In the world of college football, where unexpected twists and turns are as common as touchdowns, a recent game between Texas Tech University and Texas Christian University took an especially wild turn. Move over traditional mascots; there’s a new player in town, and it comes in the form of a disgruntled opossum.
The unexpected visitor stole the spotlight, not just at the Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas, but across the internet, becoming an overnight sensation. As the opossum made its daring dash across the field, commentators couldn’t help but add a touch of humor to the situation.
Rodents of unusual size are showing up in Lubbock,” one commentator quipped, immortalizing the moment in football lore.
“He was not happy about being escorted out of the stadium,” another commentator chimed in, capturing the opossum’s apparent displeasure at being ejected from the game. Little did the furry intruder know that its misadventure would turn it into a viral sensation.
An opossum is removed from the field during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Photo by Getty Images
Social media erupted with hilarious reactions, with users rallying behind the opossum. “FREE HIM,” cried one supporter, echoing the sentiments of many who felt the marsupial was unfairly treated. Memes flooded the internet, with one user jokingly comparing the opossum’s resistance to being dragged off the field to their dog’s reluctance to abandon a roadside treasure.
Even after the game, the opossum continued to make headlines, receiving an unexpected but well-deserved pet from none other than Texas Tech’s president, Lawrence Schovanec. The photo of this peculiar encounter circulated on social media, cementing the opossum’s status not only as a viral sensation but also as an unofficial university mascot.
With a stroke of luck, the Red Raiders clinched victory against TCU, further fueling the narrative that the opossum brought good fortune. The official Texas Tech Football account joined the fun, playfully declaring it a “pretty possum night” and encouraging fans to embrace the newfound good luck charm.
In a surprising turn of events, fans went a step further, proposing the opossum as the new Texas Tech mascot. With the usual mascot, the Masked Rider, reportedly horseless for the game, and even the horse’s stand-in unavailable, the fans humorously declared, “We are an opossum school now.”
An opossum is removed from the field during the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium. Photo by Getty Images
This unexpected incident brought back memories of other instances where animals interrupted football games, like the infamous black cat at a Giants-Cowboys match in 2019. The opossum, however, transcended mere interruption; it became a symbol of resilience, tenacity, and a touch of wild unpredictability.
As the story unfolded, the opossum’s legacy grew. It even earned a place in pop culture with the release of a limited edition bobblehead, capturing the exact look of shock on its face as it was dragged off the field. The “RALLY POSSUM” bobblehead quickly became a must-have for Texas Tech fans, commemorating the quirky incident that contributed to the team’s triumphant victory.
“We are excited to release this unique bobblehead to recognize the Rally Possum who helped propel the Texas Tech football team to victory over TCU in the 2023 West Texas Championship,” said Phil Sklar, co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of Texas Tech University. “The football-loving possum played a small and memorable role as the Red Raiders reclaimed the Saddle Trophy for the first time since 2018.”
Texas Tech fans are sure to want this must-have bobblehead for their collection.”
In the end, the opossum’s escapade turned a regular football game into a memorable and entertaining spectacle, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected guests can steal the show and leave a lasting mark on the hearts of fans. As for Texas Tech, they can proudly declare themselves the home of not just Red Raiders, but also the indomitable Rally Possum. “Pretty possum night, wouldn’t y’all say?” the account posted on X. Watch the wacky opossum’s adventures, below.
