Why Texas Tech’s Beloved Tortilla Toss May Be History

Traditions are something that are held sacred here in the Texas Panhandle area. We don't have a whole ton of them, so the ones we do have, we hold close to the vest. Some of those traditions are culture-driven, while others are based on sports traditions.

There is one tradition at the Texas Tech football games that has been around for decades, and is one of the most anticipated things at a Red Raider game. However, that tradition is more than likely going to come to an end starting this season.

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What Is The Tradition

Before every Texas Tech kickoff, fans will pull out a tortilla and chuck it onto the field. Most of the time, they don't reach the actual field of play, but a few stragglers will manage to get there.

Now, Tech doesn't technically allow this practice, but they do have several individuals camped out on each sideline to help grab the ones that make it onto the perimeter of the field. The majority of the tortillas get thrown on the opening kickoff of the game.

Why Does This Tech Tradition Have To End

Point blank, the team is about to start getting penalized on the field if it continues. A vote was held on Thursday, August 14, with all the athletic directors of the Big 12 conference, to solidify an existing game management policy related to the throwing of items onto the playing surface." That vote passed 15-1, and I'm guessing that one vote was the Texas Tech AD.

If things are thrown onto the field, teams will receive a warning for the first two times it happens. After that? The team could start being assessed a 15-yard penalty. So my guess is Tech fans will still throw the tortillas on the opening kickoff of the game, then cease to do it the rest of the way. Time will tell, however, as to how the school handles this long-standing tradition.