Did Ol Miss Eliminate Or Substitute The Rebel As Its Mascot?

In 2003, the Ole Miss administration removed Colonel Reb from the sidelines at athletic events due to public concerns about a connection between the character and the Old South. The university decided to replace Rebel the Bear as the official on-field mascot with a Landshark starting in 2018. The term Landshark originated in 2008 and has been used since then. Extensive polling resulted in the bear defeating the Rebel Land Shark and Hotty Toddy, based on a cheer exchange between Ole Miss fans.

The new mascot of the Ole Miss Rebels will be a black bear, officially replacing the goateed Southern gentleman “Colonel Reb”. Rebel the Black Bear won 62% of the student vote and became the university’s mascot for the next seven years. In 2010, the university replaced him with a new on-field mascot, the Black Bear, who was then replaced with Tony the Landshark in 2018.

The anthropomorphic black bear replaced Colonel Reb as the official mascot in 2010. On October 6, 2017, Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter announced that the new mascot would be named Landshark, and the new mascot has yet to be designed but will be unveiled before the school’s football season begins. The Landshark is an anthropomorphic shark that originated in 2008 and has been used since then. The Landshark represents the two subspecies of black bears residing in Mississippi and is the third time in less than two decades that Ole Miss is embracing a new mascot.

Why did Ole Miss change their logo?

The University of Mississippi will not utilize the Colonel Rebel mascot during the forthcoming football season. This decision was made in response to the institution’s efforts to identify a mascot that is perceived as more intimidating. The institution’s administrators have expressed a desire for a mascot that is more intimidating than the current Southern gentleman, who is depicted with a cocked hat, snow-white goatee, and cane. The institution will not have a mascot until a suitable one is approved. The institution has been contemplating a potential alteration to the Colonel Rebel mascot for approximately eight years.

Did Ole Miss drop the Rebel name?

Ole Miss Esports has removed the name “Rebels” from their team and all team-affiliated hashtags, making them the first university sports program to do so. The move was made in response to the surge in national support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Esports president Sergio Brack said that if a change could make something more inclusive, he would do so. The term “rebels” has a divisive connotation within the student body, especially with people of color. The term has been used since 1936 when the University Athletic Committee declared it official.

What is Ole Miss unofficial mascot?

Lane Kiffin’s dog, Juice Kiffin, has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law, further augmenting the already impressive professional resume of the unofficial mascot of the Ole Miss football team. The use of cookies by Yahoo, a member of the Yahoo family of brands, serves a number of purposes. These include the provision of services, user authentication, the implementation of security measures, the prevention of spam and abuse, and the measurement of user activity.

How many times has Ole Miss changed their mascot?

The University of Mississippi has had three official mascots over the past 20 years, each with both positive and negative reactions. Colonel Reb was the official sideline mascot from 1979 to 2003, followed by the Black Bear in 2010 and Tony the Landshark in 2018. Staff member James Dowd jokingly explains that the mascot changes every day, month, year, or season, and the Black Bear won the debate. The University of Mississippi staff member also recalls being part of the team for Colonel Reb and the excitement surrounding the decision to choose a new mascot.

Did they change the name of the Ole Miss mascot?

The University of Mississippi has a history of changing its mascots, with Colonel Reb being the official sideline mascot from 1979 to 2003. In 2010, the university replaced him with the Black Bear, who was then replaced with Tony the Landshark in 2018. Staff member James Dowd, who was a former Colonel Reb fan, jokingly explains that the mascot changes every day, month, year, or season. The Black Bear’s popularity has been a topic of debate among fans.

What is the story behind the Hotty Toddy at Ole Miss?

The etymology of the term “Hotty Toddy” remains uncertain. It has been proposed that the phrase may originate from the iconic drink itself, or alternatively, from the notion that the Ole Miss community was perceived as “hoity-toity” and that fans embraced this epithet. In 2014, Ole Miss news suggested that the term may be in reference to the Virginia Tech Regimental Band, “The Highty Tighties.” The iconic cheer remains a prominent aspect of the Ole Miss fanbase.

How do you respond to Hotty Toddy?

Hotty Toddy is a popular cheer among Ole Miss Rebel fans during national games. It originated from a bike rider’s request for a “Hotty Toddy” and was later adopted by Ole Miss fans wearing hats. The cheer has evolved over the years to serve as a greeting of kindness, similar to how Roll Tide serves Alabama fans. It is a symbol of respect and kindness, akin to the way Alabama fans greet each other during games.

What does hotty toddy mean Ole Miss?

The term “Hotty Toddy” is employed in response to the completion of a challenging task, as a cheer during World War II, or as a description of a warm alcoholic beverage. The phrase “Hotty Toddy” serves to encourage individuals to express themselves emotionally and physically, whether in the context of tailgating in the Grove or greeting a classmate. The spirit of Ole Miss is pervasive, and individuals frequently inquire of themselves whether they are prepared, despite being already aware of their own readiness.

Is Ole Miss mascot still the Rebels?

Ole Miss University replaced the black bear with Tony the Landshark in the 2018 football season, honoring former linebacker Tony Fein. Fein popularized the “fins up” gesture, which he threw above his head after a successful tackle. The Landshark Defense overpowered opponents on the field, but now Tony is rarely seen at sporting events. Legend has it that his fierce countenance scared youngsters in the Grove, and a lackluster Ole Miss defense diminished his impact. Many students consider Tony a failed mascot due to his low visibility.

What happened to Colonel Reb?

The Colonel Reb Foundation (CRF) was established in 2003, following Colonel Reb’s removal by the administration. The student-led organization launched a Grove lapel sticker campaign, with over 500, 000 Rebel fans wearing the “Colonel Reb Is My Mascot” stickers. The CRF led an ASB vote, which resulted in over 94% of students voting to bring Colonel Reb back. The administration introduced a new mascot contest, but fans ridiculed it, leading to Khayat canceling it.

The CRF commissioned a mascot company to produce a new Colonel for Ole Miss fans, “Colonel Too”, who arrived in Oxford in 2004 with his unique style and mannerisms. The university allowed the CRF mascot to attend athletic contests, but only in the stands, with a ticket bought by the non-profit foundation. In 2009, athletics department officials began forbidding the Colonel to enter home sporting events.

Why did Ole Miss get rid of Rebel the Bear?

In 2003, Colonel Reb was removed from the sidelines at Ole Miss athletic events due to criticism of the character’s offensive and racially insensitive nature. A contest was held to design a replacement, and Rebel, The Black Bear was chosen as the official mascot in 2010. The athletic department chose two finalists, Rebel Bruiser and Rowdy Rebel, but the poll was cancelled due to limited fan response.

In 2010, Ole Miss students voted to choose a new mascot, but Colonel Reb was not reinstated due to popular support. An internet campaign to adopt the Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar gained support, but the students insisted that Admiral Ackbar was not their ideal choice. Lucasfilm, the owners of Admiral Ackbar, declined to give Ole Miss the rights to use his image for their mascot, but commented that Star Wars fans at the University of Mississippi were considering electing Admiral Ackbar as their mascot.

In 2017, Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter announced that the new university mascot would be the Landshark, starting with the 2018-19 season. The Ole Miss Rebels, the collegiate athletic teams of the University of Mississippi, have faced criticism for their mascot search and the lack of a mascot for the Rebel Alliance Fleet.