Texas Tech University Athletics
'Support The Stache' Takes Life
December 12, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith wears a mustache to bring awareness to the fight against cancer..
December 12, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Before each game, home or away, he walks the scorer's table taking the time to meet every person working the event.
When briefly asked why, he replied, "All I have is time."
As November came and went, men across the nation participated in an event called Movember. The Movember Foundation is the leading organization committed to changing the face of men's health.
Texas Tech men's basketball head coach Tubby Smith is an active participant in the Movember movement and has been for the last four years.
"I have been involved a lot over the years in lending my support to raising money for cancer awareness and research," said Smith. "But I had not participated in Movember."
That was until 2011, after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the spring of 2010, Smith had gone for his annual physical at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
"During my regular physical, it was discovered that my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were high. A biopsy was done and it was discovered that I had early stages of prostate cancer. I am happy to say that the cancer was contained and removed and I am now cancer free and feeling great."
Smith had done PSA's for prostate cancer prior to contracting the disease, but this was different. It was something that had truly affected his life.
"I was at Minnesota and we were preparing to go on a foreign tour when I got the call from the Mayo Clinic," added Smith. "I am lucky we were able to find it early."
Smith had surgery on Apr. 21, 2011 and has been cancer-free ever since.
"I am a proponent of regular prostate examines and hope that men, especially African-American men, continue to have regular checkups," said Smith. "Prostate cancer occurs about 60 percent more often in African-American men."
So, Movember became an extension of that relief of feeling cancer free. Smith now grows a mustache to help provide a platform for bringing awareness to the fight against cancer.
"My father (Guffrie Smith) instilled an innate value in us about giving back," touted Smith. "It didn't have to be financial. It could be your time, your effort or your money. It was about helping those less fortunate than yourself."
Smith's Movember moment has caught on since his arrival at Texas Tech. The Red Raider head coach, who is a member of both the High Point University and University of Kentucky Athletic Halls of Fame, has watched his squad jump out to a 6-1 record, including a perfect 6-0 start at the friendly confines of the United Supermarkets Arena.
The Red Raiders are off to their best start since the 2009-10 season and the 6-1 start to the season is just the 17th time in the school's 90-year history to begin the season with six or more wins.
"Whether it was Coaches vs. Cancer, supporting Jim Valvano, Suits and Sneakers or Movember, it has been an opportunity for us to do what we can to help fight a disease that has affected nearly everyone in one way or another," said Smith.
Smith has been a part of Coaches vs. Cancer, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, since its inception in 1993. He has helped support both national and local initiatives helping to fund the fight against Cancer.
Annually, Smith and his staff have participated in the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Week. It is a time when all basketball coaches come together for a common cause by raising awareness for the fight against cancer. Coaches have a national platform to promote nutrition and physical activity as a way of reducing the chance of contracting the disease, as well as provide an outlet for the American Cancer Society and their lifesaving mission.
Texas Tech Athletics has gotten on board with Smith, creating a social media campaign of "Support the Stache."
As November's Movember came to an end on Nov. 30, Smith extended the life of his moustache. That day, Smith engineered the second largest comeback for Texas Tech in the Big 12 Era, as the Red Raiders came back from 19 down to defeat Air Force, 63-62.
The "Maryland Magician's" Red Raiders, who feature the fourth-youngest starting lineup in the nation, then battled back from a 10-point deficit against Auburn in ESPN's SEC/Big 12 Challenge, to pull out a 46-44 victory over the Tigers. The win is the lowest-scoring victory for the Red Raiders in the shot clock era
On Wednesday, Texas Tech jumped out early and never looked back, as the Red Raiders cruised past Fresno State, 73-56. Except for 63 seconds of being tied, Texas Tech led the entire game.
So, in midst of a five game winning streak and a stretch of six-straight home wins, the moustache remains intact.
"I am happy that Texas Tech and our athletics department are willing to participate and willing to help raise awareness for this fight against cancer," added Smith. "But not just that, it has sparked an interest in our program. It is a two-way street, as we help raise awareness for the fight against cancer and in turn, it helps raise awareness about our program."
On Sunday, Texas Tech hosts Prairie View A&M at the United Supermarkets Arena at 1 p.m.
"As long as we keep winning, we have the opportunity to keep the awareness on the forefront of peoples' minds," said Smith. "It is an opportunity to do something good for our community."
And with that, the moustache lives on. #SupportTheStache
