Texas Tech University: Why a Fan, Win or Lose

Because of one game, the college football world has turned its attention to Texas Tech. On behalf of those that had their attention tuned in for the first eight, I want to welcome all of those far and near to Red Raider football and its hospitable abode in Lubbock, TX.

At Texas Tech, winning has not always been the outcome, but fans are still born on the plains of West Texas. Join me as we jump into the shoes of a possible Red Raider and his Lubbock game day experience...

Gameday Saturday

9:35 AM – Your two roommates wake you up, playing NCAA 2009. You live in a three bed, one bath house, with full kitchen, living room, and laundry for $475 a month. Not each. Total.

10:00 AM – Head over to Picante’s Mexican Food for $2.95 breakfast burritos. The waitress does not speak any English that is not on the menu. The made-to-order burritos are as big as your forearm and go down great with the authentic chips, salsa, and 50-ounce water. Great start of the day so far.

11:05 AM – Go deposit your work check in the bank. You are saving up for snowboard trips to New Mexico, a weekend warrior’s trip away. You hit the slopes anywhere from three to six times a winter.

11:25 AM – Call a few friends across town to catch a movie.

11:38 AM – Everyone gets to theatre in time for the movie to start.

2:15 PM – Meet at campus with some family that drove in for the game. It’s your cousin’s first time to see the beautiful landscapes and Spanish architecture, “the dairy barn”, Will Roger’s statue, and Jones AT&T stadium. He was surprised that it is the largest campus in the nation behind Air Force (no runways here).

2:45 PM – In the middle of campus, people are hanging Christmas lights. You explain to your curious family that over 25,000 are lit up all at once during the Carol of Lights ceremony in December. It takes two months to hang them all.

3:34 PM – Meet up with your "crew" for calzones at One Guy’s before the game. With numerous religious groups and spirit organizations to be apart of each weeknight, you now have quite an eclectic group of friends. You all discuss the chances of beating the visiting team.

4:47 PM – You head over to the game to stand in line for seats.

5:00 PM – The gates open and there’s a mad dash for the open student seating. Your preferred section is on the 35-yard line, just above the walkway. All the guys have arrived, saving seats for the girls.

6:13 PM – Watch the teams warm up and the beautiful ladies of West Texas walk by.
They are the great secret of this part of the country that the men of Texas Tech love to keep. You fill with pride when the girls you know show up and take their seats with you.

6:45 PM – You stand and sing the fight song with the Tech’s Goin’ Band From Raiderland. The first college band in the nation to ever go to an away game (the trip paid for by Will Rogers). You look around to see all your closest friends, everyone is "guns up" and singing proud. You smile. It’s almost time.

7:00 PM – Kickoff. For the next three or four hours, you barely sit, as footballs fly and the cheering booms. Raider! Power! Win or lose, it’s a great day to be alive.

10:56 PM – Burgers at Fuddruckers. Everyone is there reliving the best and worst moments of the game.

11:23 PM – You head over to see your friend play guitar and sing at Daybreak Coffee. It’s the perfect end to the perfect day. You sip your coffee thinking it's great to be a Red Raider.