A military volunteer organization that spent nearly a decade supporting Texas Tech game days says the university abruptly ended the partnership this month. All-American Color Guard founder Jayton A. Ellis, a Navy veteran and Texas Tech graduate, says the athletic department notified him on September 23 that it was ending support and future commitments to AACG and its affiliated programs, including the Carry the Colors Foundation and the Star-Spangled Performance Program.
According to AACG, the decision came after an unidentified military unit contacted the university wanting to work directly with Texas Tech and asking the school to stop working with the organization. The timing hit hard: seventeen active-duty service members had already committed to the September 26 football game, and some had airfare and lodging already arranged. AACG announced on September 26 that it was suspending its Texas Tech operations and affiliated programs while it waits for clarification, and it’s preserving documentation in the meantime.
Texas Tech and the military unit referenced have not publicly responded, meaning AACG’s account is currently the only side we’ve heard. Ellis said in a statement that service members who volunteer their time and commit their own resources deserve transparency, communication, and respect. We want to hear from you: should Texas Tech answer publicly, or is there more to this story than we know yet?
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Local Lawton
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