He’s been officially dead for several years, but like The Mummy, the old mascot for the University of Mississippi somehow keeps coming back to haunt the populace. Here’s a billboard near the Ole Miss campus that’s serving notice that there’s a movement afoot to restore the school’s former mascot, Colonel Reb, and dispose of the new one, Rebel Black Bear. As you probably know, Col. Reb was scrapped in 2003 after it was deemed too much of a symbol of the plantation- (and people-) owning old south. A new mascot, Rebel Black Bear, was voted in by Ole Miss students and faculty this past October.
But some are refusing to let the old man rest in peace. There’s a Facebook Save Colonel Reb campaign, and Democratic state Rep. Mark DuVall of Mantachie is pushing a bill to bring back the former mascot. He also wants the college band to play Dixie at games, which has also been discontinued.
Here’s the full text of the bill.
Like the Obama birther movement or the Cleveland Browns, this enterprise is obviously going nowhere. Some people have to be dragged literally kicking and screaming into the 21st century, and I guess this portion of the Ole Miss alumni is among them. But it’s going to be interesting to see what happens next; let me just say that I wouldn’t want to be the first person to put on the new bear costume at an Ole Miss football game.
***
New Colonel Reb ‘Save Ole Miss’ Billboard [SportsbyBrooks]
-
- hashfest - Feb 7, 2011 at 2:31 PM
-
Yo, all you good ol’ boys,
The South LOST the Civil War
Get over yourselves
-
- rebelfan72 - Feb 7, 2011 at 3:18 PM
-
When our new chancellor decided to change the mascot, he held an election and Col. Rebel got 92% of the vote. Despite the wishes of nearly everyone, he opted for Political Correctness and banned Col Rebel from the games.
It may seem strange to people who do not love Ole Miss, or are not aware of the traditions of the University. To those people I would say, choose another place to go to school, and stop trying to force your views on the majority who do love the traditions we have had for so many years. Yes we have changed a lot over the years, and some of the trappings of the old south have been modified. However, if you are offended by a cartoon character and would rather we have a cartoon tweety bird, or yogi bear, then we aren’t your cup of tea.
This has nothing to do with the Civil War, so grow up and GET OVER IT.
-
- hashfest - Feb 7, 2011 at 5:01 PM
-
Fine…then I suggest that schools boycott “Ole Miss”
Your “rebel” insults many. African American players in particular may not like what Col Reb represents–slavery and killing
-
- rebelfan72 - Feb 7, 2011 at 5:58 PM
-
If you look at the makeup of the team, you might learn a few things about the ability of people in the South. A few years ago, Jessie Jackson and his group got a referendum on the state flag. Two out of every three people voted to keep it. When they examined the vote, it became apparent that more blacks wanted to keep the flag than whites.
We can’t change what happened 150 years ago, but the people that are alive now are not responsible for it. Like it or not, the war happened, but we don’t have to hide it just because of narrow minded people like you.
We are not the only Rebels, in case you don’t know about UNLV. It’s a cartoon mascot, it’s not white sheets. It’s a football team, not a political statement. Grow Up…..
-
- reb1991 - Feb 7, 2011 at 6:11 PM
-
Several points that readers need to be aware of. The billboard and all the fuss is being done by Jon Rawl. He not only has the Col Reb Foundation, but also Citadel Men Foundation. He keeps things stirred up because he makes money off these 2.
The bill died in committee and it was started by a Mississippi State graduate. The Arch Rival school of Ole Miss. He went public with the bill shortly before National Signing Day. Thinks about that for a second.
-
- Liberty for Cubs Fans - Feb 8, 2011 at 7:11 AM
-
Don’t forget about Brian Ferguson, he’s still trying to cling to his 15 minutes of fame from 2003.
-
- Liberty for Cubs Fans - Feb 8, 2011 at 6:57 AM
-
Your history/trudishenz lessons are irrelevant. The Col. is gone, and is never coming back. If you love Ole Miss, you will love it regardless of the mascot. If you loved Ole Miss because of the mascot, well then you never truly loved Ole Miss. If the latter is the case, please boycott the school so we never have to see you and your obnoxious organization again. You can, and will, be replaced by better Rebel fans. Thankyouandgoodnight
-
- rebelfan72 - Feb 8, 2011 at 8:06 AM
-
If you knew anything about the current situation in Oxford, you would notice that the Col is not gone. He’s everywhere you look. I think he’s more popular now than he has ever been. In fact, walking through the grove before football games last year, you would see him on nearly every tent, and everywhere you look. I’m sorry if that does not sit well with your theory of Political Correctness, but the facts are there for anyone with eyes to see. Come down for a game, and then you can talk about it. As for your boycott, please do. I think we can do just fine without you, and your PC.
Thanks for playing…
-
- yazoomiller - Mar 28, 2011 at 6:19 PM
-
TO Liberty for Cubs Fans,
You ARE an arrogant SOB, and probably from Obama land Chicago Cub punk.
You ain’t got a dog in this fight – and don’t deserve one either. Yet here you are stirring both an idea about that what you have no idea and Yankees have no voice in EXCEPT to stir a pot that doesn’t have anything in and hasn’t for a long time – you big frick’n RACIST.
A Rebel you ain’t and a Rebel fan will dump you over the rail at the top of the stadium on your dumb ass head for impersonating that which you ain’t got the tools for between your raunchy legs.
The Colonel Reb is a polite, sincere, courteous Southern gentleman. The Mississippi South is polite, sincere, and courteous. Your arrogance is all but Southern; I’ll bet the yard hog you are a Yankee and just sniff around to show your shit.
What is YOUR real mascot? A dumb ass dirty commode? Boycott, school, see, replaced, fans, obnoxious, night = you ain’t got a clue …..!
-
- Liberty for Cubs Fans - Feb 8, 2011 at 9:24 AM
-
Come on Guy, this is getting silly. I graduated from Ole Miss in July, haven’t missed a home game in 6 years, and have plently of shirts featuring the Col. I actually think the logo is visually appealing, however, it is no longer our logo. Our logo has changed, for better or for worse, it has changed.
Just because we all still wear shirts that have the Col. on it, and wear the stickers at the games, does not, in any way, mean you are going to motivate a politically apathetic student body to get out and care about something as silly and irrelevant as a college mascot.
It’s over guy, you lost. By all means though, continue to waste money on lousy signs. I am sure Dan Jones will drive by it and immediatly have a change of heart.
-
- rebelfan72 - Feb 8, 2011 at 6:48 PM
-
Lost? We weren’t given an opportunity, which is what weak people do when they know they are wrong. 94% voted to keep Col Reb, the fact that Jones ignored his own referendum says a lot. I will not support the “new mascot” and I have a lot of friends that won’t either. I was a little ahead of you at Ole Miss, I was in Archie Manning’s class. I have been going to Ole Miss games long enough that I remember standing in Tulane Stadium, and watching the Rebs destroy LSU 21-0 after losing to Billy Cannon’s punt return in the regular season.
I haven’t talked to one person who believes that this was handled properly, or that will support the Black Bear. I would rather just do without a Mascot until Mr. Jones moves on, which if my friends in the Legislature have anything to do with it, won’t be long. Remember this, Jones does not own the University, he’s just tasked with running it. He’s not the only person that can do that. It was there long before he arrived, and if you think Col Reb is gone forever, you are sadly mistaken.
-
- Liberty for Cubs Fans - Feb 9, 2011 at 7:55 AM
-
First, Reading the word “Rebs Destroyed” immediatly followed by “LSU” always get me excited. I would have loved to watch Mr. Cannon get what he deserved in the Sugar Bowl, that must have been fun.
But to suggest that bringing back the Col. is even remotely a possibility is insane. Your bill in the State legislature was brought up by a STATE grad (right before Nat. Signing Day) and promptly shut down.
So the whole mess was handled poorly, Dan Jones ignored the students and alumni, the mascot has been replaced…..so what. At the end of the day, it is a dude in a cartoon outfit designed to entertain children on gameday. Why do you care so much?
-
- umcolonelrebel - Feb 9, 2011 at 9:14 AM
-
At the end of the day, it is a dude in a cartoon outfit designed to entertain children on gameday. Why do you care so much?
Don’t you see your hypocrisy? Yes it’s a cartoon character! How offensive can it be?!
-
- umcolonelrebel - Feb 8, 2011 at 8:57 PM
-
this says it all
-
- Liberty for Cubs Fans - Feb 9, 2011 at 8:02 AM
-
Soo I look at Ole Miss and see a tradition of academic and athletic excellence. You look at Ole Miss and see traditions of mascots, songs, names, and flags. Got it.
-
- umcolonelrebel - Feb 9, 2011 at 8:54 AM
-
You’re right liberty. I didn’t go to school at ole miss. I don’t live in Oxford and work on campus. I don’t donate money to the school and athletic programs. And this isn’t the case for my dad, mom, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents. I see ole miss through the prism of only a mascot, flags, and songs. Thanks for puttIng words in my mouth.
If only it were all so simple. The problem is that no one really had a problem with colonel rebel or until the administration started fooling with it. Oxford is the most diverse place in Mississippi and I think that says alot. If all this imagery was so bad, don’t you think people from around the globe wouldn’t be living here? And supporting their rebels?
-
- Liberty for Cubs Fans - Feb 9, 2011 at 1:39 PM
-
Why Do You Care Who The Mascot Is?
