First appearing at West Virginia University sporting events during the 1934-35 school year, the Mountaineer has become one of the university's most iconic and loved tradition. Michael Garcia has been the reigning Mountaineer since his Junior year.

The mountaineer is a figure that represents the school, whether they are in the buckskin or not. Garcia said it's sometimes hard to go out to even the grocery store without someone stopping him. "It's weird because I don't think about being a celebrity, and it's sometimes hard to just be Michael," he said

Celebrity status isn't the only thing that comes with being the school mascot though. You represent not only the student body, but also the state. Your whole lifestyle will change when you are awarded that buckskin. And when the school you represent is shown negatively in the media more often than not, it can be a tough job.

Garcia said that there are always schools that are known for negative things, but as the Mountaineer, he's not just in a costume when he represents the school; it's a lifestyle which he is happy to represent.

To be the Mountaineer, one must look at the whole state with pride, which Garcia does daily. "I love showing up where people don't expect me to be, like the southern part of the state," Garcia said.

"You haven't seen WV until you go to Fayette or Mingo country. It's hard to go everywhere because the mountains separate us," Garcia said.

Although the Mountains separate us, Garcia wants to meet as many West Virginians as he can, because they are what make the state what it is.

Since Garcia can't be the Mountaineer forever, he did have some advice to the men or women who come after him.

"Be yourself. Don't get to high or low emotionally. When you're at the end of the day it can be depressing [because of the calm], and don't be to too excited and do something stupid. But most importantly, the Mountaineer will never be who is in the buckskin. Don't make it about yourself, because it's a representative of the state."