Dear Texas Tech Baseball Players, Coaches and Staff:

With complete sincerity, thank you. Thank you for giving us, students and community alike, a reason to stand and cheer. As spring slowly begins to sprout through the West Texas sky, I felt it was necessary to applaud you in a way that could easily be disseminated. Recognition of your accomplishments, in my opinion, falls short of what your success means for our university. May this letter offer a word of encouragement and well-deserved attention.

As a Panhandle native who grew up with a glove and baseball in hand, I know what it feels like to play nine hard innings and finally write that win in on the books. Granted, I never played D1 baseball, but I still have respect for the amount of time you men practice taking swings, fielding tough digs and catching pop-ups on the run. As of April 1st, you're sitting at a bold and aggressive 24-5 record, registering #2 in the nation, a feat worthy of support. You give us a reason to grab sunscreen and caps (or umbrella, it is Lubbock by the way), head to the ballpark and root like it's a fall Saturday at The Jones.

On behalf of my friends and I (and the entire student body if I may), thank you again. Being a committed football fan, just as I know nearly every Texas Tech student and alumni is, I wanted to deter and focus solely on commending your efforts both at home and on the road. As your bats stay hot, your defense looks flawless and your bullpen remains superb, you make me proud to sport my red and black in a sea of burnt orange and maroon. Our merit as a university extends much further beyond the sport of baseball, but as we continue to follow your overall record we can't help but have our chests puffed out a tad bit more because of you.

Considering you may be stressed because of your classes conflicting with your game and practice schedules, please note that the student body is behind you. Although we're hanging our hats on yet another subpar football season, we enthusiastically cheer for you on the diamond. The price you paid through the sweat in the off-season, we see it. Your hard work is paying off and that kind of success spreads over our campus more than you would think.

We're watching and ready to follow you into further Big 12 battle.

So to Coach Tadlock, support staff and players, may this article serve as a voice for us: The students with our "guns" raised with arms fully extended.

We stand ready to fiercely proclaim the name we share and love so dearly: Texas Tech University.

Wreck 'em forever.

Sincerely,

Ezra J. Chairez

"Just another proud Red Raider"

@EzraEJ