Peden stadium is quiet — a rare moment when the stadiums bleachers aren’t shaking from the roar of the Bobcat faithful. The faint glow of the scoreboard casts a greenish hue across the field. You step onto the turf, your footsteps echoing softly against the empty stands.

Near the 50-yard line, you spot a familiar figure sitting slumped on the sideline bench — Rufus the Bobcat, the usually spirited and wild-hearted mascot of Ohio University. But this time, his tail droops. His massive foam paws cover his face. You can hear faint sobs breaking through the silence.