Mascot can use musket

West Virginia University’s Mountaineer mascot can bring his musket and shoot it at Saturday’s football game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium.

Last Friday, West Virginia officials asked for permission to shoot the musket at the upcoming game, but athletic department officials denied the request, citing UW System policy.

On Sept. 4, however, UW athletic director Pat Richter asked Chancellor John Wiley to make an exception to the policy, thereby permitting the mascot to bring and shoot the musket at Saturday’s game, and Wiley agreed to do so.

Wiley says athletic department officials were simply enforcing UW System policy in denying West Virginia’s initial request.

“This is obviously very important to WVU and their fans, so we thought it would be best to seek an exception,” Richter says.