Imagine Brutus Buckeye doing cartwheels during half-time of a football game wearing a football uniform instead of the regular gray and scarlet striped outfit.
Brutus has recently been ridiculed by a local radio station for his out-of-date wardrobe, and The Other Paper ran an article debating whether or not a change should be made.
Brutus has his own opinion about his appearance.
“I’m in favor of looking at new ideas, but I think the current Brutus is working,” said Thomas Phillips, a senior in aerospace engineering and one of the two Brutus personalities.
Phillips also said that the way Brutus looks now is good because it appeals to everyone, young and old.
Brutus’ costume the past decade or so has been a striped rugby shirt, red sweat-pants and tube socks.
One suggestion made for Brutus’ wardrobe is an outfit for each sport he attends at OSU. Philips thought that different looks for each sport would be a good idea.
Judy Bunting, cheerleading adviser at OSU, said that Brutus is a symbol for OSU and people recognize who he is.
“We are trying to update him from time to time – not a complete overhaul, but more of a tweak to him,” she said.
This form of Brutus is very accessible to the fans; he can go into the stands and sit with them, Bunting said.
In the 1970s, Brutus was accompanied by a huge head that fit over someone’s body. That Brutus was not very accessible to any fans.
“Compared to costumes in the past, it’s not that bad. But overall it is time for a new look,” said Courtney Plessinger, a staff member in the Office of Human Resources at OSU, and a 1998 graduate of OSU.
Plessinger said a smaller head would be a good idea, and the striped shirt needs to go.
One good reason for a potential change would be that Brutus need to be more uniform with the team, Plessinger said.
“The fans respond to him well, but that really doesn’t have anything to do with the way he looks,” she said.
Keith Wacker, a senior in turf management, said Brutus is pretty lame.
“The socks got to go,” he said. “Actual football pants would be nice, or a uniform like the team.”
