Leach uses upsets as teaching tool for team

By Don Williams
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
A lot of Texas Tech football players turned up their noses last week at the idea of a free Saturday. Tech defensive end Jake Ratliff thought otherwise, with all the land mines that top 10 teams found to step on.
“The way college football looked, it was probably good to get a day off,” [...]

Pollsters: Big 12 is best league in nation

By Adam Zuvanich
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Some Big 12 Conference football coaches have touted their league as the best in the land.
The rest of the country appears to agree with them, at least for now.
After a weekend ripe with upsets in the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Pacific-10, the Big 12 will open conference play this week with four [...]

Red Raiders Football Notebook

Compiled by Don Williams
Tech-Nebraska to be televised
Texas Tech’s Oct. 11 home game against Nebraska has been set for a 2 p.m. kickoff and will be televised live by FSN (Suddenlink Cable channel 20).
The Big 12 Conference’s television partners announced their selections Monday according to the usual 12-day advance format.
Other games chosen for television that day [...]

Tech No. 8 in the first Harris Poll

If Texas Tech got a raw deal in football’s national rankings, someone else might have to tell the Red Raiders to raise a stink. As it is, they seem to be the last to know — or care — where they sit.
On Sunday, Tech advanced to No. 7 in The Associated Press Top 25 and [...]

Tech’s extra DBs spark special teams

By Don Williams
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Glance at Texas Tech’s roster and a person might think the Red Raiders have more defensive backs than they know what to do with. They know what to do with them, though: Let the extras cover kicks and help the return units.
On special teams, they’re not extras. They stand out.
“Ever since I’ve been [...]

Tech volleyball loses in five at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – After winning two of the first three sets, the Texas Tech volleyball team couldn’t put away the victory as Oklahoma rallied for a five-set victory Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center.
The Sooners swept the season series – Oklahoma won earlier this season in Lubbock in a match that was moved up due [...]

Red Raiders football notebook

By Don Williams
Idle time, idle minds
Open dates are supposed to be a welcome chance for players to relax the mind and recuperate from injuries. But by their public comments, Texas Tech players haven’t viewed it that way.
On the night of Tech’s last game, Sept. 20, defensive end Brandon Williams said he’d rather have a game [...]

Tech soccer can’t slow down No. 11 Cowgirls

STILLWATER, Okla. – The No. 11 Cowgirls scored three goals in the first half and cruised to a 5-1 victory over Texas Tech at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex.
Taylor Lytle scored the lone goal for Tech (5-3-1, 0-2-0).
OSU (9-0-0, 1-0-0) remained perfect this season.
• Volleyball
Elissa Loynes tallied 11 kills and four block assists, helping No. 25 [...]

Red Raiders Football Notebook

Hyder fits as hybrid defender
Texas Tech defensive end Brandon Williams was the recruiting host for Austin LBJ outside linebacker Kerry Hyder, who committed to the Red Raiders this week. Hyder could develop into a similar player.
Hyder said Tech coaches think he could fit at the “Joker” pass rusher spot that they put into the defense [...]

Bird, Duncan stay fresh, still produce