Texas Tech Red Raiders' running game not out of woods
The Dallas Morning News
LUBBOCK, Texas - The last two years have been a whirlwind for Texas Tech senior running back Shannon Woods.
He bounced up and down the Red Raiders' depth chart like a yo-yo, moving in and out of coach Mike Leach's good graces.
Woods led the Big 12 in all-purpose yardage in 2006, was demoted to third string the following spring and regained his starting spot to begin last season.
He landed on the scout team before the year was over.
Now Woods (5-11, 194) is back to his 2006 form. He's starting again and leads Tech with 276 rushing yards on 43 carries. He also has eight receptions for 118 yards.
Two weeks ago in a win over Massachusetts, Woods showed the burst and determination that drove him two years ago. He tied his career high with three rushing touchdowns and finished with 10 carries for 108 yards. It was the third 100-yard rushing game of his career and his first since Tech beat Minnesota in the 2006 Insight Bowl.
"It was tough to play and then not be able to," Woods said after the UMass game, breaking the media silence he began midway through last season. "It was hard. There ain't no lying about it. But I'm happy with myself. I stuck with it."
Leach wasn't playing a mind game last season, when he demoted Woods from starter to third string after the eighth game. Leach said he wasn't happy with Woods' work ethic or his attitude.
Woods disappeared. Leach took his starter completely off the depth chart, putting him on the scout team. Woods didn't play the last four games. Woods was even sent home early from Florida for disciplinary reasons as Tech was preparing to play Virginia in the Gator Bowl.
"Obviously, my play wasn't like it was," Woods said of last season. "I don't think my mentality on the game has ever changed. I've always wanted to be productive.
"But this year, it does feel different, maybe because I'm having a lot more fun. This is what football is all about."
Leach said Woods came into spring practice with a different mindset and he worked hard during the off-season to climb out of Leach's doghouse.
"The doghouse pretty well ended when we started spring and he competed hard and battled hard," Leach said. "He's more physical, more focused. . . . When he's doing all the little things right, he's pretty good."
