Red Raiders Football Notebook 11-21-2008

By Don Williams on November 21st, 2008 View Comments Printer-Friendly

Compiled by Don Williams

Reed gets nod

Texas Tech senior cornerback L.A. Reed will get his second start of the season in Saturday’s game at Oklahoma, position coach Brian Mitchell said Thursday.

Reed has shared time for much of the season with Brent Nickerson and LaRon Moore, but started only at Texas A&M. With his playing a new position and getting hurt in the preseason, Reed’s development was slowed.

“It’s starting to click,” Mitchell said. “He’s getting a lot of reps, and now those reps are becoming meaningful, because he understands what we’re trying to do within the scheme and he understands how the scheme is going to attack what they’re trying to do.”

Mitchell said Nickerson still will play.

Going home

Tech defensive line coach Charlie Sadler won a national championship ring as an Oklahoma assistant in 1985, though you won’t find the jewelry on his finger.

“No, not when I’m at Tech,” Sadler said with a chuckle. “It’s in a drawer.”

Sadler coached for the Sooners in 1978 and from 1984-90, the last two years as defensive coordinator.

Tech assistant Seth Littrell, an OU running back from 1996-2000, said he’s talked three times this week to OU assistants Cale Gundy and Josh Heupel, who are friends from his playing days.

“We have fun during the week,” Littrell said. “When the game starts, you’re competing. You’re trying to win. But I’m going to talk to them next week, too. I talk to them every week.”

As a player, Littrell spent two losing seasons – one at 3-8 – under John Blake before Bob Stoops replaced Blake as head coach. Stoops led OU to records of 7-5 in Littrell’s junior year and 13-0 in his senior season.

“There was a lot of transition, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of learning to do,” Littrell said. “Coach Stoops brought a lot of confidence with him and instilled that in his players. We felt like we could beat anybody – kind of like this (Tech) team we have here right now.”

In brief

DT Brandon Sesay, who missed the last game against Oklahoma State, is on the travel squad for OU.

  • http://n/a Britton Sr.

    The Dye is set, The mold is cast. Now its time to put on the armour and do battle. Don W. Have you saw the error in your ways. You are cast to the dungun of beat writers for now! Guns UP#27 All The Nation Say YEA!…

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  • noel

    Yeah, good to see all that confidence old Don is exuding!
    WRECK’EM!!!

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  • http://n/a Britton Sr.

    L.A. Reed starting is critical. Stopping the run early will be key. Hope LA knows they will test him early. We will need the size and the run support from L.A. I am curious to see how walls steps up this game, he’s been solid but I hope he shines Saturday Night.
    Frankly I will be watching to see how the D weathers the first Series with the crowd and adrenalin pumping like Triple XXX. In our big games “when I played” When we won the coin toss, our D went on first. Setting the tempo, I don’t know which I perfer,(as if it mattered) just a thought. Guns UP#27 Lock and Load Raider Nation: G-UP!

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  • devin everett

    yeah, SR

    go red raiders!!!!!!!!

    NO DOUBT YOU CAN DO IT. play your game stop the run and pressure bradford and everything else will fall in place…..get in rhythum and score and score and score!!!!!

    the raider nation is behind you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • TallMike

    The game is about to happen, I am looking forward to the fun. I have a time conflict that is bothering me, I am about to decide to meet half that conflict and git home to the game…

    After reading Sr’s comments about Walls and Reed, I desire to add one, the big TE that the sooners have is a real threat. Add that to what TE’s have been able to do vs TTU, I am looking forward to seeing that part of the game develop to TTU’s favor. I wonder what, if anything special, Coach Ruff has up the Raider defense’s sleeve for that part of the game…I think much of it will fall on linebackers…

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  • http://n/a Britton Sr.

    When and if Ruff needs to he can move L.A. to the nickle package to cover the TE, also Bront Bird will be key, in pass coverage.
    Guns UP#27

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  • http://www.redraiders.com/?p=3714 Joseph

    All the ou fans here in Norman are saying that Tech is still overrated,and that they are going to win by at least 20 in Norman where they say they will get “fair officiating” . Go RED RAIDERS and Whip the OU whiners . Make it so out of reach that they cant grip about some call that they say was unfair and caused them to lose game. WRECK EM TECH!

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  • Billy

    Hey raiders, better stop at Sams club or Costco and stock up on tissue to dry up all the tears you’ll be crying all the way back to Lubbock. SOONERS-45 RAIDERS-17. Tech is way overated and are about to find out the hard way, now we’ll see what your really made of. I’ll be pulling for you though, just cause I’m a Texan, but reality is knocking on your door and about to kick it in. Good luck.

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  • Ezra

    Hey OU fans. Taurean Henderson’s knee is still not down! Get over it. This game will be a real battle but if Tech’s defensive and offensive lines continue to play like they have been,Tech will win this game. I can hardly wait. Tech 45, OU 40. WRECK EM TECH!

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  • Ezra

    Another reason Tech will win. Bob Stoops hasn’t been able to get his troops ready for the big games lately (i.e. 4 losses in the past 5 bowl games)

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  • bryan

    I really hope Tech wins. It would be nice for Tech to get some well deserved respect. There are to many Universities who are living on reputations from the 40′s and 50′s when football teams played with leather helments. For close to 20 years since I have been watching Tech football the team has been as competitive as any but without the ranking.

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  • Billy

    You don’t get a ranking when you lose most of your games in the big 12 as tech has done for the past twenty years.,

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  • James

    Billy yall were dominated and beaten by Texas. Last time I checked we did the same thing to Texas so I don’t see your point on how we are overrated..

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  • Ken

    Billy,
    The big 12 hasn’t played for 20 years. You are a fountain of football knowledge!

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  • Billy

    James, If I was a sooner, would I be pulling for the raiders? Are you an aggie or what. If Texas would have played ou in Norman, I assure you it would have been a different scenario. Fact is, and as much as I hate to say it, Texas really isn’t that good of a team this year, and yes they are overated. Make no mistake about it Tech will have their hands full tomorrow night. My wife is from Lubbock and is a raider all the way, my second team are the Raiders, matter of fact I am wearing my Raider hat right now, and have been all week. I hate ou with a passion, and hope ya’ll wreck-em as ya’ll say, even though it is not in the best intrest of my Horns, I don’t care ya’ll beat us fair and square, so now I am pulling for ya’ll, we had our chance, now it’s yours. ou means business and I hate to say it, but I see no way out for the Raiders, this will be a blow-out, unfortunately not in your favor. ou-45 Tech-17. Hope I’m wrong. Good luck Raiders, my Horns are down and my guns are up.

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  • Billy

    Ken, yea I know, it was a spin off of the guy before me, Bryan. Geez, I wish I knew as much about football as you do though. Tell me does it pay well?

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  • OUSUCKS

    OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OUSUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OUS SUCKD OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCKS OU SUCK

    STUCK FOOPS

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  • devin everett

    I DO NOT SEE A BLOW OUT, SORRY BILLY. this tech team is as steady as a longhorn mentioning history in a football conversation. there are two sides to this coin, if we cannot keep their offense off the field and having long sustained drives, it will be a long night for the raiders. if we keep pressure on bradford and limit their run game——-it is ours.,, their defense cannot stop graham and crab and britton and elf and lewis and james and batch and woods and swidell and leon and and and…we have 10 more weapons than they do.

    we need to punch them in the mouth just like we did to texas on the first series and the rest will fall into place………FOR A NEW RAIDER FAN, JUST HAVE FAITH. IF THERE IS TIME ON THE CLOCK WE HAVE A CHANCE……..BELIEVE ME.

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  • Billy

    No denying the clock thing, seen that first hand against Texas. Hope your right.

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  • pwh

    Say Yeah,

    Tech wins by 18

    Tech has the poise to play through the noise.

    The Tech O line which allows short knaps for Harrell on occasion, will spank the depleted OU Big Bad D Line.

    OU secondary is pourous. The offense will run the OU secondary in circles. The OU middle linebacker will get plenty of experience for next year.

    Duncan and crew will dominate the run game along with the D-Line.They will own OU other than one long run.

    The second half is when the secondary comes up with key turnovers caused by pressure to move the ball to keep up with Techs offense.Bradford will throw 2 if not 3 INTS, 1 Fumble by Murray
    Look for a BIG yardage from The Red Baron and the Woodsman.
    A BIG team, a BIG Game, BIG Numbers for #5 and #6.
    A BIG WIN for the Pirates of the South Division

    A Tech total domination of the clock and score is COMING to a theatre near you in NORMAN.

    52-34 The Wrecking Crew
    Too much Offense and Two too many turovers for OU.(
    Sr. QB vs Soph, I am taking the 5th Year Sr for the Heisman)
    WRECK EM TECH

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  • OUSUCKS

    tECH, YOU ALL NEED TO SHUT-UP AND GET READY FOR A WHOOPIN, OU IS GONA OPEN A CAN OF GOOD OL ASS-WHOOPIN FOR YA, COME AND GET IT. YALL WANT THAT HEATED UP FOR YA, OR YOU JUST WANT IT COLD, DON’T MATTER TO ME, BUT YOUR GONA TAKE IT, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, IT’S GONA HURT EITHER WAY.

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  • Pete Storseth

    well, living in Austin, I hear this in person all day long.

    I have to say that it never seems to stop. UT fans love their ugly orange shirts and their smelly heffer mascot.

    I am glad Tech has such style. Red and black look sharp driving down the field, in texas or oklahomo.

    OU’s only advantage is the home field. Can you guys believe Stoops felt the need to ask the fans in Norman to howl louder when we have the ball? Seems like his priorities are aimed the wrong way. He needs to be focusing on making his team more disciplined.

    Maybe after we win, he will see how Leach has the Raiders and their fans on the right track

    or maybe having such a history on top of the ranks leads t-sippers and soon(to be obselete)ers to have horrible manners, sportsmanship, style, and class.

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  • Pete Storseth

    GO TECH!
    GUNS UP

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  • http://yes Eric in New Mexico

    It’s fun reading the comments here. They’re so educational. GO RAIDERS!!!!!!!

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  • OUSUCKS

    SHUT-UP ERIC

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  • Terri

    OUSUCKS needs to learn how to spell.

    Wreck ‘em TECH!!

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  • Mike

    Hmm, kind of strange, his user name is “OU sucks” yet he says OU is going to win big? Can anyone say disgruntled UT troll?

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  • devin everett

    ou sucks is a tu t-shirt fan!!!!!!!

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  • bill214

    Lock and Load Raider Nation! This is our Year. Beat OU!!!!!!!!!!

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  • bill214

    The biggest game in tech history with Big-12 championship on the line, National championship on the line & Heisman Trophy on the line as well. Good Luck Tech!!!!!!!!! Bring home the Championship

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  • http://Notagain LKP (TTpilk645 on DT Nation)

    Two weeks of all the ranting and raving from Tech, Oklahoma and Texas fans. Man, I’m ready for this game to be played. Both of these teams are great and very highly capable of winning. My hopes are for thr Raiders to surprise all the naysayers and win this one. I know it will not quiet the stupid ones, but those who do possess some inteligence will actually recognize what this Tech team will have accomplished. Even if Oklahoma wins, Tech SHOULD have gained a great deal of respect throughout the country for their abilities. If not, well I guess the stupidity would have to be considered catching. GO TECH!

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  • devin everett

    go red raiders

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  • Pete Storseth

    “Big Game Bob” is used as a mocking term these days. Stoops’ Sooners have lost too many of them in recent years to scare anyone.
    It started when Southern California humiliated them in the title game after the 2004 season, 55-19. It continued in 2005 when the Sooners stumbled to 8-4 and began a trend of frustrating losses to archrival Texas, a team they once owned. Boise State got them 43-42 in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2006 season and then West Virginia did it again, 48-28 in 2008. This season, the Sooners entered the Texas game top-ranked and left with a 45-35 loss despite leading throughout.
    As surprising as all the losses have been, as confusing as OU’s ability to look dominant in regular games and be dominated in major ones, it’s what’s causing the problem that is most stunning.
    Oklahoma’s Defense. Bob Stoops’ Defense. The very thing that made him great has fallen apart against the spread offense. From 2000-04 OU was never ranked worse than seventh in scoring defense. This season they are 57th. In its past five games this season, OU opponents have scored at least 28 points each game.
    [Dan Wetzel, Yahoo!]

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  • Pete Storseth

    On Dec. 6, 2003, Oklahoma was undefeated, ranked No. 1 and ticketed for a BCS championship shot in the Sugar Bowl against LSU. The Sooners were widely expected to win their second national title in four seasons. They were playing Kansas State in the Big 12 title game that day, and they were two-touchdown favorites.
    Then Sproles sprinted through Stoopsie’s defense like the wind rushing down the Plain. He ran for 235 yards that night, plus earned 88 receiving yards, and K-State shocked the misfiring Sooners 35-7.
    It was like knocking the teeth out of the schoolyard bully. All the invincibility disappeared that day.
    2004 Sugar Bowl — LSU 21, Oklahoma 14
    2005 Orange Bowl — USC 55, Oklahoma 19
    2007 Fiesta Bowl — Boise State 43, Oklahoma 42, OT
    2008 Fiesta Bowl — West Virginia 48, Oklahoma 28

    [Pat Forde, ESPN.com]

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  • corey cheek

    what is sesay’s problem?

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