Texas Tech President Dr. Lawrence Schovanec Speaks Out About Student-Athlete Protests

Today on Ryan Hyatt's Raiderland, Texas Tech President Dr. Lawrence Schovanec joined the program to talk about the return of the students after an extended absence due to COVID-19. Schovanec also discussed the Texas Tech football team's protest and the response he's received from athletics director Kirby Hocutt and donors.

Finally, Schovanec discussed the investigation into not only the Lady Raiders program, but the entire Texas Tech athletic department.

You can listen to the entire interview here via the Talk 1340 Soundcloud page.

There's been a confluence of factors that have impacted collegiate athletics, Schovanec said in response to the Texas Tech football team's statement released via Twitter. "We have to listen, and we have to engage them."

"Things are different than they were years ago," Schovanec said. "We have to be open-minded and supportive of these students."

Dr. Schovanec said in the interview that instead of practice today, a meeting had been scheduled where student-athletes could address not only him and the university, but also Lubbock's police chief, Floyd Mitchell.

The response was definitely not all positive, as Schovanec had received emails from people demanding that scholarships be pulled from the team. But that's not the route that Schovanec is going to take.

Another major topic that was broached with Dr. Schovanec was that he and Hocutt are setting up a review that will not only look at the Lady Raiders basketball team after their recent scandal, but the entire athletic department.

The review will be announced next week and will be paid for by the President's Office.