Brutus Buckeye is the athletics mascot of The Ohio State University. Brutus is a student dressed in Buckeye colors with a headpiece resembling an Ohio Buckeye. Brutus has appeared since 1965, with periodic updates to design and wardrobe. As a member of the cheerleading team Brutus Buckeye travels to many athletic events and makes appearances around Columbus.Ohio State students Ray Bourhis and Sally Huber decided Ohio State needed a mascot in 1965 and convinced the athletic council to study the matter. At the time, mascots were generally animals brought into the stadium or arena. A buck deer was contemplated but rejected as impossible. Instead, the buckeye nut was selected, as the buckeye is the official state tree of Ohio. A simple paper-mache nut was constructed by students, worn over the head and torso, with legs sticking out. It made its appearance at the Minnesota vs. Ohio State homecoming football game on October 30, 1965. The heavy paper-mache nut did not last and it was soon replaced by a fiberglass shell. On November 18, 1965, judges picked Brutus Buckeye to be the new mascot's name after a campus-wide contest. The winning name was the idea of then student Kerry Reed. Kerry Reed is presently a Disciples of Christ pastor at Gender Road Christian Church in Canal Winchester, Ohio. "Block O" agreed to care for Brutus in December.
Brutus has been updated several times to the present buckeye head and block O hat, scarlet and grey shirt emblazoned "Brutus" and "00", red pants with an Ohio State towel hanging over the front, and high white socks with black shoes. Male and female students both serve as Brutus Buckeye; generally two to five per year.
