I remember the first time I drove down 19^thstreet and saw all the huge, beautiful houses. I was a sophomore in college, going to a small rodeo school in north Texas, and the combination of the west Texas landscape and the beautiful architecture of Texas Tech captured my heart the moment I set foot on campus. Well, I’m almost positive that’s what it was that made me fall in love with Texas Tech. It also helped that I was madly in love with my college sweetheart. I think the combination of the cool winter air and the rose-colored glasses I wore made me fall in love with Lubbock more. 

            As I made my way back to my small, sleepy, old town with my horses in tow behind my big girl truck, I watched the landscape change from flat and dusty to green and hilly. I know what you’re probably thinking- how can you give up the beauty of the hill country for the desolate plains of west Texas? And let me tell you, I have no clue what it was. Maybe it was the combination of west Texas tradition or the love this town has for its football team, or maybe it was the rich music I heard coming out of blue light every night. It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly when I fell in love with this city, but this south Texas girl fell hard and fast. 

            So, I packed up my ponies, my puppy, and my personal belongings and made the long trip up to the land of beautiful sunsets and bipolar weather. 

            I walked into the student union building giddy with excitement, which sounds weird when I explain that I was excited about new student orientation. I walked into the ballroom and swear my life had never been more vibrant. The reds were somehow redder, the smell of coffee seemed sweeter, everyone was so happy that I had chosen to become a Red Raider that it made me smile even wider than before. But the best was yet to come.

            The Jones stadium looks big from the outside but walking into the stadium for my first football game as a Red Raider, I swear it was bigger than the entire moon. There was so much energy in the stadium I could feel it through the cold metal bench. I don’t think I had been happier or more excited to be a part of a community. 

As I sit here and write about the first time I fell in love with this dusty old town, I should probably tell you about the day I fell out of love. I remember the air was cold, but not the warm inviting cold that I felt the first time I moved here. This cold was different, it was harsh and chilled me down to the bone. It was almost like the wind was telling me Lubbock was ready for me to leave. As I walked to my car with tears in my eyes from the cold wind, I looked up to catch a glimpse of the sunset. This beautiful west Texas sunset that always felt warm and inviting seemed to change. It was as if the sunset went from vibrant shades of reds to cool shades of blue. It was like the sunset that used to tell me, “Tomorrow is a new day, to learn new things, to learn new ways to be as beautiful as me,” had now turned into “It’s time for you to leave, I have nothing left for you.” I don’t know if the distance from home had finally gotten to me, or if my college sweetheart breaking my heart had changed my view of Lubbock, but something changed the energy of this town. 

But don’t let this be a warning for you. This wind in this town might have knocked me down a few times, but without Lubbock, I wouldn’t have learned how truly amazing life is. So, before I scare you off, let me tell you about all of the lessons this town has taught me.

1. Get a job. I know this sounds weird and overwhelming, but let me tell you, having someplace where you are needed gives you a sense of purpose. You will meet so many amazing people that you won’t know how you ever lived without them. 
2. Get a great group of friends. Your friends will be the biggest blessing that has ever graced your presence. Y’all are just as lost and confused as each other that having someone to lean on as you learn who you are making this awkward growing pain bearable. It’s nice to have people on your side when you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, and it’s even better to have a great group of friends who will cheer you on as you conquer this crazy thing called life. 
3. Call your momma. I know this one might be hard for some people, but call your momma. She’s been there more than you could understand. She knows what it’s like when you fail your first midterm in biology. She knows what it feels like when a girl you thought was your friend talked about you behind your back. She knows what it feels like when you finally land your dream internship and are one step closer to achieving your goals. She will be there to dry every tear and share every laugh, so please, call your mom. 
4. Get to know your professors. They know how hard college is, and despite what might be written on RateMyProfessor.com, they’re actually pretty understanding and cool people. Our teachers want us to be as successful as possible and they only want to share knowledge with us. Trust me on this one, you’ll be glad you took the time. 
5. Call your dad. I know he seems big and scary and you think he only wants to yell at you, but he loves you more than life itself. Call him when you need to know how to change a tire. Call him when you’re feeling sad. Call him when you just need a friend to talk to. I know it seems like he might not understand where you’re coming from, but he’s been right where you are and he knows how scared you are, so just talk to him. 
6. Learn how to say thank you. I can’t tell you how far a thank you will get you in life. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and the quickest, easiest way to do that is by a simple thank you. I’m convinced it’s good for the soul. 
7. It’s really okay to admit you’re wrong sometimes. This one takes a lot of practice and swallowing your pride, but boy will you learn SO much from knowing when you’re wrong. I know this seems like a hard lesson to learn, but you’ll thank me later for telling you that it’s okay to be wrong sometimes. It’s what makes us human. 
8. It’s also okay to be right. I think Elton John said it the best “Though you can see when you’re wrong, you know you can’t always see when you’re right.” So my crazy child, slow down and take some time to see when you’re right. But even when you are, be humble about it. 
9. Get a dog. My dog has been the biggest blessing. It’s nice to have someone who’s always so excited to see you, whether its bright and early in the morning before you’ve even brushed your teeth, or after a big test you studied your butt off for. No matter what is going on in your life, they will be there with a big smile and lots of kisses to make any situation better. 
10. NEVER LET THIS WEST TEXAS WIND GET THE BETTER OF YOU. I’ve had my fair share of knock-down, drag outs with the wind up here, but let me tell you, there is nothing in this world that can push you down that you won’t be able to recover from. If there is anything I’ve learned from Lubbock is that life is going to push you around, and it’s going to get so hard some days but you’re stronger than any bad day and tougher than the ground the wind might knock you down on. So listen to me and listen good, you can do this. You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. 

I hope I haven’t scared you away from Lubbock too much. This town has a way of making you into the person you’re meant to be and I promise you won’t be the person you’re meant to be without Lubbock or Texas Tech. So breath in that dusty air and soak in the sun from the beautiful sunset because there is no better experience in this world than the experience of being a Red Raider. WRECK ‘EM. 

Every year thousands of students sign up to represent their school in a athletic fashion. Year after year athletes dedicate countless hours and energy to helping represent their school. With all the responsibilities universities put on it’s athletes, isn’t it time the athletes ask more of their school? The breakdown sits down with some of Texas Tech University’s top athletic influencers and some of the Texas Tech football team to breakdown how the university is giving back to it’s athletes.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a522vJE3159vkI8XHb2PHx3n8jvUZSLO/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TcGafN5kD-Sdj311KPNT00lP_cEnZXWL/view?usp=sharing

Every year student athletes come to Texas Tech with the hopes of becoming the next Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady. But with such a vast amount of talent and athleticism throughout all college campuses, this expectation is a hard one to reach for the average athlete.

As of April of 2019, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) reported that they oversee 73,557 football players throughout all division I and division II universities and colleges. Of those players only 16,346 will qualify for the draft, and 256 will be picked from the draft. Overall, 1.6% of college football players will go on to have a career playing football for the NFL.

The longevity for the average professional football player is 2-3 years. So, even if someone was one of the lucky few, the lifespan of the player is still short lived.

College offers a wide variety of resources for their students. However, for most football players, their schedule is so busy they don’t have time to access these resources. Because of this, Texas Tech created the leadership academy as a resource for it’s athletes.

In 2014, the J.T. and Margret Talkington Leadership Academy set out on a mission- to better prepare college athletes for life after college. They created a program catered specially to athletes who were getting closer to graduation and entering the work force. 

In the spring of 2015, the Suited for Success program welcomed its first group of athletes. This class consisted of seniors who were done polishing their athletic craft, but still were working on perfecting the craft of being a professional. The program was focused around interview skills, different etiquette styles, and self-confidence.

Amy Heard, the senior associate athletic director for the Leadership Academy at Texas Tech, explained how self-confidence is an important factor when finding a job in the work place. “art of career success is confidence, and having the right gear, as you might call it, the suit, the professional attire to go to an interview is part of the package.” 

The Suited for Success program focuses primarily around success in the work place. The program teaches athletes 6 principles for life after college- how to build a resume, creating a cover letter, career exploration, developing skill sets, networking skills, and helping with interviews through a mock interview. 

The whole program is 6 sessions and one final dinner. Each day they focus on a different aspect of finding a job. On the last day the students meet with local business owners and different business leaders and do a mock interview with companies in the field they wish to join prior to graduating. Upon completion of the course the athletes receive a suit which they will wear to a formal dinner with local business leaders. 

Heard talked about the different people that help with the interview process as well as participate in the dinner. “A lot of times we work really hard to align that with their career interest. For example, if you want to be a teacher were going to bring in someone that hires teachers or someone that works for a school district.”

This year the Suited for Success program was recognized nationally as one of the two Model Practice Award Winners for the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals. The program was recognized for its collaboration of resources between the university and the Lubbock community. 

Blake Silverthorn, the program director at Tech, gave the Suited for Success Program a double “guns up” when he spoke about the programs Tech was implementing to prepare student-athletes for life after their sport. “It doesn’t matter what level of athlete you are; you’re set up for life.”

The Suited for Success program has helped over 500 athletes across all 17 NCAA sports programs offered at Tech create a better life for themselves. In more ways than one the Suited for Success program has figured out ways for students-athletes to gain the most out of their partnership with the university. 

By: Sabrina Stovall

Forced Positivity

By: Sabrina Stovall 

Madison Holleran and her mom following the Woman’s Collegiate Cross Country track meet

new mindset
new everything
i can do this
i will do this
you CHOOSE your fate
willing to give it another chance
DON’T LOOK BACK
LOOK FORWARD
SETBACKS ARE NEEDED TO GET STRONGER

These words were one of many Madison Holleran wrote down in her iPhone in a folder titled “forced positivity” according to Kate Fagan’s book, What Made Maddy Run. Madison typed these words hoping to improve her mindset over the next semester. 

Madison Holleran was a track star out of the University of Pennsylvania’s track program. Maddy was a gifted athlete and runner. Just months into her first year of college Maddy ran at the Woman’s Collegiate Cross-Country race and placed 44^thout of more than 100 young women. Madison had a bright future as an athlete and as a young woman. But her future came to an abrupt stop on the evening of January 17^th, 2014. 

According to Philadelphia Police reports, Madison walked up to the ninth-floor of a parking garage in downtown Philadelphia and leaped to her tragic death. Madison left behind a short note 

“I love you all… I’m sorry.” 

What happened to Madison? How could such a bright, young woman who was so full of life, someone who “was always quick with a smile and was genuinely kind and personable”, have such a tragic end to her story? How did nobody see the signs?

Most of the time it’s hard to talk about mental illness. It’s even harder to see the signs. However, although Madison’s death was a tragedy, it brought to light something a lot of people had never thought of – mental illness in student-athletes.

As student-athletes, these 18-year-old kids are thrown into the spotlight of being a college athlete, as well as enduring the same stress of the average college student . Along with  being away from family, studying for midterms, maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, graduate on time, and all the other stressors brought on by being a college student, college athletes add on to the list in more aspects than one. College atheltes are ambassadors of their school, role models for the younger generation of athletes, being well rounded to ensure they present their school to the best of their abilities. If universities create certain expectations for their athletes, shouldn’t athletes create certain expectations for their university?  

In 2019, Texas Tech heard this plea and began taking preventative measures to ensure no other athletes fall victim to the same kind of pain Madison felt. Texas Tech is now providing mental health consulting for their athletes to help ensure their performance is top tier both on and off the field. 

“The Clinical and Sport Psychology program’s mission is to provide psychological services to Texas Tech University student-athletes that foster mental health and well-being and promote performance excellence in sport competition and in the classroom.” This is the motto of the new Clinical and Sports Psychology Services provided by Texas Tech. 

“This whole program is a direct result of Kirby Hocutt, Tech’s athletic director.” Blake Silverthorn, Texas Tech’s program producer for the athletic department said in regards to the new program for tech’s athletes. Listen to Blake talk about the new program here. 

This new program has helped ensure athletes are meeting their full potential both on and off the field. In fact, requiring trainers to be trained in sports psychology has benefitted Tech’s football program tremendously. 

Mason McHorse and Alan Bowman after a scrimmage

“Our athletic trainers help a lot when it comes to the mental health of athletes.” Mason McHorse, a tight end for Texas Tech, said in an interview. 

Although the discussion of mental health in athletes was sparked by one tragic moment, athletic programs are taking steps to ensure no other athlete goes unheard. The program at Texas Tech has taken multiple precautionary measures to help make sure their athletes are healthy both mentally and physically. I guess you could say Tech is going to wreck mental illness in student-athletes. 

 Texas Tech University Alumni Center