Brutus Buckeye
Brutus turns 58!
One of Ohio State’s most storied figures, the founding of Brutus Buckeye began with the hard work and dedication of Ohio State students and student organizations.
Ohio State had no mascot prior to 1965, when students took matters into their own hands and launched an effort to create one. Some of the earliest documentation of the initiative is in the archival meeting minutes from Ohio Stater’s, Inc., a long-standing student service organization still in existence at Ohio State today.
In October 1965, students Ray Bourhis and Sally (Huber) Lanyon began to build a papier-mâché mascot. The construction took place at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house in the off-campus area, and Stater’s allocated $50 to the construction expenses in mid-October.
The mascot, without an official name at the time, made its debut by walking down the entrance ramp at Ohio Stadium on Oct. 30, 1965, at the Homecoming football game against Minnesota. Shortly after this premiere, Stater’s hosted a contest to identify a name for the mascot, which ultimately was announced as Brutus Buckeye.
Because the papier-mâché Brutus was not durable for Ohio weather conditions, Stater’s voted to allocate $200 to support the creation of a fiberglass mascot. The new model even sported different faces: a smile when the Buckeyes were driving down the field to victory and a frown for when the game wasn’t going so well.
At the conclusion of the 1967 football season, management of Brutus was turned over to Block “O,” an Ohio State student organization dedicated to promoting and enhancing school spirit and pride — also still in existence today.
Block “O” managed the mascot until 1974. After a Big Ten Championship season and an impending trip to the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena that year, Brutus was not originally scheduled to make an appearance in California. In the end, Ohio State’s Athletics department made the decision to send Brutus to the Rose Bowl, and Ohio State’s cheerleading and spirit team took control of the mascot, where he has been lovingly cared for ever since.
In the 1980s, Brutus received another update to his look: a baseball cap with an “O,” his signature scarlet and gray striped shirt with the “00” on the back and some slim-fitting sweatpants. In the 1990s, his upper-body beefed up. And in 2007, our beloved Brutus was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
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More on Brutus
Personal:
- Born 1965 in Columbus, Ohio
- Tree Parents: Woody & Belle Buckeye
- Human Parents: Ray Bourhis & Sally Lanyon
Position: Mascot Extraordinaire
Height: 6’0 – 6’9, depending on if it rains
City/State: Old Columbus town, Ohio
Alma Mater: THE Ohio State University
High School: Due to his oversized head & brain, Brutus actually scored a 200 on his IQ test from birth & was offered a full ride scholarship directly in to Ohio State immediately after emerging from his POD negating the need for any form of intermediate schooling.
Career Notes:
- The ultimate multi-sport year-round athlete at The Ohio State University
- Appears at more than 500 sporting and non-sporting events each year
- Known for his extreme athleticism & goofy antics both on and off the field
- Talents include: Head Banging, Head Stands, Buck Tucks, Dancing, Fake singing, Playing the Drums, Listening, & Striking Amazing Poses
- 2019 and 2015 UCA mascot national champion
- 2007 Mascot Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2006 Survivor of a giant squirrel attack caught live during an Interview by Jon Stewart from Comedy Central
- Five-time Capital One Mascot Challenge competitor including a 2nd place finish
- Placed 7th in the 2011-2012 Universal Cheerleaders Association National Championship in Orlando Florida
- Has partaken in an actual aerobics class with Richard Simmons and the ESPN broadcast crew
- The Ohio State University Push-up Champion 49 years running (Even when he had no arms)
- Has a pet squirrel named Eleanor
- Has taught multiple people How to Douggie
- Aspires to one day pass legislation that prohibits the consumption of nuts of all kind by both humans & rodents alike.
- Wears the actual hat from Woody Hayes first ever game that he coached here at Ohio State
- Enjoys hanging amongst the trees in Buckeye Grove & visiting his abundance of cousins scattered all throughout the state.
Personal Friends & Influences:
- Archie Griffin
- Woody Hayes
- Trees
- Chip the Buffalo
- Urban & Shelley Meyer, Ryan Day and every coach in the athletic department
- Stinger
- Crew Cat
- The Cincinnati Bear Cat
- Who Dey
- Chomps
- Zippy
- Swoop
- Ohio State Faculty & Staff
Rivals & Enemies:
- Goldy the Gopher (Eats Nuts)
- Rufus the Kittycat (Imposter)
- Bucky the Badger (Eats…Everything)
- Sparty (No comment)
- All things M*ch*gan
