West Virgina Mountaineers mascot goes mountain man, shoots black bear with WVU musket [Photo]

Gamedayr | December 6, 2012 at 11:42 am | 3 Comments

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Photo courtesy TheBlaze.com

In what is being seen as one of the most ultimate “West Virginia” moves of all time, the school’s human mascot, a senior by the name of Jonathan Kimble, released a video of himself hunting down a black bear, shooting it out of a tree, turning towards the camera and screaming, “Go Mountaineers!”

Unfortunately — or very, very fortunately — the video has since been pulled by the user, but Kimble has had no reservations regarding tweeting out his hunting exploits and pictures. His bearded smile is quickly making the rounds around the blogosphere.

Individuals will take their stance on one side of the fence, or the other, we are just simply providing the latest university traditions that have been thrust into the sporting new’s spotlight.

You might say, “well why is this a tradition.” Here’s exactly why: the gun he is holding is a .45 caliber muzzleloader, the actual gun used by the mascot during football games and other university events.

As the West Virginia mascot, he is given special permission to use the gun in real life, and the next mascot after Kimble leaves will be afforded the same gun and hunting rights.

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I think of Bucky Badger, or Albert the Alligator, or Sparty the Spartan, or any other cartoon-ish mascot, with a rifle in his furry hands.

You stay classy, West Virgina!