| The Masked Rider | |
|---|---|
 The Masked Rider gives the Guns Up hand sign. | |
| University | Texas Tech University |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Description | Live horse and rider |
| Origin of name | Based on the rider's outfit |
| First seen | 1936 |
| Related mascot(s) | Raider Red |
The Masked Rider is the primary mascot of Texas Tech University. It is the oldest of the university's mascots still in existence today. Originally called "Ghost Rider", it was an unofficial mascot appearing in a few games in 1936 and then became the official mascot with the 1954 Gator Bowl. The Masked Rider has led the team onto the field at nearly every football game since. It is the nation's first school mascot to feature a live horse at a football game, ahead of [1] Florida State's Chief Osceola and Renegade and 25 years before USC's Traveler and all other such mascots in existence today.
After learning of the Masked Rider, other schools emulated the idea of a mounted mascot. Florida State began their tradition in 1978, immediately after seeing Texas Tech's live mascot at the 1977 Tangerine Bowl that pitted the two. The Oklahoma State Cowboys copied the Masked Rider in 1984 when Eddy Finley, a Texas Tech alumnus became an Oklahoma State University agricultural education professor, and started the Spirit Rider Program when both schools were still in separate conferences.[2]
The Masked Rider is adorned from head to toe in black, including a black gaucho hat and a black mask. The only other color present is the scarlet rider's cape.[3] The current horse is also black, a tradition for the last 40 years, although horses prior to the 70s were on occasion other colors.
Students must pass a rigorous interview and testing process in order to be selected for this honor by the Masked Rider Advisory Committee. The Masked Rider is available for public appearances for no fee, though a donation is encouraged.
In 2000, the Masked Rider tradition was commemorated with the unveiling of a sculpture outside Frazier Alumni Pavilion on Texas Tech's campus. The Grant Speed crafted sculpture is 25 percent larger than life. In August 2013, the statue was wrapped in black Crêpe paper to mourn the death of the first Masked Rider, Joe Kirk Fulton.[4][5]
- ^ Chandler, Cory. "Gator Re-Raided". Texas Tech University. Archived from the original on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ "Spirit Rider: Riding With Cowboy Pride". Cowboy Journal. Archived from the original on 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2009-06-28.
- ^ Griffin, Tim. "Face of the Program: Texas Tech Red Raiders". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
- ^ Wolfe, Angel (2000-09-11). "Rider stands larger than life". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved 2008-10-14.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Shooter, Cole. "First Texas Tech Masked Rider Joe Kirk Fulton Dies at Age 81". KYFO. Retrieved 3 August 2013.