Texas Tech Red Raiders

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Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders athletic logo
University Texas Tech University
Conference Big 12
NCAA Division I
Athletics director Gerald Myers
Location Lubbock, TX
Varsity teams 15
Football stadium Jones AT&T Stadium
Basketball arena United Spirit Arena
Baseball stadium Dan Law Field
Mascot The Masked Rider & Raider Red
Nickname Red Raiders
Fight song Fight Raiders, Fight
Colors Scarlet and Black

             

Homepage www.redraiders.com
A lull in the action during the 2006 Texas Tech football game against Baylor.
A lull in the action during the 2006 Texas Tech football game against Baylor.

Texas Tech Red Raiders is the name given to the sports teams of Texas Tech University. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, all other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" nickname. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 15 varsity teams in 10 sports.

Contents

Texas Tech has teams in these varsity sports:

  • Women's sports

Bob Knight (middle) with his son Pat Knight (right)
Bob Knight (middle) with his son Pat Knight (right)

Bob Knight has served as the men's basketball coach since 2001. On New Year's Day 2007, a 70-68 defeat of New Mexico by Tech marked the 880th total win for Knight, making him the winningest coach in men's college basketball history. Knight also has several other distinctions, including being the only coach to win the NCAA, the NIT, the Olympic Gold, and the Pan-Am Gold, and has been given several awards.

Of the varsity sports, Texas Tech has had its greatest success in women's basketball. Led by its star player Sheryl Swoopes and head coach Marsha Sharp, the Lady Raiders won the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 1993. In early 2006, Lady Raiders coach Marsha Sharp resigned and was replaced on March 30, 2006 by Kristy Curry, who had been coaching at Purdue.

See also: 2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
Tech in action at SMU.
Tech in action at SMU.

Texas Tech played its first intercollegiate football game on October 3, 1925. The contest, against McMurry University, ended in a controversial 0-0 tie.[1]

The football team has been affiliated with the following conferences:

The team has the distinction of being the only one in the Big 12 to have a winning season each year since the conference was created in 1996.[2] Further, each year since 2001, the American Football Coaches Association has recognized Texas Tech for having a team graduation rate of at least 70 percent. The Graduation Success Rate figures released by the NCAA in October 2007 showed that Tech graduated 79% of its players during the period from 1997 to 2000. This placed it in the top ten nationally and third in the Big 12 (behind only Baylor and Nebraska).[3][4][5]

In July 2007, ESPN ranked all 119 FBS (formerly 1-A) football programs on performance from 1997-2006 and placed Texas Tech at number 32.[6] Also, with 12, the Red Raiders rank fifth nationally in consecutive winning seasons, trailing only Florida State (30), Michigan (22), Florida (19), and Virginia Tech (14).[7]

Mike Leach became the head coach in 2000. Texas Tech has gone to a bowl game every year since he took the position. He is the school's all time winningest coach in postseason play with a 4-3 record. Behind only the Texas Longhorns, the Red Raiders are second in the Big 12 for postseason wins since 2000, having won four of their last five bowl games. In the 2006 Insight Bowl, the team defeated the Minnesota Golden Gophers, overcoming a 31-point deficit in the third quarter to beat their opponent by three in overtime.[8] This made NCAA Division I FBS (formerly I-A) history as the largest come-from-behind bowl victory ever recorded.

Described as a program on the rise, the Red Raiders earned 56 wins from the 2000 through the 2006 season. During the same period, only three other Big 12 teams had more victories—Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska. [9]

The Red Raiders, with returning quarterback Graham Harrell and redshirt freshman wide receiver Michael Crabtree, opened the 2007 season in Dallas on September 3 with a televised game against SMU.[10] Texas Tech defeated the Mustangs, 49–9.[11] The season ended with a 34–27 upset of the #3 Oklahoma Sooners, an 8–4 record, and an invitation to the Gator Bowl.

Bowl Games (Record: 9-20-1)
Season Bowl Opponent Result Score
1937 Sun Bowl West Virginia L 6-7
1938 Cotton Bowl Saint Mary's L 13-20
1941 Sun Bowl Tulsa L 0-6
1947 Sun Bowl Miami (Ohio) L 12-13
1949 Raisin Bowl San Jose State L 13-20
1951 Sun Bowl Pacific W 25-14
1953 Gator Bowl Auburn W 35-13
1955 Sun Bowl Wyoming L 14-21
1964 Sun Bowl Georgia L 0-7
1965 Gator Bowl Georgia Tech L 21-31
1970 Sun Bowl Georgia Tech L 9-17
1972 Sun Bowl North Carolina L 28-32
1973 Gator Bowl Tennessee W 28-19
1974 Peach Bowl Vanderbilt T 6-6
1976 Bluebonnet Bowl Nebraska L 24-27
1977 Tangerine Bowl Florida State L 17-40
1986 Independence Bowl Ole Miss L 17-20
1989 All-American Bowl Duke W 49-21
1993 Sun Bowl Oklahoma L 10-41
1994 Cotton Bowl Southern California L 14-55
1995 Copper Bowl Air Force W 55-41
1996 Alamo Bowl Iowa L 0-27
1998 Independence Bowl Ole Miss L 18-35
2000 Galleryfurniture.com Bowl East Carolina L 27-40
2001 Alamo Bowl Iowa L 16-19
2002 Tangerine Bowl Clemson W 55-15
2003 Houston Bowl Navy W 38-14
2004 Holiday Bowl California W 45-31
2005 Cotton Bowl Alabama L 13-10
2006 Insight Bowl Minnesota W 44-41
2007 Gator Bowl Virginia * *

Texas Tech's baseball team is coached by Larry Hays. During the 1990s, Tech players drew notice from 17 big league organizations. Two Red Raiders were selected in the second round, one each in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds. As of 2002, 16 former Tech players have appeared in Major League Baseball.[12]

2007 saw the men's golf team compete in it's first back-to-back National Championship tournaments since 1960. The team, coached by Greg Sands, qualified for the tournament after finishing 7th in NCAA Central Regional.[13]

The Polo Club team is coached by Clyde Waddell. In spite of having no previous experience, at the invitation of students, he took the job in 2000. Six year later, the team beat in-state rival Texas A&M to win the United States Polo Association National Intercollegiate Championship.[14]

Texas Tech's track and field teams are coached by Wes Kittley. Under his leadership, the program has reached new heights. For the 2005 Outdoor National Championships, Tech sent 31 athletes, more than any other school in the country.

From 1990 to 2006, the men's team garnered 91 All-America awards, 20 Big 12 championships, and one national title. In the same time period, the women's team won 32 All-America awards, 29 Big 12 championships, and five national titles. In 2007, the women had another strong showing behind Sally Kipyego, who won four individual national titles (cross country, indoor 3k and 5k, outdoor 10k) and placed second in her bid for an unprecedented fifth title in one academic year (outdoor 5k).

Tim Siegel has been coaching at Tech for 15 years, helping the men's tennis team to numerous winning seasons. He has coached players who are now college coaches themselves.[15]

Additionally, the university offers other sports such as rugby, lacrosse, soccer, and ice hockey through campus intramural sports organizations.

Bangin' Bertha is a bell on a trailer. It is carried to home basketball and all football games. It was designed in 1959 by Saddle Tramp Joe Winegar and donated by the Santa Fe Railroad.[16]

Texas Tech's band is known as the Goin' Band from Raiderland. It traces its beginnings back to the founding of the school and performed at the opening football game, fielding twenty-one (some sources say twenty-five) members.

Guns Up is the handsign of the Red Raiders. It is made from a closed hand by extending the index finger forward and the thumb up. It was originated in 1972 by a Tech graduate, intending to symbolize shooting down the opponents.

Main articles: The Masked Rider and Raider Red

The Masked Rider is the oldest of Texas Tech's remaining mascots, tracing its origins to 1936. It became the official mascot in 1954.

Beginning with the 1971 football season, the Southwest Conference created a rule restricting the use of live animal mascots. Since this rule applied to the horse ridden by the Masked Rider, Raider Red was created as an alternative.

Main article: The Matador Song

"The Matador Song" dates from 1931. The lyrics were written by Tech student R.C. Marshall and the music was composed by Tech Band Director Harry LeMaire. The words and melody have remained unchanged.

Main article: Fight, Raiders, Fight

"Fight, Raiders, Fight" is the fight song of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. It was written for the Matadors, the original name of teams representing the school (known at the time as Texas Technological College). In 1936, Tech band members Carroll McMath and James Nevins updated it to reflect the teams' new name, Red Raiders.

Red Raider spirit is led by such organizations as the Saddle Tramps, the High Riders, and the Spirit Squads (consisting of the Cheer Team and the Pom Squad). In April 2007, the Texas Tech cheerleaders finished fifth at the National Cheerleading Association's Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship.[17]

The Red Raiders' main rivals are the Texas A&M Aggies[18][19] and the Texas Longhorns. It is common for people to camp out in front of Jones AT&T Stadium a few days prior to a football game against either of these teams, in addition to home games versus the Oklahoma Sooners. Any sporting event against these teams draws some of the highest attendances of the season.

List of current head coaches
Sport Coach
Baseball Larry Hays
Basketball, Men's Bob Knight
Basketball, Women's Kristy Curry
Cross Country, Men's & Women's Jon Murray
Football Mike Leach
Golf, Men's Greg Sands
Golf, Women's Stacey Totman
Soccer, Men's Neil McGuire
Soccer, Women's Tom Stone
Softball Teresa Wilson
Tennis, Men's Tim Siegel
Tennis, Women's Cari Groce
Track and Field, Men's & Women's Wes Kittley
Volleyball Nancy Todd

Exterior view of Jones AT&T Stadium.
Exterior view of Jones AT&T Stadium.
List of current athletic facilities
Sport Venue
Baseball Dan Law Field
Basketball United Spirit Arena
Football Jones AT&T Stadium
Golf The Rawls Course
Soccer R.P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field
Softball Rocky Johnson Field
Tennis Don & Ethel McLeod Tennis Center
Track and Field R.P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field
Volleyball United Spirit Arena

In the sports world, Texas Tech Red Raiders have gone on to play in the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Major League Baseball, and more.

  1. ^ http://www.redraiders.com/techs75th/timeline.htm
  2. ^ http://kansasstate.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?sid=889&script=/content.asp&cid=680485&fid=&tid=&mid=
  3. ^ http://www.redraiders.com/stories/051807/foo_051807012.shtml
  4. ^ http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101107aaa.html
  5. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls07/news/story?id=3140015
  6. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2947981
  7. ^ http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/090307/col_090307027.shtml
  8. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263630135
  9. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2949643
  10. ^ http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/text-m-footbl-sched.html
  11. ^ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/090407dnsposmubriefs.329f7cf.html
  12. ^ http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/texas_tech_university_baseball_players.shtml
  13. ^ Men's golf to participate in NCAA Championship. The Daily Toreador (May 31, 2007).
  14. ^ http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=20057
  15. ^ Flock of Siegel: Tech's tenured tennis coach has built program from the bottom, up. The Daily Toreador (April 5, 2007).
  16. ^ http://www.redraiders.com/techs75th/traditions.htm
  17. ^ Texas Tech cheerleaders finish fifth in national competition. The Daily Toreador (April 11, 2007).
  18. ^ http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2001/11/15/Opinion/TSippers.Or.TortillaThrowers-516399.shtml
  19. ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=AmzXDyEH1e4KX_rvePkbfS.P1LYF?slug=rivals-137445&prov=rivals&type=lgns

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