There’s been a lot of buzz lately about rebranding. Right now, Cracker Barrel is catching heat for changing things up, but it wasn’t always so controversial. Sometimes, a shift in identity feels natural — even inevitable.
I was browsing for some new game day clothes this year when I stopped by “The Matador” website. There I spotted a retro Texas Tech tee that looked beyond cool. That sparked a question: When exactly did Texas Tech switch from being called The Matadors to The Red Raiders?
The Story Behind Texas Tech’s Name Change
A little digging gave me the answer. Texas Tech’s teams were known as The Matadors from 1926 until 1936. Then came a big moment. Following a huge win, a sportswriter — sources vary whether from Lubbock or Los Angeles — used the phrase “Red Raiders” to describe the squad. The name resonated, spread quickly, and was officially adopted.
The original “Matadors” nickname was chosen as a nod to the Spanish Renaissance architecture on campus, which was one of the school’s defining features. The imagery tied the team to its environment in a way that made sense for the time…