Though the Northwest rodeo program has received a lot of well-deserved national attention lately, the Rangers have had several legends pave the way for the program’s current success. Virgil Alsup is one of those legends.
A native of Byhalia, Alsup burst onto the scene for Coach Lawrence “Bud” Young in the fall of 1993, first competing in the program’s annual Bull-O-Rama event. In the spring of 1994, Alsup placed near the top of the NIRA Ozark Region standings in bull riding, earning a spot in the College National Finals Rodeo later that summer in Bozeman, Montana. He placed 10th nationally in bull riding and rode again for his sophomore year.
As a sophomore, Alsup placed first in the region standings and third in the national standings by the season’s end, sending him back to Bozeman for another shot at glory in the College National Finals Rodeo.
At the time, Alsup became just the second male rodeo participant from Northwest to make the College National Finals Rodeo, with only steer wrestler Trey Cochran going before him in 1990. Alsup was just the third NWCC rodeo participant to make the CNFR, also joining Merrie Carol Martin, who competed in breakaway roping in 1990. For many years, Alsup was the only Ranger bull rider to earn a spot in the CNFR. That distinction was held until 2011, when Brian Dowdy punched his ticket for the national event.
After Northwest, Alsup pursued his bull riding career within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and finished in the top 50 his first year. Alsup continued riding for another 12 years in various associations. His top moments include winning the 2002 IPRA Oklahoma rodeo series, along with a new Ford truck, and being the first bull rider to ride all six bulls in three nights at the finals of the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders. Alsup considers his biggest win to be the friendships and memories made along this journey.
