Texas Tech radio team honored during game following Big 12 suspension

Texas Tech honored their radio broadcast crew during Saturday’s game, after the duo received a suspension for comments about Big 12 officials made on air. Brian Jensen and John Harris received a suspension from the Big 12 conference after ridiculing the officiating crew during Texas Tech’s win over Iowa State last week.

Texas Tech radio team honored during suspension

The Red Raiders hosted Oklahoma State on Saturday, but fans listening to the radio broadcast of the game were not able to hear the normal broadcast team of Jensen and Harris.

The duo called out the officiating crew and Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby by name, listing the names of every referee for the game during the broadcast.

“The Big 12 does not want Iowa State to lose this game,” Harris said.

“Bob Bowlsby, you need to answer to this,” Jensen answered. “This is ridiculous.”

“Maybe the referee has a concussion and he needs to get to the trainer” Jensen said at one point during the game, when officials were discussing another call the duo disagreed with. “He’s acted like it the whole game.”

Despite the reprimand received by the Big 12, in which Bowlsby stated their comments were “beyond appropriate and permissible behavior,” Texas Tech honored their radio announcers during the game against Oklahoma State.

“On the field, Texas Tech just honored the radio crew that the Big 12 suspended,” reported The Oklahoman’s Jacob Unruh.

Texas Tech is 6-4 overall and 3-4 in Big 12 play this year. The Red Raiders have a chance to play spoiler this weekend against Oklahoma State, which is tied with Oklahoma for the Big 12 lead with two games remaining. At halftime, Oklahoma State was leading 13-0.

The Big 12 reprimands, punishes Texas Tech announcers

Wednesday night, the Big 12 issued a press release publicly reprimanding Jensen and Harris and announcing the suspensions after a review of the comments.

“I understand the roles of the play-by-play and color analyst,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “However as University representatives they also have an obligation to adhere to Conference policy regarding comments about game officials. The comments by the Red Raider Radio Network booth announcers were contrary to expected levels of respect and professionalism. Questioning the integrity of Conference officials and specifically calling out members of the officiating crew is well beyond appropriate and permissible behavior.”

Jensen and Harris went viral that day for another reason, though. Their call of Jonathan Garibay’s 62-yard, walk-off field goal to give Texas Tech the 41-38 win.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.