Texas Tech’s beloved mascot turns 50 this year. To mark this milestone, alumnus Trenton Cornehl reflects on his time as Raider Red.
In 1971, Texas Tech University student and Saddle Tramp Jim Gaspard created one of the most recognizable college mascots: Raider Red. Inspired from an “Old Red” drawing by late Lubbock cartoonist Dirk West, Raider Red represented Texas Tech as an alternative to the Masked Rider when the Southwest Conference ruled live animals were not allowed to travel to visiting fields unless invited by the home team.
To mark Raider Red's 50th anniversary, a few former Raider Reds spoke on their experience as the notable mascot and what they're up to now. This is the second in a four-part series.
Trenton Cornehl was born in Fredericksburg and currently lives in Rockwall. Cornehl graduated from Texas Tech in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport sciences and currently works in sales for a service and technology company.
Cornehl served as Raider Red from January 1999 to May 2000. Here are his fondest memories of representing Texas Tech as Raider Red.
Why did you apply to be the mascot?
We were between Raider Reds, so I stepped in to help. I absolutely loved it.
How was it serving as Raider Red?
It was one of the best experiences and most fun I had while at Texas Tech.
What is your favorite memory as Raider Red?
Traveling to my first road football game – Labor Day in Tempe, Arizona, vs. Arizona State. Although we lost, it was a memory I'll never forget. It was 110 degrees at game time, which didn't help, either.
What did being Raider Red mean to you?
It means everything. Raider Red is a small fraternity that only a few can say they share with you. It's a time in my life that gets talked about often.
Has being Raider Red influenced your career or post-Texas Tech life in any way?
It has definitely kept me more connected with Texas Tech because of my prior involvement.
What is the craziest thing that happened to you as Raider Red?
I'll never forget Sept. 11, 1999, vs. the University of Louisiana. It wasn't a packed stadium, so we could hear almost all the fans. A man was unhappy about a lot of calls, so I stayed in front of him for a while to try to distract him. He didn't like it very much, so he called me over and pulled out a knife! Our sponsor at the time, Britta, contacted the authorities and he was ushered out of the stadium.
What advice do you have for any future Raider Reds?
If you have any opportunity to serve as Raider Red, do it. It's an experience that lasts a lifetime. The friends you make, the people you get to meet – it's definitely something you should do. In my year-and-a-half as Raider Red, I appeared at nearly 400 events. It took a lot out of me, but in the end, memories were made at each of them. Guns up!
Click here to read part one of the series: Calloway Huffaker
Click here to read part two of the series: Trenton Cornehl
Click here to read part three of the series: Kathryn Hinkson
Click here to read part four of the series: Zach Bohls
Click here to read part five of the series: Stan Alcott
