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 just a few games in 1936 and then becoming 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 featuring a live horse to ...
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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 just a few games in 1936 and then becoming 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 featuring a live horse to be used at a football game. Florida State's Chief Osceola and Renegade and USC's Traveler are other such mascots in existence today. The Oklahoma State Cowboys copied the Masked Rider in 1984 when Eddy Finley, an Oklahoma State University agricultural education professor and Texas Tech alumnus, started the Spirit Rider Program.
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. The current horse is also black, although previous horses...
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