Texas Tech says that O-State steals their traditions... Nope

I wrote this email to a friend that attended Texas Tech University after he informed me that Oklahoma State stole all of their traditions. Untrue things that are spewn about my beloved O-State are not tolerated in my world...

I'm posting this email because I read this on a friends blog about a similar topic. I thought it was fitting. Enjoy!


All of these subjects have been said to be stolen by OSU from Texas Tech. Just wanted to clear the air...Read and be humbled:

School Establishment:

Oklahoma A&M - 1890

Oklahoma State University - 1957

Texas Technological College - 1923

Texas Tech University - 1969

Conclusion: No stealing here... since we were around long before Tech was.

Mascots:

OSU - Spirit Rider and Bullet - 1984

Tech - Masked Rider: Official in 1953 (done originally as a dare in 1936)

Conclusion: The Spirit Rider WAS inspired by the Masked Rider, though no masks are involved... I will concede to this one.. It was Dr. Eddy Finley, a graduate of Texas Tech who thought up the idea, while working at OSU... So I think "stolen" is wrong to quite wrong. But you guys did have it first...

OSU - Pistol Pete - 1923 

Tech - Raider Red - 1971 

Conclusion: Our mascot is based on an actual person (a grade-A badass, actually) in history, and was not simply made up by a cartoonist (Raider Red was). Oh and Pistol Pete became our mascot the same year your school began to exist.

Hand Signal:OSU - Pistols Firing/Go Pokes - No Date Found...

Tech - Guns Up - 1972

Conclusion: This is a hand signal, the Southwest Conference was known for them, however, we both have "double gun toting" mascots. It seems quite likely to have a hand signal that indicates such a thing. Also, our "double gun toting" mascost is an actual cowboy, our mascot existed before you school did, therefore its likely that our hand signal was not "stolen" from Tech.

Cheers:
OSU - Orange Power - 1975

Tech - Raider Power -  No Date Found... Conclusion: This is a cross stadium cheer that numerous Universities use (one version or another)... it's ridiculous to say anyone stole it from anyone else. Unless Tech thinks they started "cross-stadium cheering."

Other Facts:Will Rogers is a born and raised, famous Oklahoman... not a Texan. Talk about stealing.

Yes, its ridiculous that I did this much research to prove a point... but I don't care. You have one semi-valid point about the Spirit Rider... that's all... end of story. You should forward this to your school so they can get their facts straight.

Aaaaaah-thank-you-very-muuuuuuuuuch-ah!


-dwb