Arms And The Mascot

After much public debate, host Wisconsin allowed West Virginia's Mountaineer mascot (left) to wield his musket during Saturday's game despite a school policy against firearms on campus. Good thing. As former Mountaineer mascot Brandon Flower says: "It would be hard to picture the Mountaineer without his gun. It would be like he wasn't wearing buckskins." Some other college football mascots might also look a little naked without their deadly weapons.

a Pistol Pete
OSU's big-hat cowboy carries a double-barrel, 12-gauge shotgun and a Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum revolver (loaded with blanks). All Petes take a gun safety course as part of their training.

b Osceola
Athwart his trusty Appaloosa, Renegade, Florida State's headdressed mascot, opens each home game by spiking his flaming spear at midfield.

c Scarlet Knight
Rutgers's armored mascot brandishes a three-foot sword and regularly jousts with Army's similarly equipped Black Knight.