Countdown to Kickoff: 44 Days
PREVIOUS COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF ENTRIES: 50 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45
Texas Tech's 2016 football season will begin in exactly 44 days with a Sept. 3 kickoff against Stephen F. Austin.
Today, we continue our Countdown to Kickoff series with a notable way the number 44 relates to Red Raider football.
44: Donny Anderson wore No. 44 for the Red Raiders.
Donny Anderson, nicknamed "The Golden Palomino," is one of the best and most decorated football players to ever suit up for the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Anderson was a versatile, dominant running back for the Red Raiders from 1963-65, accounting for 3,672 yards from scrimmage and scoring 28 touchdowns. Anderson was a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection and a two-time All-American. He finished fourth in the 1965 Heisman Trophy voting.
The Borger, Texas native was drafted seventh overall in the NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, where he was a part of two Super Bowl-winning teams. He retired from the NFL in 1975 after stints with the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Dolphins.
Anderson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. Texas Tech has since retired his No. 44 (1995) and enshrined him in the football program's Ring of Honor (2012).
Tomorrow: 43 - We look back at Texas Tech's all-time winningest head football coach.
