Game 6 Opponent: Texas Tech University Overview

Texas Tech University: Texas Tech is a public research university that was established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College. By action of the Texas State Legislature, Texas Technological College formally became Texas Tech University on September 1, 1969. The university's enrollment of more than 35,000 is the sixth largest in the state of Texas and makes Tech the largest institution of higher education in the western two-thirds of the state. The university shares its campus with an University Health Sciences Center, making it the only campus in Texas to house an undergraduate university, law school and medical school at the same location. The university's Public Art Collection is ranked among the 10 best university public art collections in the United States by Public Art Review.

Notable Texas Tech Alumni: Notable alumni of Texas Tech include: Demetrio Lakas, president of the Republic of Panama from 1969 to 1978. Three governors -- Daniel Thornton, governor of Colorado from 1951 to 1955, John Burroughs, governor of New Mexico from 1959 to 1961, and Preston Smith, governor of Texas from 1968 to 1972 -- are graduates of Tech. Three astronauts, including Rick Husband, the final commander of Space Shuttle Columbia, graduated from Tech. US Air Force Major General Wendy Motlong Masiello, one of the highest-ranking women in the US Department of Defense, is a 1980 graduate. General Motors Chairman and CEO Edward Whitacre, Jr., is a graduate, as are Finisar CEO Jerry Rawls, Belo Corporation CEO Dunia Shive, Wellpoint, Inc., president and CEO Angela Braly, and Scott Pelley, anchor and managing editor for CBS Evening News and correspondent for 60 Minutes. Others include Michael Crabtree of the Oakland Raiders, Zach Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs, Danny Amendola of the New England Patriots, Wes Welker of the Denver Broncos, folk rocker John Denver, country singer Pat Green and actor George Eads. John Hinckley, Jr., who attempted to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981, attended the university sporadically from 1973 to 1980.

Texas Tech Traditions:  Here are some traditions observed by Texas Tech students and alumni: 

Athletic colors are scarlet and black. Mascots are The Masked Rider and Raider Red.

The Masked Raider: The Masked Raider is Tech's oldest mascot. The tradition began in 1936, when "ghost riders" were dared to circle the field prior to home football games. The Masked Rider became an official mascot in 1954, when Joe Kirk Fulton led the team onto the field at the Gator Bowl. According to reports from those present at the game, the crowd sat in stunned silence as they watched Fulton and his horse Blackie rush onto the football field, followed by the team. After a few moments, the silent crowd burst into cheers. Ed Danforth, a writer for the Atlanta Journal, who witnessed the event, later wrote, "No team in any bowl game ever made a more sensational entrance." In 2000, The Masked Rider tradition was commemorated with the unveiling of a statue outside of the university's Frazier Alumni Pavilion. The sculpture, created by artist Grant Speed, is 25% larger than life. Today, the Masked Rider, with guns up, leads the team onto the field for all home games. This mascot, adorned in a distinctive gaucho hat like the ones worn by members of the marching band, is one of the most visible figures at Texas Tech.

Raider Red: Tech's other mascot, Raider Red, is a more recent creation. Beginning with the 1971 football season, the Southwest Conference forbade the inclusion of live animal mascots to away games unless the host school consented. For situations where the host school did not want to allow the Masked Rider's horse, an alternate mascot was needed. The original design for the Raider Red costume was based on a character created by cartoonist Dirk West, a Texas Tech alumnus and former Lubbock mayor. Though the Masked Rider's identity is public knowledge, it has always been tradition that Raider Red's student alter ego is kept secret until the end of his or her tenure. The student serving as Raider Red is a member of the Saddle Tramps or High Riders.

Goin' Band from Raiderland: The Goin' Band from Raiderland, originally known as The Matador Band, is as old as Tech itself. Under the direction of W. Waghorne, it performed at the opening football game in October 1925, fielding between 21 and 25 members. The band earned its "Goin' Bad" name when it became the first college band to travel to an away game. Will Rogers financed the band's first trip, to a game against TCU in Fort Worth. Also, the band was the first one to have its half-time show broadcast over the radio. In keeping with the campus' Spanish Renaissance architecture, the uniforms of the Goin' Band are styled after the trajes of matadors, complete with cape and a flat-brimmed "gaucho hat."

Traditional music of Tech's  band: "Cotton Fields"; "Fight On For Texas Tech"; "Fight Raiders, Fight"; "Macarena"; "Malaguena"; "March Grandioso"; "Red Raider Fanfare"; "Ride, Raider, Ride"; "Texas, Our Texas"; "Texas Tech On Parade"; "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"; "The Matador Song" (Alma Mater); "The Star-Spangled Banner".

Carol of Lights: The Carol of Lights is an annual event, sponsored by the Residence Halls Association, traditionally held the first Friday in December, to celebrate the holiday season at the university. The event begins with a carillon concert, from the 43 bells located in the west tower of the Administration Building, followed by a torch-light processional by the Saddle Tramps and High Riders spirit organizations. The Tech Trombone Choir and combined choirs lead the crowd in singing carols and the illumination ceremony culminates with a soloist performance of "O Holy Night", in the Science Quadrangle. This is followed by the lighting ceremony, where 13 buildings are illuminated with the over 25,000 red, white, and orange lights. The lights remain on the campus buildings until the first week when students come back from the holiday break.

Guns Up: The "Guns Up" sign is the greeting of one Red Raider to another. It is also the sign of victory displayed by the crowd at every athletic event. The sign is made by extending the index finger outward while extending the thumb upward and tucking in the middle, little and fourth fingers to form a gun. The sign can be traced back to L. Glenn Dippel, a 1961 alumnus of Tech. He and his wife Roxie were living in Austin and faced the daily presence of the "Hook 'em Horns" hand sign used by University of Texas fans. So, the Dippels decided to retaliate. They looked to mascot Raider Red and his raised guns for their inspiration and in 1971 developed the Guns Up hand symbol. The Saddle Tramps and Texas Tech cheerleaders immediately adopted Guns Up and a new tradition was born.

Bangin' Bertha: Saddle Tramps carry Bangin Bertha, a bell on a trailer, to all home football games and homecoming events. Bertha was designed in 1959 by Saddle Tramp Joe Winegar, and was donated by the Santa Fe Railroad.

Double T Saddle Monument: Before the football team goes out onto the field, players touch the sculpture of a saddle. The saddle was dedicated by the Saddle Tramps to Double T, one of the many Masked Rider Horses that served over the years.

Victory Bells: In 1936 victory bells were given to Tech as a class gift. The bells rang for the first time at the 1936 class graduation. It is said that after the win over TCU, the following year, the bells rang through out the night. The bells kept Lubbock residents up all night. Thereafter, the bell ringing was limited to 30 minutes. Saddle Tramps ring the bells after Tech victories and during special occasions. The Victory Bells - one large and one small, which combine to weigh 1,200 pounds - hang in the east tower of the Administration Building.

Will Rogers and Soapsuds: One of the most well-known landmarks on the Texas Tech campus is the statue of Will Rogers on his horse Soapsuds. The statue, entitled "Riding Into the Sunset, has resided at the center of the campus since it was dedicated on February 16, 1950, by Rogers' longtime friend Amon G. Carter. Carter claimed that Tech was the ideal setting for the statue, and that it would be an appropriate addition to the traditions and scenery of West Texas. The inscription on the plaque at the base of the statue reads: "Lovable Old Will Rogers on his favorite horse, 'Soapsuds', riding into the Western sunset." Before every home football game, the Saddle Tramps wrap the statue with red crêpe paper. In times of national tragedies, the statue has also been wrapped in black crêpe paper.

According to one campus legend, the statue was originally to be positioned with Will Rogers facing due west, so it would appear he was riding into the sunset. However, that position would cause Soapsuds' posterior to face due east, toward the main campus entrance. The horse's rear would also be facing downtown Lubbock, potentially insulting the Lubbock business community. The legend holds that this problem was solved by turning the statue 23 degrees to the northwest so Soapsuds' rear would face southeast, toward College Station, Texas, home of Texas A&M.