Where Are They Now?
November 18, 2002 | Football
Nov. 18, 2002
By Kelsey Yantis, Texas Tech Media Relations
There may have been some doubts about Anthony Armour as he checked into the Red Raider camp as a freshman in 1992 at six feet, 189 pounds--considerably less than the average size for most collegiate football players. But by his senior year, Armour weighed in at 214 pounds, six-feet one-inch, and had erased all doubt, definitely leaving his mark in the record books of Texas Tech football. After his impressive career on the Texas Tech football team, how is Armour leaving his mark in the world today?
Armour came to Texas Tech with Dallas Carter High School teammates Shawn Hurd, Shawn Banks and Verone McKinley. In high school the four athletes were part of a top ranked defense in the state that held their opponents to an average of 58 yards rushing during the regular season and an amazing minus 16 yards average for the entire season. At Tech, they were part of another top ranked defense, 12th in the nation in turnover margin, 25th in scoring defense.
Armour played at Tech from 1992-96, being redshirted his junior year for surgery for a knee injury. As a fifth year senior, Armour had filled the roster in a few different positions on defense throughout his Red Raider career. In 1995, he easily made the transition from linebacker to defensive end. Armour said about the move, "I don't see myself as a defensive end. I just try to make plays wherever I can. I'm a football player, and I do whatever I can to get the job done." (Lubbock Avalanche Journal, 1995) He brought speed, aggressiveness, and confidence to the team and was also considered a valuable asset due to his glowing optimism. Every year Armour racked up impressive stats that placed him in the top ranks of the team. Armour finished his career with 251 overall tackles, six sacs, five caused fumbles and two recovered fumbles. His advice to student athletes is to "continue to work hard on and off the field, especially off the field".
His best memory from being a Red Raider is the Texas A&M game where Zach Thomas intercepted the ball and ran it in for a touchdown and the Texas Tech victory. "At that time I was playing defensive end and I was able to make a block that allowed him (Thomas) to score." Another favorite memory for Armour was being coached by Spike Dykes. "He was real down-to-earth and if there was ever any reason that I needed to talk to him, I never hesitated."
Armour is now part of another elite team--the Lubbock Police Department, where he has been employed for five years. He enjoys helping people the most at his job. After Tech, he stayed in Lubbock and joined the force right out of college. He says that he choose this career path because he has always wanted to go into law enforcement.
Another team that Armour is proud to be a part of is his family. He has been married for two years and is the proud parent of a son. The family resides in Lubbock.
John Goodner, defensive coach when Armour was at Tech had the following to say about Anthony during his playing days at Tech, "Anthony is a quiet guy who leads by example. He's made some big contributions while he's been here and other people look up to him." Still admired by his peers, he continues to lead by example and make big contributions to society today. Just as he made his lasting impression in the world of Red Raider football, he continues to make countless impressions in the world today.