Even Bulldog fans have a stake in raging Colonel Rebel controversy + Colonel Rebel still UM mascot

The Clarion Ledger, Jackson Ms. ^ | 06-21-03 | By Rick Cleveland

[WKB]

YOU'VE heard the term "hot button issues." I call them "send button issues." Somebody writes a column about the issue. And readers immediately respond with often emotional e-mail.

Colonel Rebel at Ole Miss definitely rates as a "send button issue." Your responses to my Thursday column touched a nerve

[WKB]

Ole Miss ping

[Poodlebrain]

As much as I dislike Ole Miss, I still remember the chills I felt the first time I heard the Ole Miss Band play Dixie in Tiger Stadium in 1977. The reaction of the Ole Miss fans with their Confederate Battle Flags, who numbered about 5,000 out of 70,000 present, was unlike that of any other visitors to Tiger Stadium.

Today, the Ole Miss fans are some of the least vocal supporters of their team to visit Tiger Stadium, and I can't help but think it has to do with the phasing out of those links to Ole Miss' Confederate heritage.

The administration at Ole Miss is deluding themselves if they think that they will all of a sudden become competitive in the SEC by simply denying its heritage. The biggest problems Ole Miss and Mississippi State have being competitive in the SEC are funding for athletics. Both schools are consistently near the bottom in athletic department expenditures that make it difficult to compete with the Florida's, Tennessee's, Alabama's and LSU's of the SEC.

[WKB]

How about that! A LSU fan with some smarts!:>)

[WKB]

oops! ping

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the ping!

It's nice to see so many people upset about Col. Reb's ouster from the games.

I say get rid of Boone, instead of Col. Reb.

Rockin' Rebels? Yuck...no way..unh unh...nope...notgonnahappen...

[dixiechick2000]

"The administration at Ole Miss is deluding themselves if they think that they will all of a sudden become competitive in the SEC by simply denying its heritage. The biggest problems Ole Miss and Mississippi State have being competitive in the SEC are funding for athletics. Both schools are consistently near the bottom in athletic department expenditures that make it difficult to compete with the Florida's, Tennessee's, Alabama's and LSU's of the SEC."

You are absolutely right.

[wardaddy]

I agree...send him outta town on a rail.

[dixiechick2000]

Just "send him outta town on a rail"?

You are much nicer than I am.;o)

[TontoKowalski]

As a Southern Miss alum/fan, I really don't have a dog in this fight. But as a non-Ole Miss fan, I can say this:

Their fans love the school and cherish it's heritage. To dismantle, bit by bit, the imagery that is unique to Ole Miss is a shame.

There's really nothing offensive about an old man with a cane. It is a joke to say that he's still a symbol of the University of Mississippi, but not the athletic department. What's he going to do? Hold pep rallies for the School of Law?

And one more thing: Dixie is a love song. Listen to the lyrics unemotionally. It doesn't say anything about slavery or burning crosses or anything like that. "Old times there are not forgotten." In fact, the Southern Miss band used to sing Dixie a capella after each home football game. It was a beautiful tradition, and all the students and alumni hung around to hear it. I don't know for sure, but I'd bet they don't do it now.

[WKB]

Rockin' Rebels? Yuck...no way..unh unh...nope...notgonnahappen

Torts would be better
On the cowbells. The rule is if they make" too nuch" noise the umps can call a penalty on State.
Define too much!!

[Magnolia]

Think I've got to agree with dixiechick & wardaddy on this one...getting rid of Boone should be the #1 priority instead of political correctness.

Poodlebrain you're absolutely right...nobody but NOBODY can send shivers down your spine like the Ole Miss band's rendition of Dixie. I've never seen so much ruined mascara & men unashamedly wiping their eyes than at an Ole Miss game.

[cyborg]

You sothrons like your football!

[WKB]

You sothrons like your football!

Yes we do and fried chicken to.

[dixiechick2000]

"The rule is if they make" too nuch" noise the umps can call a penalty on State.
Define too much!!"

If they can hear it, they throw their little yellow hankie, I bet, and State has to move towards the goal in back of 'em.

[stainlessbanner]

Sho 'Nuff! Fall Saturdays are sacred : )