Hoosier the Bison returns to IU Bloomington campus after 56 years

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The bison is back in Bloomington!

In 1969, the Indiana University’s official mascot, Hoosier the Bison, disappeared from the public eye. For 56 years, IU alumni wondered about the bison’s whereabouts. Now, the big mammal is back for good.

Hoosier has officially returned to the IU Bloomington campus, thanks to the “Bring Back the Bison Act” passed by the IU Student Body Congress in December, the university confirmed Monday.

The decision to re-adopt the Bison as the official mascot was embraced by IU Athletics, which sees it as a “symbol of the campus’ spirit, passion, tradition, unity, and success,” the university said in a release.

Why a bison? The bison has a long-standing connection with the state of Indiana, having been part of the state seal since 1801. The seal depicts 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).

While Hoosier The Bison has returned as IU Bloomington’s mascot, the school’s official nickname official remains ‘The Hoosiers.’

Hoosier the Bison will make its public debut at IU football’s 2025 season opener against Old Dominion at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30. IU will have more updates in the coming weeks Hoosier The Bison, including official apparel and appearances.

Want to know more? Here’s a look at the life and times of Hoosier the Bison, courtesy of IU Athletics.

The Original Bison Mascot – 1965
IU’s bison mascot was officially adopted and brought to life on Oct. 14, 1965. IU says the original intent wasn’t for a costumed character; instead, student leaders called for the university to purchase a live bison, to be housed in nearby Brown County State Park, when the animal wasn’t on campus for gamedays and special events. State and university officials frowned on the idea and warned students about the perils of keeping a live bison, it was decided to use a student in a bison costume.

The first bison mascot debuted just in time for the final home football game that year –  the Old Oaken Bucket game on Nov. 20, 1965.  

The Authentic Bison Mascot – 1966-1967
By the time the 1966 Indiana Football season rolled around, there was a new bison costume. The new version had some staying power and not only patrolled the sidelines in 1966, but also witnessed IU’s 1967 Big Ten Championship Rose Bowl season.  The head-to-toe mascot costume included a very large realistic, authentic-looking bison head.  Unfortunately, the mascot performer’s line-of-sight and mobility was limited due to the costume’s design and led to additional changes. 

The Rose Bowl Bison Mascot – 1967-69
As the IU football team prepared for its first ever trip to the Rose Bowl, the university parted ways with the more authentic-looking bison mascot costume. A new bison costume was created with similar features but more mobility for the performer inside.  

The new bison mascot costume debuted just in time for the Jan. 1, 1968, Rose Bowl matchup with USC. The mascot returned for the 1968 and 1969 seasons but support for the mascot began to wane, and by the end of the decade, Hoosier the Bison was on indefinite hiatus.

Gone But Not Forgotten – 1970 – Present
During the 1980s and 90s, under head coach Bill Mallory, Indiana Football teams wore helmet stickers displaying a black silhouette bison with an IU trident logo.  In more recent years, a bison character mascot has also been a part of Little 500 races and College of Arts and Sciences events.  

This fall, the Marching Hundred will unveil new uniforms, including silver buttons engraved with the Indiana state seal depicting a bison.

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