In 1971, a 24-year-old Texas Tech junior threw together a suit of paper mache and chicken wire in his dorm room and stepped onto the field at a pep rally as the very first Raider Red.
Today, Red is a cherished institution for the Tech fan base. This year, he’s made it to the finals of the Capital One 2013 Mascot Challenge, pitted against the University of South Florida’s Rocky the Bull. Red took home the title of Mascot of the Year in the same competition in 2012.
The winner will be announced at the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1.