Brutus Buckeye horribly mauled by wolverines (Happy Thanksgiving)

Nov 25, 2010, 1:27 PM EDT

It’s been a tough year for Brutus Buckeye. Back in September, the bulbous-headed Ohio State mascot mas infamously tackled by Ohio University’s Rufus Bobcat before their game. And on Wednesday, those merry pranksters at the Detroit Zoo thought it would be fun to celebrate the week of the OSU-Michigan game by subjecting Brutus to a vicious wolverine mauling (pictured). Of course this time it’s a pinata replica of Brutus that’s being torn to shreds by these hungry members of the weasel family. Video here.

A description of the carnage from C and G News:

The duo made quick work of the nearly 3-foot-tall piñata, which was stuffed with beef. Jigi, a male that is approximately 11 years old, knocked over the Brutus look-a-like, and Luka, an approximately 15-year-old female, ripped off his head.

Adam Desantis, a recent Michigan graduate, was at the zoo to view the event, and said watching these wolverines quickly attack the mascot gave him confidence going into the team’s annual grudge match against Ohio State.

“I believe a Michigan victory is imminent,” he said, wearing a maize-colored Michigan sweatshirt. “The wolverines wouldn’t be tearing this apart if that wasn’t the case. After six years, they are ready to come out and tear apart the Buckeyes.”

Michigan has lost six straight meetings with Ohio State.

Michigan fans can only hope that Jigi and Luka’s defensive teamwork will be emulated by their actual team. But unless Ohio State players are stuffed with beef and made of cardboard, I wouldn’t bet on it.