Is ESPN’s Rank for WVU’s Mountaineer Mascot Controversial?

Almost as iconic as the team itself, the West Virginia Mountaineer mascot is a staple of the WVU football brand. The Mountaineer even earned some recent national love, granted not as much as WVU fans may think is truly deserved.

ESPN’s Ryan McGee ranked the Mountaineer in a tie for second with Tennessee’s Davey Crockett in the Human Division of his college football Mascot Power Rankings.

Knowing some fans would take issue with a tie between two notable mascots, McGee attempted to rationalize his decision.

“I can already see my mentions from by-god WVU and my fellow Tennessee alums for the sharing of this spot, but two rowdy mountain men in coonskin caps who wield custom-built mountaineer rifles? I’ll take my chances with those dudes walking into any tense situation, especially a football Saturday,” said McGee.

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

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“Back in the day, those rifles worked. Still one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen was at Boston College in the early days of the Big East football conference. Whenever West Virginia scored — and that day, it was a lot — that Mountaineer would blast his powder musket and those poor startled people of Chestnut Hill were convinced the Redcoats were back in town,” he added.

The current WVU Mountaineer mascot is Cade Kincaid, who was named the 71st Mountaineer Mascot in March. He took over for Braden Adkins during a “Passing of the Rifle” ceremony in April.

Cade Kincaid is named the new WVU Mountaineer Mascot at a basketball game in March of 2025. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

To dispute McGee, the Mountaineer was named the best live human mascot by the National Mascot Hall of Fame three years ago.