LUBBOCK, Tex. (WIBW) – Texas Tech has long had a tradition of throwing tortillas on the field during kickoffs at home football games.
Before the season, the Big 12 announced a rule change regarding fans throwing objects on the field. The first two incidents in a single game will result in warnings. For each time items are thrown on the field after those two warnings, a 15-yard penalty is to be assessed.
The Red Raiders were issued two 15-yard penalties after throwing tortillas on kickoffs during Saturday’s game against Kansas. KU head coach Lance Leipold looked upset when talking to Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire at midfield following the game, which resulted in a 42-17 Red Raider win.
But it’s not just tortillas that were tossed, according to Leipold.
“I mean, say what it is. A pocket knife was thrown and hit one of our staff members. It’s ridiculous,” Leipold said to reporters after the game. “[The new rule is] supposed to be for safety and things like that. It’s a culture that’s been accepted to a point and it hasn’t changed and eventually somebody’s going to be seriously hurt, unfortunately.”
McGuire was asked about the incident in his postgame press conference as well.
“We know the rule and we didn’t follow it and we got penalized tonight, two 15-yard penalties, [Leipold] was frustrated on that side,” McGuire said. We’ve gotta be better.
“If you’re throwing tortillas more than once, now it becomes all about you, like really, is that a Red Raider?” McGuire continued.
Henry Greenstein of the Lawrence Journal-World reported on Sunday that the Big 12 is investigating the incident.
13 Sports will continue to follow this story as additional information becomes available.
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