Raiderville mayor Colton Ancell took time to stop by the growing tent settlement outside Jones AT&T Stadium on Friday morning to express his support.

TuberVILLE leaders said about 20 people slept in eight tents Thursday night, and the group welcomed the encouragement from their fellow Texas Tech University student.

Students began camping out in tents outside the stadium Wednesday night, after it was announced there would be no Raiderville in anticipation of today’s Texas Tech-OU game.

For years, students have camped out in the tent city known as Raiderville during the week of rivalry games. It began outside the stadium, and was later moved to a grassy area near the engineering key.

TuberVILLE leader Ryan Reyna and junior Brett Alldredge said there is no rivalry between the two groups.

“At the end of the day, (we’re) all behind the football team,” said Alldredge, who joined TuberVILLE on Thursday night. “The more support from students, the better the atmosphere. It makes a difference. It builds confidence and excitement in the team.”

Ancell, a senior serving his second year as Raiderville mayor, said the situation has been blown out of proportion.

“Everybody has taken this to be, ‘They’re rebels against Raiderville,’ ” Ancell said. “It’s been completely fueled by people who don’t know what’s going on. We’re all friends.”

The guys at TuberVILLE are supporters of Raiderville. Reyna said they plan to participate in the future, and many, including Reyna, have in the past.

Alldredge put it simply.

“If there was one, we’d be at it,” he said.

Ancell said Raiderville leaders have received a bit of criticism on the Internet for holding off until after Saturday’s Oklahoma game. The negative comments are coming from a small group of about 10 people, he said.

Some of the critics seem to be relishing in the “glory days of Raiderville when it started,” Ancell said. It was because of a couple of the huge Raidervilles getting out of hand that the university got involved, he added. Other critics are Texas Tech alumni and believe students aren’t rallying behind the team, he said. “A lot of this just got started by people getting angry over the Internet and trying to get people riled up.”

“This is a huge football game, and everybody is worried about what Raiderville is doing. It blows me away.”

Back at TuberVILLE, the residents were looking forward to the upcoming cool front on Friday afternoon, and said they were prepared for the weather. The group has received several donations of meals, lawn games and mattresses since Thursday afternoon.

The students said Coach Tommy Tuberville brought 10 pizzas, and Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt paid them a visit. Reyna said the group has been directed to clear out the space by 8 a.m. Saturday.

Raiderville leaders plan to have more information about next week’s possible Raiderville on Monday, Ancell said. The group is waiting to see how the OU game goes before making any final decisions.

Leaders are working with the university to find a suitable location, he said. The most recent Raiderville location is under construction and will house the new petroleum engineering building.

“We’re definitely a friendly group,” Ancell said. “There’s not any kind of rivalry. There’s not any kind of animosity. It’s not like they’re rebelling against Raiderville. We’re all students. We’re all the same age. We all love Texas Tech football, and we all understand that. That’s all that really matters to me.”

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