Notebook: Tech opens camp
After what seemed like an eternity, but was only a little more than four
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months, football has returned to West Texas. Tommy Tuberville was
excited to see his players in action after the summer and he felt that, despite
a few little things here or there, day one was a good start.
Click Here to view this Link."I thought it was a good start. You should have a good start on the first day.
Everybody's ready to go, energetic, and out here running around trying to make a
good impression with the coaches," he said. "It's just good to get back out on
the field. We've got a few guys that have got a hamstring problem here or there,
but hopefully we can get them back out here. Good start, so we'll see."
The real fun will begin on Monday when the Red Raiders will strap on the pads
for the first time. Until then, Tuberville said that the team's younger players
will get a heavier workload tomorrow than his veterans.
"Tomorrow we'll have our second one, put our shoulder pads on Monday and we'll
start having a little bit of contact. We're going to work our younger guys more
tomorrow and try to get them up to speed, let our older guys sit back and watch
a little bit. They will practice some, but we're still in baby steps right now.
Then, on Monday, when we put our shoulder pads on we'll start to equal out the
reps with the first and second groups."
Saturday was also the first time that Tuberville got to see his newest batch of
freshmen come into the fold. When asked if he thought that the talent level was
greater this year than last, Tuberville said that it would take practice time to
draw that conclusion.
"We won't know until we start going into team and running full speed. You can
have speed and quickness and all that, but unless you play fast it doesn't make
any difference."
He did, however, believe that the team had made a physical transition in the
right direction under Joe Walker's guidance this offseason.
"We look like a better football team this year just by walking out here in terms
of size and strength. The strength coaches have done a good job. We're in pretty
good physical shape. We've got a lot of work to do when we put our pads on and
try to get used to this heat."
DOEGE'S REPS LIMITED
Seth Doege is the frontrunner for Tech's open starting quarterback
position, but he won't be throwing much during the team's first couple of
practices.
"We want him to throw more when we get into more team stuff," Tuberville said.
"We'll limit him to a certain amount of throws, him and Jacob Karam,
and let the younger guys throw quite a bit. He's going to be ready to go. He's
worked real hard. All the quarterbacks have. Everybody has this summer. It
showed out here today. Not many people even got tired. The heat got to them a
little bit, but (as far as) running shape, they're in good shape."
TORRES FEELS GREAT
Junior receiver Alex Torres, who was limited for most of last season
with a nagging back injury, said Saturday that he feels great. Torres' back was
completely healed in time for spring football, so he went through most of those
workouts wearing a blue non-contact jersey.
"I'm feeling great right now," he said. "I'm staying on top of that, making sure
I stretch out and stick with the plan the trainers set up for me. That's the
biggest thing, stay healthy, but I feel great right now."
SURREAL MOMENT FOR WASHINGTON
Freshman running back
DeAndre Washington admitted that the fact that he
was part of a Big 12 football program really hit home during Friday's team
meeting.
"It was like a surreal feeling," he said. "Kind of like a dream come true.
Sitting in a room with Tommy Tuberville, one of the greatest coaches in the
world, you see him on TV all the time. It was like a surreal feeling. I'm
ecstatic, I'm happy, I'm ready to get it going."
NO SET POSITION FOR FEHOKO (FOR NOW)
Senior Sam Fehoko played a little linebacker and defensive end for the
Red Raiders in 2010, and continued to move between the two positions in the
spring. Tuberville said on Saturday that Fehoko will eventually find a permanent
home, but will continue to move around for the time being.
"Now that we've got more bodies in terms of guys that we think can play certain
positions we'll be able to leave him in one place," Tuberville said. "We want to
move him around a little bit to see what his best position is going to be."
BATTLE BETWEEN FRESHMAN RUNNING BACKS
Tech added two freshmen running backs to the roster over the summer --
Washington and Kenny Williams. Early indications are that the two will
battle for one spot; one will play, the other will sit.
"I'm guessing whoever has the best camp, that'll determine who redshirts or
not," Washington said. "Like I said, it's a competition every day. I'm looking
forward to it and just trying to get better."
Even with the competition, Washington said that he and Williams have a great
relationship.
"That's my buddy, I love him. That's my roommate, we kick it with each other
day," Washington said. "It's a competition, but at the end of the day we're
still cool. If he messes up, I help him out. If I mess up, he helps me out. We
know what's at stake, but we're still going to help each other out. At the end
of the day, whatever happens, happens."
UNOFFICIAL QUARTERBACK STATS
Seth Doege: 30-of-41 for 317 yards, INT
Jacob Karam: 11-of-22 for 127 yards, INT
Scotty Young: 8-of-13 for 86 yards
UP NEXT: The Red Raiders will return to the practice field on
Sunday afternoon.