Sport Preview: Joey McGuire period kicks off Saturday

LUBBOCK, Texas – After a lot anticipation, the 2022 soccer season is right here. On Saturday at 7 p.m., the Joey McGuire kicks off because the Purple Raiders host Murray State at Jones AT&T Stadium. Will probably be the first-ever matchup between the 2 applications.

Tv protection can be offered by way of Large 12 Now on ESPN+. Greg Mescall may have the decision, alongside Taylor McHargue offering the evaluation. The published might be accessed from any desktop or laptop computer laptop, any private mobile gadget and tv streaming companies utilizing the ESPN app. Registration for the subscription service might be discovered at ESPNPlus.com.

Texas Tech Sports activities Community may even broadcast the sport over 46 associates all through the state of Texas and New Mexico as Brian Jensen may have the decision alongside analyst John Harris and sideline reporter Chris Stage. The radio broadcast can be heard on SiriusXM channel 99 or 206, in addition to on the Varsity app.
 
MCGUIRE ERA KICKS OFF WITH RACERS

• After an offseason full of pleasure, Texas Tech will formally kick off the Joey McGuire period Saturday when the Purple Raiders host Murray State inside Jones AT&T Stadium. McGuire was employed final November because the seventeenth head coach in program historical past, constructing a brand new model for Purple Raider Soccer as Texas Tech strives to be the “hardest, hardest-working, most-competitive staff within the nation. 
• Texas Tech is 10-5-1 all-time in video games the place its head coach is making his debut because the Purple Raiders have received four-consecutive such contests relationship again to Mike Leach in 2000.
• McGuire is one in all 13 power-five head coaches making their respective debuts for his or her applications. Together with McGuire, that record contains: Mike Elko (Duke), Billy Napier (Florida), Brian Kelly (LSU), Mario Cristobal (Miami), Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame), Brent Venables (Oklahoma), Dan Lanning (Oregon), Lincoln Riley (USC), Sonny Dykes (TCU), Tony Elliot (Virginia), Brent Pry (Virginia Tech), Kalen DeBoer (Washington) and Jake Dickert (Washington State). 

WELCOME TO TAKE THREE UNIVERSITY

• The time period “Take Three” is one many across the Purple Raider program have heard every day since Joey McGuire’s hiring. The phrase is a key factor of McGuire’s plan to win technique, highlighting the defensive aim of making three takeaways per recreation.
• Texas Tech returns six starters on its protection, together with the majority of its secondary corresponding to seniors Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, who led the Purple Raiders with three interceptions a yr in the past. The protection additionally options one of many nation’s prime returning edge rushers in Tyree Wilson, the Liberty Bowl Defensive MVP from a yr in the past who had 13.5 tackles for loss and seven.0 sacks.

HISTORY OF TEXAS TECH HEAD COACHES IN DEBUT

• Texas Tech head coaches have an all-time file of 10-5-1 when making their debut on the Purple Raider sideline. Joey McGuire will look to match every of Tech’s final 4 head coaches – Matt Wells, Kliff Kingsbury, Tommy Tuberville and Mike Leach – with a victory in his first recreation main the Purple Raiders. This century, Texas Tech head coaches are 4-0 of their respective debuts. 
• Texas Tech has not had a brand new head coach drop a season opener since 1981 when the Purple Raiders, beneath first-year head coach Jerry Moore, fell to Colorado, 45-27, in Boulder. Spike Dykes additionally misplaced his first recreation main the Purple Raiders however that got here within the 1986 Independence Bowl when he was promoted to go coach following David McWilliams’ departure for Texas.

   

A GLANCE AT MURRAY STATE

• This would be the first-ever assembly between Texas Tech and Murray State, a matchup added previous to the 2018 season starting.
• Murray State competes within the Soccer Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is a member of the Ohio Valley Convention (OVC). 
• Murray State was picked to complete third among the many seven convention members within the 2022 OVC preseason ballot. UT-Martin was picked to complete first (similar faculty present Purple Raider offensive lineman Michael Shanahan performed for final season) whereas Southeast Missouri was chosen second.
• The 2022 season would be the ultimate season of competitors for Murray State within the OVC as it’s set to hitch the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention (MVFC) in 2023. 

RED RAIDERS AGAINST THE FCS

• Since 1978 when the NCAA divided its Division I colleges into two divisions, Texas Tech has compiled a 25-1 all-time file in opposition to FCS opponents. All of these video games have been performed at Jones AT&T Stadium. Texas Tech has received its final 19-consecutive video games in opposition to FCS foes relationship again to the 1988 season. The NCAA renamed Division 1A and Division I-AA to FBS and FCS in 2006 to notice the excellence in soccer applications.
• That is the twelfth time up to now 16 seasons that the Purple Raiders have confronted an FCS program of their dwelling opener. Tech is an ideal 11-0 throughout that stretch. 
• Texas Tech is averaging a powerful 51.0 factors per recreation in opposition to FCS foes. For a 10-year stretch (2010-19), the Purple Raiders reached the 40-point mark in every recreation versus an FCS program and received by a mean 40.0 margin of victory (56.7-16.7). The earlier two seasons, the matchups have been a lot nearer with Tech claiming a 35-33 victory in 2020 over Houston Baptist (by a then-led Zach Kittley staff as offensive coordinator) and a 28-22 victory over Stephen F. Austin final season. 
• Texas Tech’s lone loss to an FCS program got here in 1988 when North Texas surprised the Purple Raiders, 29-24, inside Jones AT&T Stadium.

CHALLENGING SCHEDULE ON TAP

• The begin to the Joey McGuire period can be a difficult one for the Purple Raiders, who will face three ranked opponents of their first 4 video games to start out the season. Tech will comply with the Murray State recreation by internet hosting No. 24 Houston earlier than touring to shut non-conference play at No. 13 N.C. State. The Purple Raiders will then open Large 12 play again at Jones AT&T Stadium in opposition to in-state rival No. 18 Texas. 
• Texas Tech is one in all solely 4 power-five convention colleges which can be slated to face not less than two non-conference opponents at the moment ranked within the preseason Related Press High 25. That record additionally contains Pac-12 applications Oregon and Stanford, together with the SEC’s Arkansas.
• There is only one Energy 5 program, Mississippi State, that holds extra AP prime 25 groups on its season schedule than Texas Tech with six. The Purple Raiders’ preseason schedule pits them in opposition to 5 AP top-25 ranked opponents, and are one in all 10 Energy 5 groups confronted with that sort of 2022 schedule (Georgia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina, Syracuse, Stanford, Arkansas, Auburn, South Carolina and Vanderbilt).
• If each Houston and N.C. State stay within the top-25 polls previous to going through the Purple Raiders, it could mark the primary time since 2002 that Texas Tech has confronted a number of ranked non-conference opponents in a season. The Purple Raiders beforehand began the 2002 marketing campaign at No. 12 Ohio State earlier than touring later to face No. 16 N.C. State within the fourth week of the season. 
• Along with each Houston and N.C. State, the Purple Raiders will open Large 12 play in opposition to Texas, which is ranked No. 18 nationally within the AFCA coaches ballot and likewise receiving votes within the AP ballot. Texas Tech will comply with with contests at Kansas State, which can be receiving votes in each polls, after which at No. 12 Oklahoma State. 
• In its historical past, Texas Tech has began off just one different season with three of its first 4 video games in opposition to ranked opponents because the Purple Raiders final did so in 1978 in opposition to the likes of No. 9 Southern Cal, No. 6 Texas and No. 7 Texas A&M. Tech dropped all three of these video games, falling 17-9 at Southern Cal after which 24-7 at dwelling to Texas and 38-9 in Faculty Station to the Aggies. The Purple Raiders recovered, although, to win their subsequent six video games as a part of a 7-4 season beneath Rex Dockery.

   

SHOUGH BACK AS QB1 OF RED RAIDERS

• Tyler Shough will return as Texas Tech’s beginning quarterback after being sidelined for the ultimate eight video games a yr in the past following a season-ending damage within the Large 12 opener versus Texas. Shough was tabbed the starter by Joey McGuire following an in depth competitors with sophomore Donovan Smith and redshirt freshman Behren Morton. 
• Previous to his damage, Shough had already powered the Purple Raiders to a 3-0 file that was highlighted by a come-from-behind victory in opposition to Houston. Shough had accomplished 69.6 % of his passes to that time, throwing 872 yards and 6 touchdowns whereas dashing for 2 different scores.
• Shough getting into the 2022 season. Shough is 8-4 as a starter between his time at Texas Tech at Oregon the place he led the Geese to the Pac-12 Championship in 2020.
• Shough was named Texas Tech’s beginning quarterback popping out of preseason camp because the senior will make the twelfth begin of his profession Saturday in opposition to Murray State. Shough earned the job after a three-way competitors between himself, sophomore Donovan Smith and redshirt freshman Behren Morton. Smith beforehand began the ultimate 4 video games of the 2021 season after Shough was injured, incomes AutoZone Liberty Bowl MVP honors after main the Purple Raiders previous Mississippi State.

RAIDER WALK RETURNS FOR MCGUIRE’S DEBUT AT TEXAS TECH

• Texas Tech will deliver again the Raider Stroll prior to each dwelling recreation at Jones AT&T Stadium this season because the soccer program will debut an improved route beneath new head coach Joey McGuire. Followers can greet the Purple Raiders roughly two hours and quarter-hour previous to kickoff every Saturday as Texas Tech will unload the staff buses instantly south of the Sports activities Efficiency Heart and stroll north down Drive of Champions Avenue to the house tunnel. The Goin’ Band from Raiderland and Texas Tech spirit squads can be readily available every week to cheer on the Purple Raiders as they start pregame preparations. Followers are requested to line the streets previous to the staff arrival after which get pleasure from different pregame leisure corresponding to Raider Alley offered by Bud Gentle.

GET YOUR TICKETS WHILE YOU CAN 

• The thrill over Joey McGuire’s rent has been felt throughout Texas Tech Athletics since final November because the athletics division has seen vital will increase in ticket gross sales heading into the season opener. As of Sunday, Texas Tech boasts greater than 7,000 new season ticket holders this yr, pushing its complete to greater than 28,000, which ranks within the prime 10 all-time in class historical past.  
• Along with the rise in ticket gross sales, McGuire skilled bought out crowds all through the state of Texas as a part of the Purple Raider Membership  Wreck’Em Tour. McGuire, who spoke to greater than 50 teams since his rent this previous yr, bought out occasions in Dallas, Fort Price, Midland, Abilene, San Antonio and Houston as a part of the tour to greet donors and supporters all through the state. Texas Tech additionally benefited from bought out crowds in Lubbock with greater than 1,300 followers who attended the Purple Raider Membership Kickoff Luncheon previous to the season.

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