Story by Carson Muscutt
Photos by Brett Phelps
Design by Breanna Burba
Editor’s Note: This article was originally released in Issue 17 of the WKU Talisman print magazine. Click here to read more articles from the Talisman’s semesterly print.
Big Red has certainly over-delivered on creator Ralph Carey’s expectations of its lifespan and impact.
“I never imagined there would be statues created of this character, that it would appear painted on a water tower, show up in national TV commercials, or be named by Sports Illustrated as #8 on the list of the greatest college football mascots of all time,” Carey said. “The impact has been humbling.”
According to the WKU Athletics website, Big Red is best described as the “Spirit of Western,” and is beloved by fans of all ages across the nation.
Carey was pursuing a public relations degree at WKU when he created the mascot in 1979. He had learned of an effort to create a mascot for WKU sports taking place at the old Sigma Alpha Epsilon house on College Street. Having had previous experience working in costume design during an internship at Kings Island in Ohio, he said he thought this might be a challenge he would enjoy.
“I was familiar with the existing WKU mascot, Mr. Hilltopper, and noted there did not seem to be much enthusiasm around the character,” Carey said.
When creating the costume, Carey knew that the performer would need to be able to move freely and would need a gimmick that would make them stand out from other mascots.
“I had a short period to prepare some character concept ideas in advance of a meeting with then Assistant Director of the WKU Alumni Association, Gary Ransdell, and Student Activities lead Ron Beck,” Carey said. “In a moment I scribbled out a quick sketch of what became Big Red. It had free-moving arms and legs and a huge mouth that could ‘swallow’ a purse or a basketball as a gimmick.”
Before making its debut performance at Diddle Arena in 1979, Carey and his roommate Dan Pelino took Big Red for a test run around Greenwood Mall to see how well the mascot would be received. Positive reactions were met, and Carey felt at ease heading into the mascot’s first official appearance at the home basketball game against Rollins College.
The night that Big Red was revealed was memorable for Carey. He dressed up in the costume, got inside a giant box, and was wheeled onto the court by cheerleaders.
“I waited there in the dark, listening to an announcer telling the crowd Santa had a present for Coach Gene Keady of the basketball team. Upon hearing a prearranged cue, the sides of the box dropped, and Big Red appeared for the first time,” Carey said.
Carey said he wasn’t sure that Big Red would leave a legacy and had hoped the character would just survive a few years. Now, it has become a symbol of pride and an embodiment of WKU’s traditions and values, Carey said. The impact has been a humbling experience for him.
“Watching it grow in national prominence and importance to WKU has been an amazing experience,” Carey said. “I went to WKU in hopes of playing football. I never made it into a game. Now, seeing the character I created on the helmet of every WKU player and an image of Big Red sewn into the playing field, I just shake my head and ask ‘How could this possibly happen?’”
Garrett Pippin is a former WKU film student from Hardyville, Kentucky, and was a Big Red performer during his senior year before graduating in the Spring of 2024.
Pippin’s first event as Big Red was at a church for a Divine Nine fraternity event. He expected the event to be full of fraternity and sorority students but was shocked to see that it was filled with kids. Interacting with children was one of Pippin’s favorite parts of playing the character.
Pippin would create dances with kids and look at picture books with them. For the kids that were scared, Pippin would hold out his hand to see if the kid would touch it.
“Some kids would look at me and be like, ‘That doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen’,” Pippin said. “We have some kids who hide behind their parent’s legs, covering their eyes.”
Maintaining the energy needed for a character like Big Red was the most challenging part of performing for Pippin. He said he needed to have the same amount of energy when he ended his performance as he did when he started.
“You’re kind of trapped in there, so if you don’t have the stamina it can be hard,” Pippin said.
Pippin said that Big Red felt like an alter ego for him. Any doubts or insecurities he had would immediately go away once he put on the costume.
“It’s like a part of my brain sort of turned off being in the suit and then performing, or like being in front of larger crowds,” Pippin said. “It’s like, I’m no longer film student Garrett Pippin. I’m Big Red, you know, the mascot of all times.”
Pippin said the experience made him wish he had auditioned for Big Red sooner.
A current Big Red performer, who was granted anonymity, said that he knew he wanted to audition for Big Red during the very first football game he attended during his freshman year at WKU. He saw how wild and fun Big Red was and felt like he shared that quirky personality.
“I have always been a huge sports fan, so being Big Red allowed me to be as crazy of a fan as possible and get others to have just as much fun,” he said.
The Big Red performer said that he would get a huge rush of adrenaline the moment he stepped onto the field as Big Red. He could feel the eyes of every fan watching him.
“I often say that Big Red is the show within the show, as you are always wanting to entertain as well as cheer on the Tops,” the performer said.
This Big Red performer had the opportunity to perform as Big Red with Shaquille O’Neal, also known as DJ Diesel, when O’Neal put on a concert before a WKU football game in 2023. The Big Red performer said he never thought dancing on stage with a famous basketball player was an opportunity Big Red would bring him.
One of the most meaningful interactions the current performer has had as Big Red was with an older fan who was one of the first Big Reds to ever perform in front of a large audience.
“He was so happy to tell me about his experiences and things that he got to do,” he said. “I couldn’t help but think I’ll be doing that one day to other Big Reds when I’m older.”
The current performer said that Big Red’s future is very bright. Before becoming Big Red, he didn’t understand how much of a local celebrity the mascot truly was. Big Red’s popularity will continue to grow because everyone enjoys watching the furry, lovable character, the Big Red performer said.
“The ability to entertain a group of people while not making any noise is a skill not too many people have, and being Big Red allows you to do that,” the current performer said. “Whether it’s eating people’s heads, being lifted up by the cheer team, or dancing with Shaquille O’Neal, Big Red is always drawing people’s attention.”
Carey said that Big Red has extended the reach of WKU. It has improved university awareness and made the school relevant in places it might not have been had Big Red not existed.
He likes to believe that Big Red will continue to represent the spirit of WKU long after he’s gone.
“There are no guarantees, of course,” Carey said. “The university and its fans will make that determination. Whatever it ends up being, I’ll be satisfied.”