Monday with McGuire: 10 talking points

Texas Tech, coming off its first loss of the Joey McGuire era Saturday at now-No. 12 North Carolina State, hosts No. 22 Texas in the Big 12 opener at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Here are 10 topics from in and around McGuire's weekly Monday press conference:

▶ A time frame for Tyler Shough: McGuire said the earliest possible return for the Red Raiders' original starting quarterback would be Oct. 8 at Oklahoma State or Oct. 22 against West Virginia. Tech has an open date in between. Shough recently underwent surgery to have a plate inserted into his injured left shoulder for what McGuire previously described as a collarbone/AC joint injury.

"When he's back, we'll open that (competition) back up," McGuire said. "He was our starting quarterback. ... Tyler would be the first one to tell you that he's not going to get it right when he's released, but he's going to have to come out and show that he's ready to go. Whoever puts us in the best position to win games, he's going to be our starting quarterback."

Shough got hurt in the first quarter of the Sept. 3 season opener against Murray State. McGuire said Shough remains "very much engaged" in team activities.

"He actually beat me here (Sunday) morning," McGuire said. "Now, he didn't get off the plane at 4:30 (a.m.), so he got a lot more sleep, but he was already watching film from the night before and going through it."

▶ An update on Bryce Ramirez: The Red Raiders' defensive end who suffered a severe lower left leg injury in Saturday's game is expected to be able to travel back to Lubbock on Wednesday or Thursday, McGuire said. Ramirez was taken to Wake Medical Center after he suffered an apparent compound fracture early in the game.

Ramirez underwent surgery early Sunday. He posted on Twitter that he "had a successful second surgery" on Monday and was "on the road to recovery."

"Once again thanks for all the love and support from Raider Nation," he said. "I also want to thank Wolf Pack Nation as well for treating me like one of their own. The support has been unbelievable! Love you all."

McGuire said Tech assistant athletic trainer Steven Lapso had remained at the Raleigh hospital with Ramirez since Saturday night.

▶ An elite club for Tony Bradford: The Tech defensive tackle was one of 22 college football players and one coach named to the Allstate and American Football Coaches Association Good Works team. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, 11 FBS players and 11 players from smaller programs were cited for "outstanding contributions to their communities."

"The panel looks for players that demonstrate exceptional leadership on and off the football field," the AFCA's announcement said.

Bradford's career goals include becoming a police chief. Tech says he has been a leader on a team that has done more than 2,000 hours of community service over the past two years.

"To say we are proud of Tony might be an understatement," McGuire said. "Tony is not only a great teammate but is a great leader who is able to inspire others towards a common mission. Texas Tech and West Texas are better because of Tony Bradford and the tireless effort he has made to make this community better for generations to come."

▶ He's here for it: During his press conference on Monday, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Tech-turned-UT basketball coach Chris Beard reached out to him about what to expect in Lubbock.

"I'm looking forward to an awesome environment," Sarkisian said. " ... We embrace the hate, and we'll be ready to go Saturday."

McGuire saw the reports on social media and had fun with it.

"We've got an old friend that used to coach here that's given Steve some advice," McGuire said. "I know there's probably been a little bit more animosity to (Beard) for different reasons, but it's fun to watch. I don't know if y'all are all into that, but I am. I love the pageantry and the back and forth and the excitement."

▶ Another plea for crowd behavior: Last week, McGuire made an unsolicited request that Tech fans not throw drink containers on to the field at Jones AT&T Stadium. That happened twice after Tech touchdowns in the Sept. 10 victory against Houston, and Tech coaches were warned with a 15-yard penalty if it happened again.

With the UT game on deck, McGuire made the same request.

"I hope they drink their beer and not throw it," McGuire said. "If they're throwing it, I hope they're throwing it up — just the liquid — in celebration and not throwing it on the field."

Last week, Tech senior associate athletics director Robert Giovannetti rejected the suggestion that opposing fans are responsible in such instances.

"That came out of the student section, and it was Texas Tech fans," McGuire said. "I know we want to deflect sometimes, but that was happening and that's not what we're about. ... But we are definitely going to give them a reason to celebrate."

▶ A stance on handling kickoffs: Through three games, the Red Raiders' average starting field position after kickoffs it returns is the Tech 25-yard line. In the season opener, Xavier White ran back kickoffs to the Murray State 39-yard line and the Tech 37.

Against Houston, however, the Red Raiders ran back one kickoff and started at their 10 after a penalty for an illegal block. And after kickoffs they returned at NC State, the Red Raiders started on their own 25, 19, 18, 14 and 13, the start at the Tech 14 after a penalty on the return.

McGuire's not willing to give up a potential big play, though. He wants kickoffs returned — not fair caught — unless they're at least 2 or 3 yards deep in the end zone. On film, he's seen the Red Raiders be one block away from breaking some big returns.

"If it's not in the end zone, we want to bring it out," he said. "We want to be very aggressive. We've got good returners."

▶ A view on 'Horns down': Officials can interpret use of the UT hand gesture within the field of play as taunting. So, while making light of it, McGuire doesn't want his players being flagged for it.

"It really, truly makes me laugh that that's a rule," he said, "but it is a rule and we're going to play by it and I'll make sure. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings."

▶ Recognition of a donor: Tech plans on Tuesday to publicly recognize a heretofore anonymous donor who's pledged $10 million to the Red Raiders' $200 million football facilities project, Giovannetti said. In mid-August, Tech officials said they had received pledges toward the project totaling almost $75 million.

Included in that amount are pledges of $25 million and $20 million from Tech Regents Cody Campbell and Dusty Womble, as well as two $10 million pledges and one for $5 million. Tuesday's announcement will be one of the $10 million pledges, Giovannetti said, as well as the same donor committing a gift to another sport.

▶ A rundown of the injury report: Starting offensive guard Weston Wright, who missed Saturday's game with a sprained ankle, returned for Sunday's workout and will play this week. Linebacker Dimitri Moore is questionable with the hamstring injury he suffered Saturday. Cornerback Adrian Frye (quadriceps contusion/knee), running back Cam'Ron Valdez (knee) and linebacker Derrick Lewis (hamstring/knee) remain out, but are close to returning, McGuire said.

▶ A start time for Tech's Oct. 1 game at Kansas State: The Red Raiders and the Wildcats got the 11 a.m. slot on ESPN+.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Monday with Joey McGuire: 10 talking points from Texas Tech's weekly press conference