Rebel Black Bear Chosen As New Mascot For Ole Miss

Ole Miss' latest mascot will be the Rebel Black Bear.

More than 1,000 suggestions were initially reviewed by the school's Mascot Selection Committee and 11 were submitted for public input at the end of June. The choices were tapering down to three and an October poll of Ole Miss students, faculty, staff, alumni and season ticket holders revealed the most support for the Black Bear.

The results showed that 62 percent of those polled supported the Black Bear, while the Land Shark drew 56 percent and the Hotty Toddy finished with 42 percent.

"We selected the Rebel Black Bear because it was supported through the whole process and was the lead runner in the final poll," said Margaret Ann Morgan, committee co-chair. It has a Mississippi connection, is timeless, appeals to children, is exclusive to the SEC and fits the other characteristics established in the initial focus groups. Through this long process we have seen the love that people have for the university. Having listened to all of those groups, we know this is a option that best represents what they have said they looked for in a mascot."

The school has been without a mascot as the goateed "Colonel Reb" was removed almost seven years ago in an effort to disassociate the university from the culture of the old South.