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College football’s traditions are as unique as the sport itself. From hand signals to chants or anything in between, it’s what makes college football one of a kind. They all have schools and almost all of them are different but unique in their own way.
When I think of Texas Tech, I think of the Double T scoreboard and the Masked Rider before the team takes the field. However, something new has emerged in the past few days. It’s gone down.
It all started when TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati came up with a plan that would not allow Texas Tech fans to buy single-game tickets at their football games in Fort Worth. Of course, Texas Tech fans reacted with outrage and even their athletic Twitter account took an amusing jab at TCU.
In fact, it’s gotten to the point where TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati has to respond because of the mention.
The final straw came when TCU recruiting coordinator Brian Carrington took a shot at Texas Tech after recently announcing 25,000 to 100 football players for one year. The new NIL deal gives all 85 scholarship players and 15 walk-on players NIL contracts.
Carrington went on a five-tweet spree, telling employers to be careful about “building their brand in the wilderness.”
And again, that fired up a Texas Tech fan in a way I’ve never seen before. The cactus emoji ignited a fire in the Red Raider faithful, with even former Texas Tech quarterback and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes taking to Twitter to show his support.
Of course, head football coach Joey McGuire also joined the party.
Perhaps the craziest thing that came out of all this? Subscribers to RedRaiderSports.com, the Texas Tech sports news outlet, raised $3,000 to send Carrington and the TCU staff cacti.
As the TCU offices are flooded with cockatiels, I give a shout out to the Gamblin’ Gauchos Twitter account. The Texas Tech fan base feels as united as ever and they have done an amazing job for the teachers in West Texas.
This is why I love college athletics. “When you’re here, you’re family” is the motto of Olive Garden. Unless you need to go buy some pasta with sauce (okay, bread sticks and salad are fine).
The truth is, college football and sports in general bring people together. No matter where you are or what time you are, you are always part of a school that loves and encourages you. You may be thousands of miles away from your school and there’s a good chance you’ll meet someone else who shares the same school you do.
To people in West Texas, cactus isn’t just some emoji. It is a way of life. I’ll admit, I’m not from West Texas, but I’ve been to Lubbock a few times to cover games. It’s different. About a six hour drive from where I am to Lubbock itself. I enjoy the desert views when I go there and when I can look out the window and see beautiful valleys and red dirt that needs cell service. Of course, I can’t forget about Caprock Cafe or Spanky’s Grilled Cheese.
I’m not a Texas Tech fan or a homer, but I wanted to send a cactus to TCU myself because after seeing the Red Raider fans together, it was so exciting. Sometimes it just takes saying something competitive to fire up a fan base.
I don’t think TCU realized what they did. They just woke up the Red Raider Nation.
In the end, it doesn’t matter if you root for TCU or Texas Tech. The support He’ll be there Nov. 5 for Texas Tech.Th Whether TCU likes it or not. For those around the Big 12, this could be a game you circle on your calendar, and I can find myself in Fort Worth that same day at Amon G. Carter Stadium to see the upset. It’s crazy to think that it all started with ticket sales, but sometimes it’s the little things that turn into the biggest deals. Texas Tech turned a negative into a positive and I’m not sure how anyone can argue with that, no matter who you are. As for the cactus emoji, I hope it stays here for years to come.
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