Ritchie native WVU’s mascot
By BRETT DUNLAPMORGANTOWN - A Ritchie County native will be carrying on something of a family tradition when he takes the reins as the West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot for the 2010-2011 season.
Brock Burwell, 23, of Harrisville was named the mascot during the second half of the WVU-Georgetown men's basketball game on March 1. He will inherit the position from 2009-10 Mountaineer mascot Rebecca Durst of Point Pleasant.
Burwell has been serving as the alternate mascot for the past two years. He is a 2005 graduate of Ritchie County High School and is majoring in multidisciplinary studies at WVU.
''I have worked hard to get here, and it has been worth it,'' he said Tuesday.
Burwell was the "little Mountaineer" in the early 1990s when his uncle, Rock Wilson, also of Ritchie County, was the WVU Mountaineer. Wilson would bring Burwell, who was 4 or 5 years old at the time, out on the field during games with his own little buckskin costume and toy rifle.
''I looked like the real thing, just miniature,'' Burwell said. ''People have always told me that I should try out for it when I was old enough. It has always been something I wanted to do.''
To apply for the position, he had to write a series of five essays, have two letters of recommendation, show involvement within the community as well as activities and organizations he is involved in.
His admiration for the state and the school shined through the application process.
''The love for this state and WVU is something that I have, and have had, for my entire life. My family has raised me to respect and love this state from my infancy,'' Burwell wrote in his application essay. ''I am extremely excited at the chance of representing my University and state as the Mountaineer and continue the long-lasting tradition.''
Burwell has served as president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, team manager of a softball league, chairman of the Mountaineer Week beard growing competition, member of the Mountain Honorary, WVU Campus Ministries, WVU Sports Management Club, Mountaineer Maniacs and Riverside Ministries.
Ten finalists were chosen and interviewed by a selection committee made up of students and others from the university. A group of four finalists was picked to compete in a cheer-off to determine who will win the spot.
Burwell will begin his reign as Mountaineer mascot at the April 30 Gold-Blue spring football game at Milan Puskar Stadium. He is on the road as the alternate mascot with the women's basketball team playing in the Big East Conference Tournament Championship in Connecticut.
Once he starts as the main mascot, Burwell will be working all football games, home and away. With basketball, he will work home games with men and women teams. He will follow the men's team in postseason during the Big East tournament and the NCAA tournament. He will make appearances at alumni events and other functions.
''Rebecca traveled almost every day in the summer,'' Burwell said. ''She has done over 200 appearances. There is a lot that goes into it.''
Burwell has been working out to keep himself in shape so he will be able to keep up with his busy schedule.
''I'm sure it will take a toll on my body, but it'll be worth it for sure,'' he said. ''I like to work out and I love the energy it gives me and I don't anticipate stopping completely when things begin to get busy.
''I'll just have to make time for it. One thing I have started on since I was announced is my push-ups (the Mountaineer does push-ups after each score for the Mountaineers). I'm not where I need to be with those so I am going to be working hard this spring and summer to get prepared for football season.''
In the week-and-a-half since he was announced as the new mascot, Burwell has met with the university leadership and many of the coaches involved in West Virginia University sports, including head football coach Bill Stewart.
''There is a lot that goes on for the Mountaineer during game days,'' Burwell said. ''The Mountaineer is normally at the stadium four hours or so before the game begins and is walking around the different lots visiting with the fans.
''Recently, they have also made an event at the president's house and then back to the stadium before the game. Not only does the Mountaineer fire the musket to bring the team on the field, but I will also be firing it after we score, at halftime and when the game ends.''
The musket is specially made for the Mountaineer.
''It has the flying WV on it, the state is engraved into it, among other things,'' Burwell said. ''It really is amazing and fans love to look at it. Each Mountaineer must go through a hunter's safety program to use it.''
Burwell is looking forward to being out on Mountaineer Field for the first time as the mascot and to show the positive side of West Virginia and its people.
''To be out there in front of 60,000 people and to fire the musket to bring the team out, I am excited to be a part of that whole process,'' he said. ''It is being part of something that is bigger than myself.
''In many ways, the Mountaineer is the face of the university and of the state. I want to do it in the best way I can.''
There is one tradition that Burwell started with his uncle that he hopes to do to bring everything full-circle.
''Rock's son is about the age where he would be perfect for the 'little Mountaineer,' so I think, if allowed, I would use him for sure,'' he said. ''I took him out on the floor during a basketball game this past year and the fans loved him.
''To this day, people are still sending me pictures of it.''
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DILLIGAS
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03-10-10 9:07 AM
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Its not a musket, its a muzzleloader. also called a Kentucky long rifle.
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