Arizona State will ‘ban’ tortillas vs. Texas Tech
By Carly Regehr
Arizona State officially “bans” tortillas for their upcoming matchup vs. Texas Tech this weekend.
Though its cuisine is accented by Southwestern influences, the Arizona State Sun Devils promised to visiting Texas Tech fans that tortillas won’t be on the menu.
In a tradition whose origins began in 1989, Texas Tech end zones started to transform into resting places for tortillas during regular season games. The tortillas have also appeared in bowl games, like the 1994 Cotton Bowl when Texas Tech faced USC.
The flying saucers, however harmless, accounted for a 15-yard penalty for the football team in 2001. But in 2002, the “tortilla penalty” was shortened to only five yards.
A tradition with strong ties at Texas Tech, the Tortilla Toss won’t be tolerated in Tempe, AZ, this weekend. The tortillas-turned-frisbees will have to be postponed until Sept. 17 when the Red Raiders take on Louisiana Tech.
Surprisingly, Texas Tech isn’t the only school in Texas that plays with their food.
Six years earlier, Texas A&M-Kingsville decided to ban their tortilla toss after a rogue tortilla smacked an elderly woman in the eye, resulting in a party foul. Additionally, students were allegedly freezing the pillows of dough, which “turned them into weapons.”
Other Staples of Tradition at 5 NCAA Schools
Rolling Toomer’s Corner (Auburn)
Fourth Year Fifth (UVA)
Sod Cemetery (FSU)
Mirror Lake Jump (Ohio St.)
Dragon Day (Cornell)
College traditions are a hallmark of the college football atmosphere. It brings about a certain level of camaraderie among campuses. And they can also be effective in dealing with your rival, such as Iowa’s case in painting the visitor’s locker room pink.
But Arizona State plans to rain on Texas Tech’s tortilla parade and the Tempe fan base is likely okay with this call.
Slated for a 10 PM (EST) kickoff, the non-conference game between Big 12 and Pac-12 schools will feature Patrick Mahomes II, who aired out three touchdowns and ran for an additional three against Stephen F. Austin on opening weekend.
Meanwhile, a team highlighted by their running game thus far, Arizona State and RB Demario Richard might have an easy assignment against Texas Tech.
Next: Winners and Losers: 2016 AP Poll
As history points out, the Big 12 isn’t known for their defensive units. TCU, Texas Tech’s opponent on Oct. 29, surrendered 41 points to South Dakota State last weekend.
Texas Tech’s Upcoming Schedule
Sept. 17 vs. Louisiana Tech
Sept. 29 vs. Kansas
Oct. 8 @ Kansas State
Arizona State’s Upcoming Schedule
Sept. 16 @ UT-San Antonio
Sept. 24 vs. Cal
Oct. 1 @ Southern Cal