempts.
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
Texas Tech scored twice in nine seconds in the second quarter against Indiana State, marking the quickest back-to-back touchdowns in school history. QB Cody Hodges hit WR Joel Filani on a seven-yard score at 3:37 in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Indiana State fumbled at their own 12-yard line and Tech scored on the very next play. Hodges hit IR Robert Johnson on an 11-yard fade with 3:28 on the clock.
DOUGLAS FLYING SOLO
Junior wide receiver Brandon Douglas was a one-man show on a big special teams play for the Red Raiders in the first half. Douglas blocked a punt by Indiana State's Phillip Johnson and then recovered the punt and returned it for a touchdown. The blocked punt for a touchdown was the first by a Red Raider since Steve Carr in 1991 (block by Peter Allen). The touchdown was also the first of Douglas' career.
WILLIAM TELL WOULD BE PROUD
QB Cody Hodges' dead aim this season refl ects in his completion percentage - 75.5 percent. Hodges has completed 80-of-106 passes on the season, turning in a completion percentage better than his three predecessors. Additionally, Hodges is averaging four touchdown passes per game. If his current pace continues throughout the season, he will finish the regular season with 44 touchdown passes.
QB DEBUTS UNDER LEACH
Cody Hodges is the fourth different quarterback to open the season as the starter in head coach Mike Leach's six seasons at Texas Tech - and his performance mirrored those of his predecessors. Additionally, Hodges' four touchdown passes were the most since Sonny Cumbie completed four in Tech's 70-35 win over TCU last season.
TECH BACKUP ACCURATE AS WELL
Redshirt freshman backup QB Graham Harrell relieved Hodges early in the fourth and third quarters against Florida International and Sam Houston State, respectively, and played the entire second half against Indiana State. Harrell has hit 75 percent of his receivers this season and has completed 30-of-40 pass attempts. He also has 341 yards and two passing scores. Harrell's pass attempts are the most for a backup in a season since Sonny Cumbie's 56 pass attempts as a backup to B.J. Symons in 2003.
GIVE AND TAKE
QB Cody Hodges made it through 84 pass attempts this season before throwing his first interception. No worries, though. Hodges forced a fumble on the same play to get the ball back. Former Tech QB Sonny Cumbie holds the record among Leach starters with 90 pass attempts before throwing his first pick.
ABOUT THE KANSAS JAYHAWKS
Kansas is 3-0 for the first time since 1997 and is coming off of an open weekend. The Jayhawks opened the season with three-straight home games against Florida Atlantic (W, 30-19), Appalachian State (W, 36-8) and Louisiana Tech (W, 34-14). The Jayhawks, who won 34-31 in overtime on their last visit to Lubbock in 2001, rank sixth in the Big 12 in scoring (33.3) and fifth in scoring defense (13.7). The KU rushing game is averaging 149.7 yards per game, while the passing game is fifth at 213.7 yards per game. Jayhawk opponents are averaging 80.3 yards per game on the ground and 244.7 yards per game through the air. Overall, KU's total defense is yielding 325.0 yards per game. Kansas QB Brian Luke is averaging 189.7 passing yards per game, while Mark Simmons appears to be his favorite target with a team-leading 4.3 receptions per game. RB Clark Green is the team's leading rusher with 61.7 yards per game, while RB Jon Cornish leads with five touchdowns.
TEXAS TECH-KANSAS SERIES
Texas Tech holds an 8-1 series advantage over the Jayhawks, including last season's come-frombehind 31-30 win in Lawrence. Kansas' lone win in the series came on its last visit to Lubbock during the 2001 season when the Jayhawks won 34-31 in overtime. The Red Raiders are 3-1 overall in Lubbock and 5-0 in Lawrence. The two teams first played a series in the 1965 and 1966 seasons, followed by another series during the 1969-70 seasons. The teams resumed on a divisional rotation basis when the Big 12 Conference formed in 1996.
KANSAS-TECH PROGRAM TIES
Where do we start? Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach and Kansas head coach Mark Mangino were both members of the Oklahoma coaching staff in 1999, a year before Leach assumed his current position in Lubbock. Texas Tech RB coach Seth Littrell played for Leach and Mangino at Oklahoma and was a member of the Jayhawk coaching staff last season. Finally, Tech strength and conditioning coach Dink Williams was with the Kansas staff last season and Tech media relations intern Adam Quisenberry returned to Tech after year in the KU media relations office.
LAST MEETING - RED RAIDERS POST COMEBACK WIN
The Red Raiders squeaked out a 31-30 win over the Jayhawks with less than three minutes remaining in the game, adding another great comeback to their repertoire. Texas Tech running back Taurean Henderson's 70-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter tied the game, and Alex Trlica's extrapoint kick put the Red Raiders ahead by one for the win. The Red Raiders erased a 21-point deficit a week earlier in a 70-35 win over TCU.
The Red Raider offense totaled 538 yards for the day, including a season-high 182 yards rushing. Henderson had 17 carries for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Sonny Cumbie threw 28 completions for 356 yards and two touchdowns. Inside receiver Trey Haverty had a big game with eight receptions for 143 yards and a 32-yard touchdown catch before the half. Receiver Jarrett Hicks had his fourth straight 100-yard game, adding eight catches for 131 yards and a 27-yard touchdown reception at the end of the third to put Texas Tech within six points of the Jayhawks.
IT'S CONTAGIOUS
Sixteen players have caught a pass in the first three games this season, including four who have at least 10 receptions. IR Robert Johnson leads the team with 20 receptions, while WR Danny Amendola and WR Joel Filani have 12 each.
LIKE RIDING A BIKE
It took junior redshirt IR Robert Johnson the first series in the first game to get adjusted to his new receiver role. It took him only one more game to perfect it. The former JUCO All-American quarterback made the conversion to receiver during spring workouts to best utilize his athletic ability. Johnson, who last played a receiver position as a sophomore in high school, debuted with nine catches for 129 yards against FIU. By halftime of the Sam Houston State, Johnson had passed his debut performance with seven catches for 185 yards. He added a reception and 24 yards to his total early in the second half and finished the game with eight receptions for 209 yards. The yardage total marked only the seventh time in school history a receiver eclipsed the 200-yard mark and the first time since Jarrett Hicks' 211 yards against TCU last season. In three games, Johnson leads the team with 116.7 receiving yards per game on 19 catches. He also has two scoring receptions, including an 11-yard fade against Indiana State.
HENDERSON BREAKS TECH SCORING RECORDS
Senior RB Taurean Henderson, a candidate for the 2005 Doak Walker Award, is living proof that Texas Tech has a running game. The versatile back has 55 career touchdowns, including 40 of those on the ground. With his first score against Indiana State, Henderson set a new scoring standard at Tech, breaking the previous touchdowns scored record of 52, held by James Gray (1986-89).
HENDERSON ALSO ON TORRID SCORING PACE
Three games into the season and Henderson already has eight touchdowns, including seven on the ground. He opened the season with two scores against Florida International and followed with three each against Sam Houston State and Indiana State. He also has scored in each of his last 10 games. Additionally, Henderson has 2,633 career rushing yards and, if he reaches 3,000 yards, he will become only the fifth player in school history to do so.
HENDERSON AMONG NATIONAL TOUCHDOWN LEADERS
Henderson ranks first in the NCAA among all active players with 55 career touchdowns. He leads New Mexico's DonTrell Moore and Memphis' DeAngelo Williams by eight touchdowns.
MORE ON HENDERSON
- Henderson is one of only four players in school history to record 200 catches during a career. The junior has 247 receptions to date and is 12 shy of tying the Tech record of 259, set by former Tech receiver and current Miami Dolphin team captain Wes Welker (2000-03).
- Henderson's 247 career receptions ranks second in NCAA history among running backs. He trails former Long Beach State back Mark Templeton, who caught 262 passes from 1984-87.
TRUE FRESHMEN SEEING PLAYING TIME
Four newcomers saw playing time in the first game of the season - the most in one season in the Mike Leach era. DE McKinner Dixon, WR Todd Walker, WR Catron Houston and OG Louis Vasquez each have seen significant playing time this season. Dixon and Vasquez missed the Sam Houston game with injuries, but returned for the Indiana State game. Walker has three catches on the season for 26 yards, while Houston is averaging 18.3 yards per catch on three receptions. Dixon led the team with six tackles against Indiana State and recorded the earliest start for a true freshman under Mike Leach when he cracked the starting lineup against ISU.
DEFENSIVE PROGRESSION
Florida International entered the Red Raider redzone five times in the season opener, but the number of times for the subsequent two opponents dwindled. Sam Houston made three entries, while Indiana State crossed Tech's 20 once. Tech opponents have scored 55.6 percent of the time in the redzone or 5-of-9 times.
TECH SAFETIES OFF TO GOOD START
Hard-hitting senior FS Dwayne Slay has adjusted well to his starting role in the secondary. Slay took over the position this year and now leads the team in tackles. Slay has 16 tackles on the season, including 13 solo, a pass breakup and two forced fumbles. Sophomore SS Joe Garcia performed admirably in Vincent Meeks' absence during the first two games and continued his strong performance as a backup against Indiana State. Meeks made one stop in his return against the Sycamores.
TECH DEFENSIVE ENDS CONTINUE TRADITION
Tech's string of fielding talented defensive ends didn't end last year with the graduation of Adell Duckett (2001-04). First, there was Montae Reagor (95-98), then current Tech sack record holder Aaron Hunt (99-02). The three aforementioned ends all rank one, two and three on the Tech career sacks list. Enter junior end Keyunta Dawson and newcomer McKinner Dixon. Despite spending last season as a backup to Duckett at rush end, Dawson still led the team in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (9). Dawson's sack total also tied for fifth in the Big 12. Dawson has 12 career sacks, including his first of the season against Sam Houston, and needs 22 to tie the school record of 34 set by Hunt. Dixon has eight tackles on the season, including six in his first-career start against Indiana State.
HICKS BACK TO SCORING TOUCHDOWNS
Junior WR Jarrett Hicks turned in one of the best single seasons in Tech history for a receiver a year ago when he hauled in a school record 13 touchdown receptions and 1,177 yards. Currently this season, he has three touchdown receptions on nine catches. Hicks' 21 career touchdown catches ranks him in a tie for second on Tech's career list with Wes Welker (2000-03), Carlos Francis (2000-03) and Nehemiah Glover (2001-04). He is one short of tying the record of 22, set by Mickey Peters (2000-03).
FRESHMEN CONTRIBUTION
Texas Tech's freshman class (true and redshirt) have done their part in practice to get involved statistically on game day. Six players have caught a pass or rushed the ball, while one has seen ample time passing the ball. QB Graham Harrell has seen significant action in each game this season, completing 30-of-40 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Six receivers, led by IR L.A. Reed, have made contributions to the offensive effort this year. Reed leads the group with eight receptions for 118 yards. The freshman receivers have accounted for 20 percent of the receptions this year. RB Shannon Woods is the team's second-leading rusher with 127 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns. He also has a score through the air. Defensively, eight freshmen have taken the field this year, led by DE McKinner Dixon. The true freshman is the only freshman with a start on the defensive side of the ball and has eight tackles on the season, including a sack. LB Calen Shearer has nine tackles.
TECH TIES FIRST-HALF SCORING RECORD
Texas Tech's 49 first-half points against Indiana State tied the school record for points in a half that was previously done against Baylor in 2001 and against Sam Houston State on Sept. 17. The Red Raiders' 28 first-quarter points against Sam Houston State also set a new standard, breaking the old mark of 21 set against Baylor in 2001 and 2003.
SCORING STREAK
Texas Tech is in the middle of a 95-game scoring streak, the second-longest in school history, and fourth among Big 12 schools. The run began with a 16-13 win over Texas A&M on Oct. 25, 1997, a week after dropping a 29-0 decision to second-ranked Nebraska. During its current run, the Red Raiders have scored 10+ in all but four games.
SUCCESS IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES
In six seasons under head coach Mike Leach, the Red Raiders are 21-6 in non-conference games, including postseason bowl games. Tech finished this season's non-conference slate with a 3-0 mark. Texas Tech also is 15-1 when scoring 30 or more points against non-conference opponents in the Mike Leach era. Tech's lone loss was a 51-48 overtime loss against N.C. State in Lubbock during the 2002 season.
CAPTAINS
In a vote by their teammates, five Red Raiders were named captains for the 2005 season. QB Cody Hodges, OT E.J. Whitley, DE Keyunta Dawson, CB Khalid Naziruddin and FS Dwayne Slay were chosen by their teammates.
GRAD RATES AMONG NATION'S BEST
Texas Tech's football program boasted a 79 percent graduation rate for the 1999-00 freshman class, which was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association in the spring. For the fifth-straight year, Texas Tech's graduation rate was higher than 70 percent. Tech was one of 30 schools recognized by the AFCA.
RED RAIDERS WINNING WAYS AMONG NATION'S BEST
Texas Tech is one of nine schools nationally that currently has 10 or more consecutive seasons with a winning record. The Red Raiders are tied with Miami (Ohio) with 10, while Florida State tops the list with 28-straight winning campaigns.
TECH HAS TIES IN NEW HARRIS POLL
Former Texas Tech All-American E.J. Holub and former Red Raider head coach Spike Dykes are among 114 panelists that will have a vote in the new Harris Interactive College Football Poll this season. The poll is one of three components in the Bowl Championship Series Standings Formula used to determine the two teams that play in the BCS National Championship game and those that qualify for at-large selections.
ALONE AT THE TOP
Texas Tech is the only program of the 12 member institutions to boast an overall winning record each season since 1996. Others have finished at .500, but none have posted winning marks each of the last nine seasons. Additionally, Tech is the only program to be bowl eligible each season of the league's existence.
HISTORIC JONES SBC STADIUM
The 2005 season marks the 58th season of Texas Tech football in Jones SBC Stadium. The stadium was opened during the 1947 season and named for then-Tech president Clifford Jones and his wife, Audrey. The name was altered prior to the 2000 season with the addition of "SBC" to the title, due in part to the $20 million donation given to the school for renovations from Southwestern Bell Communications.
BOWLED OVER
Texas Tech made its 28th bowl appearance last season and its first to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Leach is the only coach in school history to guide each of his teams to bowl appearances. Under Leach, the Red Raiders are 3-2 in bowl appearances, including last season's 45-31 win over California. Tech advanced to the 2000 Galleryfurniture.com Bowl and fell to East Carolina (40-27) and appeared in the 2001 Alamo Bowl, losing 19-16 to Iowa. The Red Raiders defeated Navy (38-14) in the Houston Bowl in 2003, giving the program its first back-to-back bowl wins in consecutive years in school history. Tech routed Clemson (55-15) in 2002 at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando.
RAIDERS POST TOP OVERALL LEAGUE FINISH
Texas Tech's 5-3 record in 2004 tied the Red Raiders with Texas A&M in third place in the overall conference standings, marking the highest finish for a Tech team since the inception of the league in 1996. Oklahoma finished the conference season undefeated at 8-0 followed by Texas at 7-1.
CRAZY EIGHTS
With an 8-4 record last season, the Red Raiders won at least eight games in three-consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The Red Raiders finished the 2002 season 9-5 and had an 8-5 mark in 2003.
OPPONENTS IN BOWLS
Four of Tech's 11 opponents this season participated in bowls a year ago. Texas defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl, while Texas A&M (Cotton), Oklahoma State (Alamo) and Oklahoma (Orange) each dropped their respective bowl games. Sam Houston State advanced to the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs.
PACKING THEM IN
Texas Tech finished the 2004 season ranked sixth among Big 12 schools in average attendance and fourth in capacity percentage. Over the course of Tech's five home games last season, Jones SBC Stadium was filled at a 99.9% capacity (22nd nationally). In the Big 12, only Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas filled their stadiums to a greater capacity percentage throughout the season. The attendance of 51,717 against Oklahoma State in the season finale gave Tech a season average and new school record of 52,823. The season average surpassed the 2003 record of 49,608 and marked the third year under Mike Leach that Tech set a season attendance record.
TECH DOMINANT WITH HALFTIME LEAD
Texas Tech has had a tremendous amount of success when entering the locker room with a halftime lead. Tech is 32-1 when leading at the half under head coach Mike Leach. The only blemish came at Texas A&M last season after the Aggies overcame a 7-6 deficit to Tech at the break to win in overtime.
TEXAS TECH SCORING UNDER LEACH
Texas Tech has scored 30 or more points in 40 games during the Leach era and has won 33 of those games. Additionally, the Red Raiders are 15-3 under Leach when scoring 40+ and 13-0 when scoring over 50. On the flip side, Tech is 8-18 when scoring 29 points or less.
DEGREES IN HAND
Four current Red Raiders have already completed their degrees and are working in postgraduate areas. Senior quarterback Cody Hodges and offensive lineman Bryan Kegans are both working on post-baccalaureate teaching certifications. Senior defensive back SirDon Lewis is pursuing a second degree in psychology and Spanish, while place kicker Keith Toogood began graduate work this fall.
THE SPORTING NEWS RECOGNIZES TECH PLAYERS
In addition to Hicks and Henderson being listed among the country's best at their positions by The Sporting News, the publication also recognized junior OG Manny Ramirez as the No. 15 offensive guard; junior Antonio Huffman as the No. 17 cornerback; senior Vincent Meeks as the No. 9 strong safety; and sophomore Danny Amendola as the No. 12 return man in the country. Tech's wide receiver corps also was selected as the best in the Big 12 Conference.
TEXAS TECH BRINGS RADIO RIGHTS IN-HOUSE
The Texas Tech Sports Network, in its first season, will carry the live broadcast of every football game throughout the state of Texas on its 30-station network, including flagship station KKAM 1340. Play-by-play man Brian Jensen calls the action with longtime Lubbock broadcasting fixture John Harris as the color analyst. Mark Finkner provides the sideline coverage, while Tim Chambers serves as statistician. Former Tech quarterback Sonny Cumbie provides analysis from the sideline. Engineer Steve Pitts is in his 16th season.he first time in school history. The Red Raiders finished the 2002 season 9-5 and had an 8-5 mark in 2003.
