It is impossible not to smile the instant you see that 80-gallon head round a corner. Brutus Buckeye, the larger-than-legume mascot of The Ohio State University, has taken on multiple shapes since his 1965 papier mâché incarnation. But throughout his journey from disembodied tree nut, to funhouse humanoid, to present-day huggable superfan, Brutus has stayed true to his central trait: kindness.
“I’ve witnessed it a thousand times,” Ohio State Alumni Association president Molly Ranz Calhoun shared. “I see how faces light up when his big beautiful head enters a room. I’ve seen bawling toddlers turn giddy, arguing spouses make up, and nervous first-day freshmen be filled with newfound confidence.”
For three years at the start of the 2000s, Emily Moor Williams ’03 experienced the joy of imparting kindness from inside her thirty-inch by 18-inch office – Brutus’ foam head. But the opportunity would not have been possible had she not shrugged off the skeptics who discouraged her from even applying.
“The person inside Brutus is usually a guy,” she said, “but you never know unless you try. So I tried out, made it, and it really, really changed my life.”
As rewarding as the time inside the costume was, Emily was surprised by how much the experience would stay with her after graduation.
More recognizable than the most famous Buckeye gridiron star, Brutus is an institution, and one Emily credits with not only helping fund her education, but make her a forever part of Ohio State history and tradition.
That’s why Emily decided to give back, by helping future students who are interested in following in her size 26 Brutus footprints.
“I just started a Brutus endowment,” Emily explained, “so no one ever has to wonder if they should give up on being Brutus because they can’t afford it.”
You can also support students in their quest to don the Brutus garb and dance at midfield of the ‘Shoe. The BRUTUS Fund supports mascot activities and scholarships, while the Brutus Buckeye Ambassador Endowed Fund provides scholarships for Brutus's student representatives.