Saddle Tramps
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saddle Tramps is an organization at Texas Tech University that dedicates itself to the spirit and service of the school. Created in 1936 by Head Cheerleader Arch Lamb, Saddle Tramps are known for wrapping the statue of Will Rogers "Riding into the Sunset" in red crepe paper before every home football game. Members are also known for ringing the victory bells after every football game, home basketball, and baseball game.
Texas Tech's oldest mascot is The Masked Rider. However, in 1971, the Southwest Athletic Conference passed a rule that no live animals could travel to away games unless the host team gave their permission. Saddle Tramp Jim Gaspard created a new mascot, Raider Red, based on a character by Dirk West. During the tenure, the identity of the person playing Raider Red is unknown to everyone but the Saddle Tramps.
Saddle Tramps are usually selected in their first year at Texas Tech University. Membership in the organization is limited to 100 people.[citation needed]
