What is a MOUNTAINEER
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What is a MOUNTAINEER was created by wvu4u2
West Virginia nickname, explained:
Story by Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY NETWORK
West Virginia owns one of the more unique nicknames in college athletics, one with a long history. It's fair to wonder exactly what a Mountaineer is, and how West Virginia came to settle on the nickname.
The West Virginia Mountaineers mascot gets the crowd going before a game. A tradition since 1934, Mike Hager is the 69th Mountaineer mascot. Braden Adkins was recently named the 70th.
Here's everything you need to know about West Virginia's name, including its history and origin:
Why is West Virginia known as the Mountaineers?
As noted in a May 2016 article by West Virginia, the university's original nickname wasn't the Mountaineers, but "Snakes." The university officially changed its nickname to the Mountaineers in 1915, and the nickname has remained the same ever since — certainly fitting for the flagship institution of the Mountain State.
Initially, the football team began calling themselves 'The Snakes' — a nickname Pitt supporters continued to use for many years as a derogatory reference to WVU and West Virginians in general — that is until someone on campus wisely realized that “Snakes” was probably not the most flattering mascot name for the football team.
"The much more appropriate nickname Mountaineers was adopted, 'Hail, West Virginia!' was penned by Earl Miller and Ed McWhorter in 1915 as our official fight song, and soon one of college football’s great athletic traditions was off and running."
What is a Mountaineer?
A mountaineer is a defined as a native or inhabitant of a mountainous region. Considering West Virginia is the only state in the country that resides entirely in the Appalachian Mountains, it's a fitting nickname for WVU.
What is West Virginia's mascot?
According to West Virginia, the Mountaineer Mascot attends more than 250 events per year outside of sports, including NCAA football, basketball, baseball games, gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling matches.
According to the WVU school website, the tradition of wearing heavy custom buckskins and a real coonskin cap began more than 90 years ago to serve as the mascot. The uniform has looked mostly the same over the years, but the mascot's responsibilities have grown.
"The West Virginia University Mountaineer Mascot has gone through many changes throughout the years, from a fur vest and flannel shirt, to the current buckskins and coon skin cap; however, one thing has never changed — the Mountaineer Rifle.
Marvin Wotring, a Morgantown gunsmith, made the Mountaineer’s rifle from 1977 until his death Dec. 2, 2018. Wotring, known as the 'man behind the rifle,'”' will be sorely missed by current and former Mountaineers, along with many others at WVU."
History of the Mountaineer mascot
Lawson Hill was the first official Mountaineer, in 1934-35. Others donned the mascot attire before Hill, but those were in an unofficial capacity, with Clay Crouse serving as the first "unofficial Mountaineer Mascot" in 1927. Braden Adkins, a native of Richwood, West Virginia, was the 70th Mountaineer in 2024.
A history of who has been the Mountaineer can be found here. According to the school, the mascot is picked annually by a selection committee.
"The Mountaineer is a WVU student chosen annually by the Mountaineer Selection Committee, which is made up of students, faculty and staff from across the University.
"Throughout the rigid selection process, the applicants are asked to complete a written application along with essays, take part in an interview and then participate in the “cheer-off” at a men’s basketball game."
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer:
Story by Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY NETWORK
West Virginia owns one of the more unique nicknames in college athletics, one with a long history. It's fair to wonder exactly what a Mountaineer is, and how West Virginia came to settle on the nickname.
The West Virginia Mountaineers mascot gets the crowd going before a game. A tradition since 1934, Mike Hager is the 69th Mountaineer mascot. Braden Adkins was recently named the 70th.
Here's everything you need to know about West Virginia's name, including its history and origin:
Why is West Virginia known as the Mountaineers?
As noted in a May 2016 article by West Virginia, the university's original nickname wasn't the Mountaineers, but "Snakes." The university officially changed its nickname to the Mountaineers in 1915, and the nickname has remained the same ever since — certainly fitting for the flagship institution of the Mountain State.
Initially, the football team began calling themselves 'The Snakes' — a nickname Pitt supporters continued to use for many years as a derogatory reference to WVU and West Virginians in general — that is until someone on campus wisely realized that “Snakes” was probably not the most flattering mascot name for the football team.
"The much more appropriate nickname Mountaineers was adopted, 'Hail, West Virginia!' was penned by Earl Miller and Ed McWhorter in 1915 as our official fight song, and soon one of college football’s great athletic traditions was off and running."
What is a Mountaineer?
A mountaineer is a defined as a native or inhabitant of a mountainous region. Considering West Virginia is the only state in the country that resides entirely in the Appalachian Mountains, it's a fitting nickname for WVU.
What is West Virginia's mascot?
According to West Virginia, the Mountaineer Mascot attends more than 250 events per year outside of sports, including NCAA football, basketball, baseball games, gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling matches.
According to the WVU school website, the tradition of wearing heavy custom buckskins and a real coonskin cap began more than 90 years ago to serve as the mascot. The uniform has looked mostly the same over the years, but the mascot's responsibilities have grown.
"The West Virginia University Mountaineer Mascot has gone through many changes throughout the years, from a fur vest and flannel shirt, to the current buckskins and coon skin cap; however, one thing has never changed — the Mountaineer Rifle.
Marvin Wotring, a Morgantown gunsmith, made the Mountaineer’s rifle from 1977 until his death Dec. 2, 2018. Wotring, known as the 'man behind the rifle,'”' will be sorely missed by current and former Mountaineers, along with many others at WVU."
History of the Mountaineer mascot
Lawson Hill was the first official Mountaineer, in 1934-35. Others donned the mascot attire before Hill, but those were in an unofficial capacity, with Clay Crouse serving as the first "unofficial Mountaineer Mascot" in 1927. Braden Adkins, a native of Richwood, West Virginia, was the 70th Mountaineer in 2024.
A history of who has been the Mountaineer can be found here. According to the school, the mascot is picked annually by a selection committee.
"The Mountaineer is a WVU student chosen annually by the Mountaineer Selection Committee, which is made up of students, faculty and staff from across the University.
"Throughout the rigid selection process, the applicants are asked to complete a written application along with essays, take part in an interview and then participate in the “cheer-off” at a men’s basketball game."
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer:
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