Almost two months after Texas Christian University’s recruiting coordinator downplayed Texas Tech’s football program as “trying to build a brand in the desert,” the bargain has become part of Texas Tech’s culture.
The insult came after the Matador club announced a $25,000 contract for each athlete’s name, image and likeness across its football programme. From there, Tech and its fans ran the joke and incorporated the desert, especially cacti, into their culture.
Texas Tech fans use cacti to turn TCU insults into prickly situations
Technicians and fans quickly took to Twitter to voice their support for the program in the desert.
From there, fans began showing their support by attaching a cactus emoji to the end of their Twitter handles.
Texas Tech took it a step further by sharing a pickled cactus recipe created by Executive Chef Dewey McMurray. According to the recipe, the cactus is “soaked in the tears of the enemy.”
The City of Lubbock and Mayor Trey Payne also voiced their support for the program and shared a message to embrace the cactus.
Desert-themed T-shirts, hats, and stickers paired with Texas Tech logos and symbols began appearing around Lubbock.
Even artwork started appearing in local galleries, and the Texas Tech University Museum created a special gallery called “Cacti Don’t Have Me”.
“We wanted to be able to jump on the bandwagon and support technology in a different way, because in the museum space, having a quick turnaround and being able to jump on the bandwagon is a big deal. It’s very difficult. Look at it,” said Taylor Ernst, art collection manager at the museum.
Housed in the Museum’s Gallery 4 at 3301 4th St., the gallery features 13 desert-themed artworks and will be on view right up until the November 5 TTU vs. TCU football game. increase.
According to Ernst, the 13 works by 10 artists were selected from local galleries where the work was already available. Ernst said it was a team effort within the museum to bring the gallery together.
“We’re trying to boost technology, really support our football program, and be ready for our 100th anniversary next year,” Ernst said.
