Who doesn't love weeknight football? Thursday night's Big 12 battle between TCU and Texas Tech not only drew plenty of fans to Lubbock, but the Red Raiders had a special guest on the field as well -- a possum.
Yes, a possum made his way across the field at the start of the second quarter, traversing the field at Jones AT&T Stadium with determination in its eye.
In the end, the humans won. The possum had to be dragged off the field, and it's safe to say the animal wasn't thrilled. It dug its claws into the ground and had a look of shock on its face as it left the field, instantly creating a new set of memes.
A wild possum got escorted out of the Texas Tech-TCU game 😅
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 2, 2023
(via @CFBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/g87yf2XBqt
The possum was very unhappy about being pulled away from the football field. pic.twitter.com/BZZM482idS
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 3, 2023
We've seen rally squirrels and rally cats in sports. Is it possible Texas Tech has a good luck possum on its hands? The Red Raiders went on to defeat TCU 35-28, winning its first game since Oct. 7 and first home game since Sept. 30.
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In fact, this isn't the first time a TCU-Texas Tech game in Lubbock has been visited by an animal. When the two teams met in 2013, a fox showed up to the game.
In 2013, the last time Texas Tech beat TCU in Lubbock, a wild fox rushed the field.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 3, 2023
Tonight, a wild possum rushed the field and Texas Tech won. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/ZPb32WVb4u
Here's a look at the Texas Tech possum memes and a closer look at whether possum or opossum is the correct spelling for the critter.
Texas Tech possum memes
Of course, social media had some fun with the possum's appearance (and exit) in Lubbock. Here are a few of the best.
her: “I bet he’s thinking about other women”
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 3, 2023
him: “I really hope the Texas Tech possum is doing alright” pic.twitter.com/1yxc0BSnPd
When dad pulls you out of bed in the morning before school 😫 pic.twitter.com/4CMwTMxNpf
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2023
I Asked AI to Recreate the Texas Tech Vrs TCU game in 2023 . pic.twitter.com/VxvGUYf8B1
— Preston Ŧ Long 🌵Focused On RTDB (@Preston82491136) November 3, 2023
Caption it https://t.co/r63giaaOwt pic.twitter.com/SygKCPCH3M
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) November 3, 2023
— Talkin’ Tech Podcast 🎙 (@TalkinTechPod) November 2, 2023
Is it spelled possum or opossum?
The age-old question: possum or opossum? Possum is the more common spelling, but is it technically correct?
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, both possum and opossum are correct. They both refer to the "Virginia opossum." However, Merriam-Webster acknowledges that while possum is more commonly used, opossum is preferred in "technical or scientific contexts."
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However, it's actually more complicated than that. While opossum is often shortened to possum, which has become a widely accepted term, scientists would tell you the possum is actually a different animal than the opossum.
Bushtail possums are native to Australia and don't have a presence in the U.S., according to Terminix. The bushtail possum is similar to the opossum, as one would expect, but it has a shorter snout and different reproductive habits.
In short, possums and opossums are not the same. What fans saw on the field in Lubbock on Thursday night was an opossum. However, the term "possum" is so widely used that it is considered correct even when describing an opossum. Simple enough!