It’s that time of year again at Bluffton University  - J. Denny Beaver is about to lose his head.

The Bluffton mascot will do just that tonight (Feb. 13), when he is “beheaded” at halftime of Bluffton’s men’s basketball game against Defiance College. Tipoff will be at 8 p.m. in the Sommer Center.

J. Denny’s true identity will be revealed by the beheading, the only time that college mascots traditionally remove their costume heads during the academic year. Students audition for the volunteer role of J. Denny, who is in his third year on campus, logging more than 200 hours worth of appearances at athletic and other events annually.

The mascot is named in honor of Dr. J. Denny Weaver, professor emeritus of religion and longtime faculty athletics representative at the university.