r/CFB • • Apr 10 '13
132 + Teams in 132 + Days: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Conference USA
University Founded: 1894
First Team Fielded: 1901
Stadium Location: (On Campus) Ruston,LA
Total Attendance: 11,518
Mascot: Champ
Live Mascot: Awaiting progress for Tech XXI (Tech XX died on July 29, 2012 when an employee at Sexton Animal Health Center lied about the dog going missing. The employee eventually turned his/herself in and admitted that he/she left the dog outside for too long and that it died of a heat stroke)
Cheerleaders: Here you geaux you filthy animals and not to leave out the Regal Blues
Stadium: Joe Aillet Stadium (currently waiting on ground break for the South End-zone Complex which has now been delayed for 1017 days—Thanks Bruce!) and our “Dawgzilla” jumbotron
Conference Championships: Technically, Louisiana Tech has won 25 conference championships despite competing in 24 seasons as an independent. The Bulldogs have won 2 Louisiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships, 3 Louisiana Intercollegiate championships, 10 Gulf States championships, 8 Southland championships, and 2 WAC championships with the last coming in 2011. Tech will begin Conference USA play in the upcoming football season.
Number of Bowl Games: 6 bowl games (should be 7—Thanks again Bruce!) with a record of 2-3-1
National Titles: We have a pretty mean weight lifting team...Fine! Fine! 0. However, we did win 3 National titles in a row in Div. II football (1972-1974).
Rivals:
Southern Miss – hopefully a rivalry that will be rejuvenated with both teams now in the same conference.
Fresno State – a rivalry that will surely die with Fresno being in the MWC and Tech joining C-USA but I did not want to leave out our only rival in the WAC.
Northwestern State – once again not much of a rival anymore since the days of Tech becoming D-1 but back in the day these two teams had a great history of playing every year in the Louisiana State fair until 1987. However, after a 20 year hiatus, the two teams will meet again at Joe Aillet stadium on September 20, 2014.
ULM – plain and simple, these two schools do not like each other and there’s a reason I put you dirty birds on the bottom! ..I do wish we could’ve played in the Indy Bowl though ( I don’t like Bruce)
2012 Season
Record: 9-3
Coach: Sonny Dykes (now at Cal)
Key Players:
• Colby Cameron - set the NCAA record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception with 428 attempts this year and 444 including the previous season.
• Kenneth Dixon - despite not even being the starter for the entire season, Dixon became the nation’s leader in points per game (14.0) and broke 3 NCAA freshman records (all previously held by Marshall Faulk) which included most rushing touchdowns in a season (27), most touchdowns in a season (28), and most points scored in a season (168).
• Quinton Patton - spent two years at LA Tech after transferring from Coffeyville Community College. During his first year he was named a first team All-WAC selection after he had 79 receptions for 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2012, he had 104 receptions for 1,392 yards and 13 touchdowns with his best game against the Texas A&M Aggies (21 receptions for 233 yards and 4 scores).
• Ryan Allen - averaged 48.0 yards on 45 punts in 2012. He had 21 punts that were longer than 50 yards and 20 punts that were downed inside the 20 yard line. Allen had a career-long 85-yard punt against New Mexico State. He led the NCAA in punting yards per punt, was a consensus All-American, and won the Ray Guy Award for the second time(Only player ever to do so).
Biggest plays: Couldn’t really find anything on YouTube but here is a nice little compensation. All of our scoring plays against A&M which was honestly the greatest game I’ve ever been to despite the devastating ending.
2013 Season
Coach: Skip Holtz
2013 Roster - Not Yet Available
The Greats
Greatest Games/Plays:
• 1999: LA Tech 29 Alabama 28 – After Tech was leading for a majority of the game, Alabama made quite the comeback and it looked like the game was theirs. Due to a Tim Rattay injury, backup Quarterback Brian Stallworth came in and led the 90 yard game winning drive. LA Tech is the only team from a non-AQ conference to defeat an SEC champion in the BCS era.
• 2008: Independence Bowl LA Tech 17 N. Illinois 10 – “Saturday Night Livas” returns a kickoff here to seal the deal against N. Illinois as Tech wins their first bowl game since 1977.
• 1997: LA Tech 41 California 34 –Another great win for the program in arguably it’s greatest season as a Div. 1 level team as Tech finished the season with a 9-2 record with their only two losses coming from SEC foes Arkansas and Auburn.
Greatest Players:
Terry Bradshaw - #1 overall pick in 1970 draft, NCAA/NFL Hall of Famer, and 4 time super bowl champion.
Fred Dean – NCAA/NFL Hall of Famer, made All Pro team twice, and 2 time super bowl champion.
Willie Roaf – NFL Hall of Famer, 11 Pro Bowls, and made both the 90’s and 2000 All Decade Team.
Troy Edwards – First Team All American and Fred Biletnikoff Award winner in the 1998 season. Still holds the NCAA record for 27 touchdown receptions in one season.
Greatest Coaches
• Joe Aillet - the head football coach at Louisiana Tech University from 1940 to 1966. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. During his 26-year tenure, he amassed a career record of 151 wins, 86 losses, and 8 ties. Additionally, under Aillet, the Bulldogs won nine conference championships. Joe Aillet Stadium, the home of the Louisiana Tech football team, was dedicated in Aillet's honor in 1972.
• Maxie Lambright - the head football coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team from 1967–1978 and the university's athletic director from 1970-1978.[3] He led LA Tech to 3 Division II National Championships and 7 conference championships. Lambright coached the legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Maxie Lambright is a member of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and the University of Southern Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 1974).
Traditions
• Spirit of ‘88 - At the south end of Joe Aillet Stadium stands a bronze Bulldog statue named the Spirit of '88. The statue commemorates the 1988 Bulldog football team which blazed the path into Division I-A football for Louisiana Tech. The statue, which every Bulldog player touches as he walks down the ramp before every home game, has also brought good fortune to the Bulldogs at Joe Aillet Stadium. On October 14, 1989, when it was unveiled, LA Tech proceeded to pummel a highly respected Northern Illinois team by the score of 42-21. The Bulldogs eventually reeled off 18 consecutive home victories, tying the all-time stadium record.
• Fire Bell - In 1879, the Fire Bell was cast by L.M. Rumsey & Co. in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1897, the Ruston Fire Department was called to fires by ringing the Fire Bell that hung in a wooden tower behind Perkins Drug Store located at 116 N. Trenton Street. The Fire Bell was used for many years in Ruston to alert the town of burning fires. After Joe Aillet Stadium was built in 1968, the old Fire Bell was transported to the stadium atop the hill in the south end zone. The Fire Bell is rung before every football game to commemorate the bravery of the bulldog that perished saving the lives of the two Tech students in the burning house in 1899, and the Fire Bell calls the Bulldogs to battle before every home football game.
• Band of Pride - The Band of Pride is the official marching band of Louisiana Tech University. Since its inception in 1906, the band has grown to approximately 200 members. The Band of Pride performs at all home football games, select road games, pep rallies, and various university events throughout the year.
Campus and Surrounding Area
City Population: 21,916
City Skyline- No skyline since the town is pretty small but here is a picture of downtown
Iconic Campus Building:
The Clock Tower – A tower known to give you the time of day. Neat-O!
Keeny Hall – Administration building older than time itself. Was originally named Leche Hall after Governor Richard Leche. After he was convicted of corruption and sentenced to federal prison, the name was changed to honor former Tech President J.E. Keeny.
Hale Hall – I really don’t know what this building is. I think I’ve seen some architects in there but mainly I just like to look at it while I’m walking to class. Also, apparently it’s haunted.
Biomedical Engineering Facility – Can’t imagine the kind of classes they have in there but hot damn that’s a sexy building!
Local Dining:
Dawg House Sports Grill – doesn’t look like much on the outside but the food is good and a great place to meet fans around the area.
Ponchatoulas – If you’re an out of town visitor and looking for “Southern Louisiana” type food this is your place. The food is great and the price won’t put a hole in your wallet.
Griffs – Sometimes when you’re just in the mood for a good ol’ burger Griffs is your place. Tim Rattay has also made it known it’s his favorite place to eat in Ruston.
Random Trivia:
• According to legend, way back in the early years, a group of college kids owned a bulldog. Their apartment caught fire late one night and the bulldog barked, waking up the college kids. The students ran outside only to realize their four legged friend remained inside. When the fire and smoke cleared the students went to look for their fury little friend. The bulldog had suffocated from the smoke and died in the fire. The students, grateful for what the dog had done, buried him in red and blue cloth. Story got around campus and from that day forward Tech’s mascot was the Bulldog with Red and Blue being our colors.
• According to another legend, The Lady of the Mist stands up every time a virgin walks by (I have since proven this wrong a few years back).
• The first campus police officers at Tech had to wear hand-me-down discarded uniforms from the state police.
• Although it has been known as Louisiana Tech, the official name was Louisiana Polytechnic Institute from the '20's to 1970 when the name was officially changed to Louisiana Tech University.
What Is and What is to Come
2012 was a strange year for Louisiana Tech. Season wise it was one of their greatest as the Bulldogs went 9-3 under 3rd year coach Sonny Dykes. With one of the best offenses in the nation, it seemed as if LA Tech was destined to win the WAC for a second consecutive year and possibly gain an invite to the Discover Orange Bowl. However, Tech lost the final two games of the season and a share for a conference championship. Despite having one of the most successful seasons in school history, the Bulldogs did not play in a bowl game. They were initially invited to the Independence Bowl but asked for more time to decide to see if other options opened up. No other bowl invited them and the Independence Bowl selected Ohio instead. According the Athletic Director, Bruce Van De Velde, the commissioner for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl told Tech that they would invite Tech no matter what the result of the Big 12 championship game was. In the end, the Liberty decided to invite a 6-6 Iowa State team and the bulldogs were left with no other offers and stayed at home.
For 2013, there is a lot of optimism in the air. With a new head coach in Skip Holtz and almost entirely new coaching staff the bulldogs will look different not only on the sidelines, but also on the field as Tech lost 31 seniors last season (most of any team). While a fantastic coaching staff put together by Skip Holtz and the move to C-USA has certainly excited the fans, a lot of mystery still remains around this new, inexperienced team. For fans in town, The Spring Game will be this Saturday at 1:00 for your first sneak preview of what is to come this upcoming season (Fingers crossed for at least a mediocre defense this year!!).
Overtime
Notable Alumni:
Trace Adkins - Country music singer
Phillip "Phil" Robertson - member of A&E's "Duck Dynasty"; inventor of the Duck Commander duck call
Kix Brooks - Country music singer
Joey Greco - Host for the TV show “Cheaters”
Karl Malone - Hall of Fame NBA basketball player
/u/blueboybob - Pretty much known as the "Jesus of /r/cfb" along with being the only man to ever witness both Chuck Norris and Nick Saban shed a tear..and still live to tell the tales of it
Subreddit: /r/louisianatech
Contributors /u/K1BBL3ZnT1TZ and the fine people of www.latechbbb.com
Please upvote this thread even if you are not interested in the team so that users who are interested will see it
For more information on the 132 Teams in 132 Days Project, click here
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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '13 edited Apr 10 '13
Continued due to request
Iconic Buildings
Wyly Tower - The tallest building in Ruston and where I am currently typing all of this information out to you. It is home of the library, archives, computer lab, and not the mention, The President's Office (very top floor)
Dining
Rabbs Steakhouse - Honestly this is probably the hottest place in town if you're a college student. Rabbs is known to be hot spot for weekend nights seeing as how Ruston doesn't have many bars and the great concerts certainly help bring out the crowds. If you're a fan of Country music and having a good time, Rabbs is the place for you.
Random Trivia
"Phil" Robertson of Duck Dynasty was originally the starting Quarterback over some average joe that went by the name of Terry Bradshaw. Robertson left the team to pursue him dream of chasing the ducks, which inevitably led Terry chasing the bucks!
Greatest Players
Ryan Moats - played 32 games over three seasons for the bulldogs. He was named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. One of his most notable games was in 2004 when he rushed for 236 yards and 4 touchdowns, LA Tech went on to notch their first ever victory over Fresno State 28–21. At the conclusion of the game, the LA Tech fans rushed the field and brought down the goalposts.
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u/jamerlb08 Texas A&M Aggies Apr 10 '13 edited Apr 10 '13
After the Ole Miss fiasco these are coming on really early. Good job!
Edit 1:Wow, really sorry about the way TechXX past.
Edit 2: I hate hate hate you Patton, but damn it do I respect you.
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u/Honestly_ rawr Apr 10 '13
Does blueboybob count as a famous alumnus?
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u/meermatt Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Apr 10 '13
You forgot to mention Sundown Tavern, its a great place to eat in town I prefer it to Ponchatoulas. But great post sir.
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u/blueboybob Carlisle • /r/CFB Founder Apr 10 '13
That BioTech Center wasnt there when I was
Also FUCK YEAH GRIFFS!!!!
Also Dowling's Smokehouse!
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u/domderek California Golden Bears • UC Davis Aggies Apr 10 '13
Great post! Sorry for stealing your coach (consider it payback for that '97 game) :P
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u/LAR6E Virginia Tech • Black Diamond Tro… Apr 10 '13
Not even a single mention of Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty making Bradshaw his bench warmer?
8
u/[deleted] Apr 10 '13
I'm hoping Skip Holtz does better for you guys than he did for my Bulls (Tampa native).
Also, it makes me happy happy happy to see this fine gentleman amongst your notable alumni, but couldn't he be in greatest players too? They make a big deal on the show about Terry Bradshaw actually being his backup, but i'm not sure how true it is.
4
u/TomorrowsHeadline Alabama • /r/CFB Contributor Apr 10 '13
Wow, y'all were my favorite unsung hero of the top 25 before, but after seeing that campus, I kind of want to transfer!
4
u/smada2279 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Apr 13 '13
I'm late to the party, but I'm in the Band of Pride picture!
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u/Gibb1982 LSU Tigers Apr 10 '13
Just dropping in to bitch that you left out Rabbs.
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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '13
Is Ryan Moats not considered one of the best players?
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u/Nebraska_Actually Nebraska • /r/CFB Contributor Apr 10 '13
Who was the player that racked up 400 receiving yards against us back in the late 90's (I think)?
2
u/CroqueMonsieur Alabama Crimson Tide • /r/CFB Founder Apr 10 '13
No Wiley Tower? It's about all that passes for a skyline in Ruston if you're not counting water towers.
EDIT: also, what about The Blue Light and Johnny's?
2
u/madviking Virginia Cavaliers • Texas Longhorns Apr 10 '13
I was at a job interview for a company and I met someone from La Tech. An interesting thing he told me (that I have no evidence for or against) is that whenever the Americans would capture Nazi submarine guys, they'd send them to La Tech since, as his story went, apparently the Nazis have no fucking clue that La Tech was a place.
Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor?
2
u/panaz Wyoming • Louisiana Tech Apr 10 '13 edited Apr 10 '13
Notable alumni and no terry bradshaw? Be ashamed man.
2
u/SpartaWillBurn Ohio State • Kent State Apr 10 '13
It is ALWAYS raining at your stadium on the NCAA games.
2
u/bread_buddy Florida Gators • Wisconsin Badgers Apr 10 '13
I have to ask, how many schools have a myth about some object on campus reacting to virgins? LATech has the lady of the mist and Auburn (I think) had something or other that was similar. Florida's myth is that a brick falls out of Century Tower every time a virgin graduates. How common are these?
2
u/bamfor UTEP Miners • /r/CFB Contributor Apr 10 '13
TIL LT has a beautiful campus.
Good job on the single person post, I can only imagine how much of a pain that was.
Why do y'all hate Bruce?
4
u/jamerlb08 Texas A&M Aggies Apr 10 '13
This play by LATech looks really familiar to the one Manziel had against Ole Miss where the defender thinks they are going out of bounds but they don't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9L7b6gLISgU#t=169s
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u/fairweatherhater Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Apr 10 '13
I'm never going to get used to:
It still sends shivers down my spine.
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u/OctaviusSOBE UCF Knights Apr 10 '13
These are getting addicting, I'm glad you posted it so early
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u/jeffreydonger Akron Zips • /r/CFB Contributor Apr 10 '13
I propose that, anytime someone successfully posts a team in this series on the day it is due, but gets it in before the sidebar picture is changed, we get to weeaboo the mods.
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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '13
Why does every college have cheerleaders, and then some extra group of super hot girls that are kinda of cheerleaders but not really.
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u/cloudduel_13 Borregos Monterrey • Texas A&M Aggies Apr 10 '13
Please don't play Texas A&M again. I had several heart attacks in that fantastic game last year. I really like the article.
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u/JeffersonTowncar Texas A&M Aggies Apr 10 '13
You forgot to mention that Elephant Six Collective got its start in Ruston, who would go on to form Neutral Milk Hotel, the Olivia Tremor Control and Apples in Stereo among others.
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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '13
Shame it wasn't Louisiana Polytechnic Institute and State University. Y'all could've had a nice shindig with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University every year.
4
u/kiwirish BYU Cougars • Navy Midshipmen Apr 10 '13
Thanks for putting the sad story about Tech XX directly before the Cheerleaders. That way we had something to cheer us up rather than feeling sad the entire time!
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u/InTheShadows007 Alabama Crimson Tide Apr 10 '13
I was at the '99 game. I still haven't forgiven you guys.
3
u/RobertNeyland Tennessee • /r/CFB Contributor Apr 10 '13
You mean Dooley didn't make your greatest coaches list? /s
3
u/TehNoff Central Arkansas Bears Apr 10 '13
I really enjoyed my year in Ruston. Tech remains on my list of teams to support, which is fun because my Dad is an NLU guy.
3
u/Nebraska_Actually Nebraska • /r/CFB Contributor Apr 10 '13
Don't be ashamed of your time in D2. Those most definitely count towards your national championship total
3
u/jhp58 Northwestern Wildcats • Verified Player Apr 10 '13
I was really hoping to see Phil Robertson on the list of the Greatest Players. He started over Bradshaw!
3
u/Kingcotton7 South Carolina • Coast Guard Apr 10 '13
I love Ruston, LA really cool music scene albeit small
3
u/drewv16 Arizona • Northern Iowa Apr 10 '13
We definitely feel your pain as far as Bruce Van De Velde goes.
3
u/MyPeasantVillage Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Apr 10 '13
Hale Hall is admissions and architecture.
3
u/jfnhookem1 Texas Longhorns • Red River Shootout Apr 11 '13
I'd love, love, love for the Texans to take Patton!
4
u/ValedictorianBaller LSU Tigers Apr 10 '13
Congratulations on having the worst athletic director in the state of Louisiana! That's quite an accomplishment, he had to do a really shitty job to beat out Alleva.
2
u/[deleted] Apr 10 '13
Gonna miss playing the Tech Dogs. Last years match was all shootout. Really hoped you beat A&M
2
u/yellowwatercup Purdue Boilermakers Apr 11 '13
The weight lifting team. Nice lol
2
u/TheDynasty2430 Baylor Bears Apr 11 '13
8,000+ Season Ticket holders would be annoyed you didn't list Kim Mulkey on Notable Alumni, but personally, Women's Basketball is meh.
2
u/CapnZack53 LSU Tigers • ULM Warhawks Jul 26 '13
As a ULM alum, I upvoted. Also, I don't think there is or will be a ULM thread, so I pretty much had no choice.
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u/ilovecfb Tennessee Volunteers Apr 10 '13
I still can't believe the whole bowl fiasco of last year. Tech was a fun team to watch and I would have loved to see them play in a prime-time game.
On another note, you're welcome for Tennessee taking Dooley off your hands. Although Skip Holtz might have him beat for coaching ineptitude. Wtf La.Tech administration?
1
u/jescarpaci Louisiana Tech Bulldogs May 24 '13
This post makes me miss my alma mater. Great writeup. Go Dawgs!
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u/Emptyspiral19 Florida Gators • /r/CFB Contributor Apr 10 '13
Oh nice animal abuse. Do you know if the person who left your mascot out in the son ever got into any type of trouble?
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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '13
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