PLYMOUTH, Ohio – While the Plymouth-Shiloh Local School District adopted the Big Red nickname when the two districts combined in 1959, its mascot and the Viking design were not officially sanctioned by the school until approximately 10 years ago.
Though not always an official mascot, Big Red the Viking has been a staple at the school and passionate students and fans would periodically dress up as the classically burly figure during football and basketball games.
To the best of Shiloh Middle School Principal Brad Turson’s knowledge, it was the class of 1961 that decided the district would move forward with a Viking mascot.
“That’s what I’ve always been told about how it was decided,” he said.
A 1960 school yearbook shows a Viking figure painted on cheerleaders’ megaphones during football season and appeared to be one of the earliest pictorial references to the mascot.
And its design has changed several times since those years.
“For the longest time, we had a Roman Viking – a side view – that used to be painted on the old gym floor at our old high school before it was torn down,” Turson said. “I remember that as a kid.”
For a brief time, the students unofficially used Wrigley’s Big Red gum as a mascot at games.
The latest design, which can be seen around the school’s campus and perhaps most notably on the water tower next to it, is the only school board-approved Viking in the district’s history.
Tom Lewis, a teacher and coach at Plymouth, designed it after the student body gave its input on how it should look.
The most recent addition to Big Red’s mascot history is a live mascot who entertains fans during games and even has a Twitter account @BigRedTheVikin.
According to Plymouth Athletic Director Andrew McFarland, Big Red the Viking’s full-body costume was purchased during the 2014-15 school year with student council funds.
“It’s a custom mascot – one of a kind,” he said. “We went through a company that designed it because our board wanted to have something as close they could to our board-approved mascot,” adding that fans and students off and on have dressed as Vikings at games throughout the years.
“It’s definitely something really exciting to have, and it’s something the students and the community can be proud of too – because it is a one-of-a-kind item.”
McFarland also said he’d put Plymouth’s live mascot up against any other schools in the area.
“We were all really excited about that when it came – we didn’t really know what to expect,” he said. “And we hope that Big Red continues to gain tradition.”
So what does Big Red think about being a mascot?
“It’s different,” the Viking said. “People kind of still don’t know exactly what you are, so you can make it whatever you want when you get in the costume.”
Plymouth-Shiloh administration and the student who dresses as Big Red asked for the Viking’s identity to remain anonymous.
Outside of high-fiving fans and pumping the crowd at sporting events, Big Red uses Twitter to keep students and the community connected.
“When I started [being Big Red] more than just a little bit, I decided to make an account, and I’ll interact with other schools and other mascots that might be on there,” said the Viking.
When asked if the account would be passed on to the next student who becomes the mascot, Big Red said through a smile, “Probably.”
And Coach Genders and Principal Turson?
Plymouth Football coach Mark Genders also weighed in on the inception of the live mascot.
“Any time we have somebody create excitement on the sidelines and stuff, it enhances the whole experience and obviously motivates the kids,” he said.
Turson agreed.
“It’s great for the school, and everyone wants their brand nowadays,” he said. “I think it’s a great representation of what we’re all about and great brand for us.”
Of the many students and community members who have dressed as Big Red over the years, Turson’s wife, Amy [nee Adkins], did so during the 1983 football season, in which the Big Red went 10-1 and won the Firelands Conference – the only football team in school history to win the conference.
The Big Red season
Plymouth stands at 1-5 (0-3 Firelands) currently and hosts Collins Western Reserve, also 1-5, on Friday night.
According to Big Red, the football team can win its final three games but has one in particular circled.
“Beat Crestview,” the Viking said.
The Cougars face Plymouth in Week 10.
At one time the student body used Wrigley’s Big Red gum as a mascot at games.
