Showcasing Mountain State hospitality, WVU Mountaineer mascot continues tradition of providing welcome bags to visiting team mascots | WVU Today

A grid of six photos showing the Mountaineer mascot at football games posing with the opposing team's mascot.

Since 2012, the WVU Mountaineer mascot has welcomed mascots from opposing teams to Morgantown and Milan Puskar Stadium with a treat bag full of West Virginia goodies. (WVU Graphic)

Few people would consider giving a treat bag to the opposition, but that’s exactly what former West Virginia University Mountaineer Mascot Program Senior Advisor Sonja Wilson proposed when the University first joined the Big 12 Conference in 2012.

Since then, dozens of Big 12 mascots visiting Morgantown with opposing teams for football game day duties have found themselves on the receiving end of Mountain State hospitality delivered by the University’s most recognizable goodwill ambassador — the Mountaineer mascot.

No other school in the conference does anything like the Mountaineer Mascot Welcome Program, according to Wilson.

“I wanted to implement something to make our Mountaineer mascot seem special,” Wilson said. “I felt that having our mascot officially welcome the other Big 12 mascots to Morgantown and Milan Puskar Stadium would be the perfect option. Before I fully retired, I personally contacted each school since 2012 informing them that this would happen and that I would arrange the meet-and-greet each time. Everyone always thanked us.”

The welcome bags, which follow the WVU Athletics clear bag policy, are filled with all things West Virginia — from pepperoni rolls to potato chips, handcrafted pottery, bottled water, honey sticks and much more. Mountain State businesses support the effort through donations.

The Mountaineer mascot dressed in traditional buck skins hands over a welcome bag to the Baylor mascot, a bear wearing a white, green and yellow football uniform.

Braden Adkins, the 70th Mountaineer mascot, hands a welcome bag to Bruiser, the Baylor mascot, before the Nov. 16 WVU vs. Baylor game at Milan Puskar Stadium. (WVU Photo/Derek Artimez)

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The Mountaineer mascot personally presents the bag to visiting mascots before kickoff, fostering a sense of camaraderie, friendly competition, and plenty of memorable moments for past and present Mountaineers.

Braden Adkins, the 70th and current Mountaineer mascot, said it’s a tradition that he’s proud to continue.

“Every mascot that I’ve given a bag to has been super appreciative,” he said. “When visiting other schools, we’ve never encountered something like what we do and it’s just a great way to share our hospitality. These are the kinds of opportunities that I get so excited for every game.”

The 70th Mountaineer mascot, Braden Adkins, dressed in his customary buck skins, cheers on the crowd while holding is rifle during a recent football game.

Braden Adkins, the 70th WVU Mountaineer mascot, cheers on the crowd at a football game in Morgantown. (WVU Photo/Mark Webb)

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The University’s 68th Mountaineer, Mary Roush, echoed Adkins’ affinity for the program.

“I love the mascot bag tradition,” she said. “When opposing teams come to Morgantown, there is limited time to explore outside of the football game. They fly in, go to the game and fly home. This tradition is so special because it allows the Mountaineer mascot to personally give them a piece of West Virginia to take back home and it’s something specifically unique to WVU.”

Mary Roush, the 68th Mountaineer mascot cheers on the crowd at a recent football game wearing her buckskins and holding her rifle.

Mary Roush, the 68th Mountaineer mascot, encourages cheering from the crowd during a football game at Milan Puskar Stadium. (WVU Photo/Jennifer Shephard)

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Timothy Eads served as the University’s 66th Mountaineer mascot and said presenting the bags to visiting mascots was always something he enjoyed.

“To me, it was an opportunity to share a small piece of West Virginia with someone from across the country and, in most cases, someone who had never stepped foot in this state until then,” Eads said.

“I was lucky to get to know the people behind the other mascots when I attended Big 12 Football Media Days a few months prior to football season, so it was an added bonus that, most of the time, the person I was giving the bag to was actually someone I had met and stayed in touch with throughout the season. They all definitely appreciated the gesture and the uniqueness that the items have to West Virginia.”

Mountaineer mascot Timothy Eads cheers on the crown while the marching band performs during a WVU football game.

The University’s 66th Mountaineer, Timothy Eads, runs onto the field as 'The Pride of West Virginia' performs during a football game. (WVU Photo/Parker Sheppard)

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As the 2024 football season nears its end, plans are for the program to continue for a long time. WVU Office of Student Enrichment Executive Director Sabrina Cave said it is an embodiment of Mountaineer pride.

“This is just one of many examples of our pride and tradition,” Cave said. “Special thanks go to Sonja for her vision and dedication in creating this program. The Mountaineer Mascot Welcome Program serves as a testament to her commitment to building bridges and fostering a welcoming environment within the Big 12 Conference.”

West Virginia business owners interested in being part of the Mountaineer Mascot Welcome Program are asked to send an email to WVUMountaineer@mail.wvu.edu.