Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University is a nationally recognized doctoral/research university located in Lubbock, Texas, established in 1923 originally as Texas Technological College. The array of options available to the more than 28,000 students at Texas Tech are varied and comprehensive. The students at this public school in Lubbock enjoy a campus rich in traditions and school spirit. It is one of the largest research universities in the state of Texas and is a member of the Big Twelve conference.

Athletics

Texas Tech is a member of the Big Twelve Conference and competes in Division I-A for athletics in all "major" sports. Men's teams are the Red Raiders, women's teams are the Lady Raiders.

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Of the major sports, Texas Tech has had its greatest success in both men's and women's basketball and football. In 1993, the women's team won a national championship led by Sheryl Swoopes; the men's team is coached by the legendary (and controversial) Bob Knight and went to the "Sweet 16" in 2005 along with Women's team. Texas Tech had a successful year of 2005 in football too where Tech defeated 4th ranked University of California in Holiday Bowl. Texas Tech is the only program in BIG XII to be bowl eligible every season since the formation of the conference.

Related Topics:
Sheryl Swoopes - Bob Knight - University of California - Holiday Bowl

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In addition to the "major" collegiate sports, the university offers other sports such as rugby, lacrosse, and soccer through campus intramural sports organizations.

Related Topics:
Rugby - Lacrosse - Soccer

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The Masked Rider is the oldest of Texas Tech's mascots still in existence today. Originally called the "Ghost Rider," it was an unofficial mascot starting around 1936 when an unknown student (or students) would circle the field on horseback at home football games, riding into the stadium and away. The Masked Rider became the official mascot with 1954's Gator Bowl and has led the team onto the field at nearly every football game since. The Masked Rider was the nation's first horse riden mascot used in football games. The Florida State Seminoles and the USC Trojans are the most notable schools that use such a mascot today.

Related Topics:
1936 - Football - 1954 - Gator Bowl

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Tech's other current mascot, Raider Red, is more recent. Around the time of the 1971 football season, the Southwest Conference created a rule that forbade the bringing of live animal mascots to away games unless the host school permitted it. Since the Masked Rider's horse would fall under this rule an alternate mascot was created. Jim Gaspard, a member of the Saddle Tramps student spirit organization, created the original design for the Raider Red costume, basing it on a character created by Lubbock cartoonist and former mayor Dirk West. 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 tenure. The student serving as Raider Red is a member of Saddle Tramps.

Related Topics:
1971 - Football - Southwest Conference - Dirk West

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