MADISON, Wis. -- There apparently will be a musket for the West Virginia mascot Saturday at Camp Randall.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison had earlier banned the antique musket from Saturday's matchup with West Virginia at Camp Randall Stadium because university policy prohibits weapons on campus.

But the school's athletic director asked the school administration to make an exception in this case -- which UW officials agreed to do.

The mascot has also been given permission to shoot the musket -- which fires powder like a starter pistol.

The mascot has been previously asked not to fire the gun inside basketball arenas, even once before at a football stadium, but has never been banned.

The Mountaineer mascot first appeared at athletic events in the 1936-1937 school year. It is selected each year by the Mountain, the university's senior honorary. The Mountaineer's costume is custom tailored to fit the winner.

Wisconsin and West Virginia meet Saturday at 11:10 a.m. at Camp Randall Stadium.