Red Raider DB Tracy Saul to go into SWC Hall of Fame

The Southwest Conference Hall of Fame, a branch of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, TX has announced its plan to induct former Red Raider defensive back, Tracy Saul, into its ranks. The announcement of the October 5th induction ceremony was released on Wednesday, August 12th.

Saul’s career embodies what it means to be a Red Raider. Despite being from the small town of Idalou, Texas (only 11 miles northeast of Lubbock), Saul became one of the best collegiate football players in the nation through his sheer grit, determination, and hard work.

Saul was an all-conference selection in all four of his seasons at Tech, 1989 – 1992. He was a two-time all-SWC selection as a punt returner from 1989-90, and as a defensive back from 1991-92.  In 1991, Saul was honored as a second team All-American defensive back.

Some of Saul’s highlights can be seen in this video (warning, the graphics and music in this video might be too awesome for some people to handle):

Patrolling the defensive backfield for head coach Spike Dykes, Saul remains atop the Texas Tech career interceptions list with 25. As a true freshman, Saul picked off eight passes, a single season mark not reached by a Red Raider since 1951. In 1991, Saul also intercepted eight passes making him the only Red Raider to accomplish the feat in two different seasons.

Saul’s 25 career picks also ranks fourth all-time nationally, and no player has accumulated that number since Paul’s career at Tech ended. This is made more amazing by the fact that during Saul’s era in college football, teams only threw the ball when necessary rather than throwing it 50+ times per game as is the new trend.

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Nicknamed “the natural,” Saul grabbed his first collegiate interception against who else but Texas A&M. In just his fifth game, Saul helped lead the 27-24 Texas Tech upset over the No. 12 ranked Aggies.

Just like another Texas Tech great with the same nickname, Wes Welker, Saul was a dangerous punt returner. His career average of 10.5-yards-per-return rank him fourth in school history behind Welker, Tyrone Thurman, and Danny Amendola.

Saul is the 7th Red Raider football player/coach to be honored in the SWC Hall of Fame. He will join Spyke Dykes, Donny Anderson, E.J. Holub, Zach Thomas, Andre Tillman, and Gabe Rivera as Red Raider enshrines.

The 2015 class also includes Norm DeBriyn (Arkansas), Thomas Everett (Baylor), Billy Ray Brown (Houston), Ricky Pierce (Rice), Kyle (O’Brien) Stevens (SMU), Carlette (Guidry) White (Texas), Anjanette Kirkland (Texas A&M), Darrell Browder (TCU).

Congratulations to Tracy Saul from Wreck ‘Em Red.