History

A Bison? In Indiana?

Believe it or not, the state of Indiana and the bison have been linked for more than two centuries. In fact, the bison has been used as an Indiana symbol longer than Indiana has been a U.S. state. The presence of bison in Indiana first appeared on official court documents signed by then Indiana Territory Governor and future U.S. President William Henry Harrison in 1801, a full 15-years before Indiana became the country’s 19th state in 1816. The Indiana Territory seal depicted a woodsman chopping trees while a bison runs in the foreground, symbolizing the country’s expansion on the Indiana frontier (at the time, the western boundary of the United States). In fact, the bison remains a part of the state’s official seal to this day. In addition to the bison’s tradition in the state of Indiana, it’s been a part of Indiana University’s history for a number of years, including bison mascots supporting athletic teams and campus events.

Hoosier the Bison’s family roots run deep in southern Indiana.

They called the area home long before IU was founded, Indiana became a state, and “Hoosier” was even a word! The Bison family first set hoof here when a distant relative – the Buffalo Trace Bison (BTB) – gathered up all its bovine belongings and crossed the Ohio River in the 18th century. The journey along the fabled and well-traveled ‘Buffalo Trace’ in southern Indiana included the most beautiful rolling hills and picturesque countryside BTB had ever seen. This land, BTB knew, was going to be his new and permanent home!

To make it home, though, BTB was going to need to separate from the other bison. The herd was destined to follow in the footsteps of past generations and migrate even further west to the Great Plains and beyond. But BTB wasn’t a follower. He was a leader, a bovine destined for future greatness! BTB wished the others well and ventured north with a few friends he convinced to join him on his journey. Ultimately, he created his own trailway along what is now Indiana State Road 37 and I-69. BTB then found itself lured by the majestic sounds of a nearby crystal-clear waterway – Clear Creek [Campus River] – and followed it north to what is today the Indiana University Bloomington campus.

At that moment, BTB knew the journey was over, and the Bison family would call the area home for generations to come!

With the coming and going of each Bison Family generation, the family tree roots ran deeper. As new Bison family tree branches blossomed, so did the family’s surroundings. The emergence of limestone quarries offered a chance to swim, while the rolling hills were perfect for cycling and running. New games – including basketball, football, and soccer were soon introduced to the area, and the Bison family learned, excelled and grew to love each one.

Change was also happening over yonder, just beyond the rolling hills and lush forests of Monroe County. Limestone buildings began to pop-up on the horizon as Indiana University expanded and developed into a modern institution. By the mid-20th century, Indiana University had transformed the Bloomington skyline. Adding to the area’s magic was the charming sounds of bell towers originating from the heart of campus, not to mention the raucous cheers emanating from thousands of IU fans on Saturday afternoons during the sports season.

The sounds, the energy, and the allure of the IU Bloomington campus was almost too much for Hoosier the Bison’s grandfather, O.G. (OGB) to take. He committed himself to one day calling IU home. With that goal in mind, OGB excelled not only in his schoolwork, but also in learning about IU’s traditions and noteworthy leaders. Ultimately, he was admitted to IU in 1965 and was immediately embraced by the IU community.

As the first Bison admitted to Indiana (or any) university for that matter, OGB quickly became a local celebrity. His hard work, knowledge and passion for all things IU was a campus-wide inspiration, which prompted the IU Student Government to ask him to serve as IU’s first official mascot, which he did from 1965-69. Upon graduation, OGB moved from Bloomington but always held the university and his experiences there close to his heart.

Fast forward to present-day. OGB’s grandson, Hoosier the Bison (HB), is going through his late, beloved grandfather’s belongings. HB comes across a dusty candy-stripe journal, which includes tales of OGB’s IU experiences. Among them are stories about traversing the IU sidelines and being courtside during the Hoosiers’ greatest moments and victories. Moved by the stories and his love for his grandfather, HB decides at that moment to follow in his grandfather’s hoofprints. He enrolls and is accepted at Indiana University as a member of the freshman class.

HB quickly learns why IU held such a special place in his grandfather’s heart. The IU student body embraces him, and HB soaks up everything IU and Bloomington has to offer. From sports to academics to the arts and music to student life, and of course to the city’s large array of unique and delicious food options (not including buffalo burgers!). He loves it all, but he still wants more.

Then, a magical moment happens. HB learns the IU Student Government is once again interested in having an official school mascot. Who will it be? What should it be? Could it be a bison again? The Student Government huddles. The mascot possibilities are discussed and weighed carefully. Then, as the first semester draws to a close that year, official votes are cast and counted! The vote is unanimous and the sentiment among the greater IU community is clear. BRING BACK THE BISON!

Hoosier the Bison returns as the university’s official mascot, thus continuing the bovine legacy and love affair with IU started by BTB and OGB all those years before! Hoosier the Bison’s passion and exuberance for all-things-IU personifies the affection Hoosier fans have for Indiana University and B-Town!

The Original Bison Mascot1965

At the recommendation of Student Athletic Board President Dan McConnell (Class of ’66 and ’68) the Indiana University Student Senate officially and unanimously passed a proposal to make the Bison the official mascot of Indiana University on Oct. 14, 1965.

The original intent, though, wasn’t to have a costumed character parading around the IU sidelines. Instead, the Student Senate suggested that the state of Indiana purchase and take ownership of a live Bison, and that it be kept at nearby Brown County State Park whenever it wasn’t fulfilling its duties as IU’s mascot in Bloomington. But state officials frowned on the idea and warned about the perils of IU attempting to keep a live buffalo.

Undeterred, IU moved forward with a suggestion from then IU Foundation Executive Director Bill Armstrong to have an IU student wear a Bison costume. Student groups overcame the odds and managed to secure a Bison mask and full-body costume in time for the Bison to make its debut at Memorial Stadium for the annual Indiana-Purdue Old Oaken Bucket football game on Nov. 20, 1965.

While IU was successful in completing a quick turnaround to enable the Bison to make its debut in a matter of weeks, fan reaction to the first costume was mixed. Criticism was levied at the mask and its less-than-perfect depiction of a buffalo.

The Traditional Bison Mascot1966-67

By the time Indiana Football returned to the field in the fall of 1966, IU’s Bison had a new look. With a full off-season to explore new possibilities, the Student Athletic Board invested in a new costume for $1,400 and through assistance from IU administrators enlisted the aid of none other than Walt Disney who in turn procured an LA-based firm to help create the mascot suit.

Unlike the first rendition, the new version had some staying power. Unveiled in 1966, it enjoyed a nearly two-year run of cheering on IU’s athletic programs. Like its predecessor, the more traditional-looking Bison was a head-to-toe costume worn by a male cheerleader. The most noticeable change with this outfit was the mascot’s new, large head which was a more accurate depiction of a buffalo. For on-lookers, this new Traditional Bison also proved to be a much tamer version, as it was led around Memorial Stadium on a leash by a cheerleader. The reason? While the Traditional Bison posed no threat to charge on-lookers like the real animal, the costume didn’t offer the performer inside a great line-of-sight and thus limited their mobility.

After debuting in 1966, the Traditional Bison returned the following fall and was on the sidelines for IU Football’s historic 1967 Big Ten Championship season that culminated with a trip to the Rose Bowl. While the Bison witnessed all of IU’s 1967 regular season games, it didn’t make the trip to Pasadena.

The Rose Bowl Bison Mascot1967-69

As Indiana prepared for its first-ever trip to the Rose Bowl, it parted ways with the Traditional Bison and unveiled a new costume in time for the January 1, 1968, match-up with USC. The new mascot’s head had some minor tweaks to its predecessor, but that’s where the similarities ended. In fact, everything else about the new mascot costume was different because it did away with the rest of the furry costume in its entirety. This freed up The Rose Bowl Bison to not only move around the sidelines more easily, but it also eased the burden of being covered head-to-toe in a furry costume for hours on end.

The Rose Bowl Bison returned in 1968, but student and fan support for the IU mascot began to waver. By 1970, the Bison was no longer a regular on the sidelines, and the costumes were relegated to storage closets in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

The Bison Lives On1970-2023

While Indiana University stopped utilizing the Bison mascot in an official capacity, during the 1970s and subsequent decades that followed, its presence, history and support from the IU community never entirely ceased. The university’s original and historic seal, first adopted in 1841 and adapted over the years, first displayed a red, full-bodied bison above a sun symbol and open book (thought to represent enlightenment and truth). Additionally, IU’s Army ROTC Bison Battalion, one of the oldest college ROTC units in the country, dating back to 1917, used the Bison as its moniker-of-choice for decades including today’s unit. Bison Battalion members have been a mainstay for years at various IU sporting events especially Football and Men’s Basketball games.

One of Bloomington’s most popular off-campus restaurants and gameday traditions, Nick’s English Hut, embraced the Bison and still does so to this day. Founded as a sandwich shop in 1927, the nearly 100-year-old establishment began using a version of the IU Bison in its logo in the 1960s (after IU adopted the Bison as its official mascot). While IU and the Bison parted ways for a time, Nick’s continued to feature the Bison in its logo. More recently, students, alumni, apparel companies, and IU fans in general have promoted the Bison on licensed merchandise, t-shirts, and social media outlets in an effort to create a groundswell of support for the IU Bison mascot.

The Bison Mascot Returns2024-Present

In the fall of 2024, the Bison returned in much the same way it debuted nearly 60-years earlier. On December 16, 2024, the Indiana University Student Government reaffirmed The Bison as Indiana University’s official mascot. In doing so, the Student Government leaders requested that IU Athletics take the lead in creating, unveiling, and ultimately reintroducing the Bison mascot in that capacity. A few months later, on May 30, 2025, IU Athletics, the IU Administration as well as student leaders with the Student Government, Student Athletic Board, and other campus representatives revealed a new updated Bison mascot fulfilling the commitment to reinstate the character as IU Bloomington’s official mascot.