Sept. 10, 2010

GameDay Central | GAMEDAY LIVE | Complete Release in PDF Format

RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech heads on the road this weekend looking to smooth out the kinks in its opening weekend performance as Tech plays at Texas A&M Saturday evening at Kyle Field.

FOLLOWING THE `DOGS ON GAMEDAY
For Louisiana Tech fans not able to get to Shreveport on Saturday, there are several ways to follow the Bulldogs on gameday. As always, the Louisiana Tech Sports network will broadcast the game with Dave Nitz calling the play-by-play. The broadcast will also be streamed live on LA Tech All-Access on LATechSports.com Bulldog fans can also go to LATechSports.com for a live in-game chat that will start 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Twitter fans can follow @LATechPWalsh for tweets throughout the game.

SONNY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
Tech's season opener on Sept. 4 marked another historic game for the Bulldogs as it served as the head coaching debut of Sonny Dykes. Dykes, the son of legendary Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, was hired as the Bulldogs 32nd head coach on Jan. 20, 2010. Dykes is no stranger to success on the field having won at stops in the Pac-10, SEC and Big 12 en route to becoming named LA Tech's head coach. Since 1940, only three other LA Tech coaches have posted winning records in their first season at the helm of the Bulldogs including Joe Aillet (6-4, 1940), Gary Crowton (6-5, 1996) and Jack Bicknell (8-3, 1999).

TWENTY-ONE THE MAGIC NUMBER
Dating back to the 1998 season, history has shown that when the Louisiana Tech offense struggles the team tends to struggle. Since 1998 the Bulldogs have compiled a 4-50 record when scoring less than 21 points. Before the Bulldogs won the 2008 Independence Bowl vs. Northern Illinois 17-10, the last victory for Tech when scoring less than 21 points was in 2003 against Michigan State when the Bulldogs upset the then ranked Spartans, 20-19. Tech added a win to that tally on Sept. 4, 2010 when the Bulldogs defeated Grambling State, 20-6.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Despite being the visiting team in the Sept. 4 game against Grambling, Independence Stadium and Louisiana Tech have a long, successful history together - a history that was extended in 2010 with a 20-6 win over Grambling. Tech has played 71 games in Shreveport, including four trips to the Independence Bowl. All-time the Bulldogs are 46-22-3 at Independence Stadium. Tech has won six of the last seven games played at Independence Stadium in a stretch dating back to 2001 with the only loss coming in 2003 to No. 2 Miami.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Sonny Dykes made his debut as a head coach on Sept. 4 and did so at the same stadium his father made his coaching debut in. Spike Dykes first guided Texas Tech on Dec. 20, 1986 in the Independence Bowl. However, while Spike's Red Raider squad lost to Ole Miss, 20-17, Sonny's Bulldog team toughed out a 20-6 win over Grambling.

BULLDOG OPENER HISTORY
With Louisiana Tech's 20-6 win over Grambling, Tech moves to 50-48-5 all-time in season openers. That mark includes a record of 9-1 at Joe Aillet Stadium. Tech's only loss in Joe Aillet Stadium on opening day was 12-7 to Tennessee-Chattanooga in 1978.

LOUISIANA TECH VS. TEXAS A&M ALL-TIME SERIES

Series Record A&M leads, 9-0
At Ruston, La. No Meetings
At Shreveport, La. A&M leads, 1-0
At College Station, Texas A&M leads, 8-0
At Neutral Sites No Meetings
Most LA Tech Points 28 (1998)
Most A&M Points 63 (1996)
Most Combined Points 84 (1998)
Biggest LA Tech Win N/A
Biggest A&M Win 50 (1996)
Current Streak A&M has won nine

Game-by-Game Breakdown