The Women of Texas Tech Football
November 16, 2001 | Football
Nov. 16, 2001
By Holly Krivokapich - Texas Tech Media Relations -
They have seen it all - freshman anxiety, the glory of wins, the glooms of defeats, NFL drafts, marriages and even children. It is not the moms of Texas Tech football, rather the women of the football office that keep the program together. Patty Ross, Jennie Bailey and Alison Scogin are the women behind Texas Tech football.
Jennie Bailey has always had a love for athletics so to find a job that involves football was just her cup of tea. In 1986, Bailey and her husband Randy purchased tickets to the Independence Bowl as a joint anniversary gift where they met Patty Ross, who at the time was administrative assistant to football coach David McWilliams. Ross told Bailey of the position and Bailey began working at Tech six months later. She now enters her 15th season as administrative secretary for recruiting and assistant coaches. Among her many responsibilities to help with recruiting, Bailey maintains mailing lists, data bases and prepares for official visits. She also supervises the Raider Recruiters to ensure that the recruits are being properly treated, while assisting assistant athletic director of quality control Dennis Simmons.
"She is awesome," said Simmons. "She has been in the game for 15 years and knows so much. Coming here and not knowing anybody, she really helped me out. She helps things go a lot smoother because she knows so much and is always willing to help out."
Jennie Bailey's dedication to Tech does not stop at football. She attends other Texas Tech athletic events and works as part of baseball operations. Bailey and her husband of 16 years, Randy, enjoy working in the yard and attending their son Geoffrey's many sporting events.
"I love my job, I love the kids, I love football and all that together makes it worthwhile," Bailey said. "You get to know the players and when you watch them play it is like watching your own play. I still keep in touch with a lot of the players after they leave."
What began as a potential layoff was a blessing in disguise for Alison Scogin. When she was informed that her current employer Techtel Communications was about to began layoffs she began the job search and found Texas Tech.
"When I moved to Lubbock I was not happy," said Scogin. "I moved up here for my fianc?. I grew up in Austin and I was homesick and everything else. Once I got over to Tech, I was like this is Lubbock. It makes life so much easier and more enjoyable when you are involved with Texas Tech. I love it here. Jennie (Bailey) and Patty (Ross) have been so wonderful and everyone has made me feel at home."
At the end of May, Scogin began her first year as administrative secretary with the football program. Her duties include assisting the nine assistant coaches with any duties they have. She also assists assistant coach Art Briles with camps and clinics.
"She has been a tremendous help," said Briles. "The one thing that really stands out about her is her pleasant personality. She is always cheerful and helpful and that is something that cannot be overlooked. Alison is both intelligent and eager and that is a combination that can't be beat."
In her spare time, Scogin is busy planning her December cruise ship wedding to Jimmy Pace.
Patty Ross has been as much of a part of Texas Tech football as Jones Stadium or Raider Red. Ross came to Tech in 1975 as part of the ticket office staff and then transferred to football after a year where she has been for the past 26 years. This Senior Administrative Assistant to head coach Mike Leach has acquired many duties throughout her years at Tech. Keeping up with all the aspects of Texas Tech football, it is hard to pinpoint exactly what all Ross does. Her duties include scholarship paperwork, rosters, compliance, every day scheduling for coach Leach, travel and budget. Ross feels like all of the work she puts into a day is worth the satisfaction she receives from working at Tech.
"It is real satisfying when you go through a recruiting process, sign the player and watch them develop academically and athletically," Ross said. "You watch them grow up from a young man to a grown man and see them graduate and go on and be successful in the business world or NFL. I think there is a lot of satisfaction in that. You meet a lot of life long friends and I find that very satisfying."
Ross's ability to multi-task may come from her home-life where she has a 20-year old son, Ben who is a freshman at Tech and two stepchildren, Haleigh and Heath, at home. In her spare time, Ross and her husband Jay enjoy spending time at their lake house fishing and remodeling.
These women have provided a comfortable and caring atmosphere for the players and coaches of Texas Tech football. So now when you think that football is a man's world, think again.