We all see Texas Tech’s mascot Raider Red live or on TV at sporting events. It’s hard to miss him with his big white hat, red mustache, and gun in holster dancing around on the sidelines, guns up, clapping, getting the crowd pumped up or taking pictures with fans. Raider Red, the reigning 2012 National Mascot of the Year, didn’t win his title just by being at sporting events. Red does so much more. Raider Red won the title because he does so much in the Lubbock community as well. This photo essay displays his week in a series of photos and how important he truly is not only to Tech, but the town as well.
A little five year old smiles and laughs at Red coming in to come visit her. Nonetheless, her brother and sister were just as excited to see Raider Red. The five year old’s older sister and Red go back and forth making faces at each other.
On the way out of the hospital, some of the nurses take picture with Red. All of the pictures, events in the community, and sporting events, it’s just another week in the life of Raider Red.
The last patient of the day was a child with pneumonia and the son of a former player under Bobby Knight. Even though he didn’t have a whole lot of energy, he played with Raider Red’s gun and gave him a fist bump.
Immediately after the game, Red changes into a football jersey to go visit some of the sick children at Lakeside Hospital.
A proud, young Red Raider fan jumps out of her seat, pulling on her mom’s sleeve to take a picture with Raider Red. Of course, Red accepts, guns up with the little girl at the end of the game.
Raider Red’s week starts out on Wednesday, November 20 at the United Spirit Arena. Red watches on, guns up as the beginning lineup for the Oklahoma Sooner’s volleyball team is announced.
After the Sooner’s win the first set, Raider Red jumps up and down, bringing energy to the fans at home watching the Lady Raiders take on their conference opponent.
Raider Red walks by the cheer squad, taking position behind the Lady Raiders side of the net, hoping to provide antics and distractions at the Sooners.
After the first two sets, the two teams take a ten minute intermission. Five fans are brought down from the stands to play ‘Music Volleyball.’ Raider Red and a student dive at a volleyball that got knocked lose from the group of balls.
With the Lady Raiders down two sets to one, Red continues to keep people in the arena smiling and laughing. Here, he grabs a photographer’s phone to make a phone call during the fourth set.
On Thursday, November 21, Raider Red is up bright and early at 8 A.M. for an event at Coronado High School. Surrounding area colleges such as South Plains college, Wayland Baptist, and Lubbock Christian came here for Gentx. Gentx encourages high school students to further their education and go to college.
To kill some time before the event starts, Red has a dance competition with The Texan of South Plains college (right) and the Wayland Baptist football player (left).
Raider Red stands out on the court with the coed cheer squad as Tech is announced over the speakers as one of the universities.
To keep the students entertained, Raider Red and the other mascots have a relay race where they spin around on the stool, weave in and out of the cheer squad’s megaphones, and finish by popping balloons.
Later on that night at 7 P.M., Raider Red is back at the United Spirit Arena as the men’s basketball team takes on South Dakota State. Red lines up alongside the players and coaches as the arena prepares for the National Anthem.
After the pep rally, one of the counselors asked us if we would mind going to the special needs classroom. Raider Red knocked on the door and walked into an elated room of children who hugged and shook hands with their favorite mascot.
Of course, what’s a Raider Red appearance if there weren’t people that wanted to take pictures. Red proudly wears his yellow sash from winning the relay race as he takes pictures with some of the students of Coronado High School.
Despite the icy roads and snow from that day, fans still managed to find a way to come to the arena to cheer on their Red Raiders. The cheer squad and Red lead the crowd with a ‘Let’s, Go, Raiders!’ chant.
At halftime, Raider Red participates in a 3-on-3 half court basketball game against some other mascots. With time running out, Red shoots a long 2-point shot over Gorilla Law as the Quick Quack Duck watches on.
As halftime finishes up, Raider Red shows some affection towards a loyal student student by planting a big Raider Red mustache kiss on her.
As the game finishes up and the Red Raiders wrap up another victory, Red heads up to the Saddle Tramps’ section. The Saddle Tramps, who come to all of the men’s sporting events, high five Red as he runs down the row.
On Saturday November 23, Raider Red is once again at the United Spirit Arena at 2 P.M. This time, Red cheers on the Lady Raiders basketball team as they play Grambling State. Here, the team gets pumped up before they run out for the beginning of the game.
After a quarter of play, Red takes a break from cheering and spends some time with some young Red Raiders as they watch the cheer squad do their routine.
The High Riders, an all-female student organization that attend all of the women’s athletic events, are required to get different people’s signatures. During the game, Raider Red, with limited vision, carefully signs some of their Double T boards.
Raider Red takes a bow for distracting a Grambling State player after she missed both of her free throws.
At halftime, some youth basketball players line up in the tunnel as they prepare to play a game at halftime. Red pokes and bangs his hat on some of them before they play as one looks up at Red, questioning whether or not to poke him back.
Red takes a break, leaning on the scorer’s table as the game winds down in the 4th quarter and the Lady Raiders secure another win.
About John Crain
