FANTASTIC GAME!No other way to describe it this was an outright awesome day - an awesome evening!!! It started off slightly overcast as we made our 2 hr. drive north bound towards the "Hub City". The anticipation increased as we neared our destination known to Tech fans everywhere simply as - "The Jones" (a.k.a. "The Hole"). We found parking first as the entire Tech campus was crowded with fans making their way to the stadium. Every available parking lot was getting full and some already overflowing with tail-gaters. No doubt many of them spent the night or arrived early in the a.m. This game was slated for a 6 PM kick-off but you would think otherwise as the place was so crowded so early; but that is typical for a Texas Tech game. People arrive early and for certain they stay late. We always try to get to Lubbock early for the best parking and to find the best place with the best "eats". We were a bit melancholy since we were unable to have more family members/friends join us so we (3) decided to eat at Mesquites Bar-B-Que; a small lil' dive that we last ate at when we were accompanied by more family members for a Tech v/Baylor game (11-19-98). The grub was ok, but this post is not meant to be a critique of the food; the ambiance was nice/the service slow, but that is all I will add. We made our (foot) trek to "The Jones" and the excitement once again grew. The stadium looked nice and the newer additions to the east-side along with the new HD jumbo tron took our breath away. The place was so nice - though smaller than other division I football venues - this one is cozy and it is OURS and we do PROTECT IT!
The game started off slow and remained as such until half-time. I am not sure if our Red Raiders were just bored - LOL- though I would hate to be narcissistic and a bad sport (pardon the pun) and propose such a thing and dare risk making Texas St players/fans upset. It was what it was. Our Red Raiders did not start playing as we are accustomed to them doing so until the second half. The second half is when their (Red Raiders) spread offense truly showed itself and when their "air raid" came alive and our guys in scarlet and black started "putting a hurt" to the Bobcats. We did have the misfortune of having several Texas St fans around us. I only say it that way because they were vocally belligerent upon arrival and I said as such to a couple of them sitting behind us. As big as the stadium is and as many fans as it holds, we were seated in an area with too many of them; not something I would usually complain about except these 'cat fans were very obnoxious to the point of being disrespectful. Clearly they were not familiar with Red Raider football or Texas Tech tradition. Boy, were they in for a surprise after our respective teams returned from half-time as Tech is more of a second half team and "Raider-Power" would grow louder and prouder. The typical west Texas weather helped rid us Tech fans of the antagonistic 'cat fans who were clad in maroon and gold. As the ominous-looking clouds rolled in from the north with shades of black and brown, as they were filled with dirt, the fans who traveled from San Marcos ran for shelter. Die-hard Tech fans remained, but we were paying attention to the weather band which did not denote this as an emergency or cause for clearing the stadium. Those of us who remained were better off seated for better security because the area below was at ground level and it was just going to allow the dirty wind to tunnel and make things worse; the entire ground area below the stadium is one huge, open, and long concrete hallway which contains several food and merchandise vendors and rest facilities from the south to the north end; as I said - one big tunnel.
The weather not just rid us of negative fans, but it made for a nice breeze the entire time. It remained overcast until the sun gave up trying to rear its ugly face, and the moon finally took over but just by a bit as the clouds remained mostly prominent through-out the evening skyline. We had tiny droplets of rain every so often but only enough to make those annoying mud spots on our vehicles but still welcome enough as they added to the cool temps.
Our Red Raiders came out victorious (50-10) on this awesome football eve. Their (Red Raiders) play complimented the nice weather and it was all reminiscent of better times (before the Coach Leach / Tx Tech Admin fiasco) and how nice autumn nights usually give way to football and allow for a nice time to be had by all. We stayed until the school songs were performed and all the glorious pomp and circumstance ended. The two university bands courted one another at the north end where the visitors sit. No animosity spewed. Each band was mindful of the other and it capped off our night.
We had a light snack before we made our way back home. The drive was nice. I took over for Sara in Tahoka and found some nice music to keep us entertained. I was thankful for the good time we had and though we did miss having more loved ones join us, we remained aware how lucky we were at having had this chance to see this game in person. We all remain positive that the opportunity for another game will happen in on us and we will return to see another game in person with more family/friends with us and the weather will be as cooperative and gentle as it was on this beautiful, breezy night.
The game started off slow and remained as such until half-time. I am not sure if our Red Raiders were just bored - LOL- though I would hate to be narcissistic and a bad sport (pardon the pun) and propose such a thing and dare risk making Texas St players/fans upset. It was what it was. Our Red Raiders did not start playing as we are accustomed to them doing so until the second half. The second half is when their (Red Raiders) spread offense truly showed itself and when their "air raid" came alive and our guys in scarlet and black started "putting a hurt" to the Bobcats. We did have the misfortune of having several Texas St fans around us. I only say it that way because they were vocally belligerent upon arrival and I said as such to a couple of them sitting behind us. As big as the stadium is and as many fans as it holds, we were seated in an area with too many of them; not something I would usually complain about except these 'cat fans were very obnoxious to the point of being disrespectful. Clearly they were not familiar with Red Raider football or Texas Tech tradition. Boy, were they in for a surprise after our respective teams returned from half-time as Tech is more of a second half team and "Raider-Power" would grow louder and prouder. The typical west Texas weather helped rid us Tech fans of the antagonistic 'cat fans who were clad in maroon and gold. As the ominous-looking clouds rolled in from the north with shades of black and brown, as they were filled with dirt, the fans who traveled from San Marcos ran for shelter. Die-hard Tech fans remained, but we were paying attention to the weather band which did not denote this as an emergency or cause for clearing the stadium. Those of us who remained were better off seated for better security because the area below was at ground level and it was just going to allow the dirty wind to tunnel and make things worse; the entire ground area below the stadium is one huge, open, and long concrete hallway which contains several food and merchandise vendors and rest facilities from the south to the north end; as I said - one big tunnel.
The weather not just rid us of negative fans, but it made for a nice breeze the entire time. It remained overcast until the sun gave up trying to rear its ugly face, and the moon finally took over but just by a bit as the clouds remained mostly prominent through-out the evening skyline. We had tiny droplets of rain every so often but only enough to make those annoying mud spots on our vehicles but still welcome enough as they added to the cool temps.
Our Red Raiders came out victorious (50-10) on this awesome football eve. Their (Red Raiders) play complimented the nice weather and it was all reminiscent of better times (before the Coach Leach / Tx Tech Admin fiasco) and how nice autumn nights usually give way to football and allow for a nice time to be had by all. We stayed until the school songs were performed and all the glorious pomp and circumstance ended. The two university bands courted one another at the north end where the visitors sit. No animosity spewed. Each band was mindful of the other and it capped off our night.
We had a light snack before we made our way back home. The drive was nice. I took over for Sara in Tahoka and found some nice music to keep us entertained. I was thankful for the good time we had and though we did miss having more loved ones join us, we remained aware how lucky we were at having had this chance to see this game in person. We all remain positive that the opportunity for another game will happen in on us and we will return to see another game in person with more family/friends with us and the weather will be as cooperative and gentle as it was on this beautiful, breezy night.
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