Texas Tech Tortilla Throwing Bobblehead Unveiled

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a very unique Texas Tech Red Raiders Tortilla Throwing Bobblehead. The officially licensed, limited-edition bobblehead features Texas Tech’s mascot Raider Red throwing a tortilla while standing on a turf base.

The bobblehead is being released following the recent new rules implemented by the Big 12 Conference that have put one of the most unique traditions in college sports in jeopardy. Ranked No. 23 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll, Texas Tech hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 2025 season opener on Saturday, August 30th in Lubbock, Texas. The bobblehead is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of Texas Tech University.

• The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in January, are now available at this link.
• Each bobblehead will be individually numbered to only 2,025.
• The bobbleheads are $40 each plus an $8 flat-rate shipping charge per order.
• Standing on a turf-like base and wearing a black Texas Tech football jersey, the Raider Red bobblehead is throwing a tortilla with his right hand, while three more tortillas are at his feet on the turf. The tortilla in his right hand is positioned on a spring and bobbles. The front of the red base reads “TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS.”
• During a recent Big 12 athletic director meeting, sportsmanship and fan behavior was brought up as a topic. Fifteen of the 16 Big 12 athletic directors voted to solidify an existing game management policy related to the throwing of items onto the playing surface. According to Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt, Tech’s gameday environment and tortilla-throwing tradition was talked about specifically. The Big 12 announced that teams will receive warnings for the first two violations, and a 15-yard penalty will be assessed for a third instance.
• The iconic Texas Tech tradition of throwing tortillas onto the football field at kickoff dates to the 1980s and 1990s. The origin of how the tradition began is up for debate. Some say TTU fans used to throw fountain drink lids on the field until concession stands stopped giving out drinks with lids. Students then pivoted to tortillas, which were easy to hide and sneak into the stadium. Also, before a football game against Texas A&M in 1992, an ESPN announcer said Lubbock had “nothing but Texas Tech football and a tortilla factory. Consequently, fans brought tortillas to the game and tossed them at kickoff – and the tradition was born.
• “We’re excited to unveil the first Texas Tech Tortilla Throwing Bobblehead,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “The Tortilla Toss at Texas Tech has been one of the most quirky – and tastiest – traditions in college sports. This bobblehead will be a must-have for all fans of the Texas Tech Red Raiders!”
• The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country.