The Rebel Ole Miss Mascot has been a topic of controversy and debate for many years. The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, has had several different mascots throughout its history. However, the most well-known and controversial one is the Rebel mascot, which is often depicted as a Confederate soldier. The use of the Rebel mascot dates back to the 1920s when the university adopted the "Colonel Rebel" as its official mascot. The character was seen as a symbol of the university's Southern heritage and traditions. However, as time went on, the Rebel mascot began to receive criticism and backlash due to its association with the Confederate flag and the history of racism and slavery.
Ole Miss to unveil new mascot at Meet the Rebels on Saturday
Ole Miss' annual Meet the Rebels Day will have extra special meaning this Saturday, August 11, as the Rebels will introduce their new on-field mascot during the festivities at the Manning Center.
In October 2017, the university announced the Land shark as the official mascot of the Ole Miss Rebels, a term that was first adopted by the football team's defensive unit in 2008, but quickly gained popularity from Ole Miss fans and student-athletes from other sports.
Doors for Meet the Rebels will open at 1 p.m., with the event concluding at 3 p.m. Fans should park in the parking garage attached to The Pavilion and enter through the west side of Vaught-Hemingway stadium at gate 33. Fans will then be able to enter the team tunnel on their way into the event.
Active Rebel Kids Club Members (with up to two parents or guardians) will be permitted early entry at 12:30 p.m., at the east entrance of the facility, by the Grill at 1810. The new and improved Rebel Kids Club is the official youth organization of Ole Miss Athletics and is open to kids eighth grade and below. To join, visit RebelKidsClub.com .
Admission is free, and autograph lines will be first-come, first-serve.
As the Manning Center opens, the Rebel soccer, volleyball, rifle and spirit squads will be greeting fans and signing autographs. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, fans are limited to one autographed item per individual player or coach, and photos or videos with football players will not be permitted.
Other important items to note:
- Fans are prohibited from saving spaces in line.
- Fans who exit a line for any reason must reenter the line at the end.
The Rebel Shop will be selling apparel, media guides and other merchandise. Additionally, the Ole Miss Athletics Ticket Office will be selling football season tickets, mini-plans and single-game tickets.
There will be lunch available for purchase at the event.
Q105 (105.1 and 105.5 FM in the Oxford area) will broadcast live from the Manning Center beginning at 1 p.m. with an on-air team led by the "Voice of the Rebels" David Kellum. Several Ole Miss coaches and administrators will be interviewed, including Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Ross Bjork.
Fans posting on social media about their Meet the Rebels Day experience should use the hashtag #MeetTheRebels.
Copyright 2018 WLBT. All rights reserved.
Ole Miss Mascot: Rebel Bear Replaces Colonel Reb
The new mascot of the University of Mississippi Rebels will be a black bear, officially replacing the goateed Southern gentleman "Colonel Reb" who was banished from the sidelines almost seven years ago.
Thursday's unveiling of the "Rebel Black Bear" is the latest move in the school's effort to distance itself from symbols of the old South.
The announcement came after a campuswide vote in February and months of polling. The bear beat out two other finalists, the Rebel Land Shark and something called the "Hotty Toddy," an attempt to personify the school cheer. The bear received 62 percent of the vote in the final poll.
"I know there was a lot of people emotionally invested in Colonel Reb and everybody might not completely agree with the bear, but I think everyone can be proud of how our students went about the process," said Sparky Reardon, the university's dean of students.
Margaret Ann Porter, a co-chairman of the student mascot selection committee, said the bear was recommended because it had a Mississippi connection, would appeal to children and would be unique to the Southeastern Conference.
Ty New, the other committee chairman, said everyone in the university's community - including faculty, students, alumni and season ticketholders - had a voice in the selection.
"The fact that we were completely transparent through the process makes this a credible choice," New said in a news release.
That doesn't mean there wasn't griping along the way. In 1997, Ole Miss ended the waving of Confederate flags at sporting events. Last year, the band stopped playing the fight song, "From Dixie With Love," to discourage the fan chant, "The South will rise again."
And some of the colonel's faithful sought to derail the search for a new mascot by staging protests earlier this year and in the last few weeks by gathering signatures to make Colonel Reb one of the choices.
"I think it's hypocrisy. I think the fans of Ole Miss still want Colonel Reb. We have a petition with 3,500 signatures of students who still want Colonel Reb as their mascot and that's the way it should be," said Brian Ferguson, a 2007 graduate who is also a member of the Colonel Reb Foundation.
Athletics Director Pete Boone acknowledged that the vote "was an emotional process" and his department would begin the lengthy process of implementation, including marketing and communications.
"It's been a passionate topic and it's often evoked an emotional response - right or wrong. Change is certainly difficult. But I appreciate the passion from our people. They say indifference is the worst emotion out there, and I don't think we're guilty of that," he said.
The black bear is connected to Ole Miss through one of Oxford's famous residents, Nobel Prize-winning novelist William Faulkner, who penned "The Bear." In it, Old Ben stands as a symbol of pride, strength and toughness. The tale of the "teddy bear" originated with the story that President Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear on a Mississippi hunt in 1902.
Earnest Harmon, a freshman fullback from Macon, said he's fine with the bear.
"A lot of the guys on the football team liked the landshark just because it was the sign our defense made after a big play, but the bear is fine, too," Harmon said.
First published on October 14, 2010 / 1:30 PM EDT
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Ole Miss to get new mascot, but rebel name will remain
OXFORD, MS (WLOX) - University of Mississippi students voted Tuesday to find a new mascot to replace the abandoned Colonel Reb. But school officials stressed that the "Ole Miss Rebels" name will remain.
Colonel Reb, the old Southern gent with a cane and floppy hat, was cast off as the on-field mascot in 2003 as the school worked to distance itself from the Old South symbolism. Ole Miss has since gone without a mascot.
Tuesday's vote was 2,510 in favor of finding a new mascot, and 856 against. Some students and alumni had said they would prefer going without a mascot if they couldn't have Col. Reb.
"My goal was primarily to give voice to the students," said Artair Rogers, president of UM's Associated Student Body government. "I am pleased with the results."
The next step is for ASB leaders to decide how to select a Student Mascot Committee, which will develop and propose a new mascot. Rogers said he hopes to present a plan to the ASB Senate and to the chancellor next week.
"We have thought a lot about this, and we will propose that the Student Leadership Advisory Committee, along with two student-athletes from the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, develop criteria for selecting 12 to 15 students through an open application process to serve on the Student Mascot Committee," Rogers said.
"A mascot's role is to unite fans, and school spirit is a student issue," said Sparky Reardon, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students.
"I am proud of our student leaders for initiating this effort and allowing all students a chance to have a vote in this process," Reardon said. "The process is as important as the result."
University officials stated earlier that they would support a student-led effort to develop and propose a new mascot, but that UM's athletics teams would remain the "Ole Miss Rebels," and the school's colors would not change.
"Our students think of themselves as 'Ole Miss Rebels'. They are today's Ole Miss Rebels, and they want a new on-field mascot that represents their spirit and energy," Chancellor Dan Jones said. "They will lead the effort to create a mascot that they think will improve school spirit and the game-day experience for themselves and others."
Copyright 2010 WLOX. All rights reserved.
However, as time went on, the Rebel mascot began to receive criticism and backlash due to its association with the Confederate flag and the history of racism and slavery. In recent years, there has been a growing movement calling for the removal of the Rebel mascot. Advocates argue that the Confederate imagery is offensive and does not align with the university's values of diversity and inclusivity.
They argue that the Rebel mascot perpetuates a negative and divisive image of the university and the state of Mississippi. On the other hand, there are those who support keeping the Rebel mascot. They argue that the Rebel mascot is a part of Ole Miss' history and tradition and should be preserved. They believe that removing the mascot would be erasing an important part of the university's identity. In response to the controversy, the university has made some changes to the Rebel mascot. In 2003, the university retired the "Colonel Rebel" as an official mascot and introduced a new costumed bear mascot named "Rebels". The university also banned the use of the Confederate flag at athletic events. However, even with these changes, the Rebel mascot remains a topic of debate. Overall, the Rebel Ole Miss Mascot continues to be a divisive issue for the university and its community. The debate surrounding the mascot raises important questions about identity, heritage, and the role of symbols in public spaces. It remains to be seen how the university will address this ongoing controversy and whether a new mascot will eventually be adopted..
Reviews for "The Rebel Ole Miss Mascot: A Tale of Tradition and Progress"
1. Jane Smith - 1 star
As an alumna of the University of Mississippi, I was deeply disappointed by the introduction of the new Rebel Ole Miss mascot. It completely disregards the historical context and significance of the previous mascot, Colonel Reb. The new mascot lacks personality and fails to capture the spirit of our university. It feels like a cheap and generic attempt to modernize without understanding the cultural heritage and traditions that make our school special. I hope the university reconsiders and brings back a mascot that truly represents the rich history and traditions of Ole Miss.
2. John Davis - 2 stars
While I appreciate the effort to update the mascot and be more inclusive, the Rebel Ole Miss mascot falls short in execution. The design feels forced and lacks originality. It looks like a generic caricature with no real connection to the university or its traditions. The university had an opportunity to create something new and exciting while still paying homage to its past, but instead, we're left with a lackluster and forgettable mascot. It's disheartening to see a missed opportunity to create something truly unique and representative of our beloved alma mater.
3. Emily Brown - 1 star
As a long-time fan of Ole Miss athletics, I cannot express my disappointment in the Rebel Ole Miss mascot enough. It's a complete departure from the traditional symbols and images that have symbolized our university for decades. The new mascot seems to be more concerned with following current trends and appeasing critics rather than honoring our history and traditions. It feels like a betrayal to the alumni and fans who have supported the university throughout the years. I hope the university administration listens to the voice of the fans and reconsiders this ill-advised change.