Texas Tech officials are launching an investigation into altercations between Tech and Texas A&M fans, which followed the Tech-A&M football game at Jones SBC Stadium on Saturday.
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"We're looking at video, and there's plenty of it," said Cindy Rugeley, vice chancellor for news and information. "Any students who are identified will be disciplined according to student policy."
Mike McKinney, Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff, was injured in a post-game altercation following Tech's 12-0 win over A&M.
McKinney, father of Aggie center Seth McKinney, required eight stitches to close a gash caused when Raider fans punched him in the face, an Associated Press story reported late Saturday.
"It was like the Alamo," McKinney told the AP. "They were coming over the wall."
Tech fans tore down the goalpost in the south end zone following Tech's win and carried it to the north end zone where Aggie fans were seated.
According to reports, the Tech fans sent the goalpost into the stands.
Interim Chancellor Dr. David Smith said an investigation is on-going and through the use of video tape and eye-witnesses, students involved with the altercation with McKinney will be sought and, if found, punished.
Smith also said he was displeased by the incident.
"Obviously, I'm deeply disappointed by the actions of these few," he said. "The two teams played a great game and displayed a class act, but that is where that begins and ends. We have to demonstrate control in a situation like that. I have to apologize to A&M. I'm sorry it reflects on the university, but we have to be big enough to admit it and say we're sorry."
Both Smith and Rugeley said the university is evaluating security policies and plans to have a new plan in place by the time Tech hosts Oklahoma on Nov. 17, the football team's next home date.
"You have two flagship Texas universities," Rugeley said, "and it ended up looking like a third-world soccer match."
Gerald Myers, Texas Tech Director of Athletics, called the fans' behavior "an embarrassment."
"On behalf of the university, I want to apologize to Texas A&M for the behavior of a group of students who acted irresponsibly," Myers said in a statement released Saturday. "This type of behavior will not be tolerated and we will take steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.
"The coaches and athletes of Texas Tech and Texas A&M conducted themselves with class in a sportsmanlike manner during and after the game," he said.
Texas Tech President David Schmidly said in a written statement, the actions of the few rowdy fans drew attention away from Saturday's football game.
"It's unfortunate that a few people detracted from a great and classy performance by our student-athletes. It was a hard-fought, clean, tough football game between two good teams," he said.
No arrests were made in connection with the incident. Texas Tech campus police Sunday were forwarding all calls to the office of News and Information.
According to a spokesman, Lubbock Police Department, which supplies manpower for traffic control and security outside Jones SBC Stadium at Texas Tech games, does not work inside the stadium.
Saturday's incident was a flashback to 1999 when the same goal post was torn down when the Raiders upset the then-No. 5 Aggies, 21-19.
For related stories from The University Daily, click on the links below.
Post-game brawl embarrassing to Tech
Schmidly and Meyers' official statements
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