It’s not that Mack Leftwich and Shiel Wood are new to college football or to coaching. Over the offseason, when McGuire hired both of them to help round out his coaching staff, Texas Tech picked up two young, innovative coordinators who still have nearly three decades of combined coaching experience between the two of them.
And yet, the experience that they’re about to get as coordinators of the Red Raider football team is apparently going to be one of the most energizing and exciting things that they’ve been able to experience throughout their careers.
On Monday, during his press conference previewing the start of the 2025 Texas Tech football season and the upcoming game between the Red Raiders and the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, TTU head coach Joey McGuire noted how impressed both Leftwich and Wood have been since moving out to Lubbock.
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire is looking forward to Shiel Wood and Mack Leftwich experiencing Red Raider fans
“Man, we’re really excited for the new coaches and the new players to experience their first game in Jones AT&T,” McGuire said. “You know, Red Raider Nation has not disappointed.”
The head coach of the Texas Tech football team continued, explaining how both Wood and Leftwich were able to take in the environment and energy of a Texas Tech basketball game and how they enjoyed the atmosphere.
“Shiel and Mack say it all the time,” McGuire stated. “They went to the first basketball game and they’re like, ‘man, we’ve never seen anything like this’.”
That’s pretty high praise and a great thing to hear, if you ask me.
“They, you know, go the other day to the kickoff lunch and then you have the equipment trucks in there and just the pageantry of that event and they’re blown away,” Texas Tech’s head coach continued. “And so I told them the best place in the country to watch a football game is Jones AT&T and being a part of it.”
Historically, that might not necessarily be true (and it’s something that might be a bit controversial with a few fanbases across the country), but there’s never been a more intriguing time to be a Texas Tech fan than right now. On top of that, McGuire definitely knows how to put together one heck of a motivational quote to get folks to buy into his team.
Oh, and McGuire is certainly right in pointing out the way that Red Raider fans continue to show up for their team. Add in the expectations and talent that this team has this season and the atmosphere is bound to be incredible on Saturday (and hopefully the rest of the season).