The Bobcats

FUN FACT:
Before the year 1925 Ohio University did not have a mascot.

In 1925 The OHIO athletic board decided that we needed a mascot and nickname to represent Ohio University. The athletic board held a contest where students sent in name suggestions. The contestant who sent in the best idea would win ten dollars;
ten dollars wouldn't even buy us a tank of gas these days. Anyway the idea of "The Bobcats", submitted by former student Hal H. Rowland, won the contest.


The Bobcat mascot was first introduced at a football game against our rivals, the Miami Redhawks, which we won! The first mascot costume was designed by Tom Schantz and it consisted of a green sweater with "Ohio" written on the front, and a big paper mache head.












The first person to wear the outfit was a student who lived in Lincoln Hall. After that it was a tradition for several years that whoever wore the mascot outfit had to be a resident of Lincoln Hall. That tradition is no longer followed.
The mascot outfit has changed numerous times over the years.
Our mascot now is called Rufus, who was named in 2006 after one of our founders Rufus Putnam.


Info and pictures from:
http://www.ohioalumni.org/bobcats-mascots

For future refrence anyone who becomes Rufus should not tackle Brutus the Buckeye
You will get in trouble! ---------> youtube video