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The '''Texas Tech Red Raiders''' are the [[College athletics|athletic]] teams that represent [[Texas Tech University]]. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 17 varsity sports and 30 club sports. The [[Masked Rider]] and [[Raider Red]] serve as the mascots representing the teams, and the school colors are scarlet and black. Texas Tech participates in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I]] and is a founding member of the [[Big 12 Conference]]. The teams compete as members of the Big 12 South Division.
The '''Texas Tech Red Raiders''' are the [[College athletics|athletic]] teams that represent [[Texas Tech University]]. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 17 varsity sports and 30 club sports. The [[Masked Rider]] and [[Raider Red]] serve as the mascots representing the teams, and the school colors are scarlet and black. Texas Tech participates in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I]] and is a founding member of the [[Big 12 Conference]]. The teams compete as members of the Big 12 South Division.

From 1932 until 1956, the university belonged to the [[Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association]]. After being rejected eight times over a period of more than twenty years, Texas Tech was admitted to the [[Southwest Conference]] on May 12, 1956. When the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1995, Texas Tech, along with the [[University of Texas at Austin]], [[Texas A&M University]], and [[Baylor University]], merged with the [[Big 8 Conference]] to form the Big 12.


The university's athletic director is Gerald Myers. [[Bob Knight]], the winningest coach in [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|men's Division I basketball]] history, coached the [[Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball|Red Raiders men's basketball]] team from 2001 to 2008. Following Bob Knight's retirement in 2008, his son [[Pat Knight]] assumed head coaching duties. The [[Red Raiders football]] team, which has been coached by [[Mike Leach]] since 2000, is a member of the [[NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision]] and has appeared in the 19th-most bowl games of any team. In 1993, lead by coach [[Marsha Sharp]], the Lady Raiders basketball team won the [[NCAA Women's Basketball Championship]]. Following Sharp's retirement in 2006, [[Kristy Curry]] was named Lady Raiders head coach. [[Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball|Red Raiders baseball]] coach [[Larry Hays]], who is one of only four coaches in [[NCAA baseball]] history to win 1,500 career games, retired in 2008. He is replaced by [[Dan Spencer]].
The university's athletic director is Gerald Myers. [[Bob Knight]], the winningest coach in [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|men's Division I basketball]] history, coached the [[Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball|Red Raiders men's basketball]] team from 2001 to 2008. Following Bob Knight's retirement in 2008, his son [[Pat Knight]] assumed head coaching duties. The [[Red Raiders football]] team, which has been coached by [[Mike Leach]] since 2000, is a member of the [[NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision]] and has appeared in the 19th-most bowl games of any team. In 1993, lead by coach [[Marsha Sharp]], the Lady Raiders basketball team won the [[NCAA Women's Basketball Championship]]. Following Sharp's retirement in 2006, [[Kristy Curry]] was named Lady Raiders head coach. [[Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball|Red Raiders baseball]] coach [[Larry Hays]], who is one of only four coaches in [[NCAA baseball]] history to win 1,500 career games, retired in 2008. He is replaced by [[Dan Spencer]].


Red Raiders teams have won 34 conference championships. The football team has made 31 bowl appearances and has won 11 conference championships. The women’s basketball team has won 8 regular season championships and 2 tournament championships, in addition to the national title in 1993. The men’s basketball team has made 14 appearances in the NCCA Tournament, has 6 regular season conference championships 5 conference tournament championships. The baseball team has made 9 NCAA Tournament Appearances, has 2 conference tournament championships, and 2 regular season conference championships. The Red Raiders have also won conference championships in golf (3) and men’s track and field (1).
In addition to the women’s national basketball championship in 1993, Red Raiders teams have won 11 football conference championships, 8 women’s basketball conference championships, 6 men’s basketball conference championships, 3 golf conference championships, 2 baseball conference championships, and 1 men’s outdoor track & field conference championship.


==Athletics==
==Athletics==

Revision as of 22:36, 29 September 2008

Texas Tech Red Raiders
Logo
UniversityTexas Tech University
ConferenceBig 12
DivisionDivision I
Athletic directorGerald Myers
LocationLubbock, Texas
Varsity teams17
Football stadiumJones AT&T Stadium
ArenaUnited Spirit Arena
Baseball stadiumDan Law Field
MascotTexas Tech University The Masked Rider logo Masked Rider
Raider Red Texas Tech University The Masked Rider logo
NicknameRed Raiders
Fight songFight Raiders, Fight
ColorsScarlet and Black
   
Websitetexastech.cstv.com

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 17 varsity sports and 30 club sports. The Masked Rider and Raider Red serve as the mascots representing the teams, and the school colors are scarlet and black. Texas Tech participates in the NCAA Division I and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference. The teams compete as members of the Big 12 South Division.

From 1932 until 1956, the university belonged to the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association. After being rejected eight times over a period of more than twenty years, Texas Tech was admitted to the Southwest Conference on May 12, 1956. When the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1995, Texas Tech, along with the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and Baylor University, merged with the Big 8 Conference to form the Big 12.

The university's athletic director is Gerald Myers. Bob Knight, the winningest coach in men's Division I basketball history, coached the Red Raiders men's basketball team from 2001 to 2008. Following Bob Knight's retirement in 2008, his son Pat Knight assumed head coaching duties. The Red Raiders football team, which has been coached by Mike Leach since 2000, is a member of the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and has appeared in the 19th-most bowl games of any team. In 1993, lead by coach Marsha Sharp, the Lady Raiders basketball team won the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. Following Sharp's retirement in 2006, Kristy Curry was named Lady Raiders head coach. Red Raiders baseball coach Larry Hays, who is one of only four coaches in NCAA baseball history to win 1,500 career games, retired in 2008. He is replaced by Dan Spencer.

In addition to the women’s national basketball championship in 1993, Red Raiders teams have won 11 football conference championships, 8 women’s basketball conference championships, 6 men’s basketball conference championships, 3 golf conference championships, 2 baseball conference championships, and 1 men’s outdoor track & field conference championship.

Athletics

Mean's varsity sports at Texas Tech are baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track & field. Women's varsity sports are basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track & field, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The university also offers 27 club sports, including cycling, equestrian, ice hockey, lacrosse, polo, rodeo, rugby, running, sky diving, swimming, and wrestling.

Bob Knight (middle) with Pat Knight (right)

Basketball

Main article: Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball

Bob Knight became the men's basketball coach in 2001. He retired on February 4, 2008. 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. Knight is succeeded by his son Pat Knight.

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 retired and was replaced on March 30, 2006 by Kristy Curry, who had been the coach at Purdue.

Football

Tech in action at SMU in 2007
Main article: Texas Tech Red Raiders football
See also: 2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team and 2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

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 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] 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.[3] 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).[4]

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.[5]

Baseball

Main article: Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball

Texas Tech's baseball team plays at Dan Law Field and is coached by Dan Spencer. Larry Hays had been the Red Raider's head coach for the previous 22 years and accumulated over 800 wins with Texas Tech.[6] On April 2, 2008, Hays became just the fourth coach in NCAA baseball history to win 1,500 career games.[7][8] The Red Raider's first ever win came on April 5, 1926 against New Mexico Military Institute.[9] 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.[10] As of 2002, 16 former Tech players have appeared in Major League Baseball.[11]

Cross Country and Track & Field

Texas Tech's cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field teams are coached by Wes Kittley. Under his leadership, the program has reached new heights. At the 2005 Outdoor National Championships, Tech qualified 31 men's and women's 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 individual national title. In the same time period, the women's team won 32 All-America awards, 29 Big 12 championships, and five individual national titles. In 2007, the women had another strong showing behind Sally Kipyego, who won four individual national titles (cross country, indoor 3000 m and 5000 m, outdoor 10,000 m) and placed second in her bid for an unprecedented fifth title in one academic year (outdoor 5000 m). Kipyego opened up the 2007/08 year with two more individual national titles (cross country, indoor 5000 m).

Golf

2007 saw the men's golf team compete in its 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.[12]

Tennis

Tim Siegel has been coaching at Tech for 15 years, helping the men's tennis team to numerous winning seasons. Siegel was recently honored as the 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year.[13] He has coached players who are now college coaches themselves.[14]

The men's tennis team is having a very successful 2008 season being ranked as high as #17 in the nation. The Red Raiders have faced 11 ranked teams and have only lost to two, #31 TCU and #11 Tulsa.[15] Texas Tech ended the regular season ranked #17.[13]

Club sports

In addition to a varsity sports, through campus intramural sports organizations, the university offers clubs sports such as ice hockey, lacrosse, polo, rugby, rodeo, and men's soccer.

Polo

Of the clubs sports, Tech's Polo Club team, coached by Clyde Waddell, has had the greatest success. In spite of having no previous experience, at the invitation of students, Waddell 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.[16]

Championship history

National championships

Women's Basketball

Conference championships

Texas Tech has won 34 conference championships: 8 are Big 12 titles, and 17 are Southwest Conference titles. The other 9 are Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association football titles that Tech received as one of its members from 1932–1956.

Baseball
Men's Basketball
  • Regular Season: 1961, 1962, 1973, 1985, 1995, 1996[18]
Football
  • 1937, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955,[21] 1976, 1994[18]
Men's Golf
  • 1959, 1971, 1996,[18]
Men's Outdoor Track and Field
Women's Basketball
  • Regular Season: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,[18] 1998, 1999, 2000[23]
  • Tournament: 1998, 1999[23]

Traditions

Main article: Texas Tech University traditions

Bangin' Bertha

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.[24]

Goin' Band from Raiderland

Main article: Texas Tech University Goin' Band from Raiderland

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

Main article: Guns up

Guns up is the hand sign of the Red Raiders. It is made from a closed hand by extending the index finger forward and the thumb up resembling a gun.

Mascots

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.

Songs

Alma Mater

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.

Fight Song

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.

Spirit

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.[25]

Rivalries

Texas Tech's main rival in athletics is Texas A&M.[26][27] Texas is also considered another major rival.[28] It is common for people to camp out in front of Jones AT&T Stadium a few days prior to home football games against the Aggies, the Longhorns, and the Sooners.[29] Texas Tech is in the process of finalizing an agreement to play its yearly football game against Oklahoma State at either the Cotton Bowl in Dallas or the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington.[30]

Head coaches

List of current head coaches
Sport Coach
Baseball Dan Spencer
Basketball, Men's Pat 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 Tom Stone
Softball Teresa Wilson
Tennis, Men's Tim Siegel
Tennis, Women's Cari Groce
Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, Men's & Women's Wes Kittley
Volleyball Nancy Todd

Facilities

Exterior view of Jones AT&T Stadium
Exterior view of United Spirit Arena at night
List of current athletic facilities
Sport Venue
Baseball Dan Law Field
Basketball United Spirit Arena
Equestrian Texas Tech Equestrian Center
Football Jones AT&T Stadium
Golf The Rawls Course
Ice Hockey City Bank Coliseum
Rodeo Texas Tech Equestrian Center/
Dub Parks Memorial Arena
Soccer R. P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field
Softball Rocky Johnson Field
Tennis Don & Ethel McLeod Tennis Center
Track and Field, Indoor Athletic Training Center
Track and Field, Outdoor R. P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field
Volleyball United Spirit Arena

Notable athletes, coaches & athletics faculty

Main article: List of Texas Tech University people § Athletics

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

References

  1. ^ "Texas Tech A-to-Z". Texas Tech Official Athletic Site.
  2. ^ Fritchen, D. Scott. "Big 12 breakdown: Texas Tech". Rivals.
  3. ^ "Middling major conference teams, top mid-majors among Nos. 26-50". ESPN.
  4. ^ "Texas Tech-SMU game facts". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Schlabach, Mark. "Teams just outside top 25 include big names, underachieving programs". ESPN.
  6. ^ Maki, Ben (2008-04-03). "Hays earns 1,500th win with sweep of A&M-CC". The Daily Toreador. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Texas Tech's Hays becomes fourth coach to 1,500 wins". ESPN.
  8. ^ "Hays Earns His 1,500th Career Win As Tech Tops TAMU-CC". Texas Tech Official Athletic Site. 2008-04-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Texas Tech Baseball: Milestone Victories". Texas Tech Official Athletic Site.
  10. ^ "Texas Tech Baseball: Raiders in the Draft". Texas Tech Official Athletic Site.
  11. ^ "Texas Tech University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball Almanac.
  12. ^ Hendershot, Jessica (2007-05-31). "Men's golf to participate in NCAA Championship". The Daily Toreador. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ a b "Siegel Voted Big 12 Coach of the Year". Texas Tech Official Athletic Site. 2008-04-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Coleman, Adam (2007-04-05). "Flock of Siegel: Tech's tenured tennis coach has built program from the bottom, up". The Daily Toreador. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "Tech Jumps to No. 17 in ITA National Rankings". Texas Tech Official Athletic Site. 2008-03-05. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ "Things happen fast on Texas Tech's Polo Grounds". Texas Texas University. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  17. ^ "Division I Women's Basketball History". NCAA.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Southwest Conference Champions, 1915-1996". Texas Almanac. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  19. ^ a b "Big 12 Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference.
  20. ^ Coleman, Adam (2008-06-03). "Larry Hays steps down as Tech baseball's head coach". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved 2008-07-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ "Texas Tech Composite Championship Listing". College Football Data Warehouse.
  22. ^ "Big 12 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference.
  23. ^ a b "Big 12 Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference.
  24. ^ Gibbs, Elaine. "University's traditions are something to behold". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved 2008-09-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ Campanaro, Richard (2007-04-08). "Texas Tech cheerleaders finish fifth in national competition". The Daily Toreador. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  26. ^ Zimmer, Kelln. "T-sippers or tortilla-throwers". The Battalion. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Weddle, Jason. "Aggies, Tech renew rivalry". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 2008-08-06. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Texas-Texas Tech Preview". Yahoo! Sports. 2006-10-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ Johnson, Allsion. "Raiderville residents set up camp for Saturday's game". The Daily Toreador. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Williams, Don (2008-08-24). "Myers: Good possibility' Tech will play OSU in Dallas in '09". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

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