The Masked Rider-College Football Tradition at its Best

On September 5th, college football returns to Lubbock when the Red Raiders host the North Dakota Fighting Sioux at the Jones. For years North Dakota has faced widespread criticism because of the manner in which the Fighting Sioux nickname and mascot demean American Indians. If North Dakota does not receive tribal approval the Fighting Sioux nickname will be officially retired in August of 2010. In 2001 concerns were raised that the Red Raider name also implied a Native American mascot; however, in 2005 the NCAA did not include the Red Raiders in its list of hostile and abusive nicknames. Texas Tech’s tradition is represented by nicknames, symbols and mascots, but the mascot that will lead the team onto the turf at the Jones in a couple weeks is none other than the Masked Rider.

The Masked Rider originated in Lubbock in 1936, when an unknown horse rider, wearing a scarlet cape, would circle the football field at high speeds and then disappear for the rest of the game. In 1954 a student, wearing a red and black cape and a black cowboy hat, led the Red Raiders onto the field on horseback at the Gator Bowl against Auburn. The entrance captivated the team and the crowd as the Red Raiders claimed victory. The Atlanta Constitution described the entrance noting that “No team in any bowl game ever made a more sensational entrance.” Today the Masked Raider leads the team onto the field and rides up and down the sidelines with the reins of High Red in his teeth and both “Guns Up”

The media promotes traditions such as Chief Osceola and Renegade at Florida State and USC’s Traveler as being cornerstone traditions of college football, but what they fail to tell you is that Texas Tech was the first school to use a live horse as a Mascot at football games. Screw Bobby Bowden’s cheating and his forfeited wins, and screw Pete Carroll the most selfish coach in the history of college sports.

Furthermore, we should all recognize that the 1954 Masked Raider entrance laid the groundwork for current college football entrances that we all know and love, including the Miami Smoke Entrance, Ralphie the Colorado Buffalo, and the Nebraska Tunnel Walk. Less than 2 weeks till kick off Red Raider fans-Guns UP!!