Texas Tech Ring of Honor

Texas Tech recently announced the creation of the Texas Tech Football Ring of Honor which will honor Texas Techs greatest. The names will be placed on Jones AT&T Stadium, similar to the way the Cowboys Ring of Honor is on Cowboys Stadium. Here is who I believe should be in the first class.

1st Class

Donny Anderson, RB - Anderson played football at Texas Tech from 1963-1965 and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He finished fourth in the 1965 Heisman Trophy race which is tied for the highest ever by a Texas Tech football player. He was a two-time consensus first-team All-America and three time All-Southwest Conference. Additional honors include being named The Sporting News National Co-Player of the Year in 1965, and and being inducted in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Anderson was also a punter and was responsible for the creation of the concept of hang-time. He still holds the Texas Tech career kickoff return yardage record. Anderson was drafted seventh overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 1965 NFL draft, and started for the Green Bay team that won the first two Super Bowls. Texas Tech retired the #44 in Donny Anderson's honor, one of three players to have their number retired.


Michael Crabtree, WR - Some may want to delay his entrance to the Ring of Honor because of how recently he played for Texas Tech, or the short amount of time he was there, but Crabtree's contribution is significant enough to be included in the first class. Crabtree played football for the Red Raiders in 2007 and 2008 and owns almost ever Texas Tech single season receiving record. He is also considered a shoo-in for the College Football Hall of Fame. His catch in the waning seconds to beat #1 Texas in 2008 was the Capital One Play of the Year and cemented his legacy. Crabtree was a two-time unanimous first team All-American and was the first person to win the Fred Biletnikoff Award twice, an award which recognizes the college football's best receiver. He is also the only freshman to win the award. Crabtree was drafted 10th overall by the San Fransisco 49ers in the 2008 draft, and lead the team in receiving last season. In 2008 he finished 5th in the Heisman voting, the highest of any non-quarterback that year. Crabtree was named AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Year and CBSSports.com Freshman of the Year in 2007. To add to the impressiveness of all his feats, Crabtree never played wide receiver before college.


EJ Holub, C/LB -A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Holub played football at Texas Tech from 1958 to 1960. He was Texas Tech's first two-time consensus All-American; the only other two are Donny Anderson and Michael Crabtree. Holub finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting in 1960, despite being a lineman. He was drafted 6th overall in the 1961 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans, who became the Kansas City Chiefs a couple years later. Holub was a seven time AFL All-Star and four time All-Pro. He is the only player in NFL history to start two Super Bowls on opposite sides of the line of scrimmage (Super Bowl I at linebacker and Super Bowl IV at center). Holub never used injury as an excuse undergoing 12 knee surgeries during his career. He is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs' Hall of Fame and Texas Tech has retired the #55 in his honor. He was the first Texas Tech player to have his number retired.

Dave Parks, WR - By time he left Texas Tech in 1964, Parks owned almost ever Texas Tech receiving record. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Parks was the first Red Raider to be named first-team All-America by The Associated Press. He was twice named first team All-SWC and was named to All-America Blocking Team. Parks was draft first overall in the 1964 draft by the San Fransisco 49ers, and is the only Red Raider to be taken number one overall. He was named to All-Pro Rookie team in 1964 after leading NFL in receiving. Parks was an All-Pro in 1965 and 1966, and played in three Pro Bowls. Texas Tech retire the number 81 in his honor.






Gabe Rivera, DT - Also known as Senor Sack, Rivera was a great player on a pretty bad team. Texas Tech won a total of 13 games during his four seasons, but that didn't stop Rivera from being named a consensus All-American and Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year during his senior season. Rivera started 40 games and had 321 career tackles. His 105 tackles in 1982 is most ever by a Red Raider defensive tackle. This year Gabe Rivera became only the fourth Red Raider to be voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Rivera was drafted 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1983 but his career ended six games into his rookie season when he was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident.