Rooney was created in 2009 after the submission of more than 350 suggestions by students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the College.
In 2017, a generous donation to the college lead to the creation of a 14-foot-tall Rooney topiary that stands between Kerr Stadium and Maxey Hall.
While college officials have denied this, the legends were inflamed when the topiary began dying after a campus visit from Barry C. Knestout, Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
Infamously, in 2015 this tradition was how college officials discovered that no one knew who had been in the Rooney suit for the last four years, prompting an investigation which remains open.
[3] Historically, Roanoke College has been known as the Maroons and officials ensured that this will not change due to Rooney's creation.