Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook

“SPIRIT WINS THE GAME With the help of new marketing techniques, school spirit was returning to Tech. By Kent B. Jameson Thanks partly to Texas Tech ' s first athletic department marketing di- rector, the pride was back in Texas Tech Red Raider football during the 1989 foot- ball season. Marketing director Dick Murray, who was hired by the Tech athletic depart- ment in July 1989, said he believes there is a direct relationship between a vocal crowd at games and victories on the field. It seems that such Monday morning University Daily headlines as " Red Raid- ers wallop Wildcats, " " Raiders 27 - Ag- gies 24 " and " Giant-killer Red Raiders hook ' Horns in Austin " attest to Murray ' s point of view. Murray ' s goals for the 1989 season were to increase attendance at football games, increase profits at home games and improve recruiting of high school players for the 1990 Red Raider football team. He said that if he were to accom- plish all the goals, it would result in an improved football program overall. To accomplish his goals, Murray intro- duced corporate sponsorship of games to Texas Tech and to the Southwest Conference, a method he borrowed from successful programs at LSU and Georgia Tech. The idea behind corporate sponsorship was to give area businesses an opportun- ity to sponsor specific promotions at home games in return for advertising for their companies and tickets for their em- ployees. Decked out in red and black, football fans in the stands show their spirit and support by getting their guns up and cheering during the Texas A & M game. (Photo by Greg Humphries) ^:.m ^ -^* ' * : ' ■ 10 — Spirit That Won The Game ”