Texas Tech Red Raiders
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/* Baseball */ Wikilink
{{Infobox college athletics
|name = Texas Tech Red Raiders
|logo = RedRaiderlogo.png
|university = Texas Tech University
|conference = [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]]
|division = [[Division I]]
|director = [[Gerald Myers]]
|city = Lubbock
|state = Texas
|stateabb = TX
|teams = 17
|stadium = [[Jones AT&T Stadium]]
|baseballfield = [[Dan Law Field]]
|arena = [[United Spirit Arena]]
|mascot = [[The Masked Rider]] & [[Raider Red]]
|nickname = Red Raiders
|fightsong = [[Fight Raiders, Fight]]
|color1 = Red
|color2 = Black
|hex1 = CC0000
|hex2 = 000000
|pageurl = http://www.redraiders.com/
|pagename = www.redraiders.com
}}
'''Texas Tech Red Raiders''' is the name given to the [[College athletics|sports]] teams of [[Texas Tech University]]. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, all other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university is a member of the [[Big 12 Conference]] and competes in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division I]], fielding 17 [[Varsity team|varsity]] teams (eight men's and nine women's).
==Athletics==
Texas Tech has teams in these varsity sports:
<table><tr><td valign=top>
*'''Men's sports'''
**[[College baseball|Baseball]]
**[[College basketball|Basketball]]
**[[Cross Country]]
**[[College football|Football]]
**[[Golf]]
**[[Tennis]]
**[[Athletics (track and field)|Track & Field]], Indoor
**Track & Field, Outdoor
</td><td valign=top>
*'''Women's sports'''
**Basketball
**Cross Country
**Golf
**Track & Field, Indoor
**Track & Field, Outdoor
**[[College soccer|Soccer]]
**[[College softball|Softball]]
**Tennis
**[[Volleyball]]
</td></tr></table>
Texas Tech also has teams in 27 club sports, including:
<table><tr><td valign=top>
*[[Cycling]]
*[[Equestrianism|Equestrian]]
*[[Ice Hockey]]
*[[Lacrosse (sport)|Lacrosse]]
*[[Polo]]
*[[Rodeo]]
</td><td valign=top>
*[[Rugby football|Rugby]]
*Running
*[[Parachuting|Sky diving]]
*[[Swimming]]
*[[Wrestling]]
</td></tr></table>
===Basketball===
[[Image:bobknight.jpg|thumb|170px|right|Bob Knight (middle) with Pat Knight (right)]]
{{main|Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball}}
[[Bob Knight]] became the men's basketball coach in [[2001 in sports|2001]]. He retired on [[February 4]], [[2008 in sports|2008]]. On New Year's Day [[2007 in sports|2007]], a 70–68 defeat of [[New Mexico Lobos basketball|New Mexico]] by Tech marked the 880th total win for Knight, making him the winningest coach in men's college basketball history. Knight also has several other distinctions, including being the only coach to win the NCAA, the NIT, the [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] Gold, and the [[Pan American Games|Pan-Am]] Gold, and has been given several awards. Knight is succeeded by his son [[Pat Knight]].
Of the varsity sports, Texas Tech has had its greatest success in women's [[basketball]]. Led by its star player [[Sheryl Swoopes]] and head coach [[Marsha Sharp]], the Lady Raiders won the [[NCAA Women's Basketball Championship]] in [[1993 in sports|1993]]. In early [[2006 in sports|2006]], Lady Raiders coach Marsha Sharp retired and was replaced on [[March 30]], [[2006 in sports|2006]] by [[Kristy Curry]], who had been the coach at [[Purdue Boilermakers|Purdue]].
{{-}}
===Football===
[[Image:Ebritton.jpg|thumb|170px|right|Tech in action at SMU in 2007.]]
{{main|Texas Tech Red Raiders football}}
{{seealso|2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team}}
Texas Tech played its first intercollegiate football game on [[October 3]], [[1925 in sports|1925]]. The contest, against [[McMurry University]], ended in a controversial 0–0 tie.<ref>[http://texastech.cstv.com/trads/text-m-fb-atoz.html Traditions = Texas Tech Red Raiders :: The Official Athletics Site]</ref>
The team has the distinction of being the only one in the Big 12 to have a winning season each year since the conference was created in 1996.<ref>[http://kansasstate.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?sid=889&script=/content.asp&cid=680485&fid=&tid=&mid= Big 12 breakdown: Texas Tech]</ref> In July 2007, [[ESPN]] ranked all 119 FBS (formerly 1-A) football programs on performance from 1997-2006 and placed Texas Tech at number 32.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2947981 ESPN - Middling major conference teams, top mid-majors among Nos. 26-50 - College Football<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Also, with 12, the Red Raiders rank fifth nationally in consecutive winning seasons, trailing only Florida State (30), Michigan (22), Florida (19), and Virginia Tech (14).<ref>[http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/090307/col_090307027.shtml LubbockOnline.com - Texas Tech-SMU game facts 09/03/07<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Described as a program on the rise, the Red Raiders earned 56 wins from the 2000 through the 2006 season. During the same period, only three other Big 12 teams had more victories—[[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]], Texas, and Nebraska.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2949643 ESPN - Teams just outside top 25 include big names, underachieving programs - College Football<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Baseball===
{{main|Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball}}
Texas Tech's baseball team plays at [[Dan Law Field]] and is coached by [[Dan Spencer]]. [[Larry Hays]] had been the Red Raider's head coach for the previous 22 years and accumulated over 800 wins with Texas Tech.<ref>[http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2008/04/03/Sports/Hays-Earns.1500th.Win.With.Sweep.Of.AmCc-3299336.shtml Hays earns 1,500th win with sweep of A&M-CC]</ref> On [[April 2]], 2008, Hays became just the fourth coach in NCAA baseball history to win 1,500 career games.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3326343&campaign=rsssrch&source=texas+tech+red+raiders Texas Tech's Hays becomes fourth coach to 1,500 wins]</ref><ref>[http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/040208aab.html Hays Earns His 1,500th Career Win As Tech Tops TAMU-CC]</ref> The Red Raider's first ever win came on [[April 5]], [[1926]] against [[New Mexico Military Institute]].<ref>[http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/text-m-basebl-mile-wins.html Texas Tech Baseball - Milestone Victories]</ref> During the 1990s, Tech players drew notice from 17 big league organizations. Two Red Raiders were selected in the second round, one each in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds.<ref>[http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/text-m-basebl-a-draft90.html Texas Tech Baseball - Raiders in the Draft]</ref> As of 2002, 16 former Tech players have appeared in [[Major League Baseball]].<ref>[http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/texas_tech_university_baseball_players.shtml Texas Tech University Baseball Players Who Made it to a Major League Baseball Team]</ref>
===Cross Country and Track & Field===
Texas Tech's cross country and indoor/outdoor track & field teams are coached by [[Wes Kittley]]. Under his leadership, the program has reached new heights. At the [[2005 in sports|2005]] Outdoor National Championships, Tech qualified 31 men's and women's athletes, more than any other school in the country.
From [[1990 in sports|1990]] to 2006, the men's team garnered 91 All-America awards, 20 Big 12 championships, and one individual national title. In the same time period, the women's team won 32 All-America awards, 29 Big 12 championships, and five individual national titles. In 2007, the women had another strong showing behind [[Sally Kipyego]], who won four individual national titles (cross country, indoor 3000 m and 5000 m, outdoor 10,000m) and placed second in her bid for an unprecedented fifth title in one academic year (outdoor 5000m). Kipyego opened up the 2007-08 year with two more individual national titles (cross country, indoor 5000m).
===Golf===
2007 saw the men's golf team compete in its first back-to-back National Championship tournaments since 1960. The team, coached by [[Greg Sands]], qualified for the tournament after finishing 7th in NCAA Central Regional.<ref name="Golf">{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2007/05/31/Sports/Mens-Golf.To.Participate.In.Ncaa.Championship-2910816.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition | title=Men's golf to participate in NCAA Championship|publisher=''[[The Daily Toreador]]'' | date=[[May 31]], [[2007]]}}</ref>
===Tennis===
[[Tim Siegel (coach)|Tim Siegel]] has been coaching at Tech for 15 years, helping the men's tennis team to numerous winning seasons. Siegel was recently honored as the 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year.<ref name="Siegel">[http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/042808aab.html Siegel Voted Big 12 Coach of the Year]</ref> He has coached players who are now college coaches themselves.<ref name="Tennis">{{cite web | url=http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2007/04/05/Sports/Flock.Of.Siegel.Techs.Tenured.Tennis.Coach.Has.Built.Program.From.The.Bottom.Up-2824098-page2.shtml | title=Flock of Siegel: Tech's tenured tennis coach has built program from the bottom, up|publisher=''[[The Daily Toreador]]'' | date=[[April 5]], [[2007]]}}</ref>
The men's tennis team is having a very successful 2008 season being ranked as high as #17 in the nation. The Red Raiders have faced 11 ranked teams and have only lost to two, #31 [[Texas Christian University|TCU]] and #11 [[Tulsa University|Tulsa]].<ref>[http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/032508aaa.html Tech Jumps to No. 17 in ITA National Rankings]</ref> Texas Tech ended the regular season ranked #17.<ref name="Siegel">
===Club sports===
In addition to a varsity sports, through campus intramural sports organizations, the university offers clubs sports such as [[ice hockey]], [[lacrosse (sport)|lacrosse]], [[polo]], [[rugby football|rugby]], [[rodeo]], and men's [[soccer]].
====Polo====
Of the clubs sports, Tech's Polo Club team, coached by Clyde Waddell, has had the greatest success. In spite of having no previous experience, at the invitation of students, Waddell took the job in [[2000 in sports|2000]]. Six year later, the team beat in-state rival [[Texas A&M Aggies|Texas A&M]] to win the [[United States Polo Association]] National Intercollegiate Championship.<ref>[http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=20057 Tribune Chronicle | Tribune Chronicle]</ref>
==Championship history==
===National championships===
:'''Women's Basketball'''
:* 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncaa.com/history/default.aspx?id=87932|title=Division I Women's Basketball History}}</ref>
===Conference championships===
Texas Tech has won 34 conference championships: 8 are [[Big 12]] titles, and 17 are [[Southwest Conference]] titles. The other 9 are [[Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association]] football titles that Tech received as one of its members from 1932–1956.
:'''Baseball'''
:*''Regular Season'': 1995,<ref name=SWCR>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/history/highlights/swc/|title=Southwest Conference Champions, 1915-1996|publisher=Texas Almanac|accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> 1997<ref name=BSB>{{cite web|url=http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/big12/sports/m-basebl/auto_pdf/record_book.pdf|title=Big 12 Baseball Record Book}}</ref>
:*''Tournament'': 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2008/06/03/Sports/Larry.Hays.Steps.Down.As.Tech.Baseballs.Head.Coach-3377769.shtml|title=Larry Hays steps down as Tech baseball's head coach|accessdate=2008-07-04|publisher=''[[The Daily Toreador]]''}}</ref>, 1998<ref name=BSB/>
:'''Men's Basketball'''
:*''Regular Season'': 1961, 1962, 1973, 1985, 1995, 1996<ref name=SWCR/>
:'''Football'''
:*1937, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/big12/texas_tech/championships.php|title=Texas Tech Composite Championship Listing}}</ref> 1976, 1994<ref name=SWCR/>
:'''Men's Golf'''
:*1959, 1971, 1996,<ref name=SWCR/>
:'''Men's Outdoor Track and Field'''
:*2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/big12/sports/c-track/auto_pdf/mrecord_book.pdf|title=Men's Outdoor Track and Field Record Book}}</ref>
:'''Women's Basketball'''
:*''Regular Season'': 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,<ref name=SWCR/> 1998, 1999, 2000<ref name=WBB>{{cite web|url=http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/big12/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/record_book.pdf|title=Big 12 Women's Basketball Record Book}}</ref>
:*''Tournament'': 1998, 1999<ref name=WBB/>
==Traditions==
===Bangin' Bertha===
Bangin' Bertha is a bell on a trailer. It is carried to home basketball and all football games. It was designed in 1959 by [[Saddle Tramps|Saddle Tramp]] Joe Winegar and donated by the [[Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway|Santa Fe Railroad]].<ref>[http://www.redraiders.com/techs75th/traditions.htm Traditions - Texas Tech Turns 75<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===Goin' Band from Raiderland===
{{main|Texas Tech University Goin' Band from Raiderland}}
Texas Tech's band is known as the Goin' Band from Raiderland. It traces its beginnings back to the founding of the school and performed at the opening football game, fielding twenty-one (some sources say twenty-five) members.
===Guns up===
{{Main|Guns up}}
Guns up is the handsign of the Red Raiders. It is made from a closed hand by extending the index finger forward and the thumb up resembling a gun.
===Mascots===
{{main|The Masked Rider|Raider Red}}
The Masked Rider is the oldest of Texas Tech's remaining mascots, tracing its origins to 1936. It became the official mascot in 1954.
Beginning with the [[1971]] football season, the [[Southwest Conference]] created a rule restricting the use of live animal mascots. Since this rule applied to the horse ridden by the Masked Rider, Raider Red was created as an alternative.
===Songs===
====Alma Mater====
{{Main|The Matador Song}}
"[[The Matador Song]]" dates from [[1931]]. The lyrics were written by Tech student R.C. Marshall and the music was composed by Tech Band Director Harry LeMaire. The words and melody have remained unchanged.
====Fight Song====
{{Main|Fight, Raiders, Fight}}
"[[Fight, Raiders, Fight]]" is the [[fight song]] of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. It was written for the Matadors, the original name of teams representing the school (known at the time as Texas Technological College). In [[1936]], Tech band members Carroll McMath and James Nevins updated it to reflect the teams' new name, Red Raiders.
===Spirit===
Red Raider spirit is led by such organizations as the [[Saddle Tramps]], the [[High Riders]], and the Spirit Squads (consisting of the Cheer Team and the Pom Squad). In April 2007, the Texas Tech cheerleaders finished fifth at the National Cheerleading Association's Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship.<ref name="Tornado">{{cite web|url=http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2007/04/11/News/Texas.Tech.Cheerleaders.Finish.Fifth.In.National.Competition-2833502.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition | title=Texas Tech cheerleaders finish fifth in national competition | publisher=''[[The Daily Toreador]]'' | date=[[April 11]], [[2007]]}}</ref>
==Rivalries==
Texas Tech's main rival in athletics is [[Texas A&M Aggies|Texas A&M]].<ref>[http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2001/11/15/Opinion/TSippers.Or.TortillaThrowers-516399.shtml T-sippers or tortilla-throwers - Opinion]</ref> [[Texas Longhorns|Texas]] is also considered another major rival.<ref>[http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/preview?gid=200610280086 Texas Longhorns/Texas Tech Raiders Preview Saturday, October 28, 2006] ''[http://sports.yahoo.com/ Yahoo! Sports]''. [[October 28]], [[2006]].</ref> It is common for people to camp out in front of [[Jones AT&T Stadium]] a few days prior to home football games against the Aggies, the Longorns, and the [[Oklahoma Sooners football|Sooners]].<ref>[http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2007/10/11/LaVida/Raiderville.Residents.Set.Up.Camp.For.Saturdays.Game-3025359.shtml Raiderville residents set up camp for Saturday's game]</ref>
==Head coaches==
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" class="wikitable"
|+ List of current head coaches
!width="250"|Sport
!width="250"|Coach
|-
|Baseball
|[[Dan Spencer]]
|-
|Basketball, Men's
|[[Pat Knight]]
|-
|Basketball, Women's
|[[Kristy Curry]]
|-
|Cross Country, Men's & Women's
|[[Jon Murray]]
|-
|Football
|[[Mike Leach]]
|-
|Golf, Men's
|[[Greg Sands]]
|-
|Golf, Women's
|[[Stacey Totman]]
|-
|Soccer
|[[Tom Stone (coach)|Tom Stone]]
|-
|Softball
|[[Teresa Wilson]]
|-
|Tennis, Men's
|[[Tim Siegel (coach)|Tim Siegel]]
|-
|Tennis, Women's
|[[Cari Groce]]
|-
|Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, Men's & Women's
|[[Wes Kittley]]
|-
|Volleyball
|[[Nancy Todd]]
|}
==Facilities==
[[Image:JonesATT.jpg|thumb|175px|Right|Exterior view of [[Jones AT&T Stadium]]]]
[[Image:UnitedSpiritArena.jpg|thumb|175px|Right|Exterior view of [[United Spirit Arena]] at night]]
{| border="1" cellpadding="1" class="wikitable"
|+ List of current athletic facilities
!width="250"|Sport
!width="250"|Venue
|-
|Baseball
|[[Dan Law Field]]
|-
|Basketball
|[[United Spirit Arena]]
|-
|Equestrian
|[[Texas Tech Equestrian Center]]
|-
|Football
|[[Jones AT&T Stadium]]
|-
|Golf
|[[The Rawls Course]]
|-
|Ice Hockey
|[[City Bank Coliseum]]
|-
|Rodeo
|[[Texas Tech Equestrian Center]] / <br /> [[Dub Parks Memorial Arena]]
|-
|Soccer
|[[R. P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field]]
|-
|Softball
|[[Rocky Johnson Field]]
|-
|Tennis
|[[Don & Ethel McLeod Tennis Center]]
|-
|Track and Field, Indoor
|[[Athletic Training Center]]
|-
|Track and Field, Outdoor
|[[R. P. Fuller Track and Soccer Field]]
|-
|Volleyball
|[[United Spirit Arena]]
|}
==Notable athletes, coaches & athletics faculty==
{{main|List of Texas Tech University people#Athletics}}
In the sports world, Texas Tech Red Raiders have gone on to play in the NFL, NBA, WNBA, Major League Baseball, and more.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons|Texas Tech University|Texas Tech Red Raiders}}
*[http://texastech.cstv.com/ Texas Tech Athletics]
*[http://www.depts.ttu.edu/recsports/index.php Texas Tech Recreational / Club Sports]
*[http://swco.ttu.edu/university_archive/ttusports.html Sports holdings at the Texas Tech University Archives]
*[http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/features/special/college-football_home PBS ''Nightly Business Report'' featuring Texas Tech football]
{{TexasTechBasketballCoach}}
{{RedRaidersCoach}}
{{Texas Tech baseball coach}}
{{Texas Tech Red Raiders athletics}}
{{Texas Tech University|show=yes}}
{{Big 12 Conference}}
[[Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders| ]]
[[Category:College athletic programs]]
[[Category:University and college sports clubs]]
[[es:Texas Tech Red Raiders]]
[[fr:Texas Tech Red Raiders]]