Texas Tech announced late Thursday that the annual spring football game will be canceled due to concerns about the weather. Tech released the following statement on its website.
Texas Tech Announces Changes to Weekend Schedule
The Texas Tech athletics department announced Thursday afternoon that the annual Spring Football Game at Jones AT&T Stadium will not be played due to inclement weather forecasted for Saturday.
The Red Raider football program will instead host an open practice for all fans beginning at 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon inside Jones AT&T Stadium. Fans are asked to enter through Gates 1 and 6 located at the southwest and southeast corners of the stadium.
“We want to take full advantage of each of the 15 practices the NCAA allocates during the spring,” Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “Based on the weather projections from the National Weather Service, we feel our best opportunity to close spring practices in ideal conditions is Friday afternoon.”
In addition, Texas Tech has cancelled the “Meet Your Seat” event scheduled for Saturday morning as well as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Sports Performance Center. The entire Red Raider Open slated for Friday and Saturday at the Fuller Track and Field Complex has also been cancelled due to forecasted high winds.
The Red Raider baseball program, meanwhile, has adjusted its weekend schedule against San Diego State to 12 p.m. first pitches on both Friday and Saturday. Tech will continue to close the close the series with an 11:30 a.m. start on Sunday, weather permitting.
“We do not want many of our loyal fans to drive to Lubbock on Saturday, only for us to cancel several our events as they arrive,” Texas Tech Senior Associate Athletics Director Robert Giovannetti said. “That is why these decisions are being made today. The safety of our fans, coaches and student-athletes is always a priority when we host home events. We have communicated with the National Weather Service throughout this week and their projections do not indicate that our football or track and field programs will be best served by competing on Saturday.”
Texas Tech is also planning an open football practice and fan appreciation event this August. More details on that event will be announced this summer.
Here is a full list of changes to this weekend’s schedule:
Football – The annual Spring Football Game has been cancelled. The Red Raiders will instead hold an open practice for all fans beginning at 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon inside Jones AT&T Stadium.
Baseball – The series schedule for this weekend has been adjusted to 12 p.m. first pitches on both Friday and Saturday. Tech and San Diego State will continue to close the series at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
Track & Field – The Red Raider Open scheduled for Friday and Saturday has been cancelled.
“Meet Your Seat” – The “Meet Your Seat” event hosted by the Texas Tech Ticket Office on Saturday has been cancelled.
Sports Performance Center Groundbreaking Ceremony – The groundbreaking ceremony for the Sports Performance Center slated for Saturday morning has been cancelled. It has not been rescheduled at this time.
Jess Stiles Letter Winners Golf Tournament – The tournament is slated to be played as scheduled Friday morning at The Rawls Course.
Red Raider Club Open House – The open house for the new Red Raider Club offices has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date.
