The musket has been passed.
West Virginia University junior Derek Fincham was named the next Mountaineer mascot during Wednesday night’s WVU -Syracuse men’s basketball game at the WVU Coliseum. He will take on the job held by Trey Hinrichs the past two years.
Voted themost school spiritedin high school, Fincham, a religious studies major, has donned the coonskin cap before. This year, he served as back-up to Hinrichs and appeared as the mascot at more than a dozen WVU events.
A West Virginia native, Fincham grew up in Petersburg and has always been proud to be a Mountaineer.
�€~Let’s bring on the Mountaineers!’These words have echoed over the Mountain State for decades,he said.No matter if you are a West Virginia University graduate or not, you know deep in your heart, you are a Mountaineer fan.
For as long as he can remember, Fincham has had Mountaineer spirit. Both of his parents, as well as his sister, are WVU alumni. He can still remember his first Mountaineer game as a WVU student.
I woke up at 9:45,he recalled.Of course, I put on my blue and gold shirt before heading out the door. I rode the PRT over to my sister’s apartment where my parents had already arrived. I entered the apartment to the sweet smell of tailgate food, and after listening to a little pre-game radio broadcast, we left for the exciting walk to Mountaineer Field. We got there early enough to watch the pre-game warm-up and to snag good seats in the student section.
He continued,After watching the Mountaineers leave the field, it was time to bring on the Pride of West Virginia, WVU Marching Band. What West Virginian can honestly say that he or she does not love seeing the band making the shape of West Virginia or hear them play �€~Simple Gifts?’After singing the alma mater and the playing of the National Anthem, a shot rang out and it was time to bring on the Mountaineers. As the Mountaineers poured out of the tunnel, there was excitement in the air, and at that point, I knew I was no longer a Mountaineer fan, but now a true West Virginia Mountaineer standing there cheering with my fellow Mountaineers.
Fincham’s Mountaineer pride extends to other campus and community activities. He is the vice president of the Collegiate 4-H and is a member of the Mountain Honorary, Mountaineer Maniacs, Red Cross Club, Gamma Beta Phi service fraternity, Philosophy Club and Wesley UMC Bible Study.
His honors include the Dean’s List, and Mountaineer Parents Club and Jim Headley Memorial 4-H scholarships.
As the new mascot, Fincham will carry on one of the most beloved of all West Virginia athletic traditions. The Mountaineer first appeared at WVU sporting events in the late 1920s and is a member of the student body chosen by the Mountain Honorary for outstanding enthusiasm, character, community service and academics.
The Mountaineer’s duties extend beyond athletics. He is expected to appear at community and alumni events to promote Mountaineer spirit statewide.
Fincham will make his first official appearance as the new mascot at the annual Gold-Blue Football Game April 17 at Mountaineer Field. Steve Ball, a junior management major from Morgantown, will serve as his alternate.