Ole Miss are now the Black Bears, congrats on caving to a bunch of PC nonsense! (Oxford: university, train)

[suprascooby22]

And the winner is .. the Ole Miss Rebel Black Bear - College Football - ESPN

Truly a sad day in the great state of Mississippi!

[SacalaitWhisperer]

Mississippi has had far worse days, I assure you.
Not sure how old you are but history proves you wrong.

Landsharks! I prefer that mascot.

[suprascooby22]

Originally Posted by SacalaitWhisperer

Mississippi has had far worse days, I assure you.
Not sure how old you are but history proves you wrong.

Landsharks! I prefer that mascot.

Anything other than Col. Reb is ridiculous and is another assualt on traditions that may offend a small minority. If someone had a problem with the Ole Miss mascot then they are FREE to go somewhere else!

[mississippimagnolia]

It's not even an ill-tempered, angry bear. It's a dumb smiling, costume wearing, cartoony looking, chuck-e-cheese style, black bear.

I cannot believe Ole Miss allowed this to happen.

It will ALWAYS be the OLE MISS REBELS! HOTTY TODDY!

[suprascooby22]

Originally Posted by mississippimagnolia

It's not even an ill-tempered, angry bear. It's a dumb smiling, costume wearing, cartoony looking, chuck-e-cheese style, black bear.

I cannot believe Ole Miss allowed this to happen.

It will ALWAYS be the OLE MISS REBELS! HOTTY TODDY!

All current and former students need to let the University know that they are not supportive of this. Once the money train drys up I guarantee you that they will be more cooperative and actually listen to what people want and not some PC nonsense.

[northstar22]

The name needed to change. The image of a slave-owning "rebel" is very offensive to black Americans, as well as to all non-whites.

[Desert kid]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

The name needed to change. The image of a slave-owning "rebel" is very offensive to black Americans, as well as to all non-whites.

The concept of "Colonel Reb" is not of a slaveowner, the mascot's look was taken from that of "Blind" Jim Tilly. You cannot speak for all people either. Colonel Reb is no more offensive than Colonel Sanders, or Colonel Neil Armstrong (yes, he is a Kentucky Colonel).

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

The name needed to change. The image of a slave-owning "rebel" is very offensive to black Americans, as well as to all non-whites.

I agree, and I should also point out that the original Black Bears are actually at the University of Maine, so perhaps another revision will be necessary..

[northstar22]

Also, as far as I know, the University of Mississippi (the name "Ole Miss" is also offensive and needs to go) athletic teams will still be known as the "Rebels." The black bear is only a mascot.

[mississippimagnolia]

If the name "Ole Miss" is so offensive, then please tell me why we have such a diverse Campus?

Hmmmmm..."Black Bears"???? Maybe that offends me. Why does it have to be a black bear? Why not a brown bear, or a polar bear...or better yet, a panda bear?

See how dumb these arguments are?

I've spent an awful lot of time in Oxford and on the campus of Ole Miss. Thirty-Six members of my family have graduated from the University of Mississippi. My oldest child is there now. I've never picked up on even a hint of racial tension on that campus. On the contrary, Oxford is one of the few places in the State of Mississippi that doesn't have problems with race relations.

I think there are just people in this country who don't have enough to do, so they create drama by feigning "outrage".