Tech notes: Raiders getting healthy
Texas Tech could have its original pair of starting safeties back this week for the first time since the Sept. 12 game against Rice. Franklin Mitchem returned after a three-game absence last week, and Cody Davis was back in pads at practice Tuesday after missing last week’s game.
Tech does not disclose information on the nature or severity of injuries. The Red Raiders take on No. 15 Nebraska at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
Also back in pads Tuesday were center Shawn Byrnes and defensive end Daniel Howard, who missed Saturday’s 66-14 win over Kansas State, and cornerback LaRon Moore, who didn’t play after the first series.
Quarterback Taylor Potts also had on his jersey and shoulder pads at the end of Tuesday’s workout, but it’s not known how much he is cleared to do. Potts has been out with a concussion he suffered in a 48-28 win over New Mexico on Oct. 3.
It’s still expected that Steven Sheffield will quarterback the team as he has for the last 11/2 games.
TV outlook dims for Tech-A&M game
There appears to be no chance that Tech’s Oct. 24 home game against Texas A&M will be added for television outside the conventional Big 12 Conference package.
Tech athletic director Gerald Myers and FSN executive Jeremy Langer talked Tuesday about other ways to have the game on TV, but the options don’t make much sense for Tech from a financial standpoint.
For a game done by pay-per-view or local telecast, Tech wouldn’t receive the customary $185,000 appearance fee while also hurting ticket-sales potential in a newly enlarged Jones AT&T Stadium.
“It’s not a sellout,’’ Myers said Tuesday. “We’re not going to try to do something (for television) as long as it’s not a sellout.’’
Late Monday, Tech assistant athletic director Dave Welsh said a little less than 8,000 tickets remained for the game. Tickets are priced at $95 for the game, but Tech is offering a group sales promotion of a 50-ticket purchase for $50 apiece in the new sections.
The upper-level sections on the northeast and northwest corners of the stadium will increase capacity to between 58,800 and 59,000, Welsh said.
“We want to sell it out,’’ Myers said. “We want it to look good. We want to celebrate those new eats. It’s the first time that original bowl has been enlarged since 1960.’’
Clash of titans
Offensive line coach Matt Moore said he expects right guard Brandon Carter to square off with Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on just about an every-down basis Saturday, and expects Carter to do the job one-on-one.
Suh, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior, is projected as a high first-round NFL draft choice.
“From what I’ve seen, he plays every snap over the right guard,’’ Moore said. “He plays 95 percent of the snaps over the offensive right guard. Same thing last year. He moved to the nose maybe four plays (in the Tech-Nebraska game). Other than that, he played over Carter every snap.’’
So far, Suh has shown the agility to lead the Cornhuskers in tackles (32), sacks (three) and pass breakups (seven).
Moore said he trusts Carter to take on Suh one-on-one, which is mostly what he did last year.
“We just ran our offense,’’ Moore said. “Sometimes the center would slide over and help him. Sometimes Carter was by himself. We didn’t game plan around him at all.’’
Nebraska ranks No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense (8.0 points per game) and No. 13 in total defense (273.4 yards per game), and the defensive front is regarded as the best position group. Other key players are defensive end Barry Turner, who has six quarterback hurries and five tackles for loss, and defensive tackle Jared Crick, who has four tackles for loss and 21/2 sacks.
Asked if Nebraska’s front four was better than that of No. 3 Texas, Moore said, “They’re bigger. Probably not as fast. That’s where Texas has the … . Texas, their ball get-off is so good, and they’re so fast. But (the Cornhuskers) are definitely bigger and stronger. They look like a Nebraska D-line is supposed to look.’’
One less weapon
Nebraska freshman running back Rex Burkhead appears to be out for Saturday’s game against Tech. Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said Burkhead, a former Plano star, suffered a foot injury Monday in practice.
Burkhead is third on the team in all-purpose yards. He has 118 yards rushing, 66 receiving, 73 on punt returns and 15 on kickoff returns.
More from this category
- Leach legal motion seeks expedited process
- Red Raider Report Card
- Tuberville says still no contact from Tech
- Williams: After distractions, game provides diversion
- Texas Tech Football Notebook
- MSU and TTU Stat Leaders
- Williams: Raiders should give serious thought to hiring McNeill as next head coach
- Tech notes: No line changes planned
More from this author
- Tech football prepares to take field for spring practice
- 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
Subscribe to this author
Welcome back Red Raiders! Now Wreck’em Tech!
Report this comment
Well maybe Tech fans arent willing to spend $95 per ticket!! I already spend money just to get to Lubbock…. + hotel.. +tailgating… +ticket… +food…. That turns into a pretty expensive ticket!!
Report this comment
Lower your seat prices and it will fill up. 8000 seats times $25.00 = $ 200,000
That is more than you “customary appearance fee”.
Report this comment
They don’t realize that a large portion of the stadium is out of towners…. lower your ticket prices and get more locals that can support tech!!!
Report this comment
Brandon Carter = Eye of the Tiger! It’s showtime baby!! Hit him in the mouth and really good so he will remember you. I say Sticks and Co by 20!
Report this comment
Pellini is goona be bustin all his blood vessels trying to get his guys up for y’all – like he has to, huh! Win the first qtr and take it to ‘em Raiders. This game is for keeps for 3 long yrs. It is just the next step in a successful season for Raiderland, but a big and great step it will be. Now go to work and play some ball!!
Report this comment
Tech, you sure are looking closer to normal form after KSU game, that was a beating…great win! Too bad you didn’t have that show with Texas (I think the UT game was TOO EARLY in the season, and later would have given QB experience and the Raider machine could have been fine tuned). But to the task at hand, this game in Lincoln should be a good one. Pelini’s system is growing roots and the Huskers are not the same team they were a year ago. Yeah…don’t double team Suh, ummm…..yeah, I won’t talk you out of it! Have a great game and good luck.
Go Big Red!!
Report this comment
This is wonderful news! They are going to prepare like they did for KState on defense and go one on one with Suh on offense.
Well, I hope you have a THIRD quarterback!
Sorry raiders, you’ve had our number, but you should have let Leach move on and gone defensive…..
NU 38
TT 20
Report this comment
Don’t double team suh? Sounds great. Va Tech and Missouri double teamed him every play. Sounds like arrogant idiocy to me. Hope tech sticks to that plan.
Report this comment
hey raider hater did you forget brandon carter is also a future nfl player and an all-american. yeah lets go one-on-one with suh and see if the kid that calls himself mankind – the same kid that didnt allow a sack on harrel last year – can help the offense fire on all cylinders. and yeah i know why you wish leach would have left….
Report this comment
Ndamukong Suh doesnt care who the QB is, they are goin DOWN! Ask Blaine Gabbert how much fun Suh can be! Good Luck TT~ your gonna need it
Huskers 28
TT 17
Report this comment
Nebraska better worry about getting their offense on track. If Tech is able to move the football and put points on the board, the Huskers are in for a long day. They don’t have the offense this season to keep up with Tech if the Raiders get rolling.
Report this comment
“We want it to look good. We want to celebrate those new eats. It’s the first time that original bowl has been enlarged since 1960.’’
That’s a big ol’ bowl for these new eats… can someone please proof read your stories for typos and missing letters?!?
Report this comment
The ticket prices are too high given the current economic down turn, and I think the long term pluses of being televised are being overlooked. Its one thing to have the networks decide not to televise Tech, but its a whole new level of B.S. to have our own athletic director not even willing to fight for it. This could be the lamest position I’ve ever seen Myers take.
Glad to hear the safeties are back . Wreck Em !!
Report this comment
The last time Tech-A&M wasn’t on TV was because the A&M AD wasn’t willing to move the game time due to inconvenience to the fans with travel plans. I thought that was very weak logic, and we missed a great TTU overtime comeback including Wes Welker’s punt return for a TD. Now Myers is willing to lose valuable exposure because he overbuilt the stadium and overpriced the tickets, and he personally does not want to look bad. The only bright side is that continued mis-management by Myers HAS to force Hance to put him out to pasture sooner rather than later. Special projects anyone? AD Emeritus?
Report this comment
suh went out w/ a shoulder injury last week towards the end of the mu game. i don’t think he’ll complete the game. one hard slam to that shoulder and he’s toast. those slight seperations can make things very tough on anyone. it’s very rare to find someone who can play w/ such an injury. emitt smith and herschell walker come to mind…
WRECK’EM!!!
Report this comment
excuse me, not suh, their running back #10… my mistake…
Report this comment
SUH is the man there is no way that tech can block him with any one guy let alone there whole line and you will find that out saturday!!
Report this comment
Any business man knows that empty seats cost you money. Better to lower the price and fill it up than to keep our price high and wish. Those expansion seats are not in the best place so $95 seems a bit high to me, maybe if $50(the package deal for everyone) then we could fill up and make some noise. Go Tech.
Report this comment
It’s the hotels in Lubbock that have gotten out of reach. Most are requiring two night stays. The prices are ridiculous. The Holiday Inn is 225 for that Saturday night.
Report this comment
huskers 4 life said:
SUH is the man there is no way that tech can block him with any one guy let alone there whole line and you will find that out saturday!!
You are such an IDIOT. You will soon be proven wrong. I will expect for you to return to our boards after the game to receive your just deserve.
Nuff said
Wreckem Texas Tech
Report this comment
Excuse me a sec, but Gerald refuses to make a deal to get TT v A&M on teevee because the game’s not sold out yet? Who’s fault is that? Shouldn’t this game have been sold out MONTHS ago?
And even if it doesn’t, he’d rather hold out for the sale of a few thousand more tickets than let it air to hundreds of thousands of alums across the state?
Doesn’t he realize that a lot of us live in the metroplex? The same metroplex that he’s got to sell a LOT of tickets to a crummy game at Jerryworld?
Isn’t he missing a chance to sell his product here?
That’s a lot of questions so, what am I missing?
Report this comment
Go big red. SUH will bring the hurricane again on Saturday. And Texas Tech won’t be boarded up.
Report this comment
I tried to use the name ‘Raider H8r’ but they wouldn’t post my comment.
I know there are hardly any people in Texas, so it is no wonder you have trouble selling out that stadium.
That was a tough loss to Houston, they were such a great team for 2 weeks, and then UTEP reminded them who they were.
I hope those who are making the trip up here are treated to the best time they can possibly have before they receive their butt whoopin’ on Saturday.
I wouldn’t count on Suh being blocked by one guy, you are just living in a fantasy world and making yourself sound ridiculous.
Good luck.
Meet you back here win or lose.
Report this comment
slipped me back in!
Report this comment
Texas Tech 45
Nebraska 17
Report this comment
Brandon Carter went one on one with Suh last year and OWNED him. Guess what? Suh gets owned again!
Report this comment
you guys should be proud –cant even sell out against your hated rival the Aggies — turn in thousand or so tickets back to Nebraska ( travel well too) and want to puff your chest up over beating a KSU ( Trinity , Cedar hill , or Southlake HS in TX ) could beat
Report this comment
Tech 49
Neb 24
Report this comment
Non-Tottilla Chunker:
When was the last time you beat Tech? Texas? Oklahoma? OSU? I’ll even throw in South Lake HS.
Thats what I thought.
North Division Teams are just South Division Want-a-be ’s
Don’t be so proud of a 4 win season. Wait until it’s over.
Report this comment
sonny You need not keep smoking whatever your using ! how about the Tech 2 wins vs. 21 losses to ranked teams on the road do some homework and get back to me
Report this comment
Sonny-
The last time we did those things was when we had competent coaching. Since we have that again, I expect things to go back to how they were.
I remember fondly treating Texas Tech week like Iowa State week.
Report this comment
Oh, and in case you don’t remember, that was back when we were winning conference and national titles……When was the last time you did that?
Report this comment
I dont know how many Big 12 titles you have. We don’t have any. I do know that we are the ONLY Big 12 Team with a winning record every season. Before that it was the SWC. I really enjoyed Tom Osborne and the Big Red Machine, Black Shirts and all, but that was then.
I hope NU gets back on a roll, but not this week.
Report this comment
Raider H8R said:
Oh, and in case you don’t remember, that was back when we were winning conference and national titles……When was the last time you did that?
To your post: I use to be very handsome and good looking. Because of age I am not now. Translation: What happened way back when doesn’t mean a lot on the field today.
Not knocking tradition cause thats great.
I’m not a Blogger trash talker. So Good Luck.
Wreck’em Tech
Report this comment
Raider H8R:
Just wondering: What is Neb record for the last 23 ranked teams they played?
Report this comment
Sonny said-
“To your post: I use to be very handsome and good looking. Because of age I am not now. Translation: What happened way back when doesn’t mean a lot on the field today.”
” I do know that we are the ONLY Big 12 Team with a winning record every season. Before that it was the SWC.”
“When was the last time you beat Tech? Texas? Oklahoma? OSU? I’ll even throw in South Lake HS.
Thats what I thought.”
“Just wondering: What is Neb record for the last 23 ranked teams they played? ”
Ummmmmmm…….make up your mind.
Report this comment
I didn’t hate Tech when Spike was around ……….. Zach Thomas, Bam Morriss……I loved those teams.
You guys are stuck in mediocrity. Like Virginia Tech, you will be between good and very good every year. Never great.
Report this comment
Tickets are too damn high Myers! You are losing valuable T.V. time to sell a few more tickets. I am sure some of our recruits are wanting to watch the game to decide which team they may want to play for someday. Not everyone can make the game. Also, with all the farmers in the area getting ready to harvest, that takes them out of the crowd. Myers has no common sense and we need to get a real AD that know what the heck is going on!
Report this comment
win at Nebraska and the stadium will sell out at $95. lose at Nebraska and it will not sell out unless they drop ticket prices on game day.
so just win and everything will take care of itself.
Report this comment
HUSKERS 17
Texas Tech 14
Report this comment
They better double team Suh! Carter is going to get eaten alive. One-on-one worked last year, well Suh’s bigger and stronger and faster this year! Good luck.
Report this comment
Nobody cares about A&M because they haven’t been good in a long time. I think if TECH beats Nebraska, people will want to come to the game and even pay $95. If TECH doesn’t beat NEB, that stadium will not be filled.
Report this comment
You’re flat wrong if you think people do care about the A&M game. It’s not even an issue of whether Raiders think it’s worthwhile enough of a game or not, because Aggies would be there and buy up the remaining seats to support their team in a second if they could afford the cost of the trip. If Tech would make their ticket prices more reasonable, they would sell out the A&M game to Aggies more than willing to come up and support their team. I’m a graduated Aggie who was raised in Lubbock. Only reason I’m not there is the outrageous ticket prices.
Report this comment
Sorry, correction: do NOT care. And all of my Tech friends are not only going to that game, but they are very excited for it (even though A&M is miesrable at football right now — and no I have no issue with saying that, it’s the truth.) So…. it’s pretty sad Tech’s shooting themself in the foot with overpriced tickets.
Report this comment
Well Tiffany that is why your an aggie,,,just put foot in mouth to help the blood from seeping out,,,,Texas Tech and Coach Leach have OWNED the aggies for the most part of Leaches tenure,,,,,and WE dont want you at the game,,,less aggies the better,,,,and this is too stix,,get well soon sheff,,,,got love for you too Potts,but ol sheff runs circles around you,,but no bickering here,,,,,and watch out ol third stringer,,hope your balance is there TECH 44 – aggies 6
Report this comment