Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders need to honor legacy of first black player, Gene Knolle

Most Texas Tech basketball fans don’t know the name of Gene Knolle and that’s something that has to change given that he was the program’s first African American player.

Until this morning, I had never heard the name of Gene Knolle. That’s a shame. His is a name that should be amongst the most prominent in the history of Texas Tech basketball.

Knolle was the first African American player to represent the Red Raiders on the hardwood. Yet, today was the first time I had ever come across his name and I only did that by accident as I was researching another piece.

Granted, the New York native played for the Red Raiders from 1970-71, ten years before I was born and almost 30 years before I became a Texas Tech student. But therein lies the problem. If someone who has spent as much time researching Texas Tech sports, attending Texas Tech games, and obsessing over all things Texas Tech athletics as I have doesn’t know the name of Gene Knolle, then it is safe to say that most people of my generation do not as well and that is a travesty.

But Knolle was more than just a groundbreaker, he was a damn good basketball player. Despite playing only two seasons in Lubbock, he ranks 33rd in program history with 1,073 career points.

During those two years, he averaged an amazing 21.5 points per game. That’s the most in Tech history. Yet I didn’t know his name until today.

What’s more, he pulled down 8.4 rebounds per contest. That is good for a top-10 ranking in program history as well. Yet, I didn’t know his name until today.

Even worse, I ran through the list of the Texas Tech Hall of Fame members and I did not see his name. How can that be? How can a program like Texas Tech fail to promote and honor the legacy of a man who was not only the first black player in Red Raider history but arguably one of the best to ever represent the Double T?

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Why was Knolle not included in the inaugural Texas Tech Basketball Ring of Honor Class in March of 2019? Why is there no statue of Knolle somewhere outside of United Supermarkets Arena? Why is Knolle’s No. 25 jersey not hanging from the rafters? (Since he graduated, it has been worn by 11 players, most notably Davide Moretti.)

In an era when our country is awakening to the struggles that African Americans and other minority groups continue to face to this day, we should all be reminded of just how monumental Knolle’s challenge was.

Being an African American in predominantly caucasian West Texas in the 1970s had to have been immeasurably tough. Consider then how much burden was placed on Knolle’s shoulders being not only the first black player in Texas Tech basketball history but also being the best player on his team. Can you imagine the insults and degradation he had to have faced when playing on the road (and likely at home as well)?

There has never been a more perfect moment in time for Texas Tech to honor the legacy of Gene Knolle. Our nation is starting to come to accept the painful reality that “liberty and justice for all” is still a dream and not a reality.

Across America, the pains and cries of those who have been unjustly oppressed for generations are finally starting to be heard and it feels like we are at the tipping point for change. Texas Tech has the responsibility to be part of that change and one way to do so is to ensure that Gene Knolle is as revered in hearts and minds of Texas Tech players, alums, and fans as Jackie Robinson is revered in the game of baseball.

Endow a scholarship in his name. Name the court after him. Retire his number. Erect a statue. Dedicate the first home game of February, which is also Black History Month, to his legacy. All would be appropriate. None would be entirely sufficient.

I didn’t know the name of Gene Knolle until today. I’m ashamed of that. But thankfully, I do now. And it is time that the Texas Tech basketball program ensures that every Red Raider does as well.