A New Brutus or Two … – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Fans can check out several more Buckeye mascot statues outside Schottenstein Center, view all the Brutus on Parade statues at the photo album link above.
During the past month, many Ohio State fans have been seen posing with the variety of “Brutus on Parade” statues displayed outside the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Thursday, several more Brutus renditions were put in place and added to the collection adorning the path to Ohio Stadium on football game days.
Barnstormer Brutus, Clark Kent Brutus, Alumni Brutus and a pose of Brutus as the Statue of Liberty all are part of the latest group now on display.
In all, Forty Brutus Buckeye statues, all decorated with a unique personality or theme, will be on display outside the Schottenstein Center throughout the football season. The “Brutus On Parade” program, which runs through mid-October, is helping fund the renovation of the William Oxley Thompson Library. The exhibit is free-of-charge and located along the northwest, northeast and southeast plaza of the arena.
The seven-foot tall, fiberglass statues of the popular Buckeye mascot include colorful designs depicting popular figureheads like E. Gordon Gee, Ohio State University President, Buckeye football head coach Jim Tressel and football legends like Archie Griffin and Bill Willis. Statues also feature likenesses of restaurant founder Dave Thomas, Christopher Columbus, as well as themes focused on the Ohio State Marching Band, sports, super heroes, space exploration and various occupations. A full list of themes can be found at www.brutusonparade.com.
A number of local individuals and companies pledged between $10,000 to $20,000 to sponsor a statue. A limited number of statues are still available for sponsorship.
“Brutus On Parade” is patterned after Chicago’s successful “Cows on Parade” in 1999 and the 2004 program at the University of Iowa featuring the mascot Herky Hawkeye.
Ohio State initiated a $109 million renovation project of its William Oxley Thompson Library in January 2007. The Ohio State Library is a university landmark and a cornerstone of the university, ranked 21st among the 113 members of the Association of Research Libraries. The project, to be completed by 2009, will create a facility that serves Ohio State students and faculty well into the 21st century.
In August, the University announced the Department of Athletics increased its financial contribution to the library renovation from the original $5 million committed in 2006 to $9 million. More on the Department of Athletics contribution can be accessed at the link above.
Clark Kent Brutus
View more Brutus on Parade statues at the photo album link above
About Ohio State Athletics
The Ohio State University Department of Athletics sponsors 36 fully funded varsity teams 17 for women, 16 for men and three co-educational. The department is committed to providing its more than 900 student-athletes with the finest in academic and athletics support in order to ensure a quality and life-enhancing experience. The Department of Athletics is completely self-supporting and receives no university monies, tax dollars or student fees. In Fiscal Year 2008-09, the Department of Athletics will transfer back to the University more than $26 million in assessments, including nearly $13 million in grant-in-aid costs.
