Raider Red is one of the mascots of Texas Tech University. The university's primary mascot is The Masked Rider who rides a live horse. Raider Red is used at events where The Masked Rider is not allowed or would not be appropriate.
Raider Red is a Wild West character with an oversized cowboy hat. He carries two guns which he fires into the air after Texas Tech scores.[1] Jim Gaspard, a member of the Texas Tech Saddle Tramps student spirit organization, created the original design for the Raider Red costume based on a character created by Lubbock, Texas, cartoonist and former mayor Dirk West.[2] Gaspard used papier-mache and chicken wire to mold the first Raider Red head and it took him three to four weeks to complete.[3] Raider Red was first seen publicly on September 10, 1971.[3]
The student serving as Raider Red is a member of the Saddle Tramps or High Riders.[4] Although The Masked Rider's identity is public knowledge, Raider Red's identity is normally kept secret until the end of his or her tenure as mascot.[5] The first Saddle Tramp to become Red Raider after Jim Gaspard was Stan Alcott from 1971 to 1973. The identity of Red Raider was known and Stan would wear the costume to the game.
Around the 1971 football season, the Southwest Conference created a rule forbidding the bringing of live animal mascots to away games unless the host school permitted it.[6] Since the Masked Rider's horse might have been prohibited from attending some games under this rule, Raider Red was created as an alternate mascot. Texas Tech now plays in the Big 12 Conference, but the tradition of having both mascots continues.
On March 15, 2007, it was revealed that, for the first time, two different people (one man and one woman) served as Raider Red during the same period of time.[7]
In 2021 Raider Red took the National Cheerleading Associations Mascot Championships stage in Daytona, Florida for the first time in his 50 year lifespan. Raider Red won his first NCA Mascot National Championship that year with a score of 94.28.[9] Competing again in 2022, Raider Red went back to back winning his second NCA Mascot National Championship with a score of 93.28.[10]
^"Raider Red takes top honors in national mascot competition". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
^"Raider Red Wins National Championship for Second Consecutive Year | TTU". today.ttu.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
External linksedit
Raider Red at Texas Tech Traditions
Raider Red at Texas Tech
April 15, 2024
raider, mascots, texas, tech, university, university, primary, mascot, masked, rider, rides, live, horse, used, events, where, masked, rider, allowed, would, appropriate, giving, guns, gestureuniversitytexas, tech, universityconferencebig, 12descriptioncostume. Raider Red is one of the mascots of Texas Tech University The university s primary mascot is The Masked Rider who rides a live horse Raider Red is used at events where The Masked Rider is not allowed or would not be appropriate Raider RedRaider Red giving the Guns Up gestureUniversityTexas Tech UniversityConferenceBig 12DescriptionCostumeOrigin of nameVariation of team name Red RaidersFirst seen1971Related mascot s The Masked RiderHistory editRaider Red is a Wild West character with an oversized cowboy hat He carries two guns which he fires into the air after Texas Tech scores 1 Jim Gaspard a member of the Texas Tech Saddle Tramps student spirit organization created the original design for the Raider Red costume based on a character created by Lubbock Texas cartoonist and former mayor Dirk West 2 Gaspard used papier mache and chicken wire to mold the first Raider Red head and it took him three to four weeks to complete 3 Raider Red was first seen publicly on September 10 1971 3 The student serving as Raider Red is a member of the Saddle Tramps or High Riders 4 Although The Masked Rider s identity is public knowledge Raider Red s identity is normally kept secret until the end of his or her tenure as mascot 5 The first Saddle Tramp to become Red Raider after Jim Gaspard was Stan Alcott from 1971 to 1973 The identity of Red Raider was known and Stan would wear the costume to the game Around the 1971 football season the Southwest Conference created a rule forbidding the bringing of live animal mascots to away games unless the host school permitted it 6 Since the Masked Rider s horse might have been prohibited from attending some games under this rule Raider Red was created as an alternate mascot Texas Tech now plays in the Big 12 Conference but the tradition of having both mascots continues On March 15 2007 it was revealed that for the first time two different people one man and one woman served as Raider Red during the same period of time 7 In 2012 Raider Red won the Capital One Mascot Challenge beating the University of South Carolina s Cocky in the final 8 He is known to his loyal fans as Jeffrey thanks to the popular podcaster Dan Big Cat Katz In 2021 Raider Red took the National Cheerleading Associations Mascot Championships stage in Daytona Florida for the first time in his 50 year lifespan Raider Red won his first NCA Mascot National Championship that year with a score of 94 28 9 Competing again in 2022 Raider Red went back to back winning his second NCA Mascot National Championship with a score of 93 28 10 Notes and references edit Davis Brian November 1 2002 Baylor at Texas Tech The Dallas Morning News Garcia Leslie November 7 2008 Creator of Texas Tech s mascot tells the story behind Raider Red The Dallas Morning News a b MEDIA A J Raider Red tradition endures Amarillo Globe News Retrieved 2023 11 06 Kelso John January 10 1995 Cotton Bowl fracas leaves Raider Red disappointed The Austin American Statesman p B6 Passing of Traditions Texas Tech names new Masked Rider new Raider Red receives his guns Lubbock Avalanche Journal Retrieved 2023 11 06 History amp Traditions Raider Red Texas Tech University Campus Information Retrieved November 23 2008 Raider Red s True Identity Revealed Lubbock Texas KCBD News Channel 11 April 15 2007 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved April 16 2007 Raider Red wins national Mascot of the Year Lubbock Avalanche Journal January 1 2013 Raider Red takes top honors in national mascot competition Lubbock Avalanche Journal Retrieved 2023 11 15 Raider Red Wins National Championship for Second Consecutive Year TTU today ttu edu Retrieved 2023 11 15 External links editRaider Red at Texas Tech Traditions Raider Red at Texas Tech Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raider Red amp oldid 1196559478, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
