Backlash seen if Colonel Reb fades away

The Clarion Ledger, Jackson Ms. ^ | 05-21-03 | By Andy Kanengiser

[WKB]

He may be old, but Colonel Reb has people talking.

While a consulting group has been hired to study the longtime sports mascot and whether he should be updated or lost to history, Ole Miss fans are taking sides and debating the issue.

[WKB]

It is difficult for coaches to recruit African-American athletes.

The bottom line!

[Conspiracy Guy]

I think the latest incarnation looks like a pimp anyway.

[Magnolia]

"They are trying to get rid of the Old South imagery."

Bingo!

[zip]

The flip side is from Charles K. Ross, a professor of history and African-American Studies at Ole Miss. A change "definitely would be welcomed," Ross said. "It is difficult for coaches to recruit African-American athletes. It is difficult to recruit African-American faculty and students. ... These symbols have negative connotations for athletics.

How can he be a "professor of history" without ever studying history of the southern US? WE MUST NEVER ALLOW THE LEFT TO REWRITE (REVISE) HISTORY TO IGNORE REALITY. The symbol does not seek to reinstate slavery or even glorify it, it only shows part of history. This PC bs sickens me.

[Hatteras]

"I think the latest incarnation looks like a pimp anyway."

Hey, that's an idea! Just use Huggy Bear as the mascot!

[Conspiracy Guy]

Or Fat Albert. Hey hey hey let's football play.

[Comus]

I think the mascot for Ole Miss should be the 'Interior Decorators'. It sums up the manliness of most of the Ole Miss student body and alumni, or maybe the 'Bath House Boys.'

[Magnolia]

I thought trial lawyers as a mascot was a good idea. BTW, in the past Ole Miss Law School graduates weren't required to take the MS bar exam to be admitted. Has that changed?

[Seti 1]

Let's all join in a chorus of "I'm jes' a rebel so-jer":

I'm jes' a rebel so-jer and that is all I am
About this land of freedom I do not give a dam'
I hates the Freedmens' Bureau and uniforms of blue
And I hates the Declaration of Independence, too.

[Rebelbase]

When this happens, the loud sucking noise heard on campus will be Alumni dollars leaving the university.

[Magnolia]

Messing with a southern university's sports program is a sure way to halt the cash flow by alums. It will bring the administration to its knees very quickly!

[uncbuck]

As an historian, I find it difficult to understand when and why the reason for the Civil War became slavery. The symbol of Col Reb is a part of our collective history and represents a debate that still exists today, STATES RIGHTS.

Next you'll be seeing the end of the miniteman because it might offend people from Britain. Or more likly, the N.E. Patriot will become the N.E. Pu$$y because it offends democrats.

[Redbob]

A culture and a way of life is under siege, and the Yankees will never be satisfied as long as we're different from them.
Accents will be next.

[Redbob]

"Next you'll be seeing the end of the miniteman(sic)"

You haven't been paying attention to what's been going on a the U. of Mass., have you?
They've already tried to get rid of The Minuteman because he represents (a) guns, and (b) white men!

Honest, I'm not making this up!

[stainlessbanner]

Quick Poll

Leaders at the University of Mississippi are contemplating a makeover, or a complete replacement, for the decades-old Colonel Rebel sports mascot. The Ole Miss Loyalty Foundation recently spent 30,000 dollars for a study of Colonel Reb, Ole Miss lettering, and the university’s logos. Which mascot option would you prefer?

	13.4%
Replace the Colonel Rebel mascot

	12.8%
Make alterations to the Colonel Rebel mascot

	63.8%
Keep the Colonel Rebel mascot

	4.0%
Replace the mascot with an animal

	1.2%
Replace the mascot with a person

	4.7%
Another option, such as the Miami Hurricanes or the Alabama Crimson Tide

Total Votes: 1471

[dixiechick2000]

"It is difficult for coaches to recruit African-American athletes."

"They are trying to get rid of the Old South imagery..."

Getting rid of the "Old South imagery" is what this is all about.

Also, I guess they won't mind giving up all of that alumni money they are used to receiving.

[bourbon]

Yes. that has changed. Now all candidates for admission to the bar have to take the bar exam, regardless of which school they graduated from. I think the old "diploma rule" policy was repealed sometime in the 1970s, but I may wrtong about that.

[bourbon]

Accents will be next.

Accents of all kinds are already on the chopping block thanks to television.

[NCC-1701]

"...About 13 percent of Ole Miss' students are African Americans..."

The minority controlling the majority. Isn't that what all the stink was over apartied in South Africa? That ended years ago there and landed sqaurely in the USA. I have no ties to Ole MIss, but this PC ca-ca has GOT TO STOP! Little by little, the trappings of Rebel U are being stripped away. The flag was the first. Now this. end apartied in the US now. If some adherents to PC had their way, there would be bar codes on everything at Ole Miss. The Ole Miss Barcodes, how's that. Sucks dosen't it? Stand up against the change.