Timothy Eads celebrates being named the Mountaineer Mascot
West Virginia University sophomore Timothy Eads can cross off one item from the bucket list he created his freshman year of high school—to serve as the Mountaineer Mascot. Eads heard his name announced as the next Mountaineer tonight (Feb. 25) at the men’s basketball game vs. Texas Christian University.
Eads, a graduate of Buffalo High School, made the decision to pursue the mascot role in 2013 while scrolling through Twitter– the day he stumbled upon a photo of former Mountaineer Jonathan Kimble standing on Seneca Rocks.
As a freshman at WVU, the public relations major was one step closer to fulfilling his dream when he had the opportunity to wear the buckskins and carry the musket as the alternate to WVU’s current mascot, Trevor Kiess.
“Having the opportunity to serve as the alternate mascot over the past year has truly been amazing, but to represent the entire state of West Virginia and West Virginia University on a daily basis really gets me excited,” Eads said.
Eads also serves as an executive board member of the Mountaineer Maniacs and undergraduate communications assistant for the WVU Extension Service Small Farm Center, and he is a 2018 recipient of the prestigious American FFA Degree. He is a former member of the Mountaineer Collegiate FAA and WVU Collegiate Farm Bureau and volunteers his time to the Rosenbaum Family House, Old Hemlock Foundation and Falling Run Trail repair project.
“I chose WVU because there is a sense of home and familiarity on campus and the people are amazing,” he said. “The passion and pride that I have for the state and WVU is something that I look forward to sharing daily with students, alumni, fans and the 1.8 million residents of this great state.”
Eads was selected by a committee of faculty, staff and students based on an application, essay, interview and cheer-off competition held during the men’s basketball game vs. Kansas State.
“Over the years, I have found that each Mountaineer has brought something new and exciting to the position but they all have one thing in common,” Sonja Wilson, Mountaineer Mascot advisor, said. “They carry on the traditions of those who came before them, making the Mountaineer Mascot one of the most beloved of all West Virginia University traditions. Timothy is no exception.”
In a formal “Passing of the Rifle” ceremony, Eads will accept the rifle—and the responsibilities—of the Mountaineer Mascot from Keiss. The event is open to the public and will take place April 11 at 3 p.m. at the Erickson Alumni Center.
He was among the top four to vie for the Mountaineer Mascot. The others were Brooke Ashby, a junior from Mannington; Connor Capron, a freshman from Sutton; and Thaiddeus Dillie, a junior from Weirton.
Dillie will be invited to take the role as the alternate Mountaineer Mascot.
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ta/2/26/19
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