Once again it is football season. OSU’s first game is Thursday September 2, 2010 at 7:30pm. Every football season I get asked by someone, usually from another state with a big name college football program, why OSU has adopted a nut as its mascot. I usually point out that the Buckeye is the official state tree; people from Ohio have been called Buckeyes since the late 1700’s, and that it is thought that buckeye nuts are a symbol of good luck. After they give me a look that says, “You really are a geek” I then proceed to point out that Buckeye nuts are also poisonous. An animal that eats .5%-1% of their body weight in nuts, bark, or leaves will soon become uncoordinated, weak, and will start to stagger and fall over. They will also exhibit severe vomiting and/or diarrhea. Treatment for Buckeye poisoning usually consists of fluid replacement and protecting the animal from hurting itself in its neurologic state. I also point out that Buckeyes are especially poisonous to Wolverines. Happy football season. Go Bucks!