Tech Fandom Power Said To Be One of A Kind

by Megan Reyna and Preston Derrick

One thing Sue Derrick recalls about the 1988 game between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, held in Tokyo, Japan, was that Tech’s fans seemed less passionate than usual.

“Out of the Japanese fans, half had Tech flags and half had OSU flags, and they would wave the flags real fast back and forth,” Derrick said. “They kept the flags real close by their head and moved them real fast, not in big motion.”

Texas Tech students cheer for their school during the home football game against Iowa State at the AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock on Oct. 10. (Allison Terry/The Hub@TTU)

The 1988 game was held at the Tokyo Dome as part of the Coca Cola Classic series. The Cowboys won at the end with a field goal.

This Saturday, the Red Raiders are set to face No. 12  Cowboys again—but this time under the passionate cheers of their local fans.

Tech is looking to bounce back from a 63-27 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma State is coming off a 58-10 win against Kansas. The Raiders-Cowboys matchup has taken place 42 times since Nov. 2, 1935, when Texas Tech won 14-0.

Bret Brown, a Tech junior and executive producer of the Double T Insider—a weekly student-produced TV sports show—said Tech’s fandom power is known to inspire the Raiders.

“The atmosphere of Jones AT&T Stadium alone has shown to motivate our team,” Brown said. “But for a packed crowd on Halloween, the fans in Lubbock will play a huge factor in the team having the mental edge they will need to beat an undefeated OSU team.”

Some Tech students traveled to Norman, Okla., last weekend to support Tech against OU, and learned their fandom reputation precedes them.

Cameron Anderson, a Norman party photographer, was snapping photos at tailgates before the game.

Tortillas litter the sidelines after Texas Tech students throw them onto the field during the football game against Iowa State at the AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock on Oct. 10. (Allison Terry/The Hub@TTU)

“I kid you not, out of all the jobs I’ve done, this is the best turnout and the best crowd I’ve been around so far,” he said.

Holly Roberts, a junior advertising major at OU from McKinney, Texas, said Tech fans have a fun and energetic vibe and are more enthusiastic at times, as illustrated by their tortilla throwing.

“I don’t want to tell y’all to stop throwing tortillas, because that’s y’alls big tradition, so I wouldn’t, I’d say ‘you do you,” she said.

Corinne Shank, a senior history major at OU from The Woodlands, Texas, said drinking less before games would help Tech’s reputation.

“I mean, I think the throwing-tortillas thing is cool, but maybe not go so drunk,” she said.

L.J. Antonacci, a junior psychology major at Tech from San Antonio, Texas, who traveled to Norman last weekend, said Tech may be known for its tortilla tradition, but it is the overall mood that’s really important.

Added Antonacci: “I feel like out of the big 12, Tech is the most passionate out of anybody out of the student section.”

[Editor’s note: Sue Derrick is Preston Derrick’s grandmother. She was interviewed because she is among the few fans who personally attended the 1988 game in Tokyo.]