Thirty Texas Tech got a sharp dose of reality Saturday as they traveled nearly 300 miles to Lancaster in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to help cleanup for those affected by last week's tornadoes.
"Once I saw the place and saw how much destruction there was, I really felt for the people," quarterback Seth Doege told the Lubbock Avalanche Journal. "The houses were completely destroyed."
Inside receivers coach Sonny Cumbie set up the excursion and asked players if they wanted to help. Thirty coaches and players jumped on a bus at 6 a.m. while head coach Tommy Tuberville and other players and coaches caught up with the team on their own.
On Friday, Texas Tech set up a trailer to collect supplies and delivered nearly 35 tons of bottled water, toiletries, dog food, paper towels, etc to Lancaster. The team, which was greeted by Lancaster Mayor Marcus Knight, spent the first hour of its trip unloading supplies and food.
"I just can't say enough to you all for caring enough about our community to make the trek across the state," Knight said. "I want you to know this really does count. This really will make a difference."
Then the team joined several other volunteers by clearing debris and making way for the more than 300 homes and 2,000 buildings to be rebuilt.
Texas Tech joins a long line of teams and players who have gone out of their way to help tornado victims, especially within the last year. Alabama, Auburn and even Kent State players helped clean up debris from tornadoes that ravaged Alabama and Missouri players worked with the people of Joplin, Mo., to help that city rebuild.
It's always good to see players use their status as "celebrities" for altruistic purposes. I'm sure it brightens the day of many of these people who are reeling from such a tragic event.
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