Brutus has to do 59 push-ups, Ohio State beats Purdue
Brutus has to do 59 push-ups when Ohio State beats Purdue.
Doral Chenoweth, The Columbus Shipping Company
There would be no Ohio State football without the football icon himself. No, not starting quarterback Will Howard.
Brutus, Buckeye!
Once a papier-mâché ball, Brutus is now a full-blown mascot. He is the biggest madman in college football, responsible for cheering thousands and uniting generations of Buckeye fans.
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A dedicated member of the cheerleading squad since 1974, inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007, and adorned with a costume consisting of nine pieces – head, shirt, pants, shoes, gloves, wristbands, socks, belt and towel – Brutus takes school spirit to the ultimate level.
Buckeye Fan Base: 10 things you didn’t know about OSU’s Brutus Buckeye
Want to learn more about Ohio’s most famous personality? We’ve got you covered.
1. Brutus Buckeye is 59 years old
In 1965, two Ohio State students, Sally Lanyon and Ray Bourhis, realized the state needed a mascot – and what better choice than a nut from the state tree?
Although we now expect to see Brutus at every football game, he was originally smuggled onto the field as a nameless brown paper ball during a homecoming game. He is now a full-blown mascot, and more than 60 people have claimed the honor of wearing the Brutus costume, including current mascot program director and assistant cheerleading coach Ray Sharp, who wore the costume from 2010 to 2013.
Fun fact: The first woman to wear the Brutus costume was Sandy Foreman in 1977, and the first African American to wear Brutus was Keith Burkes in 1973.
2. He looks out of his mouth
Those wearing the Brutus head have a much lower vantage point than the 6’1″ figure we see here. This presents an even greater challenge for those carrying around the 5lb head. But boy, do they handle it with grace.
Fun fact: The Brutus head is 40 degrees warmer than the air temperature.
3. There is more than one
Although Sharp insists there is only one official Brutus, several Brutus-obsessed websites confirm that about six other Ohio State students take on the role of mascot each year to help run the schedule of over 400 events.
Brutus’ identity is top secret. Each year, about 10 to 15 students take part in a selection process, and those selected must perfect the mascot’s personal skills – for example, doing a headstand while forming the word OHIO with their legs.
Fun fact: Anyone who puts on the Brutus head receives a partial scholarship, which is financed through donations.
Do you have more facts about Brutus? Send them to [email protected]
