Texas Tech Terminated Color Guard Partnership
The university ended its relationship with the All-American Color Guard following an unidentified military unit request.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Military
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The Texas Tech University Athletic Department terminated its partnership with the All-American Color Guard on September 23, 2026. This decision resulted in the cancellation of scheduled activities involving 17 active-duty military personnel at a football game.
Why it matters
The abrupt end to this partnership has halted operations for the Carry the Colors Foundation and the Star-Spangled Performance Program at the university. Officials from the organization indicate the change followed a request from an external, unidentified military unit.
The university terminated the agreement on September 23, 2026, which impacted the Carry the Colors Foundation and the Star-Spangled Performance Program. Seventeen active-duty personnel were originally scheduled to appear at a university football game.
The players
Texas Tech University
This is a public research university located in Lubbock that operates a major athletic department.
All-American Color Guard
Founded in 2017, this organization coordinates military-themed tributes and performance programs.
Jayton A. Ellis
He is the founder of the All-American Color Guard organization.
The details
Texas Tech University Athletic Department staff notified founder Jayton A. Ellis of the partnership cancellation via communication. The All-American Color Guard, which was founded in 2017, is currently preserving all agreements and records while reviewing the circumstances surrounding the university request.
Timeline
The All-American Color Guard was founded in 2017.
Texas Tech notified the organization of the termination on September 23, 2026.
Military personnel were scheduled to participate in football activities on September 26, 2026.
Political Context
This development follows patterns set by the Department of Defense Joint Ethics Regulation regarding military participation in public events, which governs how branches interact with third-party organizations. Opponents of such terminations often argue that these partnerships are essential for public recruitment and fostering community patriotism.
Local residents attending Texas Tech football games will no longer see the scheduled presentations from the All-American Color Guard. The termination creates uncertainty for the future of the Carry the Colors Foundation and its associated programming at university events.
The takeaway
The sudden dissolution of this long-standing partnership highlights the complexities involved in coordinating military displays with institutional policies. Organizations working with public universities should ensure all operational agreements and communication logs are thoroughly documented.
Further reading
Learn more about local Military operations in the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 100.7 KOOL FM.
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