Why I am a Texas Tech Fan

Welcome to the refreshed Viva The Matadors! To celebrate the new look and feel of our sports communities, we’re sharing stories of how and why we became fans of our favorite teams. If you’d like to share your story, head over to the FanPosts to write your own post. Each FanPost will be entered into a drawing to win a $500 Fanatics gift card. We’re collecting all of the stories here and featuring the best ones across our network as well. Come Fan With Us!

Being from New Mexico, I had two horrible options for college football - University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University. The best recent athletes to come out of NM are Brian Urlacher and Hank Baskett. I mean, really?

So naturally, I grew up following Notre Dame because it’s Notre Dame. And I’m not going to lie, being a young high school girl, I was definitely attracted to Brady Quinn. Don’t judge me. I also followed USC regrettably during the Pete Carroll dominance. We all make mistakes when we are young.

Texas Tech was my last option. I had been there, done that. I had my sights set on the University of Arizona or the University of California at Davis when my I hurt my foot and my collegiate volleyball career came to an abrupt end. Tech was close to the state line but not in NM. So, I applied for Tech as a last resort. Nevertheless, I went ahead and attended the orientation.

I fell in love with Tech’s attitude and pride, that ride-or-die mentality. As an athlete, I respected that. I was bleeding scarlet and black before I left orientation and my father had the bumper stickers already on the truck. I didn’t fall in love with Tech because of Mike Leach, Marsha Sharp or Michael Crabtree. I fell in love with Tech because of the fearlessness it instills in the students in the remote area of West Texas.

We lived for football games. September 5, 2009, against North Dakota was the first legitimate college football game I had ever attended. The Jones was loud and proud. The bleachers were shaking and the students were screaming. It was as if we were on the field with the team and we completely and wholeheartedly believed we affected the outcome.

I am a Texas Tech fan because I bought into the Texas Tech brand as a whole. The scrappy underdog, prideful mentality that Tech owns. Tech is unapologetically itself. I don’t like pretending to be something I’m not … looking at you “classy” A&M. The college has incredible professors and real-life programs to prepare students for realistic expectations in the work force.

Texas Tech goes above and beyond for its students and the students are forever loyal to Tech. That’s why, when I see our programs struggle, I take it personally. I want nothing but complete dominating success for Tech’s athletic programs as well as their academics. The frustrating part is Tech has the potential and the resources to be a Big 12 powerhouse in every single sport.

Don’t get it twisted, I bleed scarlet and black because I bought into the brand, not just financially with my diploma investment. School pride has deep seeded roots. It is an incredible college and the burning passion for Tech athletics is even better.

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