(Photo provided by The Columbus Dispatch by Neil C. Lauron) Brutus tackled by Rufus the Ohio U. Mascot.

Ohio State plays Ohio University this Saturday. A heated in-state rivalry? Not really. It’s a “warm-up” game for OSU which is heavily favored. The last game was September 18, 2010. OSU won 43-7, but an unexpected game day event captured all the attention.

Last Sunday’s (9/7/2025) Columbus Dispatch front page tells the story. It’s all photos with the banner headline “STIFF-ARMED.” It shows OSU mascot Brutus being tackled at the 2010 game by an angry-looking Rufus the Bobcat, Ohio University’s mascot. Weird-o-Rama, I thought. My wife detests that 1980s phrase, but it fits well here.

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 playing. Brutus ran in 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.

Scan the QR code to learn more about the “Et tu Rufus” reference.

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. And it was not an impulsive move; 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 on Comedy Central. Whatever.

No charges were filed. Hanning was banned from OU activities.

The incident was an embarrassment to Ohio University. Rufus the Bobcat has since lived up to his namesake’s honorable reputation.