Big Red (Western Kentucky University)

Big Red
WKU's mascot Big Red was created by student Ralph Carey in 1979.
Team	Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Lady Toppers
University	Western Kentucky University
Conference	Conference USA
Description	Red cartoon-like character
First seen	December 1, 1979
Hall of Fame	2007

Big Red is the mascot of Western Kentucky University's sports teams, the "Hilltoppers" and "Lady Toppers". It is a red, furry being created by Ralph Carey in 1979. Big Red is meant to symbolize the spirit of WKU students and alumni as well as the sports teams' nickname, the "Hilltoppers," a name chosen because the school's campus sits atop a hill 232 feet above the Barren River flowing through WKU's home city of Bowling Green.^[1]