It's been a long wait for retribution, but Brutus Buckeye finally settled the score with Rufus the Bobcat in a light-hearted duel of strength and speed. During the Ohio State-Ohio University football game last Saturday, the two mascots faced off in a tug-of-war and a 100-yard dash, as reported by WBNS. The face-off took place 15 years after a notorious incident where Rufus tackled Brutus from behind during a game entrance, making headlines and stirring up a lasting mascot rivalry.
The rematch was set against a backdrop of sporting drama, with the Ohio State Buckeyes carrying a 6-0 lead. Reprising the event that went viral back in 2010, Rufus appeared on the field sporting a WWE championship belt, as seen in the footage played on the scoreboard. According to a story from ESPN, the rivalry was reignited with a humorous nod to professional wrestling antics. Brutus made an entrance to John Cena's anthem "The Time is Now," before winning the tug-of-war to tie the score between the two mascots.
As the crowd cheered, the competition heated up with a foot race across the field. Despite Rufus's early lead, Brutus snatched the victory, taking the belt from Rufus at the next media timeout, WBNS reports. The playful contest ended on a high note, with both mascots making up and returning to their sidelines, bringing closure to a decade-old feud.
The Sept. 13 game marked a significant occasion, as it was the first football meeting at Ohio State since Rufus took on Brutus back in 2010. Brandon Hanning, the man behind the Rufus mask during the original incident, once said in a statement obtained by The Athletic through ESPN, "Literally, the sole purpose of me doing the mascot thing was to tackle Brutus Buckeye." This time, however, the event at Ohio Stadium served as a lighthearted reconciliation, complete with a crowd-pleasing moment when Brutus and Rufus lifted their hands together in victory, as described by the Canton Repository. They led cheers of "O-H-I-O," unifying fans of both teams in a display of sportsmanship beyond the gridiron.
