The bobcat is typically a fearless, intimidating feline, but this week the Bobcats have their tails between their legs.
The Ohio University Bobcats, that is.
Before Saturday’s Ohio State-OU football showdown, played this year on OSU’s turf, OU’s bobcat mascot Rufus looked more like a linebacker than a friendly sideline distraction.
Rufus took it upon himself to tackle OSU’s mascot, Brutus the Buckeye, at the first opportunity he had. The Bobcat took out the Buckeye as he led OSU onto the field.
Brutus took the hit like a champ and got back up quickly to finish the Buckeyes’ charge, but Rufus wasn’t done (on a side note, the whole Rufus vs. Brutus thing sounds like a Popeye story line or a battle of panhandlers in the 1940s).
The Bobcat tracked down Brutus again, jumped on his back and wrestled him to the ground. In the ensuing scuffle, Rufus punched the oversized Buckeye head multiple times before being broken up.
Funny? Maybe. Everyone likes a little mascot humor, particularly the fans, but rarely is it safe or acceptable to take the teasing to this level. And I’m certain OSU fans didn’t enjoy watching their beloved Brutus getting bashed.
Playful? Turns out, no. Not at all. The Associated Press reported Monday that the man behind the Bobcat mask, 19-year-old Brandon Hanning, had been planning the attack for quite a while.
“It was actually my whole plan to tackle Brutus when I tried out to be mascot," Hanning told the AP. "I tried out about a year ago, and the whole reason I tried out was so I could come up here to Ohio State and tackle Brutus."
Classless? Absolutely. A premeditated attack on an opponent’s mascot doesn’t just display a lack of class, but also a lack of respect. A lack of respect for the privilege of representing OU, the spirit of college athletics and the purpose a mascot serves.
Hanning, who isn’t even an OU student anymore, has showed no remorse and, thus, no class. The guy even went as far as to say that he thinks the whole thing was “a little blown out of proportion.”
I get it. In the grand scheme of things, the world has bigger problems. Even college football has much bigger problems. But that isn’t the point.
Hanning made OU look bad and forced the university to offer up a sheepish apology. Hanning, by the way, has been banned from any affiliation with OU athletics, according to the AP.
The greatest damage may have been done, however, to the relationship between the two schools.
They may not be rivals the way that ASU and UA or Michigan and Michigan State are, but the teams have created in recent years an enjoyable match up for fans of both teams.
The actions of Hannings, who obviously does not represent all of OU, have likely left a bad taste in the Buckeyes’ mouths. Going into an opponent’s stadium and tackling their mascot isn’t the way to make a good impression and get invited back.
The match up benefits OU most, as the exposure it gains from playing OSU and the money the team makes wouldn’t come close to if it were playing a team like Cal Poly, as they did in week three of last season. This too could be harmed in the future all because Hanning wanted to get a few laughs and claim he tackled Brutus.
I know it’s just college, but grow up.
Brutus got the last laugh, however, as No. 2 OSU rolled to a 43-7 win.
Reach the columnist at tyler.lockman@asu.edu
