 The Mountaineer is selected each year by the Mountain Honorary, composed of members of West Virginia University's senior class.The Mountaineer's costume is tailored to fit each winner, and male Mountaineers customarily grow beards during their tenure to go along with the coonskin cap and rifle, although the beard is not a requirement for the mascot position.The mascot is modeled after the Mountaineer bronze statue located in front of the Mountainlair student union building on the WVU campus.