A national title is slipping out of one Buckeye’s hands.
Brutus Buckeye’s lead in the National Mascot of the Year popular vote is decreasing, and he needs Ohio State students to help him pad the lead.
After pulling ahead of the pack of 12 national mascots early in the competition, Brutus has dropped some of his percentage points to the fastest gaining mascot, Aubie from Auburn University.
Voting continues at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com until Dec. 22 and Judy Bunting, OSU cheerleading coach, said Brutus needs students to keep voting.
“Most people think the contest ends at the end of the football season, but it really runs much later,” she said. “I hope students are still voting because Brutus was way ahead in the beginning, but he is losing his lead.”
Brutus was still ahead yesterday with 38.1 percent of the vote. Aubie is rapidly gaining points and following Brutus with 22.7 percent of the vote. The University of South Carolina’s mascot, Cocky, rounds out the top three with 15.9 percent of the vote.
The popular vote will comprise 50 percent of the mascot’s total score. A panel of judges has already judged the mascots on their overall performance and that score will make up the other 50 percent.
Bunting said Brutus plans to hit the campaign trail hard this week, making stops at many of the Beat Michigan events.
“I am really getting worried,” Bunting said. “Aubie is really catching up quickly.”
The winner of the mascot challenge will be announced during the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1.
