Et tu, Rufus?

     Ohio State played Ohio University on Saturday September 13, 2025. A heated in-state rivalry? Not really. It was a "warm-up" game for OSU; the Buckeyes won 37-9. The prior game against OU was September 18, 2010. OSU won that one 43-7, but an unexpected game day event captured all the attention.

     The Sunday Columbus Dispatch front page on Sept 7, 2025 told the story. It was all photos with the banner headline "STIFF-ARMED." It showed OSU mascot Brutus being tackled from behind at the 2010 game by an angry-looking Rufus the Bobcat, Ohio University’s mascot. Weird-o-Rama, I thought. “Et tu, Rufus” parodies the “Et tu, Brutus” line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, often used to express shock at betrayal of a friend.

                                    Front Page of 9/7/2025 Columbus Dispatch; photo by author

     Team mascots entertain and amp up the home crowd at sports events. Sean Stazen was Brutus on that beautiful fall day. He was a senior and dedicated member of the Brutus "team." He followed his usual game day routine: dress up, pose for photos, hang out at the Skull Session pep rally. Brutus also usually welcomed the opposing team mascot to the Shoe. Stazen liked meeting with them to share mascot notes and stories. He couldn’t find Rufus the Bobcat that day - and would later find out why.

     The bobcat had been the Ohio University mascot since 1925, but not until 2006 did he get a name: Rufus. Rufus was part of Lynx rufus, the scientific name for the bobcat. Another reference was Rufus Putnam, Marietta's founder and leader of the Ohio Company of Associates whose 1787 land purchase included plans for a university. Ohio University was founded in 1804, the first in Ohio. Putnam was a founding trustee from 1804 to 1824; Putnam Hall was named for him in 1926.

     The crowd roared as the Buckeyes made their entrance into the Shoe with the  TBDBITL (“The Best Damn Band in the Land”) playing. Brutus ran on the field waving a Block O flag. Stazen was stunned to see Rufus the mascot charging directly at him and managed to stiff-arm him. Rufus went down; his (costume) head fell off. Stazen continued on, assuming that Rufus was done. He wasn't. Brandon Hanning, the Rufus dude, put his head back on and strained to find Brutus in the sea of players. He tackled Brutus from behind. Stazen was disoriented but recovered quickly, thinking "what is this dude doing?”  Rufus was escorted off the field.

Brutus tackled by Rufus, Columbus Dispatch by Neil Lauron

     It was over in 30 seconds. Stazen figured it was an oddball incident that few would recall. He was wrong. Many at the Shoe didn't notice the scuffle or thought it was a planned skit. But one fan, Lanie Blackburn, captured the action and posted it on YouTube. The story went viral. Social media blew up. Mainstream media trumpeted the bizarre event: “Ohio’s Rufus the Bobcat attacks Brutus the Buckeye” – USA Today, “Mascot melee overshadows Ohio State rout” – Associated Press.

     An obsession with tackling an opposing team mascot was strange. Stranger still: it was premeditated and not an impulsive act. The perpetrator had planned it out in detail for more than a year. Rufus the mascot that day was Brandon Hanning, decidedly not an OSU fan. He had watched the 2008 OSU-OU game, announcing to friends that he “wanted to beat up Brutus the Buckeye.” He became fixated on doing just that. Hanning enrolled at Ohio University in 2009 and tried out for the mascot team. He later bragged to a reporter, "the sole purpose of me doing the mascot thing was to tackle Brutus Buckeye." He had hoped to make a name for himself on social media or even gain an appearance Comedy Central. He did achieve momentary notoriety, though not the kind he planned. He was an embarrassment to his team and pariah to Ohioans who were aware of what happened.

     No charges were filed. Hanning was banned from OU activities. Ohio University quickly denounced Hanning’s actions and apologized to OSU and fans. Rufus the Bobcat has since lived up to his namesake’s honorable reputation. 

     During the 2025 OSU/OU game, there was a “rematch” of the incident. WBNS-TV:  “After Ohio State took a 6-0 lead with 9:58 remaining in the first half…, Rufus appeared in the North end zone with a WWE championship belt while footage of the infamous tackle played on the scoreboard. Brutus then came out of the tunnel to John Cena's “The Time is Now” entrance music. Brutus then won the tug-of-war to even the score at 1-1. At the next media timeout, Brutus took the belt from Rufus by easily winning a 100-yard dash. Rufus then held up Brutus' hand as the victor and both mascots made up before going to their respective sidelines.” 

     All is well in Buckeye Nation.

Hail to the Chiefs

Campus Martius Feast

Written in 1792 by Anselm Tupper 

Scroll down to see the story behind the poem. Click HERE to view original document

When Savage Nations on their way

To Pitt--at Marietta lay

All Campus Martius did combine

To ask the Chieftains, there to dine-

Of ev'ry class--attends them there 

And thundering cannon rent the air

Campus Beaux flock'd from their houses

With faces wash'd & their clean trousers

And send in front their lusty Chief 

fed with Philadelphia Beef-

"That I" said he "may be respected"

"I'll leave old Hetuck quite neglected

"His presence unavoidably

"Will check my popularity"-

Then thirteen Chiefs mov'd on with care

And Tillinghart bro't up the rear -

For Campus Martius - Blockhouse Hall

Was large enough to hold them all

A Table spread in high Bon ton

And dainties standing thereupon -

Another of a smaller Size

With Major Putnams Pumpkin pies

A Sow - advanc'd with pigs thirteen

Was furnish'd by the Merchant Greene 

The friendly glass moved round the board

And ev'ry Tip strengthned the cord

That fillial Love might e'er remain

They drank & fill'd the glass again

Let peace extend thro' ev'ry nation

A Grunt. announced their approbation

While mirth throughout the Hall abounds

The Runlets rang with hollow sounds

The stony hearth grew warm & mellow

Who Grunted best_ was the best fellow -

Our Priest deserves the highest merit

For his long Speech to the Great Spirit

Th' astonished Chieftains thus agreed

With an old pipe he should be feed

And as a compensation given

To pray their Tawney souls to heaven -

The jargon ends - but not with yells

Or savage dance as history tells. 

Signed

An Eye witness

      On November 17, 1792, during the local "Indian Wars", a dozen Indian Chiefs visited Marietta. They arrived by boat at the Point on the Ohio River. Joseph Barker: The chiefs "received...welcome and hospitality" befitting heads of state from friendly nations. So, why were they here? Rufus Putnam had negotiated a treaty with friendly tribes from the Wabash River region. He encouraged their chiefs to visit President George Washington in Philadelphia. They stopped at Marietta on the way.

     The chiefs' arrival was quite a spectacle. Many residents had never seen an Indian chief with their elaborate dress and ornamentation. After the Point ceremony, the chiefs walked a mile on a muddy path to the Campus Martius stockade. Major Anselm Tupper, a consumate people watcher, was captivated by the event. He was a veteran and surveyor with a talent for writing - often with "a little sarcasm." His poem offers an amusing view of the Chiefs' visit. We also learn about vocabulary and attitudes of the time. Poem excerpts appear in italics below with comments after.

When Savage Nations on their way

To Pitt--at Marietta lay

All Campus Martius did combine

To ask the Chieftains, there to dine-

 

     "Savage" was a common term then for Indians, a pejorative term, but not always used with disrespect. Pittsburgh was their next stop.

The Campus Beaus flocked from their houses

With faces washed and their clean trowsers,

And send in front their lusty chief,

Well fed on Philadelphia beef

"That I" said he "might be more respected"

I'll leave old Hetuck quite neglected"

 

     Campus Martius men joined the procession, dressed up for the occasion – was the poet mocking them? He notes that the "well fed" Colonel Robert Oliver who led the parade, had become "remarkably fleshy" (gained weight) after a visit to Philadelphia. The last two lines reflect a competitive spirit between The Point and Campus Martius communities. The Point welcoming group had snubbed the Campus Martius people. So, Campus Martius did not invite Point residents including "Hetuck," a nickname for Sheriff Ebenezer Sproat.

Of every class attends them there

And thundering cannon rent the air

 

     "Every class" meant all Campus Martius residents were invited to welcome the chiefs. Joseph Barker: "The drum struck up a salute, the Guard presented Arms, the cannon was fired...", causing the chiefs to lurch awkwardly in surprise. Men, women, and children stared at the chiefs, fascinated by their appearance. Some were confused, even angry. Why were these guys getting the royal treatment when residents were living in constant fear of Indian violence?

     On to dinner at Rufus Putnam's house. There was a prayer to the “Great Spirit.” Mr. Greene provided a roast pig, and Major Ezra Putnam supplied pumpkin pies. There was plenty to eat – and drink!

 

The friendly glass moved round the board

...They drank and filled the glass again

...The stony hearth grew warm and mellow

 

     A spirit of fellowship abounded, encouraged by the spirits they drank. Ichabod Nye captured the irony of the occasion. “…the scene (was) peculiarly striking. …shaking hands with our red guests and the appellation of brother passing from one to the other, seemed to… make us all forget that (Indian) war was on our borders.” The next day the chiefs left, but conflict between whites and Indians did not. It continued here for three more long years.

     This incident offers a vignette into the conflicted relationship between white settlers and Native Americans. Indians were eventually forced from Ohio, a tragic outcome after a century of conflict and failed attempts at peace.