Steubenville "Big Red" seems to have a really interesting back story that continuous to be embraced to this day each time the team takes the field in Death Valley. At the turn of the century, early 1900"s, the newly formed Steubenville High School was in search of an identity in the form of a mascot. Without television, the newspaper was the main source for all news, including sports. Baseball, Boxing, Track & Field, and especially horse racing were the main draw of the day. One athlete in particular was widely known throughout the country as the greatest of all time, a horse, by the name of
"Man-o-War" . The muscular thoroughbred was a rare combination of power and speed, who dominated the competition. "BIG RED" whom the horse was often referred as due to his superior size and unusual red coat of fur. During a newspaper article from the turn of the century, a print writer described Man -O-War dominance as follows" the horse known as "Big Red" going down the final stretch in a blaze with fire coming out his noise". With that "Big Red" was adopted as the mascot of Steubenville High School.
Today, at Harding Stadium home of the BIG RED, when the local team is driving down the field you can here a snarling horse with hooves clanking over the PA system as the great horse did so many times before, and above the scoreboard Man-o-War sits watching over the beloved team and after each score or big play is made by the home team, the towering statue of a "red" horse blows fire from his nose once again.