After almost a 60-year hiatus, Hoosier the bison is back! The Indiana University Student Body passed the ‘Bring Back the Bison Act’ in December of 2024. This led to his debut for the 2025 fall football season where he made his return known. At the season opener against Old Dominion, Hoosier jumped out of a plane above the stadium and parachuted down to the field. 

Hoosier has not only made appearances at football games, but could also be found at the Indiana Shop for a pop-up meet and greet on Friday. 

“We keep finding new ways to interact with the fans. And it’s been really exciting,” said bison patrol member Jackson Webber. 

At the Indiana Shop, students, community members, and alumni were able to meet Hoosier and have their picture taken with him. Many were pleasantly surprised to see Hoosier when they walked into the store. One unsuspecting alumni who just happened to stop by was actually the old IU mascot back in 1979.  

“We just came in to look at some clothing and stuff like that and saw the bison,” said IU alum Greg Cozad, “I had to get my picture taken with the bison.” 

The Mascot has changed numerous times throughout Indiana’s history, leaving some wondering: Why a bison? The Bison has always been an Indiana symbol with images of it appearing on Indiana court documents from 1801 when Indiana was just a territory of the United States. The Bison has been a part of the state’s seal ever since. 

First conversations of a Bison mascot began in 1965, but the original plan was to have a live Bison, not someone in a costume. State and university officials did not approve of a live bison, but students were determined to still have a mascot. So, the first ever bison mascot costume appeared in 1965. 

The mascot has come and gone over the years and been modified or completely changed multiple times. The one thing that has stayed consistent is the fans. 

“It’s about giving back to the community,” said Webber, “without the community, there would be no Hoosier the bison.”