Photographer Turns Texas Tech’s Tortilla Toss Tradition Into Art

The practice of throwing tortillas after a Texas Tech kickoff can look strange to outsiders, but to at least one Red Raider fan, it’s a thing of beauty.

Texas Tech has fully embraced the opening tortilla toss as “our tradition,” even while still enforcing the ban at the gate.

It’s a strange contradiction—celebrating something they officially discourage. The university seems to walk a fine line, perhaps for appearances’ sake.

Big 12 Cracks Down on Objects Thrown on the Field

The Big 12 Conference is not a fan of the tradition and recently increased penalties for anything thrown onto the field. Some fans even suspect this could be used against Tech—that opposing fans might throw tortillas themselves, costing the Red Raiders valuable yards.

Why Fans Love the Tortilla Toss

For the Lubbock crowd, the tortilla toss is an exhilarating moment. It makes fans feel like they’re not just watching the game, but actively part of it. It’s a way of connecting with the team and the university—at least until the next big fad comes along.

After all, traditions evolve. Once upon a time, college students crammed themselves into cars for attention. Someday, tortilla tossing may fade too, replaced by whatever the next generation of students dreams up.

Turning a Quirky Tradition Into Art

For some extreme fans, the tortilla toss isn’t just fun—it’s art. A friend of mine, Topher Covarrubio of Neverending Memories Photography, recently captured the tradition in action at Texas Tech’s season opener.

Read More: How Texas Tech's New Tortilla Socks Celebrate Game Day Spirit |

Even though the toss lasts only a few seconds, Topher’s photographs transform the flying tortillas into something bigger: a celebration of Lubbock, the Red Raiders, and a tradition outsiders might never fully get.

Enjoy the shots below—they just might make you see the tortilla toss in a new way.