April 26th Is Now ‘Red Raider Men’s Basketball Day’ in Lubbock, Texas
Per the City of Lubbock website:
The Lubbock City Council invites the community to join in proclaiming April 26 Red Raider Men’s Basketball Day in Lubbock. The recognition honors the team for earning the program's first NCAA Elite Eight trip and a program-best, second-place Big 12 finish en route to a 27-10 record in 2017-18. The Red Raiders also set a program single season record with eight victories over Associated Press Top 25 opponents and captured a program-best No. 6 final ranking in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 poll.
I know those are great accomplishments, but what are we doing here?
I'm definitely going to come off as a downer, but let's slow down here.
The Red Raider Basketball team finished 2nd in the conference, didn't win the conference tournament, and didn't even play for a National Championship. And The City is proclaiming a day in honor of it?
I love the banner that was hung in the United Supermarkets Arena this week. That event was perfect with Fran Fraschilla, and Chris Beard gave an awesome speech.
It was a great celebration, but what happens in the future when Texas Tech wins a National Championship? A parade? Does The City declare a holiday and not just a day of recognition? Are we going to rename The Loop after Coach Beard? I mean, if Texas Tech is hanging banners and naming days for an Elite 8 appearance, just imagining the celebration Lubbock is saving for Chris Beard's 2020 National Championship.
And then are they going to cancel the day if the team doesn't sustain that success?
I'm not against celebrating, but at what point do we draw the line after 2nd place and the Elite 8? It already feels like overkill to me, and at this point "Texas Tech Men's Basketball Day" for not even winning the Big 12 feels like a participation trophy.
To me, this feels more like UCF getting National Championship Rings as opposed to celebrating outstanding accomplishments, like an actual championship.
Maybe "Texas Tech Basketball Day" is just an investment in the future accomplishments.
If that's the justification, I'm all in.