The official mascot of the University of Mississippi, commonly known as Ole Miss, is a black bear. The decision to adopt the black bear as the official mascot was made in 2010, after a search and selection process involving input from students, alumni, and fans of the university. The black bear was chosen as the mascot for several reasons. Firstly, the black bear is native to the state of Mississippi and has played a significant role in the history and culture of the region. Secondly, the black bear represents strength, agility, and resilience, qualities that reflect the spirit and values of the university and its athletic teams. The selection of the black bear as the Ole Miss mascot was met with mixed reactions from the university community.
And Ole Miss’ new mascot is .
You bet your Hotty Toddy, sundress-wearing butt. Over a decade after removing “Colonel Reb” from its mascot reigns, the University of Mississippi has decided on the “Rebel Black Bear” to represent their Ole Miss Rebels.
The mascot, inspired by William Faulkner’s The Bear, beat out other “fan-favorites” such as the Rebel Land Shark and this dude .
Of course, there was one candidate noticeably absent from the final three selections .
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Rebel Black Bear is Ole Miss mascot
OXFORD, Miss. -- It took seven years, but the University of Mississippi has a substitute for a beloved and reviled mascot who brought the Confederacy to mind. The new guy is still a rebel, only cuddlier.
"Rebel Black Bear" won 62 percent of the vote in a final poll, the school announced Thursday. Its athletic programs will keep the Rebels nickname.
It has been more than a decade since Ole Miss began stripping away its images of the Old South. Confederate battle flags were first to go. Next was mascot "Colonel Reb," the goateed Southern planter who cheered on the Rebels from the sidelines since 1979.
Ole Miss' new mascot -- the Rebel Black Bear -- in his various attires. AP Photo/University of Mississippi Student Mascot Selection Committee
Tradition dies hard in Oxford, where tens of thousands of fans turn out in ties and sundresses on fall Saturdays for elaborate tailgate parties in "The Grove" before football games. An unofficial motto is: "We may lose a game, but we never lose a party."
Picking a replacement became a matter of statewide import and the subject of online pranks, like the suggestion of a "rebel" from the Star Wars movies, Admiral Ackbar.
In the end, the smiling black bear inspired in part by longtime Oxford resident William Faulkner won out, defeating two other nominees. One was the "Rebel Land Shark," based on the "fins up" hand motion started by late football player Tony Fein. The other was "Hotty Toddy," a gray human-like character that aimed to personify a school cheer that begins: "Are you ready? Hell yes! Damn right! Hotty Toddy, gosh almighty! . "
"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 Morgan, 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 say. More than 13,000 eligible voters voted in the final poll.
"The fact that we were completely transparent through the process makes this a credible choice," New said in a news release.
Some of the colonel's faithful staged protests earlier this year and attempted to derail the search for a new mascot 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 a member of the Colonel Reb Foundation.
Brittany Garth, a student from Dallas, said she wished the school didn't have a mascot.
"I just think it's kind of dumb. Why is our mascot a bear when we're the Rebels? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. That's why I didn't vote. None of the three choices made any sense," Garth said.
Athletics Director Pete Boone acknowledged that the vote "was an emotional process" and his department would begin the lengthy process of marketing the new mascot.
"It's been a passionate topic and it's often evoked an emotional response -- right or wrong," he said. "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."
The black bear is connected to Ole Miss through Faulkner, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist 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 land shark just because it was the sign our defense made after a big play, but the bear is fine, too," Harmon said.
Though licensing of Colonel Reb's image ended this summer, he can still be found on bumper stickers, lapel pins and other merchandise on display at Rebel games. A variation of the colonel first appeared in the 1930s in a yearbook. The image of the white character in a red wide-brimmed hat and tuxedo, leaning on a cane, is believed to have been based on a black man named Blind Jim Ivy who attended most of the school's athletic events, according to school historian David Sansing. The colonel made the official transition to the field in 1979.
Renderings of the new mascot show the burly black bear wearing a blue sports jacket for appearances on the campus and a dressed in a football jersey or a basketball uniform for games.
Whether Rebel Black Bear will be accepted is still unknown.
Roy Yarbrough, a professor at California University of Pennsylvania who consults with schools on choosing new mascots and symbols, said Ole Miss could spend $100,000 or more for costumes, letterhead and marketing fees.
He said there's still a risk the bear will be rejected, citing the example of a school in Pekin, Ill., that once had a racial epithet for Chinese people as its mascot. They changed it in the 1980s, but it's still a sore issue.
"If no one accepts the new mascot, Colonel Reb could make a comeback," he said.
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Mascot Golf Head Cover Ole Miss Rebels
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The selection of the black bear as the Ole Miss mascot was met with mixed reactions from the university community. Some people welcomed the change, seeing it as a positive step towards inclusivity and diversity. Others, however, were attached to the previous mascot, Colonel Reb, a caricature of a white plantation owner, and felt that the black bear was a departure from tradition.
To address these concerns and to promote a sense of unity, the university introduced a secondary mascot called Tony the Landshark in 2018. Tony the Landshark is a nod to the "Fins Up" gesture that fans use during sporting events and represents a more modern and inclusive symbol for the university. In conclusion, the current official mascot of the University of Mississippi is a black bear. The black bear was chosen in 2010 for its connection to the state's history and culture, as well as its representation of strength and resilience. The adoption of the black bear as the mascot was met with mixed reactions, leading to the introduction of Tony the Landshark as a secondary mascot in 2018..
Reviews for "Ole Miss Mascot: A Visual Representation of School Pride"
1. John - 2 stars - I found "Who is ole miss mascot" to be very confusing and disorganized. The author seemed to jump from one topic to another without any clear structure or flow. Additionally, I felt that the writing style was quite dry and lacked any engaging or interesting elements. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 2.5 stars - While "Who is ole miss mascot" provided some interesting information about the history of the Ole Miss mascot, I felt that the book was lacking in depth and analysis. The author presented facts without delving deeper into the significance or impact of the mascot on the university community. Furthermore, I found the writing style to be repetitive and tedious at times. Overall, I was not impressed with this book and would have liked to see more critical analysis and insightful commentary.
3. David - 2 stars - I found "Who is ole miss mascot" to be quite shallow and lacking in substance. The book seemed more like a surface-level overview rather than a comprehensive analysis of the Ole Miss mascot. The author failed to provide any unique or thought-provoking insights, making the reading experience rather uninteresting. Additionally, I found numerous grammatical errors throughout the book, which further detracted from my enjoyment. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a deep exploration of the Ole Miss mascot.
4. Emily - 3 stars - "Who is ole miss mascot" was an average read for me. While it did provide some interesting information about the Ole Miss mascot, I felt that the book lacked focus. The author seemed to wander off-topic frequently, which made it difficult to follow the main narrative. Additionally, the writing style was not particularly captivating, and I often found myself losing interest. Overall, this book was mediocre at best, and I would not highly recommend it.
5. Michael - 2 stars - I found "Who is ole miss mascot" to be quite dull and unengaging. The author failed to bring any excitement or enthusiasm to the subject matter, which made it difficult for me to stay interested. Moreover, I felt that the book lacked any significant depth, as it only scratched the surface of the Ole Miss mascot's history and impact. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not consider it a memorable read.