Meat Science Academic Team Claims National Championship

There were no rings, no parades, no explosions of confetti, but Texas Tech University’s academic quiz bowl team recently rounded out a trio of national titles – proving that the San Antonio Spurs aren’t the only dynasty emerging out of Texas this summer.

The team won the 2007 national championship at the 60th annual Reciprocal Meats Conference, marking the third time in the bowl’s six-year history that Red Raiders have earned the title.

This year’s competition, held at South Dakota State University, featured more than 20 university teams from across the nation. Texas Tech defeated Angelo State University in the finals to take the top spot.

“These students have dedicated themselves to being the best,” said Mark Miller, San Antonio Livestock Show Distinguished Chair in Meat Science and team coach and advisor, explaining why Texas Tech has had such a run of success. “Plus, we’ve got faculty and staff that have made it a point to provide the resources they need to succeed.”

But give the credit to Heather Rodgers, Miller said. Rodgers, a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in meat science, did most of the hands-on coaching.

“She was in charge of cracking the whip,” Miller quipped.

And did she. Team members began prepping months in advance, mining textbooks and study guides for mental fodder. They brainstormed potential questions. They quizzed each other. By June they had amassed as many as a thousand flashcards encompassing topics from genetics to microbiology.

The contest runs on a format similar to the television juggernaut “Jeopardy,” zinging competitors with questions ranging from genetic predictors to meat palatability.

Participating schools can field two teams with up to three members each. Universities such as Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and the University of Nebraska send students to match wits.

Texas Tech team members included Landi Woolly, Travis O’Quinn, Matt Sellers, Meagan Mitchell, Travis Chapin and Austin Voyles.

Texas Tech teams also claimed the national title in 2005 and 2003. So while there may not be any commemorative T-shirts, perhaps a steak dinner is in order.