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What is 'Big Red'? Meet WKU's mascot ahead of Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky

colin gay, columbus dispatch
·2 min read

Ohio State is preparing to take on Western Kentucky for the first time in program history.

With that, comes the Buckeyes' first meeting with "Big Red," when they kick off against the Hilltoppers at 4 p.m. Saturday on FOX.

Here's what you need to know about Western Kentucky's mascot

Meet 'Big Red': Western Kentucky's mascot

The Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers' mascot is a furry creature called Big Red.
The Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers' mascot is a furry creature called Big Red.

To Western Kentucky, the team's red "blob" mascot can best be described as "the Spirit of Western," supporting the Hilltoppers as a "huge, furry, lovable creature" described by the Bowling Green Daily News in 2012 as "amorphous, ambiguous, asexual and always lovable."

“It’s a very funny suit. ... It can make expressions where most mascots have one stupid expression on their face at all times,” Mark Greer, a former "Big Red" mascot, told the Bowling Green Daily News. “Big Red can show emotion like no other mascot. Everybody can associate with it. The kids love him, too, because he’s a great big Muppet to them. He appeals to all age groups.”

According to Western Kentucky, "Big Red" celebrates its birthday December 1st.

'Big Red' has developed a national reputation

"Big Red" was debuted during the program's 1979-80 basketball season and has two signature moves: the "belly slide" and "belly shake."

The Western Kentucky mascot has appeared on TV shows like "The Ellen Degeneres Show," "Deal or No Deal" and ESPN's "SportCenter."

'Big Red' is friends with McDonalds' 'Grimace'

When McDonalds released a special birthday meal and milkshake for its purple mascot "Grimace," "Big Red" seemingly found a new friend.

In the height of the social media phenomenon surrounding the milkshake, "Big Red" posted a video with "Grimace" at a McDonalds restaurant before leading him on a tour through Western Kentucky University's campus.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Meet WKU's mascot 'Big Red' ahead of Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky