LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — For years, University of Louisville athletics teams have been represented by the Cardinal bird and the University of Kentucky celebrated its Wildcat.
Occasionally, the two would fuss at center court or mid-field. A good time (generally) was had by all.
In the mascot business, nobody has had more fun than Big Red, the iconic mascot created into superstardom by Ralph Carey at Western Kentucky in 1979. Big Red is a first-team all-American, a driver of merchandise sales and winner of top mascot in college sports contests.
Bravo.
One local school has been missing out on the fun — Indiana University.
That is about to change. Expect Purdue Pete and Brutus the Buckeye to be catching sharp elbows soon.
An official in-person unveiling has yet to be made. Maybe it will come Wednesday night at 6 at Huber’s Winery in Starlight, Indiana, when IU football coach Curt Cignetti and new men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries will address the annual turnout of more than 1,000 fans during an event sponsored by Hoosiers Connect, a Name/Image/Likeness collective for IU athletics.
But on Tuesday, the school announced via a post on X that Hoosier the Bison would return, beginning at IU athletics events during the 2025-2026 school year.
The move has the full approval of Cignetti and DeVries, who both appeared in the introductory video.Â
With Indiana riding a high after an appearance in the College Football Playoffs last season, the Bison figures to be a merchandising winner with larger crowds expected for seven home games at Memorial Stadium this fall.
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