In a recent submission to "The History of Texas Tech Football," a 56-year-old letter to Red Raider football players from assistant coach Berl Huffman exhibited just how much the game has changed.
In August 1969, Huffman wrote to those football players about to report to campus for training camp:
"You will furnish your radios, hi-fi sets, banjos, fiddles, etc. However, no TV is allowed.
"Obscene and calendar girl pictures will not be tolerated on the wall of your dorm room. A picture of your mother, sister or sweetheart is appropriate.
"You will be expected to locate the church of your choice in Lubbock. No athletic meeting will ever be scheduled to interfere with your church activities.
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"Unfortunately for you, you are not allowed to bring your car to the campus. Write or call collect if you need any help. Please send me your helmet size and shoe size."
Can you imagine a letter to the team pre-training camp today? It would have information on where to park your (probably new) care, paid for with NIL money. There would be no mention of church. Smartphones would replace radios, hi-fi sets and banjos. Every player would have five to 10 pairs of school Nike/Adidas footwear. Calendar girl pictures? No comment.
Contact sports columnist Greg Hansen at GHansenAZStar@gmail.com. On X(Twitter): @ghansen711
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