"Big Red," Western's athletic mascot, was born in the fall of 1979 . The huge, furry, lovable creature was originally designed and built by WKU student Ralph Carey ('80) of Cincinnati, and made its debut during the Hilltoppers' 1979-80 basketball season.

"Big Red" has become a big hit with fans of all ages throughout the state and the nation. The ultimate fan and supporter of all of WKU's intercollegiate sports, "Big Red" won the "Key to Spirit" award - the highest honor presented to team mascots at the time - at the Universal Cheerleading Association competition in 1980, 1981 and again in 1983. And, in the spring of 1990, "Big Red" reached the "Final Four" of the UCA's second annual national championship event in San Antonio, Texas, taking third-place honors. Then, in the spring of 1996, "Big Red" reached the "Final Four" of ESPN SportZone's "Battle of the Mascots" in public balloting on the Internet.

"Big Red" was the centerpiece of ESPN's promotion of the 25,000th SportsCenter, airing in August 2002, and is one of only two mascots to be named to the first three Capital One All-America Mascot Teams from 2002-04. Big Red took a year off and was named again to the Capital One All-America Mascot Team in 2006 (made it to the final four of the competition) and received this honor twice more in 2007 and 2009.

In addition, Big Red was a part of the NCAA's "Mascot Mania" Exhibit and was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007. Big Red has also appeared on the 2005 and 2006 Southern Sports Awards as well as appearing on NBC's Deal or No Deal.

2010 NCA & NDA Collegiate National Championship

Dayton Beach, FL

April 7-11, 2010

In the Partner Stunt Category, Katy Moody and John Kirk, finished in 3rd Place our of 13.  WKU's Partner Stunt couple finished ahead of schools such as the University of Louisville, Stephen F Austin University and University of Missouri.

In the Mascot category, Big Red finished in 4th Place ahead of such schools as Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, University of South Carolina and George Washington University.

For complete results visit www.nda.varsity.com/College