Big Red (Western Kentucky University)
Big Red | |
---|---|
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]
Creation
Prior to the start of the 1979 college basketball season, WKU student Ralph Carey volunteered to create a mascot for the school's sports teams. It was hoped a mascot would generate enthusiasm and supplement the iconic red towels waved by fans in the stands.[2] Carey said he wanted to create something unique that stayed as far away as possible from the stereotype many have of Kentuckians.[2] Although he liked the antics of the San Diego Padres' chicken mascot and initially sketched a bear wearing a sweater emblazoned with the letter "W", he ultimately decided not to use a known animal or entity.[2]
Carey eventually presented the sketch of a red, furry blob-like mascot concept to a committee which included future university president
Historically, tryouts for students who want to portray Big Red are held in April of each year.[2] The university library maintains an archive of every student who has portrayed the character.[2] When a WKU student who portrayed Big Red graduates, they are allowed to wear the Big Red "gloves" on graduation day to let people know they were a WKU mascot.
Description
According to WKU's branding guide, Big Red is neither male nor female.[3] It must always be red and display "WKU" – the abbreviation for Western Kentucky University – on the front.[3] The character cannot talk, but Mark Greer, the second person ever to portray Big Red, noted, "It’s a very funny suit. ... It can make expressions where most mascots have one stupid expression on their face at all times. Big Red can show emotion like no other mascot."[2][3] The character's signature moves are the belly slide and the belly shake.[4]
The
Recognition
Big Red won the Universal Cheerleading Association's Key to the Spirit award in 1980, 1981 and 1983.[6] It reached the Universal Cheerleading Association's Final Four and was awarded 2nd runner-up to collegiate Mascot of the Year in 1990.[6] In 1996 it reached the Final Four of ESPN's "Battle of the Mascots." In 2002, the character was part of ESPN's promotion of the SportsCenter's 25,000th.[6]
In 2007, WKU alumna Kate Mercer Miller appeared as a contestant on the game show "
Big Red has been selected eight times to compete in the Capital One Mascot Challenge in the competition's ten-year history, reaching the semifinals of the 2006 Capital One Mascot Challenge.
In 2012, Big Red was the first mascot inducted into the Capital One Mascot Challenge Hall of Fame.[10] Big Red also ranked tenth in the inaugural Cheetos Top 25 Cheesiest College Mascots that year.[11]
In 2017, WKU's student newspaper, the College Heights Herald, reported that a crowdfunding campaign on the website SpiritFunder raised over $7,000 from 44 donors in three days to purchase a new costume for Big Red.[12]
Italian copyright lawsuit
In 2003, Western Kentucky University sued
Because the infringement was alleged to have occurred in Italy, the dispute was adjudicated in the Italian court system.[6] WKU won each round of the case in lower Italian courts, but in 2008, the Court of Lugo ruled in favor of Mediaset.[6][14] The ruling held that Big Red's function as a mascot was entitled to copyright protection, but that the likeness of Big Red was in the public domain and ineligible for copyright protection.[6] It further noted differences in the appearance and behavior of the characters, including Gabibbo's trademark tuxedo (in contrast to Big Red's apparel bearing the "WKU" abbreviation) and Gabibbo's ability to speak.[6]
On appeal, the court of appeals in Milan ruled in favor of Ricci and Mediaset.[14] In 2018, WKU and Big Red's creator, Ralph Carey, re-filed the lawsuit, and the Italian Supreme Court ruled that the case had merit, sending it back to the Milan Court of Appeals.[14]
References
- ^ "Pillpoppers nickname origin". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 6, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Bishop, Chad (September 14, 2012). "Unveiled in '79, Big Red a WKU icon". Bowling Green Daily News. Bowling Green, Kentucky. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ a b c "WKU Communication and Branding Manual" (PDF). Western Kentucky University. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ "Big Red Traditions". Western Kentucky University Athletics. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ Nanni, Ryan (December 2, 2016). "This is Too Far, Western Kentucky". Every Day Should Be Saturday. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Story, Justin (January 6, 2008). "Italian judge rules against Big Red". Bowling Green Daily News. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ a b Adams, Rachel (February 11, 2007). "Big Red Goes to Hollywood". The Park City Daily News. Park City, Kentucky.
- ^ "Capital One Bowl Home Page". Archived from the original on October 22, 2006. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ "Big Red Slated to Appear as Special Guest on Wheel of Fortune". Western Kentucky University. October 20, 2006. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Female Mascots Join Capital One All-America Mascot Team For First Time in Annual Competition". PR Newswire. September 3, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ "Cheetos Brand Celebrates College Sports With Inaugural Top-25 Cheesiest Mascots Rankings". PR Newswire. August 20, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
- ^ Moore, Elisabeth (April 26, 2017). "Big Red needs a new suit, calls on fans for help". College Heights Herald. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ a b c d Sylvers, Eric (February 27, 2004). "Are Origins Of Italian Star Found in Hills Of Kentucky?". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ a b c Eaton, Tyler (June 6, 2018). "WKU's lawsuit over Big Red copyright infringement revisited after 15 years". College Heights Herald. Retrieved December 24, 2018.