What Is The Mascot Of The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers?

Big Red, the mascot of Western Kentucky University’s sports teams, the “Hilltoppers” and “Lady Toppers”, was created by Ralph Carey in 1979. The red, furry blob symbolizes the spirit of WKU students and alumni, as well as the sports teams’ nickname, the “Hilltoppers”. Big Red has served as the Hilltoppers mascot since 1979 and has established himself as a piece of college football folklore.

The first test for Western Kentucky will be in the season opener, which will be played by the Hilltoppers, led by coach Tyson Helton. The Hilltoppers went 8-5 in 2023, producing receiver Malachi Corley, a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Big Red is officially described as a “huge, furry, loveable creature” by Western Kentucky University and is also genderless.

The second mascot that tried to win over the student body of WKU was a man who wore a Daniel Boone-style raccoon hat, a jacket, moccasins, and a rifle. This mascot was rightfully named Hilltopper, yet it was not the original Western Kentucky mascot. Big Red can be best described as the Spirit of Western.

The Hilltoppers’ mascot, Big Red, was designed and built by WKU student Ralph Carey, who created a suit based on amusement park characters. Since December 1, 1979, Big Red has been the Hilltoppers mascot. Marcus Ward and head coach Jeff Brohm joined Campus Insiders’ Shae Peppler at C-USA Media Days to explain exactly what Big Red can be best described as.