A little after the Texas Tech football team wrapped up a winter-conditioning workout on Monday, Tech coach Joey McGuire sent a text of appreciation to Howard Sampson, a hulking, 6-foot-8 offensive tackle.
One drill in particular was especially taxing on the big fellow, but he was sticking with it and exhorting his teammates. McGuire wanted the newcomer from North Carolina to know the effort didn’t go unnoticed.
“He sends me a text back,” McGuire said, “and goes, ‘Coach, I’ve never been part of a team that the best players on the team are challenging each other to be better.’ And he goes, ‘Man, I’m just so happy I’m here.’
“You have that feeling from all the guys. Now we’ve just got to go have a great spring.”
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Tech starts spring practice on Monday. The past two months and the next few ahead are an experiment perhaps unlike any other season the Red Raiders have experienced. McGuire and two new coordinators are mixing the returning personnel from an 8-5 bowl team with 17 newcomers from the NCAA transfer portal, most of whom were starters at their previous schools.
Part of the attraction was cash lavished legally by The Matador Club while donor collectives still can. Unrestrained bidding on transfers could be curbed if the House v. NCAA settlement proposal receives final consent. Another selling point to the new talent: The swanky Dustin R. Womble Football Center, just opened, interconnected with the Jones AT&T Stadium south end zone building that opened last season.
“These guys have been everywhere,” McGuire said. “When you’re talking about the transfers, you’re talking about the most sought-after guys in the country; there’s a number of them….
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/joey-mcguire-sets-stage-era-225751455.html
Author : Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Publish date : 2025-03-06 22:57:00
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