Dan Irons was a star in both basketball and football during his three years at Monterey. Although he was an all-district player on the hardwood, his biggest impact was felt on the football field. Irons was a bruising offensive lineman, part of one of the best teams in program history.

“We had a really good team I think seven or eight players off of our team went on and played college football but we ended up 12-1 my senior year,” said the former Plainsmen.

When it was time to move on to the college level Oklahoma was the first school to offer him a scholarship, but he had no plans of ever leaving the south plains,

“I had offers pretty much from everybody in the Southwest Conference most of the big eight schools but ever since we were kids I wanted to be a Red Raider.”

After a few recruiting trips that included stops at Baylor and SMU,  head coach Jim Carlin decided enough was enough. The local product wasn’t going anywhere but Jones stadium,

“coach Carlin was the head coach at Tech then and he called me up and said I know you want to go to Tech, your parents want you to go to Tech lets just go ahead and make that decision so I did.”

It was a dream come true for the six foot seven 260 pound tackle. Irons was a two time All-Southwest Conference player and consensus All-American his senior year. Rodney Allison, the QB irons protected had fond memories of playing behind the offensive tackle.

“Giant, great player, was a guy back in his day a little freakish I mean they didn’t make 6’6, 6’7 that size you didn’t see very many offensive lineman his size but he was a special player,” said the former Red Raider quarterback.

After a great career at Tech irons was drafted in 12th round by the 49ers though knee injuries never allowed him to play. A member of the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame, Texas Tech Hall of Fame and LISD Hall of Honor Dan Irons was a standout on the south plains,

“I mean it’s an honor to be in each one of those you know my dad used to say the older I get the better I was and that’s kind of how I feel.”

Dan and his dad Ed are the only father son combo in the Texas Tech Hall of Fame.