SENATOBIA, Miss. – Virgil Alsup, a former standout bull rider for the Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers in the 1990s, has been inducted into the Northwest Sports Hall of Fame.
Alsup, a Byhalia native, was officially honored as part of the 2025 induction class during the college’s Homecoming Week in October.
His rodeo career at Northwest began in 1993 under the mentorship of iconic coach Lawrence “Bud” Young.
“The first bull I ever got on was on the Northwest Farm,” Alsup recalled, referencing his first ride at a Bull-O-Rama event.
He credited Coach Young for building his confidence and skills, noting that he practiced weekly on a “bucking machine” to learn technique long before his first ride.
“Northwest set the stage for my whole life,” Alsup said. “Some of my fondest memories are from Northwest.”
Virgil Alsup (Photo credit: Matthew Mixson)
During his freshman year, Alsup placed at the top of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Ozark Region, earning a spot to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana. He finished 10th nationally.
His sophomore year was even more successful, as he rose to first in the region and finished third in the national standings.
After his tenure at Northwest, Alsup joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), finishing in the top 50 in his first year. He continued to ride professionally for 12 more years across various organizations.
Alsup’s 2025 induction secures his place in Northwest history for his outstanding contributions as a bull rider.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
