Red Raider Gridiron | Football Is Almost Here
by Seth C on Jul 18, 2011 7:01 AM CDT
in Texas Tech Football 2011
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Seemed like there were a lot of football links this morning so I decided to divide the links into two posts. I think the Big 12 media days is later this week (I think) which means that we'll have a lot of notes and quotes.
Meet The Two-Deep: James Polk - TEXAS TECH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Meet The Two-Deep: Kerry Hyder - TEXAS TECH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
Meet The Two-Deep: Lonnie Edwards - TEXAS TECH OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE
These are the two-deep profiles from Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm still enjoying watching the videos as you can tell which players are comfortable on the camera and which are not.
Grinding It Out | I loved seeing this video (hat-tip to centexraider for the FanShot) and I also love how the athletics department is double-posting their videos to their video website and to their YouTube channel.
Texas 7-on-7 | This annual state tournament happens in College Station each year and 24/7 Sports had a handful of articles that mentioned a few of the Texas Tech commits. Starting with Day 1, WR/ATH Dominique Wheeler was featured:
Wheeler, a Texas Tech commit, is one of the nation’s top overall prospects and showed that on Thursday. He has exceptional burst and can make defenders miss after making a reception. Wheeler also showed the ability to leap over multiple defenders and make tough catches when needed. Given that he also has good size, he’s a high value prospect overall.
There was also this CBS Sports article that said that Wheeler was the best player in the Division II pool and this ESPN article (it's amazing, I should probably never link to ESPN again, but sometimes I can't help myself) about Wheeler moving from quarterback to receiver or running back and what he thought about Texas Tech and not being offered by Texas:
"It made me feel at home up there," said Wheeler. "They are always keeping in touch with me and talking to me on Facebook, so I definitely feel the love with them."
While Wheeler expects to take official visits after the season, including trips to TCU, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State in addition to Texas Tech. Still, there's one big school missing that still seems to sting when brought up -- Texas.
"That was my dream college growing up," he said. "I went up there and, I don't know. Maybe rumors got out on the Internet saying I didn't like it, but I didn't see anything wrong with it. Things happen, they stopped recruiting me, and I moved on."
On Day 2, Abilene Cooper QB Clayton Nicholas is featured:
The ambidextrous athlete was impressive as a quarterback with his smooth delivery and effortless velocity. The Texas Tech commit is a great fit for what the Red Raiders like to do on offense because the ball gets out of his hand so quickly and accurately. As impressive as his ability to throw the football right handed is the fact that he throws the baseball left handed in the mid-80s as a pitcher at Abilene Cooper.
I had no idea Nicholas was ambidextrous. Nicholas was also named to the All Tournament team:
Texas Tech quarterback commit Clayton Nicholas had a very good tournament, leading his team to the consolation game final and looked very sharp. He was named to the All Tournament team over several other deserving players but easily earned the honor.
Also, if you're big on recruiting and possible future targets, there are a handful of updates about various players that have Texas Tech offers or interest from Texas Tech: S Daveon Parrish (6-1/180, Lake Dallas, TX); and RB Dontre Wilson (5-10/165, DeSoto, Texas). Also, Texas Tech is in on some 2013 players: ILB Jordin Harrison (6-2/235, Pasadena, TX); WR Rod Young (6-3/175, N. Crowley, TX); S Elbert Speed (6-3/190, N. Crowley, TX); WR Jake Oliver (6-2/190, Dallas Jesuit, TX).
Uniform Talk | FSSW ranked the top uniforms of the Big 12 and ranked Texas Tech at #2.
2011 Football Women's Clinic | All you ladies sign up for the women's football clinic, set for August 3rd.
Rivals.com's Top 25 of the Last Decade | Rivals.com ranked the top 25 players of the past decade and WR Michael Crabtree gets the nod at #16:
Throughout the 2006 season, Texas Tech players raved about a freshman receiver sitting out a redshirt season. Turns out all the hype about Crabtree was justified. In his first college game, Crabtree caught 12 passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns. He never really slowed down, either. He set NCAA freshman records with 134 receptions, 1,962 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns to earn first-team All-American acclaim. He was also the recipient of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. The next season, Crabtree caught 97 passes for 1,165 yards and 19 touchdowns to again win the Biletnikoff Award and again earn first-team All-America honors. He also was fifth in the Heisman voting. Crabtree produced perhaps the greatest moment in Texas Tech football history when he caught a game-winning touchdown pass with one second remaining in a 39-33 victory over Texas that enabled the Red Raiders to clinch at least a share of first place in the Big 12 South in '08. He was a first-round pick in the 2009 draft.
#50? For Real? | Lost Lettermen is ranking the teams this year and they think the Red Raiders are at #50. As an aside, Rivals.com is doing the same thing and as of this morning, Texas Tech isn't ranked at they're already up to #33.
The Longhorn Network | Burnt Orange Nation's Peter Bean discusses the Longhorn Network while taking the Aggies to task. It's a lot of comments, but it's interesting.
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I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around
Clayton Nicholas throwing the Football right handed and pitching left handed, over 80 MPH.
Baffling.
" Answers --Become Resources."
Without Questions, There are limited Resources...
I drove at 80 MPH
with just my left hand once
by mojavereject on Jul 18, 2011 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Your whit,
I like it.
" Answers --Become Resources."
Without Questions, There are limited Resources...
Wheeler Dealer
While Wheeler expects to take official visits after the season, including trips to TCU, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State in addition to Texas Tech.
This has me extrememly nervous. How committed is Dominique about playing at Texas Tech? Why would you commit then take visits to so many other schools with equal/better expectations? The word committment MUST be redefined in the dictionary to mean “a loosely held agreement between two parties that means almost nothing about the future actions of either one.” The last shining start WR we had (Boone) now plays at LSU. It was all about how much “love” the staff was giving him. Maybe we’ll get a thank-you if he signs with OU. If he is committed as I define it “a firm agreement between two parties that is as good as a handshake and eye-stare and like a contract with an earnest money check that is refundable if unusual circumstances develop” then maybe he does not need to take so many other visits. Maybe I expect too much.
This is common practice.
If you are 18 years old, you have a chance to visit places you may never get a chance to see again. Albiet, there is always that chance he could slip away, but it is common practice for kids to take all of their trips. It is highly unusal when they don’t. I read that he is very bitter towards Texas, and he can’t wait to get on the field and remove some Steer manhood. Would not suprise me to see Wheeler catch his first touchdown and race to the 50 yard line and slam the football into the ground and raise his hands in victory.
"I feel sorry for the guys," Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville said. "They fought hard tonight. We didn't look good on offense or defense at times, and at times we looked pretty good. It's just, I don't know. Weird game.
If it helped reduce the interest on part of the media or cut down contacts from recruiters
I would probably commit also, even as I continued to look around—even if only to help confirm my commitment.
The trips are nice also !!
Living large in Texas...Texas forever.
I agree
It’s always a 50/50 when kids commit early. OU is the only school in that rotation that scares me. I’m sure our coaches are keeping a close eye on him and have made some promises about playing early which will serve best for us. Until February who knows…
"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
"We started too late" - Neal Brown
What it really means
Is that Tech will really be fying under the radar of the national media….once again.
TTpilk
"Never, never, never give up." Winston Churchill
Recruits...
I remember reading the Wheeler article sometime last week and thinking the same thing, RRaider5355. It seems utterly pointless to commit and still go on visits to other schools. But that’s the way it works I guess.
You mentioned K. Boone. But, think about Cooper Washington of this year. He was commited to OU the whole time and on signing day switched to us. We just have to remember these guys are 17 or 18 yrs old. Meanwhile, I just hope the coaching staff is as relentless and open-minded to offering other prized WR’s to come to our program as well. Both parties should be symetrical in their interest for one another…
Also, I’m jacked to see Nicholas. I think dude is going to be the real deal. This year appears to be done for the quarterback jockey. However, 2012 and beyond is going to be interesting as even our QB stall is going to be loaded. Just like the RBs, WRs, DL, or OL.
Wreck em’!!!
Everytime the aggies lose an angel gets its wings!!! Follow me on Twitter @chippadip
re: "the NUT"
I’m scared and a little annoyed that you linked an article (granted on BON) that makes me agree with beergut. :P
I am going to try and attend the 2011 Women's Football Camp
It sounds fun and it will be interesting to meet the Coaches and to see the facilities up close and personal.
Come on Lady DTNr’s lets make a day of it.
Plus it’s for a good cause.
.
NUTS - Never Underestimate TEAM Strength
Polk and Carpenter are showing pretty nicely on the OL—young guys, looking for Clark to make his move this season.
I think I need to start giving Hyder a bit more regard for where he is at this point. When Fall commences, he may give up his spot for one of the incoming DL, but I still like it that he is progressing.
I am so looking forward to a good year for Edwards, good pass blocking and great physical run blocks.
If Wheeler is lured to another program, I will be really disappointed.
Clayton continues to impress ! Regardless of what the two or three ranking services do, I am getting pretty keen on our commit qb.
We are pretty at number two uniform—after Texas ??? I have to agree that the white helmets are very stylish….but I like black !!
LOL @ Rivals !! They just named Crabtree number 16 football player of the decade—which would make him number 1 for TTU while over at Scout a fan / poll-game named Welker number one at TTU the past decade. I surely am wrong but it almost looks as if they were waiting for the Scout game to end.
Living large in Texas...Texas forever.
the video
got me pumped for some football! can’t wait till the season starts!
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Jul 18, 2011 3:26 PM CDT reply actions
Uniforms
Glad the guy agrees that all black is the way to go and put us at #2, but ranking Texas #1 is just a not to that old tradition of Texas, OU and Atm, I prefer the new school (Tech, Baylor, Okie State) and hate the middle school (kansas st)
Hey Tubs this is the Wild West, Good guys wear white, were the Red Raiders we wear BLACK. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Dont buy the Espn/Disney/ABC hype ! Playoffs are just spin to hide their agenda of owning our favorite sport.
Credit where it's due:
Finally get to see video that works as intended. Major improvement over last year. This was overdue. It couldn’t have been that difficult, and they finally gave it a shot. The audio was okay, too. (Somebody pinch me. No, on second thought- don’t.)
As for the contents: They appear to be doing things right. I agree with what’s behind it wholeheartedly, and it should equate to reality later. This is somewhat encouraging. It did tick a lot of my “Well, what the hell were they doing in the off season” boxes – that question popped up more than it should last year. This year, the less built-in excuses, the better.
If they keep chipping away at the worst parts like this and fixing them, it could be a top program in a few years.
KCBD is also taking questions for the deposed guy on their Facebook page for Tuesday – this might be of interest for some around here.
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