MIDLAND- For the 5th straight year the Texas Tech Red Raiders held their spring scrimmage at Grande Communications Stadium.
Fans packed the stands and the parking lot for their first glimpse of the 2017 team.
It was also the first glimpse of the now Nick Shimonek lead offense.
Shimonek replaces Quarterback Patrick Mahomes who left for the NFL Draft.
The offense struggled to find a rhythm early, but eventually settled in.
"We started a little slow," Shimonek said. "Picked it up. Offensive line just had to get settled in. Really everyone got settled in, myself included. Once we did that, I feel like we got in a rhythm."
It was a big day defensively, the Red Raiders defense pressured Shimonek throughout the afternoon.
"I think defensively we started fast, had some three and outs and that's good," Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury said. "I though up front particularly on some third and shorts they stepped up and made big stops. If that's the case they'll go a long way for our cause in the season."
The Red Raiders were also excited to be back in the Tall City.
"Obviously this is a big alumni base," Kingsbury said."Lots of oil money, so it's good for us to get down here and get around that, but the football in this area, the level of coaching is phenomenal, so it's always awesome to come down here."
The Red Raiders will hold their spring game next Saturday in Frisco.
