Texas Tech fans will not hear familiar voices this week if they tune into the radio call of the Red Raiders’ game against Oklahoma State. Play-by-play man Brian Jensen and analyst John Harris have been reprimanded by the Big 12 and barred from calling the game.
The conference took action on Wednesday. During Texas Tech’s game last Saturday, Jensen and Harris were very critical of the officials in the game. They even suggested that the league was conspiring to ensure Iowa State won.
“I’ll say it right now, the Big 12 does not want Iowa State to lose this game,” Harris said on air after an interception by Texas Tech at the goal line was overturned.
Jensen tweeted about the call from the broadcast booth during the game.
The final straw for the league may have been John Harris naming the officials on air and saying that the Big 12 should “be embarrassed” by them.
Timothy Burke collected all of the audio and tweeted it out in a thread showing what was happening on the field at the time of the comments.
“I understand the roles of the play-by-play and color analyst,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a press release. “However as University representatives they also have an obligation to adhere to Conference policy regarding comments about game officials. The comments by the Red Raider Radio Network booth announcers were contrary to expected levels of respect and professionalism. Questioning the integrity of Conference officials and specifically calling out members of the officiating crew is well beyond appropriate and permissible behavior.”
Texas Tech University has not officially commented on the broadcast plans for the Oklahoma State game. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal speculates that Geoff Haxton, who calls play-by-play of the school’s basketball and baseball teams, will call the action and sideline reporter Chris Level will serve as the analyst.
