Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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Artwork by Owens O ' Daniel 14 — Dorm Life

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The legend of ' Senor Sack ' Bigger-than-life defen- sive lineman won All- America honors while leading the Tech defense. Since he first chased University of Southern California quarterback Paul McDonald out of bounds in his first col- legiate appearance in 1979, Gabriel Seiior Sack Rivera has become kvell-known to Texas Tech students and admired by Red Raider football fans. This is his story. Gabe, as he is known to fans, was ' ecruited in 1979 by Donnie aurence. a member of former head roach Rex Dockery ' s staff, on a full scholarship and remained that way all ' our years at Tech. His official position A as defensive tackle, but he played all :hree defensive lineman slots. His list of honors alone could fill a A ho ' s Who book in collegiate football. Rivera was named 1st team All- american by the Associated Press; 1st eam All-American by Kodak — vhich is selected by the American -ootball Coaches Association: 1st eam All-American by Mizlou Televi- sion; 2nd team All-American by the Jnited Press International; 2nd team Mi-American by Football News. ind 2nd team All-American by the Jewspaper Editors ' Association. The Associated Press picked Rivera is Southwest Conference Defensive ' layer of the Year in 1982. A consen- us All-SWC selection. Rivera was lamed Sports lllustrated ' s Defensive Player of the week and the Associated Press Defensive Lineman of the Week following his performance in last year ' s Washington game. His speed was clocked at 4.7 in three consecutive 40-yard dash trials. But Tech ' s 10th All-American. and first since Dan Irons in 1977, almost missed his senior year of football. He was dropped from the team at the conclusion of his junior year by coach Jerry Moore for violations of team rules, and his football career was a question mark. Rather than quit, though, the San Antonio Thomas Jefferson High School product came back like a wild man possessed. He dominated like never before. It (the suspension) kind of settled me down. Rivera said. It made me realize the things in life that are important. Rivera rejoined the Red Raiders and picked up right where he left off — making tackles. Sefior Sack made 105 tackles in 1982 bringing his career total to 321 stops, an all-time Texas Tech high. He also broke up eight passes, sacked the quarterback five times and caused two fumbles. Rivera saved the best for last and made 19 tackles against Houston, his last game as a collegiate. The Cougars from Houston had nothing but praise for the near 300- pound lineman following that season finale. Rivera is one great player, Houston coach Bill Yeoman said. He ' s as visible as any one man in the Southwest Conference. As far as I ' ve seen, he ' s the top player in the league. He ' s better than Billy Ray Smith (All-American from the University of Arkansas) and everybody, Houston quarterback Lionel Wilson said. So what ' s in the future for Gabe? Maybe University of Washington of- fensive tackle Don Dow forecast it best. He will make somebody a tremen- dous NFL noseguard. — Dennis Ball A second too lateT All-American Gabriel Rivera restrains himself from pouncing on a Baylor player during the Homecoming game and avoids a 15-yard penalty for a late hit Darrel Tiiomas SenoT Sack — 13

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Nothing like dorm, life Jving in a dorm some- imes could make iolitary confinement ieem pleasant. Blissful slumber is interrupted by an Id Stones ' tune on your clock radio. vs you groggily hit the blaring thing Dr the third time, you finally look at it nd realize that you now are missing our first class and in danger of miss- ig your second. You blearily gaze cross the room where your eyes land n the unmoving lump in the other ed. You ponder the existence of this trange being as you wearily get up. Vhy does this person wear those trange objects in her hair? You con- emplate this concept all the way to he shower where you find a line. Not lone, your neighbors, too, are waiting 1 a somewhat catatonic condition. You finally get in a shower and iegin to wake up, but the rude wakening really occurs when you each for the towel and it ' s no longer here. An episode of the Twilight !one comes to mind. You curse inder your breath, then scream. Okay, y ' all, give me back my stuff!! ' ou wait five minutes until the last of our dignity is gone and defiantly walk ' Ut wearing only what you were born 1. No one will notice at this hour, iesides, your room is only 18 doors .way. At a pace that would surely break ny Olympic record, you dash to your oom and rush in. The first thing you ay eyes on is your renegade towel, un- loubtedly thrown there by your :ilarious friends. As you silently plot evenge, you take a quick glance at he clock and get dressed in 15 linutes, taking care to dry your hair t the highest, loudest setting to wake our snoring roommate. But this tactic never works. Nothing, except maybe a nuclear war in the room, would wake her up. Your tummy, through a series of bizarre noises, tells you to blow off that dumb diet and eat, so you decide to have breakfast. Not knowing what to expect since you ' ve never made it to breakfast while you ' ve been at col- lege, you wait in line. After eating for a few minutes, you conclude this must be the only meal no one could botch up. This thought is soon shot to Hades after one of your friends asks, You ' re EATING the eggs?! Don ' t you know they ' re not real?! They taste real, you insist. She assures you she heard they were a powdered mix. With this disheartening illusion in mind, you go to class. Your classes aren ' t too bad except for the one with that horrid professor who insists on calling on you for all the answers. Somehow you make it through, and as you trek back to home-sweet-home, your thoughts are on lunch. As you and your friends eat what no man has eaten before, the day ' s gossip is discussed: guys, classes and soap operas. While putting your tray on the conveyor belt that supposedly leads to the kitchen, the darn thing slips right out of your hands and crashes unceremoniously to the floor. At least 30 or 40 thousand people look right at you and some jerks even have the audacity to clap and cheer. Your em- barrassed friends long since have disappeared as you shamefully help the chuckling cafeteria worker clean up the big mess. Vowing never to set foot in that dreadful place again, you soon forget the fiasco as you get into your favorite soap opera. Your problems are nothing compared to Jenny ' s and Greg ' s, so in a somewhat brighter mood you traipse to your weekly after- noon lab, which consists of looking at ugly rocks. If you ever find the adviser who stupidly suggested this class, you are going to flog him. Finally, your classes are over and the weekend has begun. For some, it never ends. Back at the dorm, everyone who is anyone is in your room discussing the evening plans with your now fully awakened roommate. Miss Perfect. Who would ever guess that only hours earlier this woman could have scared off the Creature from the Black Lagoon. After hours of negotiating and an episode of The Brady Bunch, everyone has decided on someplace to go and breaks out the brew. You are lucky enough to have a date. Soon enough — in fact, too soon — he arrives. After making him wait 15 minutes in the lobby, you both leave. What a gentleman this one turns out to be — he sits at least 20 feet away from you the entire time. On the way home, his car develops a flat tire. Not that old trick you think. But this one is for real — just your luck — and you ruin your new blouse chang- ing the tire because the poor guy doesn ' t know how. You arrive back at the ominous edifice that is now your home at a very late hour. You must be a real sight because the night watch- man gasps when you enter, it must be all that mud on your skirt. Vaseline strategically placed on your doorknob makes silent entry into your room virtually impossible. Your friends are such comediennes. Naturally, your roommate is sound asleep by this time and as you drift off, you remember the project that ' s due at 7:30 sharp Monday morning. Oh well, you think as you settle into bed. it only counts 75 percent of your grade. — C] nda Callawa Dorm Life — J 5