The 2011 football season at Texas Tech was one that Red Raider fans would just soon forget.  It actually was of an historical nature.  Up until last year, Texas Tech was the only school in the Big  12 with 16 straight winning seasons.  That ended last season, when the Red Raiders ended the year with an overall record of 5-7 and a 2-7 mark in the Big 12.  The 2012 season will be a very important year for Texas Tech on many levels.  Head Coach Tommy Tuberville who will begin his third year in charge of the Red Raiders knows that a repeat of last year will not be tolerated.  Coach Tuberville has been a head coach for 15 years with an overall record of 123-72, but is 13-12 in the two years that he has been in Lubbock.  Texas Tech will return 5 offensive,    4 defensive and a punter as starters this season.  Returning offensive starters are Seth Doege (QB), Terry McDaniel (ORG), Deveric Gallington (OC), LaArian Waddle (OLT) and Eric Ward (WR).  The keys to the offense will be the effectiveness and consistency of Seth Doege and will Eric Stephens Jr. be able to return back to form after his knee injury.  Stephens was on pace to gain one thousand yards when he went down in the Texas A&M game. The Red Raiders will have plenty of firepower this season.  The major question mark for this team will be the defense.  This will be the third season in a row that the Red Raiders will have a new defensive coordinator.  Leading the defensive charge will be Art Kaufman who comes from North Carolina.  His plan is to replace the 4-2-5 defense that Tech ran last year, with the 4-3 defense.  Returning starters on defense will be Cody Davis (FS), D.J. Johnson (SS), Terrance Bullitt (LB), and Kerry Hyder (DT).  The Red Raiders are depending upon a host of junior college transfers to come in and add depth along the defensive line, as well as the cornerback position.  As the defense goes, so will the Red Raiders.  Ryan Erxleben will return as the punter this season. He averaged 41.7 yards last season.  Texas Tech is hoping that Erxleben will not be on the field much this season.  That means that the Tech offense is rolling.  It is very important that Tech remain healthy this season.  No team can experience 15 season ending injuries like Tech did last year and expect to be competitive.

 “GET YOUR GUNS UP”.

2012  Schedule

Sept. 01              Northwestern State

Sept. 08              @ Texas State

Sept. 15              New Mexico   

Sept. 29             @ Iowa State

Oct.  06              Oklahoma

Oct.  13              West Virginia

Oct.  20             @ TCU

Oct.  27             @ Kansas State

Nov. 03              Texas

Nov. 10              Kansas

Nov. 17             @ Oklahoma State

Nov. 24             Baylor  (Cowboy Stadium, Arlington, TX.)