I remember when Marv started making the muskets. I just got out of the Army when Marv presented his first musket to Jerry Scherer, the Mountaineer for the 2006-7 season...

Local man continues to build Mountaineer rifles after 30 years

Quote:The Mountaineer mascot represents West Virginia University pride, bearing iconic symbols like the coonskin cap, leather buckskins and of course, the musket.

But, not many know about the man responsible for the unique Mountaineer rifle – Marvin Wotring.

Wotring, a 1965 WVU graduate, has been building rifles for his alma mater since 1976 – making him a key player in about half of the Mountaineer's entire history.

"Mountaineers are proud, compassionate, down-to-earth people. I've been a lot of places in this country, and I've never found a place I like more than West Virginia. And, Mountaineers are why," Wotring said. "Other schools have some sort of mascot, but they're not individuals. They could have anyone behind those costumes. Mountaineers are different, and I like to think these rifles are special."

Wotring operates the Mountain Rifle Shop on the outskirts of Morgantown and learned to build rifles at a vocational school in Preston County, W.Va., during the 70's.