Texas Tech Review

[50's PONY]

Sunday, Apr 1, 2007
Posted on Sun, Apr. 01, 2007
Insight Bowl rally incites expectations for 2007



By DWAIN PRICE
Enthusiasm was sky high during Texas Tech's intrasquad scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Jones AT&T Stadium.
After completing the biggest comeback in bowl history, a wild and unpredictable 44-41 overtime victory over Minnesota last season in the Insight Bowl, the Red Raiders are confident they can achieve higher goals in the coming season.

Trailing 38-7 with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter, the Red Raiders scored 31 unanswered points to rally and end the season with an 8-5 record. It also enhanced the theory that with Tech coach Mike Leach's wide-open offense, the Red Raiders are rarely out of a game.

"It was a major win for us coming back from a deficit like that," linebacker Kellen Tillman said. "People who watch Texas Tech games know that we get down, but we're always going to fight and come back up.

"Just to find out that it was a record set in bowl history, it's just a great thing for the program. We came back to spring football pumped up and ready to go to work for this coming season."

The Raiders' passion was on display Saturday during a spirited scrimmage. Big hits by the defense and big plays on offense were the order of the day.

"I thought we competed well," said quarterback Graham Harrell, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. "The defense had some good plays, the offense had some good plays, and I thought we really moved the ball well on offense, and I thought the receivers really made some big plays for us."

Offensive line depleted

Left guard Louis Vasquez is the lone returning starter on the offensive line, but that's no cause for concern. At least that's what Mike Leach is preaching.

"We've got guys that have played maybe more than some people realize, and I think we have a chance to be better than last year up front," Leach said. "I thought our left side of our offensive line last year played better than our right side, so I don't know how much we're really losing."

By all standards, Vasquez should be the leader of the line. Yet he shies away from such an integral role.

"I don't want the guys to see me as a leader," the 6-foot-6, 351-pound junior said. "I just want them to see me more as another teammate."

texastech.com

[ALEX LIFESON]

hmmmmmm. Tech loses 4 Oline starters, 3 starting receivers, their TE, and Harrell still goes 19 of 23 for 282 yards.

[Stallion]

I'd wouldn't be surpised if some of those 'backup" receivers Tech will throw out there have more career receptions than SMU's returning starters.

[WorldStang]

I'd wouldn't be surpised if some of those 'backup" receivers Tech will throw out there have more career receptions than SMU's returning starters.

uhm.. that's not obvious or anything because of the offense they run.. but nice point. I guess I wouldn't be surprised if their QB throws for more attempts too..

[mr. pony]

I wouldn't be surprised if we kick their @ss.

[smupony94]

I wouldn't be surprised if we kick their @ss.

I just want to stay close and have as many fans as they do. Sucks having more of the sand aggies than SMU fans.