Guns Up

For the video game, see Guns Up!

Raider Red showing the "Guns up" hand sign

Guns Up is the famous slogan and hand signal of Texas Tech University. The slogan and hand signal are used by students and alumni as a school-spirited greeting. It is also used as a celebratory sign during athletic events.

## The gesture

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Main article: Finger gun

The gesture is made from a closed hand by extending the index finger forward and the thumb up. It is meant to resemble the shape of a gun, like those carried by the university's mascots, The Masked Rider and Raider Red.[1] The idea is that the Red Raiders will figuratively shoot down their opponents.[2]

## History

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Graphical representation of Guns Up

Hand signals were an important part of the traditions of the schools in the Southwest Conference. Invention of "Guns Up" is attributed to 1961 Texas Tech alumnus, L. Glenn Dippel. Living in Austin with his wife Roxie, Dippel created "Guns Up" as a way to counter the "Hook 'em Horns" handsign he saw each day from fans of the Texas Longhorns.[3]

Dippel experimented some before looking to the Raider Red mascot for inspiration. In 1971, he and some other Tech fans made decals with the phrase "Gun 'em Down". Shortly thereafter, Dippel shared the idea with the Saddle Tramps spirit organization who began using the hand signal immediately.[3]

According to Southeastern Louisiana University Athletic Director Jay Artigues, the "Guns Up" cheer and gesture are the inspiration for the "Lion Up" cheer and gesture adopted in 2014 by the Southeastern Louisiana Lions.[4]

## See also

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* Finger gun

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Texas Tech University :: Campus Information :: History & Traditions :: Guns Up
2. ^ "Texas Tech University: History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-28. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
3. ^ a b Burka, Paul. "Football Hand Signals". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on 2001-07-16.
4. ^ Artigues, Jay (2014-08-29). "Luncheon address". Hammond Chamber of Commerce. Hammond, Louisiana.

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Texas Tech Red Raiders athletics

Sports|

* Football
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*   * Golf
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Facilities|

* Lubbock Municipal Coliseum
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Current coaches|

* Tim Tadlock (baseball)
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Traditions & miscellany|

* Traditions
* Goin' Band from Raiderland
* Guns Up
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Texas Tech Red Raiders football

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Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball

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* Livestock Judging Pavilion (1925–1927)
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* United Supermarkets Arena (1999–present)

Culture & lore|

* Raider Red
* The Masked Rider
* "Fight, Raiders, Fight"
* "The Matador Song"
* Guns Up
* Knight School

People|

* Head coaches
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* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* List of seasons
* 1925–26
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NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

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Texas Tech University

Located in: Lubbock, Texas

Academics|

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Athletics|

| Teams|

* Baseball
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* Football
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* Soccer
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|

Facilities|

* Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park
* Fuller Track
* John Walker Soccer Complex
* Jones AT&T Stadium
* Lubbock Municipal Coliseum
* The Rawls Course
* United Supermarkets Arena

Campus|

* Branches
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Student life|

* CitiBus
* "Fight, Raiders, Fight"
* Goin' Band from Raiderland
* "The Matador Song"

Traditions|

* History of Texas Tech University
* Double T
* Guns Up
* The Masked Rider
* Raider Red

* Established: 1923
* Endowment: $1.78 billion (2023)
* Students: 40,944 (Fall 2023)

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