Texas Tech Football
Defense Controls Scrimmage: LAJ's Don Williams reports on scrimmage from yesterday where the defense absolutely dominated by not giving up a touchdown in 35 plays. And before anyone gets too excited, earlier in the week, the Texas Tech offense scored six touchdowns in a scrimmage, but last night was the defense's night:
After the defense got a series of stops followed by an interception, nose tackle Victor Hunter yelled, "We got ’em shook! We got ’em shook.’’ As the unit made one good play after another in the red zone, strength and conditioning coach Bennie Wylie yelled, "You get nothing, offense!’’
Go read the whole article for good detail of how the defense performed.
Texas Tech Football Notebook: LAJ's Don Williams reports that freshman CB D.J. Johnson continues to impress in practice as cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell has lots of praise for the freshman:
"Just pure athleticism,’’ Mitchell said after Thursday’s practice. "He’s making plays when he’s out there. He learns very well. The kid is not only a student on the field; he’s a student in the classroom. He’s doing everything above and beyond my expectations for a freshman.’’
. . . DE Sandy Riley has lost 20 pounds and is down to 228 pounds but hopes to play around 230 to 235 . . .
Gray is in Focus: RedRaiderSports.com's Paul Lowery talks with freshman LT Joel Gray and I like this about our staff:
DURING THE RECRUITING PROCESS, WHAT PARTS OF THE PROGRAM WERE YOU THE MOST IMPRESSED WITH?
"Well, it was my first offer so it was obviously really memorable but I remember right after I blew out my knee I had to call—my parents wanted me to call all of the colleges and let them know, and most colleges told me not to waste my time anymore, and Tech was like, ‘Well, just get better. We still want you. Just get better and we’ll still be around.’ That really gave me the home feeling and I felt that I was really accepted and that they really do want me to be here."
Checking in with Kickoff Club Luncheon: Check out The Broadcast Booth's recap of yesterday's event:
But the best part, as always, was when The Pirate himself stepped to the podium. Because he talked about the team and introduced the offensive and defensive lines as the "most important players on the team?" Nope. Because he shared his story about growing up in Wyoming where he says he saw an occasional tourist and had enough people come their thinking it was an oddity to prepare him for the barrage of attention, exposure, interviews and "brushes with greatness" during this offseason? Nope. Oh... because he went on to describe how this team is getting after it, kicking around the blood, sweat, and dirt while making the odd body sounds that go with it? Nope.
The best part, was snagging a copy of the new Texas Monthly on the newsstand at Love Field on my way out this morning, and asking Leach, the cover Pirate, to sign it! My guess, from his reaction, was that it was the first one he's inked so far (since it just hit the stand!).
Neglected Audio and Video: Fox34 confirms that QB Taylor Potts will be sporting the mustache all year, although we know it's more than a mustache:
FoxSports Preview: FoxSports has three videos and I've posted them as FanShots, but am linking them here. I think this is all from the FoxSports preview show:
Big 12 and College Football Links: In The Bleachers has an interesting roundtable on which defensive unit will have the most dominating performance in 2009 . . . I still find this hard to believe, but Florida St. turned in an Oklahoma Sooner player who had committed a similar violation to a Florida St. player . . . The Rivalry, Esq. with a look at the Big 12 Conference . . .
Scouting the Enemy: Corn Nation's 2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers preview . . . Rock Chalk Talk's 2009 Kansas Jayhawks preview . . . I Am The 12th Man's 2009 Texas A&M Aggies preview . . . Crimson and Cream Machine's 2009 Oklahoma Sooners preview . . . Burnt Orange Nation's 2009 Texas Longhorns preview . . . NYTimes The Quad with a preview of the Oklahoma St. Cowboys . . .
Alumni: The Mile High Report with a lengthy piece on now Denver Bronco S Darcel McBath . . .