Texas Tech’s Raider Red Moves to Final Four in National Mascot Voting Contest

Raider Red, Texas Tech University’s costumed public relations mascot has made it to the final four in the Capital One 2012 Mascot Challenge. Red took second place out of 16 mascots in regular season voting to contend for the most votes nationwide. The playoffs are a single-elimination vote with two rounds remaining.

Week two of the playoffs finds Red competing against the University of Miami’s Sebastian the Ibis. The other final four matchup is Colorado State University’s Cam the Ram vs. the University of South Carolina’s Cocky the Gamecock, who took first place in the regular season voting. Red’s only regular-season loss came in week one against the University of Delaware’s YoUDee, who was eliminated in the last round.

“Since the final four and final rounds come during academic finals and graduation weeks, we need everyone – students, staff, alumni and community members to vote as many times as they can, all week long,” said Stephanie Rhode, director for Texas Tech’s spirit squads. “And we need all of those folks who do vote, to encourage everyone they know to vote as well.”

The Capital One National Mascot of the Year is determined by Internet voting. Fans can vote unlimited times at capitalonebowl.com/vote. Twitter voters must use the hashtag #CapitalOneRaiderRed.

“Raider Red – and his student counterparts – do so much for Texas Tech, the Lubbock community and the Texas Tech fan base,” Rhode said. “Everyone who votes is absolutely welcome and encouraged to share the voting link on their personal facebook pages and retweet each other’s tweets.”

Fans also can follow Raider Red on Facebook.com/TTURaiderRed and Twitter @TTURaiderRed.

The mascot with the most votes at the end of the championship round will be the Capital One National Mascot of the Year and will be announced during the 2013 Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2013. The winner will be awarded a $20,000 scholarship to help fund its school’s mascot program. Each of the 2012 participants also will receive $5,000 for their university mascot program.

The original 16 contestants were selected by a panel of judges from Capital One from among the mascot entries received from all eligible NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision schools.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Stephanie Rhode, assistant director, Center for Campus Life, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-5433 or stephanie.rhode@ttu.edu. To schedule Raider Red for an interview, contact Bruce Bills, cheer coach, Center for Campus Life, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-5433 or bruce.bills@ttu.edu.