NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
There was no extra emphasis on Saturday’s game inside Jones AT&T Stadium, according to Abilene Christian coach Keith Patterson.
Sure, Patterson himself was the defensive coordinator who was on his way out the door when Joey McGuire took over as head coach of the Texas Tech football team. And yes, more than half of the Wildcats’ starting offense is comprised of former Red Raiders, many of whom followed Patterson to Abilene, either initially or eventually in the transition.
One such player was Nehemiah Martinez I, a former Red Raider receiver who shined in McGuire’s first year as head coach. In his second, Martinez missed almost all of preseason camp in 2023, dealing with facial injuries after an altercation with a teammate. By the time Martinez was ready to go, he fell out of the rotation almost entirely.
OOF: Texas Tech football: Do the Red Raiders get an F for an opening-night scare? | Report card
McGuire has never faulted a player for leaving. Asked Monday about Martinez in particular, the Tech head coach shared a similar sentiment, saying Martinez probably made the right choice going to ACU because he would play more.
“I wish him the best every game but Saturday,” McGuire said.
Martinez and his fellow Red Raider castoffs nearly made McGuire regret those words. It was the New Deal/Lubbock-Cooper product’s touchdown in the fourth quarter that made it a 39-35 game early in the fourth quarter. His was one of three touchdowns tosses by Maverick McIvor, who never got on the field in his time at Texas Tech.
Texas Tech’s past and present squared off on Saturday night with McIvor and Behren Morton going toe-to-toe, McIvor trying to show the Lubbock faithful what could’ve been and Morton looking to prove what still could be. Both accomplished that feat.
Head coach Keith Patterson of Abilene Christian Wildcats shouts from the side…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/abilene-christians-texas-tech-football-062310985.html
Author : Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Publish date : 2024-09-01 06:23:10
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
