Texas Tech University's mascot is a lively and spirited representation of the school's sports teams and overall pride. Known as the "Masked Raider," the mascot is derived from the university's Red Raiders nickname. Initially, the mascot was a horse named Blackie, ridden by a student dressed as a masked raider. However, over the years, the mascot has evolved into a costumed character that resembles a masked cowboy. This iconic figure consists of a red bandana, black mask, cowboy hat, and a red shirt with the letters "TTU" imprinted on it. The costume is often paired with jeans and boots to uphold the cowboy essence.
What is texas tech mascot
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame has the pleasure of memorializing the great sporting history of the Lone Star State. From Tris Speaker to Jeremy Wariner, the best athletes this state has to offer have found their way into this institution’s halls. However, individuals are only part of what the Texas Sports Hall of Fame celebrates. For as many impactful individual athletes as Texas has had, there have been just as many organizations, teams and franchises that have made their mark. Within each of those, there are hundreds of traditions, stories, histories and more that we work every day to honor and share.
One such institution that we work to celebrate and honor is Texas Tech University. Originally founded in 1923 as Texas Technological College, Texas Tech is a relatively young member of the state’s collegiate fraternity; nevertheless, Tech has more than their fair share of stories and traditions worthy of distinction. Fans today are probably very familiar with Texas Tech’s athletics nickname: the Red Raiders. However, this was not the first nickname to represent the school as they sought athletic glory.
Texas Tech athletes have been known as the Red Raiders since the late 1930s but this was well after their inaugural season of competition. For instance, the Texas Tech football team had their first season of play in 1925. From 1925 to 1937, Tech football was known by the moniker of Matadors. This nickname was suggested by wife of the Tech football coach at the time, E. Y. Freeland (Freeland himself is given credit for Texas Tech’s ‘Double-T’ logo which he had sewn on his athletes sweaters). Freeland’s wife, inspired by the Spanish Renaissance architecture seen throughout Tech’s campus, thought the Matador nickname was a great way to honor the Spanish heritage present in the region.
However, Matadors wasn’t meant to be. Red Raiders replaced Matadors as the school’s officially nickname just over a decade later. How exactly that took place is of some debate, as some credit another coach’s wife while others credit a sportswriter that covered the Tech football team. Whether it was Pete Cawthon’s wife or the sportswriter who wanted to pay homage to the team’s bright red uniforms, one thing is for certain – the name stuck.
With the nickname firmly in place, it came to be embodied by two characters known to all Texas Tech fans: The Masked Rider and Raider Red. The Masked Rider is credited as the first mounted mascot in the country. Older than Florida State’s Osceola and Renegade or USC’s Traveler, Texas Tech is responsible for many of the iconic mounted mascots today. The Masked Rider became an official mascot in 1954 when he led the team onto the field at the Gator Bowl.
Ed Danforth, a writer for the Atlanta Journal at the time, wrote, “No team in any bowl game ever made a more sensational entrance.” The team, perhaps inspired by the Masked Rider, overwhelmed their opponent, Auburn, by a score of 35-13. The Masked Rider was cemented into the history of Texas Tech and the history of college athletics.
While the Masked Rider was a great mascot and beloved by Tech fans around the state, there was one problem with him representing the school – the Southwest Conference forbade live animal mascots at away games unless the home school consented. To avoid this issue, Texas Tech introduced Raider Red in 1971. The original design for Raider Red was done by Jim Gaspard, a member of the Texas Tech Saddle Tramps student spirit organization. Gaspard based the costume on a character created by cartoonist Dirk West, a Texas Tech alumnus and former Mayor of Lubbock. With Raider Red in the fold, anytime the Masked Rider couldn’t make an appearance to support the team, there would be someone there to embody the spirit of Texas Tech athletics.
From Matadors to Red Raiders, the story of Tech mascots is a long and colorful one. The constant throughout is the celebration of Texas Tech and their athletic tradition. Whether it is the Masked Rider or Raider Red, these characters are strong fibers in the fabric of Texas history and we are proud to represent them every day here at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Texas Tech Masked Rider Program
Senior Lauren Bloss is the 62nd Masked Rider for the Texas Tech University Spirit Program. Bloss is an Animal Science major with a concentration in equine production and is minoring in Psychology. She is the daughter of Leigh and Wendy Bloss and grew up in El Paso where she has been riding since she was five and competitively since she was 12. Her older brother Justin Bloss played tennis at Texas Tech. Bloss's grandmother owned and bred Thoroughbred racehorses for over five decades. She competed in hunter jumper and equitation and has been part of the Texas Tech Equestrian Team and competed at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) at the advanced level in both English and Western show.
Bloss has worked with Masked Riders Ashley Adams and Caroline Hobbs for the last two years as an assistant with both Fearless Champion and Centennial Champion. Prior to her time as an assistant with Hobbs, Bloss was on field safety and volunteered time to help 60th Masked Rider Ashley Adams at local and out of town events.
Bloss plans to attend grad school for counseling and therapy where her goal is combine her love of horses and people. She would like to specialize in the use of equine therapy and psychology to help others who may have experienced past traumatic events and pairing them with horses that have come from similar traumatic backgrounds.
Written by Paul Tubbs, Texas Tech Office of Communications & Marketing
The costume is often paired with jeans and boots to uphold the cowboy essence. It represents the spirit, strength, and determination of both the university and its athletic teams. The Texas Tech University Masked Raider can be seen at various sporting events, rallies, and parades, cheering on the Red Raiders.
Follow the Masked Rider Program
The mascot's energetic presence motivates the crowd and boosts the team's morale. It serves as a symbol of unity and pride for the entire Texas Tech community. Through its unique representation, the Texas Tech University Masked Raider embodies the tenacity and passion of the Red Raiders. This mascot has become a beloved and recognizable symbol, encapsulating the spirit and enthusiasm of Texas Tech University as a whole..
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