On Tech offense, nearly everybody’s an all-American
BY DON WILLIAMS
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Texas Tech offensive line coach Matt Moore has plenty to brag about these days.
“It’s all coaching,” he said with a humorous tone. “You just stick a guy up there, I’ll coach him up, and he’s all-American.”
This season, that’s not far from the truth. Tech’s offense seldom lacks for attention, but December brought a rare achievement. The Red Raiders had five players on one side of the ball receive all-America honors, four of them first team.
Not even national championship teams usually get that.
With all due respect to marquee players Graham Harrell and Mike Crabtree, they couldn’t have done it without the guys up front. The NCAA recognizes five all-America teams: the ones composed by the American Football Coaches Association, The Associated Press, the Walter Camp Football Foundation, The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America.
Tech junior offensive guard Brandon Carter was named first team by the AFCA and second team by The AP. Senior tackle Rylan Reed was a first-team honoree on the Walter Camp team, and senior guard Louis Vasquez was third team by The AP.
“We played well as a group,” Carter said, “and it shows whenever three of the five linemen get all-American. If it was up to me, I’d have given it to the other two (center Stephen Hamby and tackle Marlon Winn), because I think they’re well-deserving of it also. I’m proud of these guys, and it’s really awesome to say that three of the five of our linemen got all-American.”
The Raiders have a chance to set a Mike Leach era-low in sacks allowed for the third year in a row. Tech gave up 19 sacks in 2006, 15 in 2007 and 11 this season with a game left to play against No. 25 Mississippi at the Cotton Bowl.
The attention Tech received this season for its improved running game, however, might have made the difference in three linemen earning the all-America consideration. During the regular season, the two-man tandem of Baron Batch and Shannon Woods rushed for 1,412 yards, a composite 5.7 yards per carry and 19 touchdowns.
Tech has 28 rushing touchdowns, two short of the school single-season record.
“The thing to me is it’s good to see those guys rewarded for all the hard work they’ve put in,” said Moore, who’s in his second season as the offensive line coach. “They’ve really played well for me. They’ve played hard and worked hard, and they deserve it. I was just lucky enough to come in here and have these guys play for me. They had the ability. I just try to stay out of their way and let them play.”
Going into the season, the left side of Reed and Vasquez were regarded as the line’s forte. Then Carter developed at right guard from promising young player to full-blown star.
The idea of becoming an all-American “really never crossed my mind in the beginning of the year,” he said.
“All I thought about was winning and playing as hard as I can for these guys,” he added. “O-linemen don’t really get all that much recognition. Whenever we do, we get pretty excited about it. But as for expectations, all I really expected was to win games, and that was about it.”
Reed might have had an advantage when it comes to postseason honors. He’s a senior and he plays left tackle, one of the most talked-about positions in a passing offense.
But he also traveled the longest road, having traded pro baseball for college football when he was 23 and having overcome cancer. He also traded schools, having originally signed with Arkansas, and switched positions by going from tight end to tackle.
“It lets you know that you made a lot of pretty good decisions,” he said. “It’s been a lot of different decisions I’ve had to make in my life. It’s like a big reward to show me I went the right route and everything’s worked out perfectly for me. It’s a great ending to a good story.”
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com uE074 766-8734
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com uE074 766-8735
More from this category
- You don’t know Darko: Texas Tech forward Cohadarevic talks soccer, Serbia
- Tech loses 83-64 to K-State
- Tech men lose heartbreaker to A&M
- Linehan: Tech’s new look starts at lectern
- Tech coaching plans for Saturday
- Red Raiders back at No. 23 in AP poll
- Baylor Depth Chart
- Baylor Facts
More from this author
- Tech moves football opener to a Sunday
- Osaghae takes third in hurdles at NCAA indoor championships
- Tech women’s relay, Lamb earn all-America honors at NCAA indoor
- Top five is Tech men’s goal at NCAA indoor meet
- High standards precede Brewer in Hub
Subscribe to this author
Our O-line was the best in college football this year, bar none, way to go guys, any honor you received was well deserved, and i am sure Graham Harrell agrees.
Report this comment
Several times during the season we would be at 4th & 1 yard to go & Leach would try to run & not make it. The times they did make it it was just by a couple of inches & they would have to measure.
At their size (& now honors) I don’t see how that happened?
Report this comment
It’s really quite simple melvin. You judge them by their body of work not by a few plays in the season.
Report this comment
This group of O-line starters may be the best ever at Tech. Sure, there were a few spot that were dissappointing, but over the whole, this unit was rock solid. Many say a lot about the passing game at Tech, but this year the run was really good, opening up the passing lanes. Twenty-eight running scores. That is impressive for any “pass first” offense. And it all starts with that line. Without their great woek, all of this would have not been possible, no doubt. All five were excellent. I think Winn especially should have received more accolades, much like the other three who did. Hamby was simply the best center in the league, though he may have been overshadowed by the rest of this group. We will certainly miss the ones who will graduate, but the line has been drawn and future lines must match theses guys for Tech to continue to excel. Congratulations to these warriors and may this team close out the season with a huge Cotton Bown win.
Report this comment
Melvin
Why don’t you man up and get off of this discussion board, if you really hate the raiders as much as you proclaim then why hang around. The board must cause you to have lots of sleepless nights, stomach problems, heat problems and just down right torture.
I had a ole boss tell me many years ago, “If you have a problem with something and you go to him with the problem, be sure and bring a solution with you. Having said that, if you can’t say something good about these 19 -23 year young men, just keep your pie hole shut.
You have ranted and raved about the team, individuals and coaches being subpar, so either you are for the team or you are against the team, if it is the latter then it is time for you to leave this discussion and go to the team that makes no mistakes.
Good luck on finding the “PERFECT” team.
It is real easy to hide behind a cpu and monitor and say the things you are always saying, if you are the “man that I know you are not”, attend the next practice, and tell “Brandon Carter, Marlon Wynn, Rylan Reed, Louis Vasquez and the rest of the Red Raiders how sorry you think they really are. If you decide to attend, let me know so we can draw a crowd and sell some tickets.
You are messing with the lives of young men that volunteered to play a sport, that gives the City of Lubbock, Texas Tech University and the State of Texas something to be proud of, while they are getting an education, which by the way is the reason for being in school last time I checked.
I belonged to a civic organization, during Spike Dykes and Jess Stiles tenure, that came to Texas Tech every year in December and we would cook pounds and pounds of ribeye steaks, lots of shrimp, pork ribs and all of the other goodies to be served to the young men and women that were the future of the sports programs at Texas Tech. They were always very polite and gracious for the time spent preparing the menu. I am willing to bet my last peso that you don’t know, nor have never met any of these fine young people one on one, yet all you want to do is tear them down. Go Figure
Kick an ole dog long enough, and the ole dog won’t come back.
Winning is important, but learning how to lose is the other side of life.
Truth be known, I have been watching Tech sports longer than you have been living, so give it a rest. We are tired of the same ole negative attitude
BTW, I am older than 40
Bottom line!!!!!!!!!
MANUP or SHUTUP
GO TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Report this comment
JBOB,
Thank you!! Thank you for setting pititful melvin straight, although I doubt you have shut him up.
Thank you and your civic service to these athletes.
YOU are my kind of Red Raider!! Over 40 and still PROUD!
Wreck ‘em!! TTU’85
Go Tech!! Beat the rebels!!
Report this comment
Ah, Mr. Reed, but the good story could still have a lousy ending if you and your Techmates are not ready to play in Dallas. Because Ole Miss, the team that won at Florida, will be geeked out of its head.
Everyone’s an All-American, Harrell, Leach and “W” hanging out at the White House. So many distractions. If Tech loses to Ole MIss, it will go down nationally as same ol’ Texas Tech. 11 wins or not.
Concerned Raider
Report this comment
JBOB:
I never said the line was sorry. I said I didn’t see how those failed 4th & 1’s ever happened.
I SOOO glad the young players for Tech AREN”T as sensitive and insecure as you are. You must think they’re going to cry when they read words on a chat board.
I was 10 years old when I saw my first Tech game & I saw it from the south end, which at that time was just plain wooden bleachers. The goal posts actually had scarlett & black crepe paper wrapped around them – for every game. DeWitt Weaver was coach and the same players played both offense & defense. I have seen it all at Tech & you don’t have anything to lord over me in the way of loyalty. Is this what you refer to as “MANUP”? Or is “MANINGUP” getting your approval before I make a comment – so that it will pass your inspection & have your blessing? Excuse me , I thought this was still America – I forgot what all we’ve become the last 8 years.
Report this comment
JBOB is right Melvin! Get out of here! Your negativity indicates you obviously aren’t a Raider fan – my suspicion is you are decked out in burnt orange and have decided to show your hind-end by continually picking at another team! This must mean the burnt orange team from t.u. is boring and lacking in anything to keep you interesred.
GO TECH – WRECK OLE MISS!!!
TTU CLASS OF ‘80
Report this comment
No one ever said rooting for the Red Raiders was easy. “They’ll break your heart,” my best friend and biggest Tech fan always says. It’s about faith, not skepticism. Ole Miss did this and Tech lost to OU and distractions with Leach and… none of this really matters.
What matters to me is that they’re my team, and if they were playing the Pro-Bowlers from the NFL I’d yell for them to win, same as I would if they were playing Whitharral’s 7th grade team (even if they are missing 5 players).
So really, either be a fan or find another website or skeptic to lay your worries on.
See you in Dallas!
We will hit ‘em! We will wreck ‘em! We will…
Report this comment
Beat Ole Miss! just win Baby!
Report this comment
I AM MISSING RED RAIDER FOOTBALL ALREADY!!!!!!!
Report this comment
Cannot wait for next year!!!!!!!!!
go raiders!!!!
Report this comment
Devin; cheer up it’s only 11 days and counting. :-)
Report this comment