West Virginia Mountaineer

Infobox College Mascot
name = West Virginia Mountaineer


image_size =
caption =
university = West Virginia University
conference = Big East Conference
conference_short = Big East
description = Person in buckskins and coonskin cap, carrying a rifle
name_origin =
first_seen = 1930s
related_mascots =
official_website =
hall_of_fame =

History

In the 1920s the unofficial mascot appeared at West Virginia University sporting events wearing flannel shirts, bearskin capes and coonskin caps. At first volunteers, Burton “Irish” Crow, Lawson Hill, William “Buckwheat” Jackson, among others made appearances throughout the season.Beginning in 1928, The Monticola (the WVU yearbook) sponsored a contest to determine the male senior who had contributed most to the university throughout his four years in college. This male was entitled to be, “The Mountaineer.” However, within the next decade the choice shifted to a person who suited the role. This dropped the restriction of a male senior, who had done the most for the university. In 1936, the Mountain honorary society selected Boyd Harrison “Slim” Arnold to be the first official “buckskin-clad”. The new system of appointing the mountaineer, led to the same person holding the honor three consecutive years. Also, a person who was not officially enrolled in the university once held the honor. The Mountain honorary society was not active for three years, during this time the president of the student body was responsible for choosing the Mountaineer. (3)Currently, The Mountain Honorary Society still chooses the Mountaineer through an intense application and interview process. Finalists are decided based on outstanding character and enthusiasm. Finalists than compete in a cheer-off at a WVU basketball game. The winner receives a tuition waiver or scholarship. The Mountaineer was first used in commerce in 1972 and registered as a U.S. trademark in 1985. Mountaineer’s retired rifles, and costumes are housed in a glass case in the Vandalia lounge of the Mountainlair, located on the downtown campus. In 1950, The Mountain Honorary Society held a Mountaineer Statue Festival raising $15,000. This bought the bronze statue of the Mountaineer in the Mountainlair front lawn. This became the symbol of the West Virginia University. (1)

Duties

The responsibilities of the Mountaineer Mascot are set forth by theMountaineer Advisory Committee Manual Regulations. The Mountaineer must attend every home West Virginia Mountaineers football game [http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?sport=football] , and men’s and women’s basketball games. They might also be required to travel with the team as determined by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. He is also encouraged to attend certain events such as alumni events, community events, and visit the WVU Children’s Hospital. He is responsible for the cleaning, care, and handling of the rifle and no one else is allowed to fire it except for himself or the Alternate Mountaineer. The Mountaineer is also expected to conduct himself in an appropriate manner at all times. While in costume, he cannot be under the influence of alcohol or use tobacco at any time and must limit his use of these at all times. He may not accept money or gifts for appearances or endorse a company or product for profit.

Traditions

The Mountaineer Mascot is a part of many traditions at West Virginia University. Most of them are associated with sporting events. It is the Mountaineer who leads our football team onto Mountaineer Field every game, firing his rifle into the air. The Mountaineer also leads the fans, along with the cheerleaders, on the football field and the basketball court in the Let’s Go Mountaineers cheer and other cheers.

Requirements

You can’t just be a mountaineer fan to become the Mountaineer mascot. You have to have specific requirements and also go through a selection process. The criteria consist of: 1. The student must be enrolled as a FULL-TIME undergraduate or graduate student at West Virginia University. He/She must be a student on the Morgantown, WV campus of West Virginia University. 2. The student must have and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. The selection process starts out with a variety of WVU students, faculty, and staff sorting thru each nominee, only selecting 10 for a half-hour interview. The top four candidates will be invited to participate at a WVU basketball game wearing the mascot apparel. The committee will then select the new Mountaineer mascot by evaluating their performance and interaction with the crowd, combined with the application and interview scores. A new Mountaineer is born! The new mascot will make his/her new appearance at the WVU Blue and Gold game in April, working with the old mascot to learn how he/she should conduct them self as the new Mountaineer.

Other Schools with Mountaineer Mascot

*Appalachian State University
*Berea College
*Eastern Oregon University
*Mansfield University
*Mount Saint Mary's College [http://www.msmc.la.edu/pages/1.asp]
*Schreiner College
*Southern Vermont College
*Western State College

Related Links

http://www.wvu.edu

http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/6149922

http://alumni.wvu.edu/traditions/mountaineer_mascot

http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/news/page/4442/

http://archive.uwire.com/2008/03/24/musket-and-moccasins-wvu-student-stands-out-as-mountaineer-mascot/

http://www.wvmountaineersports.com/introducing-ralphie-the-2nd-best-mascot-in-college-football.htm

References

[ Sullivan, Ken. "The Mountaineer."The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 2006.] Sullivan, Ken. "The Mountaineer."The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 2006.

[Ambler Ph.D, Charles H.. A History of Education in West Virginia. Huntington, WV: Standard Printing and Publishing Company , 1951.] Ambler Ph.D, Charles H.. A History of Education in West Virginia. Huntington, WV: Standard Printing and Publishing Company , 1951.

[1.) Doherty, Jr., William T., and Festus O. Summers. West Virginia University, Symbol of Unity In a Sectionalized State. Morgantown: West Virginia University Press, 1982.] Doherty, Jr., William T., and Festus O. Summers. West Virginia University, Symbol of Unity In a Sectionalized State. Morgantown: West Virginia University Press, 1982.

[http://www.wvu.edu/documents/mountaineerapplication08.pdf] http://www.wvu.edu/documents/mountaineerapplication08.pdf