Ole Miss students vote to begin seeking new on-field mascot to replace long–gone Colonel Reb

Ole Miss students decide to replace Colonel Reb

JACKSON, Miss. — University of Mississippi students voted Tuesday to start looking for a mascot to fill the void left by Colonel Reb.

The old Southern gent with a cane and floppy hat was booted as the on-field mascot in 2003 as the school continued its move away from Old South symbols. Since then, the teams have been without an on-field mascot.

In Tuesday’s vote, students had to decide whether the university should begin looking for a successor to the colonel. Some of his die-hard fans had been campaigning against the move.

Ole Miss senior Hannah Loy says she’s disappointed with the vote. She says Colonel Reb’s image has been misconstrued by an older generation.