He is basically a giant nut with a permanent grin and a head that looks like it belongs on a much smaller body. If you’ve ever spent a Saturday in Columbus, you know that the Ohio State University Brutus—better known simply as Brutus Buckeye—is more than just a guy in a mascot suit. He is the pulse of the Shoe. Honestly, it’s kind of wild when you think about it. Most schools have fierce predators like tigers or bears. Ohio State has a seed. A poisonous nut from the Aesculus glabra tree.
But it works.
Brutus isn't just some marketing gimmick cooked up in a boardroom last year. He has a history that is surprisingly messy, full of fiberglass, near-death experiences for the mascot performers, and a massive evolution from a blocky, heavy shell to the athletic icon we see today. If you want to understand Ohio State culture, you have to understand the nut.
The 1965 Origin Story: Ray Bourhis and the Papier-Mâché Head
Back in the mid-sixties, Ohio State didn't really have a mascot. They had a live dog named Chris, but that didn't exactly scream "Buckeye Pride." In 1965, students Ray Bourhis and Sally Huber decided the school needed a symbol. They didn't have a massive budget or a professional design firm. They had a dream and some papier-mâché.
The first version of the Ohio State University Brutus was a total tank. It was this massive, heavy, blocky thing that made it nearly impossible for the person inside to move, let alone do a backflip. It actually debuted at a football game against Minnesota on October 30, 1965.
People loved it instantly.
Well, mostly. There’s an old story that the original head was so big it wouldn't fit through the doors of the car they used to transport it. They had to pivot quickly. Eventually, the papier-mâché gave way to fiberglass, which was more durable but still incredibly hot and heavy. Imagine wearing a giant, unventilated bowling ball on your shoulders while standing on a turf field in 90-degree heat. Not exactly a dream job.
That Time Brutus Almost Didn't Survive the 70s
The mascot we see now, with the striped shirt and the red hat, isn't how he always looked. For a while in the 1970s, the design got... weird. There was a version that looked a bit more like a cartoon character with a smaller head and a more human-shaped body. Fans hated it. It felt "off."
📖 Related: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
By 1980, the university realized they needed to standardize the look. This is where the modern Ohio State University Brutus really began to take shape. They went back to the larger head—the "nut" look—and paired it with the iconic scarlet and gray striped rugby shirt. This look stuck because it balanced the "cute" factor for kids with the "tough" factor needed for Big Ten football.
The Physical Toll of Being a Nut
You might think being the mascot is all high-fives and free tickets. It's actually a grueling athletic endeavor. The students who play Brutus are athletes in their own right. They have to manage a heavy head piece while performing synchronized dances with the cheerleaders, doing pushups for every point scored (which, let’s be real, is a lot when the Buckeyes are rolling), and navigating a stadium of 100,000 screaming fans.
The vision inside the head? Minimal.
The heat? Intense.
The smell? Let’s just say you don't want to be the person wearing the suit at the end of a double-overtime game against Michigan.
There’s a legendary level of secrecy involved, too. Students who are selected to be the Ohio State University Brutus are forbidden from telling people. It’s a "secret society" vibe. They usually don't reveal their identity until the final home game of their senior year, during a ceremony where they wear the "Brutus shoes" but no head. It’s a huge emotional payoff for years of anonymous hard work.
Brutus in the Modern Era: More Than Just Football
While football is the main stage, Brutus is everywhere now. He’s a fixture at basketball games, hockey matches, and even community events. He’s been inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame (yes, that’s a real thing in Whiting, Indiana) and has appeared in countless ESPN "This is SportsCenter" commercials.
One of the most famous Brutus moments in recent memory didn't even happen during a game. It was during a practice. In 2013, an Ohio State player named David Perkins absolutely leveled Brutus during a drill. The video went viral. It showed the mascot getting completely taken out by a linebacker. Brutus popped right back up, of course, because nuts are tough. But it served as a reminder that being the face of the program can be a contact sport.
Key Moments in Brutus History
- 1965: Debut at the Minnesota game.
- 1975: A temporary redesign that fans largely rejected.
- 2002: The first-ever Mascot National Championship win for Brutus.
- 2007: Brutus gets "attacked" by Rufus the Bobcat (Ohio University’s mascot) in a pre-planned but wild viral moment.
- 2015: The 50th birthday celebration that solidified his status as a national icon.
Why a Nut? Dealing with the Skeptics
People from the SEC or the West Coast love to make fun of the fact that Ohio State’s mascot is a tree nut. "Oh, I'm so scared of a snack," they'll say. But they don't get the cultural significance. The Buckeye tree is the state tree of Ohio. It’s deeply rooted in the history of the region. Native Americans called it "hetuck," meaning "eye of the buck" because the nut looks like the eye of a deer.
👉 See also: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
It’s about heritage.
When the Ohio State University Brutus runs onto the field, he isn't just representing a sports team. He’s representing a state identity. He is the underdog who became a powerhouse. He’s the personification of "The Best Damn Band in the Land" and "Hang on Sloopy."
The Business of Being Brutus
From a branding perspective, Brutus is a goldmine. You can find his face on everything from toasted sandwiches in the Short North to high-end watches. The university manages the trademark tightly. You can't just go around making your own Brutus gear without the legal department having a word with you. This commercialization has helped fund various spirit programs and ensures that the mascot's gear is always top-of-the-line.
Interestingly, there isn't just one Brutus. At any given time, there are usually 3 to 4 students who share the role. This is purely for logistical reasons. One person cannot be at a 10:00 AM charity 5K, a 2:00 PM volleyball game, and a 7:30 PM kickoff. They rotate. They practice together to make sure their "character" is consistent. Every Brutus has to walk the same way, gesture the same way, and have that same goofy-but-determined energy.
How to Interact with Brutus (Like a Pro)
If you're heading to a game and see the Ohio State University Brutus, there are some unwritten rules. First, don't try to pull the head off. It’s bolted on and it’s disrespectful. Second, he doesn't talk. Ever. If he’s communicating, it’s through exaggerated body language.
The best way to get a photo? Wait for a break in the action. He’s usually pretty good about stopping for kids, but during the game, he’s a busy nut. He has a job to do. If you see him doing the "O-H-I-O" chant, you'd better participate. It’s essentially mandatory.
The Future of the Mascot
As we move further into the 2020s, Brutus is getting tech upgrades. The newer heads are lighter, more breathable, and designed for even higher levels of acrobatics. There’s even talk of more augmented reality features where fans can "be" Brutus through their phones at the stadium.
✨ Don't miss: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
But at the end of the day, the technology doesn't matter.
The reason the Ohio State University Brutus works is that he is a constant in an ever-changing world of college sports. Players transfer. Coaches retire. Stadiums get renovated. But Brutus stays the same. He’s that same fiberglass nut that showed up in 1965, just with a better wardrobe and a few more gym hours under his belt.
Actionable Insights for Buckeye Fans
If you want to experience the Brutus legacy properly, don't just watch him on TV. Do these three things next time you're in Columbus:
- Visit the Ohio Union: There is a bronze statue of Brutus there. It’s the perfect place for a photo without the 100,000-person crowd.
- Check out the "Skull Session": Go to St. John Arena before a home game. You’ll see Brutus enter with the band, and the energy is arguably better than the game itself.
- Look for the Senior Reveal: If you're at the last home game of the season, pay attention during the player recognitions. Seeing the students finally take off the mask is a genuinely cool moment that highlights the human effort behind the icon.
The Ohio State University Brutus is a weird, wonderful piece of Americana. He shouldn't work on paper. A giant nut? It sounds ridiculous. But in the heart of Ohio, he is royalty. He is the buckeye that never quits.
Next time you see him leading the team out of the tunnel, remember that beneath that fiberglass shell is a student carrying 60 years of tradition on their shoulders. It’s a lot of pressure for a nut, but Brutus handles it just fine.
Next Steps for Researching Ohio State Lore
- Visit the University Archives: They hold the original sketches and photos of the 1965 papier-mâché head.
- Follow the Official Mascot Socials: The students behind the mask often post "day in the life" (anonymized) content that shows the training involved.
- Study the Aesculus Glabra: Seriously, go find a real buckeye nut in the wild. It helps you appreciate the design of the head way more.