XI. The Removal of Colonel Reb as the Mascot
The progression of the University’s image began in 1997 with the ban of the Confederate flag in the football stadium by, then Chancellor Robert Khayat. This was the result then Athletic Director, Pete Boone and student leaders who approved a resolution asking Ole Miss fans to stop waving Rebel flags at athletic events. In an interview Boone stated that the flag hurt recruitment (Cabell, 1997). "I mean, we 've got a great university here, a great academic program, and we 're being held back from a national perspective because of this Confederate flag,” said Boone (Cabell, 1997). Khayat agreed stating that every head coach prior to Boone reported that the Confederate flag was used against them in …show more content…
National media outlets news stories like CBS News “Controversial Mascots”, New York Times “Controversy over Mascot at Ole Miss,” and USA today “At Ole Miss, Evolving Perceptions Both Outward and Inward” pushed the discussion out front. Alumnae Alex McDaniel (2010) expressed in a news article that the mascot mayhem changed the conversation at Ole Miss for the good. While reading an article about the death of Erik Bauersfled, a Star Wars character, McDaniel instantly recalled the Admiral Ackbar campaign developed by students on campus. She said the campaign grew national attention when ESPN produced a commercial about the campaign. (McDaniel, 2010). McDaniel believes that it gave students something to debate that didn’t involve …show more content…
Although removed from on-field activity, the school continues to reap financial benefits from Colonel Rebel product. According to Kathy Tidwell, Director of Contractual services and University Licensing, the school wanted to retain legal rights of the character to prevent others from profiting from the Brand. The school allows only one licensee, WildCat Retro, to make and sale Colonel Rebel products (K. Tidwell, personal communication, November 16, 2016). The Colonel Reb Foundation adds to the confusion. The organization sponsors his appearance in The Grove, as well as on the road (Speck, 2016).This foundation was formed after the mascot was remove (Ferguson, 2003). This organization is the only organization that represents
Colonel Rebel, but does not receive profit (K. Tidwell, personal communication, November 16, 2016). In 2004, The CRF commissioned a mascot company to produce a new Colonel named, “Colonel too” (Ferguson,
The progression of the University’s image began in 1997 with the ban of the Confederate flag in the football stadium by, then Chancellor Robert Khayat. This was the result then Athletic Director, Pete Boone and student leaders who approved a resolution asking Ole Miss fans to stop waving Rebel flags at athletic events. In an interview Boone stated that the flag hurt recruitment (Cabell, 1997). "I mean, we 've got a great university here, a great academic program, and we 're being held back from a national perspective because of this Confederate flag,” said Boone (Cabell, 1997). Khayat agreed stating that every head coach prior to Boone reported that the Confederate flag was used against them in …show more content…
National media outlets news stories like CBS News “Controversial Mascots”, New York Times “Controversy over Mascot at Ole Miss,” and USA today “At Ole Miss, Evolving Perceptions Both Outward and Inward” pushed the discussion out front. Alumnae Alex McDaniel (2010) expressed in a news article that the mascot mayhem changed the conversation at Ole Miss for the good. While reading an article about the death of Erik Bauersfled, a Star Wars character, McDaniel instantly recalled the Admiral Ackbar campaign developed by students on campus. She said the campaign grew national attention when ESPN produced a commercial about the campaign. (McDaniel, 2010). McDaniel believes that it gave students something to debate that didn’t involve …show more content…
Although removed from on-field activity, the school continues to reap financial benefits from Colonel Rebel product. According to Kathy Tidwell, Director of Contractual services and University Licensing, the school wanted to retain legal rights of the character to prevent others from profiting from the Brand. The school allows only one licensee, WildCat Retro, to make and sale Colonel Rebel products (K. Tidwell, personal communication, November 16, 2016). The Colonel Reb Foundation adds to the confusion. The organization sponsors his appearance in The Grove, as well as on the road (Speck, 2016).This foundation was formed after the mascot was remove (Ferguson, 2003). This organization is the only organization that represents
Colonel Rebel, but does not receive profit (K. Tidwell, personal communication, November 16, 2016). In 2004, The CRF commissioned a mascot company to produce a new Colonel named, “Colonel too” (Ferguson,