Hoosier defines a person from Indiana, though its origins remain uncertain. The nickname might trace back to Harry Hoosier, a 19th-century Methodist preacher. Indiana University has utilized the name for its teams for over a century, grappling with how to symbolize it through a mascot. Various animals and characters were proposed, but none stuck until the bison was introduced in 1965. However, challenges with the mascot costume led to its discontinuation within a decade.
A bill filed to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2023 cited Harry Hoosier, a former slave-turned-Methodist preacher who passed away in 1806, as the origin of the nickname.
In October 1965, Indiana adopted the bison as the school's new mascot, based on the animal's former migration history in the region and representation on the state seal.
Throughout the 20th century, various proposed mascots vied for the hearts of Hoosier fans, including a goat, collie, and bulldog, but none were as memorable as the bison.
Despite different iterations of the costume, the bison suit was consistently a comedy of frustrations, highlighting the challenges of mascot selection.
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