Brutus Buckeye might be the most recognizable part of Ohio State’s spirit. The mascot also requires the time and energy of four OSU students.
Brian Bunting, Nate Eick, Brian Bolibrzuch and Sean Stazen seem like normal students, but they are the men responsible for entertaining thousands of screaming fans as Brutus Buckeye.
The life of a mascot is not all about performing at sporting events. These four students must represent the spirit of OSU on and off the field. The strong connection between OSU and Brutus Buckeye is what drew Eick, a fourth-year in accounting, to audition for the role.
“Brutus can relate to everyone and he really represents so many different things in the university. It’s athletics, but I can go to the hospital and visit cancer patients and the nursing staff there. I represent them, as well,” Eick said. “I really liked being connected to the university. I knew I wanted to be super-involved.”
The students underwent a two-day tryout, which is meant to test their character, physical ability and creativity. The tryout included an interview with the cheerleading staff and people who previously filled the role of Brutus.
“What they’re really looking for is someone who is a good representative of the university,” Eick said. “It’s great if you can act out in costume, but that’s only a small part of it.”
Once selected, the students began training immediately.
“It is kind of a steep learning curve. There’s really no way to learn how to be Brutus except getting thrown into the fire,” said Bunting, a fifth-year in industrial systems engineering. Bunting is the most experienced member of the team, having played Brutus for four years.
The day after Bunting was told he was selected to be Brutus, he was asked to attend a football game to study how a veteran Brutus performed.
The students must also adjust to performing in the costume.
“It can be extremely hot. Some mascots have icepacks, water tanks and fans inside their costumes, but we are pretty old school. We try to stay well-hydrated and take breaks as needed,” Eick said in an e-mail.
Another major part of learning to be Brutus is learning to manage a busy schedule, Bunting said.
“We’re probably spending, on a very base average, five hours a week [as Brutus]. But there are weeks where we’re doing a 40-hour job,” he said.
Events that feature Brutus, ranging anywhere from athletics to wedding receptions, are split between the four students based on their availability.
When planning their weeks, the students are also aware that Brutus might be needed at an event at any time, with little or no notice.
“It is almost like being a doctor, you’re on call all the time,” said Stazen, a third-year in communication.
Each of the students receives a scholarship for being a mascot, which ranges between $1,500 to $2,500 per year. But Bolibrzuch, a fourth-year in sports leadership humanities, said the time spent on the football field is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.
“The first time I ran the football team onto the field, your heart just starts beating, adrenaline is rushing; it’s an amazing feeling,” he said.
Even though football games are favorites among the Brutus team, some of the greatest moments happen off the field, Eick said.
“The most profound feeling was the first couple of times I visited the hospital. Just to see the impact. It’s really hard to talk in that situation, so I’m really grateful I don’t have to,” he said.
For, Bunting it means a lot to become part of a longstanding legacy at OSU.
“The players change every few years. The coaches are around a little bit longer, but even they change,” he said. “But Brutus, ever since 1965, has been at Ohio State, has been on the sidelines, has been around the community. We’re a huge icon for the university.”
