Sports teams without mascots are simply boring. Who’s supposed to get the crowd roaring? Here’s a list of the 10 best mascots in college football.
From leading pep rallies to orchestrating cheers during games, college football mascots are the most important part of any program…aside from the great players, historical stadiums and timeless traditions. But mascots are right up there. Who’s more suited to bridge that gap between fans and players than someone dressed up in a Disney-like costume?
There are a variety of mascot types, too, from real-life people wearing a costume to live animals on a leash. We didn’t forget those who wear a full-body suit either, and they deserve plenty of props for baking in those costumes during game days. Next time you’re at a game whining about how hot it is, just think of Brutus Buckeye and everything he’s enduring under that head.
Brutus Buckeye, the, “biggest nut in college football,” first appeared in 1965 after two students convinced those in charge to explore the idea. Typically, mascots were live animals, but a buck deer wasn’t really possible and the idea was rejected. Instead, the buckeye – the state’s official tree – was chosen.
There have been a number of versions of Brutus Buckeye, from a Kool-Aid Man look-alike to a Mr. Potato Head-like face that could smile or frown depending on the team’s success (or lack thereof). It changed rather quickly, too, from a papier-mache shell to a 22 lb. fiberglass shell with furry eyebrows.
Brutus became a member of the OSU Cheerleading Program following the 1974 Big Ten Championship when the Buckeyes were set to play in the Rose Bowl. He wasn’t expected to make the trip to Pasadena, but the Ohio State Athletic Department stepped in after public outcry and put him under the cheerleaders’ supervision.