On Tuesday afternoon, the Indiana Hoosier athletic program unveiled the return of the bison mascot, now known as Hoosier the Bison.
For the last half-century Indiana Athletics has gone without an official team mascot. Hoosier the Bison will be worn on Indiana game days on the sideline, courts and fields wearing crimson and white. Hoosier the Bison will be another level of excitement to the fans and players for the future of IU athletics.
The video uses a "Star Wars" intro, snippets of men's basketball coach Darian DeVries ("There's something magical happening here.") and football coach Curt Cignetti ("Where ya been?"), and an homage to NBA and Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.
The school announced via a post on X below that Hoosier the Bison will debut at athletic events beginning in the fall.
“For centuries BISON walked through what is now known as BLOOMINGTON along the Buffalo Trace.As a result, BISON imagery has been found over the last 200 years on the campus of INDIANA UNIVERSITY. It is the distinguishing feature of the State Seal.In 1965, THE BISON became the official mascot of INDIANA UNIVERSITY. In 1969, it disappeared.On December 16, 2024, a small but committed group of students discussed bringing back THE BISON.This is their story …”
Indiana has yet to unveil the full look of the bison mascot. It's actually unknown why the Hoosier the Bison hasn't appeared since 1965 (58 years ago) but for years, Indiana fans and students have been clamoring for its return and are stoked to see the mascot.
"The bison once walked for centuries through Bloomington, Ind. along the Buffalo Trace. As a result, bison imagery has appeared on the IU campus for 200 years, and is a distinguishing feature of the Indiana State Seal.Indiana Athletics
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Old Dominion takes on Indiana in Bloomington for the season opener on August 30th.