A groups of five Ohio State students are the most popular students on campus, and frequent most student events. OSU students and fans search crowds looking for their nutty alter egos just hoping for a high-five, while others wait in line to take their picture.

Meet the men behind the mask – Cassidy Mullins, Bill Rumple, Ty Schlegel, Andrew Peters and Jay Umbleby. They make up the team of students that play Brutus the Buckeye at OSU.

It was at a men’s hockey game that the position of Brutus first caught Mullin’s eye.

“I watched Brutus dump popcorn on Michigan State fans, and I thought it was pretty cool,” said Mullins, a senior in zoology who tried out after seeing an ad in The Lantern.

The process to become the beloved Buckeye mascot begins in April annually, cheerleading coach Judy Bunting said. Of the 20 students who try out every year, only two to three are female.

The two-day tryout tests personality, judgment, responsibility and school spirit, including an interview with students who have played Brutus in the past. This process is used to find a personality that will represent Brutus in and out of the costume, said Bunting.

Judges pose four hypothetical situations to each candidate, including how they would react if an alumni member offers Brutus alcohol, or how to recover from accidentally running over a child. The remainder of the tryout tests the side of Brutus seen by the fans. Candidates perform a memorized cheer to the fight song and a skit to the tune of “Hang on Sloopy” in the full Brutus costume.

“It’s more difficult than you think,” said Schlegel, a senior in business logistics. “It’s different being in the head.”

He was told his big, exaggerated body motions helped secure the role of Brutus.

While Schlegel has played Brutus for the last two years, Mullins and Rumple are considered veterans by their teammates with three years of experience as the mascot.

Peters and Umbleby are considered “in-training,” said Bunting, mainly doing appearances as they learn the role of Brutus from their three teammates, who will graduate in June. Bunting chose these new members in the spring of 2004 in preparation to replace the veterans, neither of whom had any cheerleading experience.

“Being the class clown was the best preparation I had,” said Umbleby, a sophomore in marketing.

Between the team of five, they cover a multitude of campus activities from visiting residence halls to women’s volleyball games. Mullins, Rumple and Schlegel split the job on football Saturdays into pre-game, first- and second-half shifts.  

One of Schlegel’s fondest Brutus moments came during his first home football game, preparing to run the Buckeye flag. Mullins and Rumple were pumping him up as he stood in front of the entire football team and 100,000 screaming fans.

“Tressel’s getting the troops ready and then he looks straight at you and points and you just go,” Schlegel said. “It’s got to be adrenaline: You’re running so fast, you fly down the field.”

Time spent in costume playing Brutus varies from week to week, with fall being the busiest season. Umbleby said he is always on call and does not have time for a job.

“Besides school, Brutus is top priority,” Mullins said.

Peters balances his schedule between Brutus, Block O, ROTC, working at the Baker East front desk and his double major in economics and political science.   

“He’s the most involved kid at OSU,” Umbleby said proudly of his teammate.

Students playing Brutus qualify as student athletes and receive similar benefits, including priority scheduling. Even though scholarships are not awarded, all donations received from Brutus events are evenly distributed between the cheerleaders and the Brutus team. The money received covers textbooks and little more, Mullins said.      

Even though they all know the same basic cheers, the five-man team made it clear that no Brutus is the same.

“(Each of us) is good at something,” Peters said. “It’s awesome.”

Each nutty Buckeye has its own signature moves when in costume. Rumple is known for his headstands and his “worm” on the football field, while Peters is the only Brutus that can do a front flip.

Even though the team spoke of their love for sporting events, Mullins said the opposing fans do not always love them. Surprised by the veteran’s comment, Peters disagreed saying that he has never had to protect himself.

“You haven’t been to an away game,” Mullins said. “Many people don’t want you there.”

Schlegel played Brutus at the 2003 Wisconsin football game in Madison, Wis., the first time the Buckeyes were defeated since their 2002 undefeated season.

“I knew the students were going to be bad, but it was the 40-year-old men that were throwing stuff and calling my mom names,” Schlegel said.

With a minute remaining and the Buckeyes losing, Bunting urged Schlegel off the field, to avoid the anxious Badger fans that were inching down from the stands.

“I remember running down the sidelines. It sounded like popcorn was popping on my head because so many things were hitting it,” Schlegel said.

Rumple had a similar experience when he accidentally ended up in the Wisconsin student section. After fans erupted and began shouting profanities, Rumple was escorted to safety by police.

“I like being the bad guy, the one they can’t stand,” Rumple said.

The friendliest of fans are the smaller, future Buckeyes, Schlegel said.

“When you see a kid that has dreamed about you, and the eyes get huge, that’s what makes it worth it all,” Schlegel said.

All the Brutus men agreed that playing the mascot has been fun for both their family and friends. Schlegel said his roommates tease him for almost becoming Brutus on a daily basis.

“I heard I walk to class like Brutus walks and when I sign my name, I usually start it with a ‘B,'” said Schlegel. He also instinctively puts up a number one finger when taking pictures with people, even outside of the costume.

“He’s the biggest Buckeye fan,” said Chris Ramsey, Schlegel’s roommate and 2004 OSU graduate. “He even made Brutus shoes. Ty’s perfect for it.”