Texas Tech has some big-name coaches in Tommy Tuberville and Billy Gillespie, and Red Raider supporters are hopeful that they can guide Tech back into the national limelight in the near future.
Tuberville, who enjoyed great success at Auburn, steered Tech to a 5-7 record last year, the Red Raiders missing out on a bowl trip for the first time in 11 years and snapped a streak of 19 consecutive years of bowl-eligible seasons. Texas Tech did finish the year ranked 11th in total offense and also knocked off top-ranked Oklahoma on the road. Tuberville is seeking dramatic improvement in 2012.
The Red Raider men’s basketball program is also undergoing some remodeling under Billy Gillespie, former Texas A&M and Kentucky, coach, who led Tech to an 8-23 record in his first season at Lubbock. Tech had one of the youngest rosters in the country last year with seven sophomores and three freshmen, and the Red Raiders should be much better in 2013.
Meanwhile, women’s basketball coach Kristy Curry continued Texas Tech’s winning ways on the hardwood with a 21-14 record that included a trip to the Women’s Invitational Tournament where the Red Raiders reached the round of 16. Curry expects an even stronger team in 2013.
TEXAS TECH BRIEFS:
Location: Lubbock, Texas Population: 233,740 Founded: 1923 Enrollment: 30,102 Nickname: Red Raiders Colors: Scarlet and Black President: Guy Bailey Athletic Director: Kirby Hocutt Website: http://www.texastech.com
Texas Tech Bowl Game History 2011, TicketCity Bowl vs. Northwestern (W) 2010, Alamo Bowl vs. Michigan State (W) 2009, Cotton Bowl vs. Mississippi (L) 2008, Gator Bowl vs. Virginia (W) 2006, Insight Bowl vs. Minnesota (W) 2006, Cotton Bowl vs. Alabama (L) 2004, Holiday Bowl vs. Cal (W) 2003, Houston Bowl vs. Navy (W) 2002, Tangerine Bowl vs. Clemson (W) 2001, Alamo Bowl vs. Iowa (L) 2000, Galleryfurniture.com Bowl vs. East Carolina (L) 1998, Independence Bowl vs. Mississippi (L) 1996, Alamo Bowl vs. Iowa (L) 1995, Copper Bowl vs. Air Force (W) 1995, Cotton Bowl vs. USC (L) 1993, Sun Bowl vs. Oklahoma (L) 1989, All-American Bowl vs. Duke (W) 1986, Independence Bowl vs. Mississippi (L) 1977, Tangerine Bowl vs. Florida State (L) 1976, Bluebonnet Bowl vs. Nebraska (L) 1974, Peach Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (T) 1973, Gator Bowl vs. Tennessee (W) 1972, Sun Bowl vs. North Carolina (L) 1970, Sun Bowl vs. Georgia Tech (L) 1965, Gator Bowl vs. Georgia Tech (L) 1964, Sun Bowl vs. Georgia (L) 1956, Sun Bowl vs. Wyoming (L) 1954, Gator Bowl vs. Auburn (W) 1952, Sun Bowl vs. Pacific (W) 1949, Raisin Bowl vs. San Jose State (L) 1948, Sun Bowl vs. Miami (Ohio) (L) 1942, Sun Bowl vs. Tulsa (L) 1939, Cotton Bowl vs. St. Mary’s (L) 1938, Sun Bowl vs. West Virginia (L)
NFL First-Round Draft Picks 2009, Michael Crabtree, WR (San Francisco) 1983, Gabe Rivera, NT (Pittsburgh) 1981, Ted Watts, DB (Oakland) 1965, Donny Anderson, RB (Green Bay) 1964, Dave Parks, WR (San Francisco) * 1945, Walt Schlinkman, FB (Green Bay)
WNBA First-Round Draft Picks 2003, Plenette Pierson (Phoenix) 1998, Alicia Thompson (New York)
VISITING FAN GUIDE
Popular Attractions: Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theatre, Silent Wings Museum, Museum of Texas Tech University, Llano Estacado
Popular Restaurants: Skyviews, Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ, Blue Sky Texas, Home Café
Lodging: Baymont Inn and Suites, Guest House Inn & Extended Stay, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Woodrow House Bed and Breakfast, Embassy Suites Lubbock, Overton Hotel and Conference Center, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Lubbock
TEXAS TECH-WEST VIRGINIA CONNECTIONS: Former West Virginia University football coach Jim Carlen also coached at Texas Tech; current head coach Dana Holgorsen was once an assistant coach on Mike Leach’s Red Raider staff.
DID YOU KNOW?: Texas Tech, with 1,839 acres, has the second largest contiguous campus in the United States and is the only school in Texas to house an undergraduate institution, law school, and medical school at the same location.
NEXT WEEK: TEXAS
Michael Fragale, Julie Brown, Chris Ostien and Alyssa Casalino also contributed to this report
