{"id":540,"date":"2025-08-22T12:00:51","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T12:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/?p=540"},"modified":"2026-10-07T15:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T15:13:17","slug":"watergate-roach-race-rules-and-regulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/2025\/08\/22\/watergate-roach-race-rules-and-regulation\/","title":{"rendered":"Watergate Roach Race Rules and Regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"741\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2025\/08\/PXL_20250923_221745870-1024x741.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-647\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.3819303514895689;width:488px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2025\/08\/PXL_20250923_221745870-1024x741.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2025\/08\/PXL_20250923_221745870-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2025\/08\/PXL_20250923_221745870-767x555.jpg 767w, https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2025\/08\/PXL_20250923_221745870-1536x1111.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/73\/2025\/08\/PXL_20250923_221745870-2048x1482.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image of a Madagascar hissing cockroach training for the October 28th Watergate Roach Race.  <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Date &amp; Time:<\/strong>\u202fOctober 28 at 4:30 p.m.\u00a0<br><strong>Location:<\/strong>\u202fTennessee Tech Campus Tucker Stadium<br><strong>Hosted by:<\/strong>\u202fArchives &amp; Special Collections\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a history of Watergate the Cockroach, follow this link:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/2017\/10\/10\/watergate-the-cockroach-the-story-and-celebration-of-techs-unlikely-champion\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/2017\/10\/10\/watergate-the-cockroach-the-story-and-celebration-of-techs-unlikely-champion\/\">Watergate the Cockroach: The Story and Celebration of Tech\u2019s Unlikely Champion<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u202fRace Format<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Each participating\u202f<strong>department\/student club\/organization selects or brings one roach athlete <\/strong>to represent them. These can be homegrown roaches or roaches selected from those available at the event (Dubia roaches).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roaches will race 8 feet on a\u202ffoot<strong> track<\/strong>.&nbsp;There will be 7 races with 8 contenders each, and an 8th race will determine the overall winner. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The race is a<strong> sprint<\/strong>-fastest cockroach wins!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roach athletes and departments that register before <strong>12:00 p.m. on race day, October 28, <\/strong>will be prioritized. Earlier registration guarantees participation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tntech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_0VyWE5xR7MMMtT0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Registration<\/strong><\/a><strong> is here: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/tntech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_0VyWE5xR7MMMtT0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/tntech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_0VyWE5xR7MMMtT0<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u202fRoach Guidelines<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Roaches must be\u202f<strong>real, live insects<\/strong>\u202f(no mechanical or fake entries).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each roach must be\u202f<strong>safely contained<\/strong>\u202fbefore the race and handled humanely.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roaches must be <strong>named<\/strong>\u202ffor identification and announcement (no paint or harmful substances). A biography is encouraged.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Roach coaches must \u201crelease\u201d their roach on the racetrack at the start of the race.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u202fWinning Criteria<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There will be seven races and an 8th final race to determine the overall champion. If a roach wins one of the initial races, it will compete in the final race for the title of overall champion and the \u201cExtinguished Award\u201d.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first roach to\u202f<strong>fully cross the finish line<\/strong>\u202fwins.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In case of a tie, a\u202f<strong>re-race<\/strong>\u202fwill be held between the top contenders.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The overall winning roach athlete and its department will have their names added to \u201cThe Extinguished Award\u201d trophy and hold the trophy for one week. &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u202fSpirit &amp; Camaraderie<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Departments are encouraged to cheer, display signs, and show team spirit.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Costumes and themed attire are welcome (for humans, not roaches!).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The event is designed to be fun and filled with Tennessee Tech pride. Bring a good sense of humor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share your roach athlete and roach training on social media, and tag the Tennessee Tech Archives and Special Collections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u202fSafety &amp; Fairness<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do not touch, guide, or interfere with roaches during the race.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judges\u2019 decisions are final.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cockroach athletes are strictly prohibited from using performance-enhancing drugs. Any cockroach found using or testing positive for banned substances will be disqualified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Date &amp; Time:\u202fOctober 28 at 4:30 p.m.\u00a0Location:\u202fTennessee Tech Campus Tucker StadiumHosted by:\u202fArchives &amp; Special Collections\u00a0 For a history of Watergate the Cockroach, follow this link:&nbsp;Watergate the Cockroach: The Story and Celebration of Tech\u2019s Unlikely Champion. \u202fRace Format&nbsp; \u202fRoach Guidelines&nbsp; \u202fWinning &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/2025\/08\/22\/watergate-roach-race-rules-and-regulation\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=540"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":650,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/540\/revisions\/650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.tntech.edu\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}