The Outback Dinner is an Annual fundraiser organized by and benefitting the Lubbock Boys and Girls Clubs. 125 Boys and Girls Club members are invited to join the event each year, to enjoy the evening and tell their stories to those in attendance. The evening will include dinner, catered by Outback Steakhouse, a silent and live auction, recognition of outstanding Boys and Girls Club Students, and will conclude with the keynote address from Zach Thomas.

One of the most accomplished players in Southwest Conference history, Zach Thomas claimed unanimous First Team All-America honors in 1995 following his stellar career at Texas Tech. In 2015, he became the fifth Red Raiders player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

A two-time First Team All-American, Thomas was named the consensus Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1994 and 1995. A finalist for the 1995 Butkus Award, he led coach Spike Dykes’ Red Raiders to a share of the 1994 Southwest Conference title and three consecutive bowl games, including the 1995 Cotton Bowl and a win in the 1995 Copper Bowl. A second team all-conference selection as a sophomore, Thomas currently ranks fifth all-time in school history with 390 career tackles, and he holds the school record with seven career fumble recoveries. He became a household name his senior year after his game-winning interception against Texas A&M, which he returned 23 yards for a touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in one of the most memorable plays in Texas Tech history.

Selected in the 5th round by the Miami Dolphins in the 1996 NFL Draft, Thomas spent 12 years with the Dolphins before spending his final season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008. The seven-time Pro Bowler was named the 1996 AFC Rookie of the Year and is the Dolphins’ alltime leading tackler. He is a member of the Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Fame, Southwest Conference Hall of Fame and the Miami Dolphins Ring of Honor. In 2023, Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.