There are a plethora of beautiful venues and cities around the Big 12. Whether it be the bustling city of Fort Worth (TX), the tranquil mountains of Provo (UT), or the resort and vacation home-laden area of Orlando (FL), there are many different experiences to be had on a Big 12 road trip.
However, there is one town on the map that some folks will steer clear of — if you catch the drift. While Fort Worth is colloquially known as “Cowtown,” thanks to the massive stockyards located there, the title should rightfully be handed over to the people of Lubbock, Texas, that is, for all the shit they put up with.
Literally.
You will smell Lubbock long before you see it, and while the people there are undoubtedly nose-blind to it, anyone new to the area is likely to be appalled. Just ask former Texas Tech quarterback Tyler Shough.
After spending the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Oregon, Shough transferred to Texas Tech ahead of the 2021 season. He spent three seasons with the Red Raiders, amassing 2,922 passing yards and 20 touchdowns to 11 interceptions during his time there. While injuries kept him off the field for the majority of his time in Lubbock, there was no rest for his olfactory system.
“I’ve never been to Lubbock, Texas. Tell me what Lubbock, Texas, is like,” Paul Rogers — the voice of Louisville Football — said to Shough during an interview on Wednesday.
“It smells like cow shit, and uh, wind,” Shough answered with a grin you could hear through the radio. “There’s not much out else there but drinkin’ beer and doing nothing. So, really, it’s just the University. It’s really nice being out here [at Louisville] where there’s a lot of great food spots. There’s a lot of really cool people and a lot more stuff to do, so, me and my wife have really enjoyed it.”
While many will see it as a shot at his former school, the honest reality is, anyone who has been to Lubbock would have a hard time denying what Shough said there. Luckily, the football team there is pretty darn good and their brand-new facilities are anything but boring.
Texas Tech will open up its 2024 season against Abilene Christian on Saturday, August 31, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) on ESPN+.
