The rebranding of the University of Mississippi
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 4, 2010 9:29 PM EST
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PrintED - GHOST: ThReAd LoCkEd!1 Per multiple requests, I'm locking these two loads of fun down. Apparently people are just tired of talking about this. T'was an interesting two weeks though, that's for sure.
Branding is used in advertising to give consumers an identity to associate to a corporation. How do you change the branding of a major university without losing the identity those supporters have become accustomed to identifying with the university.
If you change too drastically you will lose the support base that has made your company successful. If you take away core symbols of that branding, what will be the backlash and how can it be overcome?
How can the University of Mississippi make this change successfully?
I have given arguments from someone who has associated the "branding" of the university with the Rebels, civil war and old traditions for 32 years. How can the school change without alienating 45 plus years of supporters?
It appears to me the university could use some professional help in their endeavors, maybe they have received that help and have been told it will be a long and painful process.
Ackbar is scary looking, and I can't see the association with a black bear unless we change from being the Rebels to the Black Bears. I don't see that idea going over too well either.
Are we in the middle of the process now and it will be the slow and painful process, or is the administration just playing it by ear?
We seem to have some impressive people who appear to know the answers to everything. How do we get an entire generation of Rebels on board with a change to improve our perception to the outside world.
This post is a Red Cup Rebellion FanPost. Please don't sue us.
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The same way any other group does it
By doing it.
See: Comcast (for the most recent and on the top of my mind)
They are changing their name as they change their brand from Cable Company to Media Conglomerate. It’s not much of a difference, the company will still offer the same services (cable packages, Interwebs access, and crappy customer service), the only difference will be what’s on the bills and the business cards (and the corporate headquarters building).
The same thing with The University of Mississippi vis a vis Ole Miss.
The school will still be the school. The same buildings housing the same teachers teaching the same subjects. In truth, though, the analogy fails because it’s not really a “rebranding”, it’s a subtle shift in the emphasis the administration wants the outside world to notice.
We have always been, first and foremost, The University of Mississippi, the flagship school of Mississippi. “Ole Miss” is a nickname for the school that came into popular use sometime circa 1930. Over the years, the name “Ole Miss” became more popular than “The University of Mississippi” when referring to the school. I don’t know why, whether it be because of ease of pronunciation or spelling or something else entirely.
The “emphasis shift” which began under Chancellor Khayat is putting an emphasis on us being The University, a more formal, research-based institution (think legit Southern Ivy school, or if you want to be slightly less elitist, a Southern Big 10 school in the mode of The Ohio State University) than the informal “come one, come all” Ole Miss. Besides, State is supposed to be the “come one, come all” school.
Doesn’t mean we’re not going to be any less friendly or welcoming in point of fact, but the perception the Lyceum wants to project requires us go by The University more often than we go by Ole Miss.
I hope this helps!
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
not quite the same
You are talking about a cable company, not GM. Are there any loyalist to Comcast. I would think by the conversion rate of television watchers from cable to satellite you would lose the argument.
I understand attempting to raise the image of Ole Miss to the general public also.
I would have to compare Ole Miss’ challenge of changing their branding to a company that has been around for at least 50 years that relies heavily on loyal customers for their success.
Comcast didn’t earn their customers they bought them. It isn’t like you had a choice of more than one cable company to consider.
What happened when Coke tried to introduce “new” Coke? That’s somewhat of a name change and definitely a change in the product.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
You said it yourself,
the problem is that “new coke” was a product change. The change to a black bear, or Ackbar, or a Landshark, or hell, even Johnny Rebel, is a logo change. This happens all the time:
In all of these cases, the product remains the same. In the case of Ole Miss, the product also remains the same. The logo change serves to emphasize the product, help with advertising, and eventually raise the profile of the organization. That’s the goal here, too. We’re still Ole Miss, we’re still the Rebels, and we’re still going to provide the same quality of education, the same student services, and the same student experience regardless of the logo on our t-shirts.
Now y'all without sin can cast the first stone...
by Sir Francis Drank on Mar 5, 2010 2:14 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
nice presentation
I didn’t see Colonel Reb to Black Bear, though. It’s more like the Coke to New Coke change. Not a redesign with the same wording.
I believe you failed by comparing those redesigned logos with the same company name.
Those would be considered updates or modernizations of the same thing.
They are not complete name changes. IBM was the most drastic change you listed.
Can the Rebels team name be molded in order to salvage or will the Black Bears be the long term branding change to improve the school’s image.
I believe the school did hire a professional group to research what it will involve to most effectively change the branding of the University of Mississippi. I believe we are in the slow and painful process I hope our Ole Miss faithful are patient.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:11 AM EST up reply actions
You're right. I'll help out Sir Francis...
University of Mississippi —> University of Mississippi
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
Your analogy is tremendously flawed though...
Colonel Reb —> Nothing —> Black Bear
That’s like saying Coke stopped making cola all together, and then one day started back.
"HOT BOUDIN! COOOOOLD COUS COUS, COME ON TIGAHS, PUSH PUSH PUSH!"
Colonel Reb
The administration never took Colonel Reb completely out of the picture. So there has never been “nothing”. It was a mascot who could be at the games. He was still recognized and sold as a mascot.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
Dude..
The legitimate tangible mascot means nothing. Alabama has an ELEPHANT, Tennessee has a HOUND DOG, and there’s countless other schools with mascots not related to the nickname of the school.
Look, I’m a huge Ole Miss fan, and a former history major. I’m not bothered by the past or the idea of Ole Miss honoring the past. I have a Col. Reb magnet on my vehicle. He doesn’t offend me, but if they got rid of him and replaced him with a bumble bee, then I’d have a bumble bee on my vehicle. I support the Rebs no matter what is/isn’t dancing on the sidelines and taking pictures with the kiddies.
contrary to your belief
The elephant was brought into bama lore back in the late thirties. The story told was that bama was beating up on the Rebels pretty badly with the JV and then out of the tunnel came the varsity lineman for Alabama. There’s conflicting stories over who said it, but it went a little like this, “Here come the varsity team looking like a herd of pachyderms.”
Like I said school lore is tradition. It may or may not have happened, but there a story behind it anyway.
The hound and the Volunteers go way back. It was also lore that most of the Volunteers that went off to Texas took along their hunting dogs. They knew they would need them for their journey. A Volunteer never left home without his hunting dog. It was like their American Express card.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
Do your homework
UT picking a hound has nothing to do with people taking their dogs to Texas with them during the Texas Revolution.
Get this: the students voted on a hound dog in the early 50s because THEY DIDN’T HAVE AN ON-FIELD MASCOT!!!!
Sounds a lot like what we’re doing.
no need for homework I lived the past
After traveling to most every sec campus and talking with fans from other schools I have heard the lore and I am only repeating it.
I have 24 years of attending football, basketball and baseball games for the Rebels, I really don’t want to try to explain a black bear mascot to LSU fans. My brawlin’ days are waaaay behind me.
Would removing the mascot now have the same impact as introducing one 60 years ago?
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
mascot envy
Even those mascots that seem to have no relation to the school names are soaked in tradition and folklore of the history of the school.
There are stories substantiated by written and tribal lore to explain the connections of both of these odd mascots.
I am to the point that it would almost be best to be like Michigan and not even have a mascot. After all, when people want to know what a Rebel is and who and what it represents we simple include the whole Rebel nation.
Please tell me
“Even those mascots that seem to have no relation to the school names are soaked in tradition and folklore of the history of the school.”
What does a hound dog have to do with the University of Tennessee?
by HighLifeRebel on Mar 5, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
Nothing...but guess what?
STUDENTS decided it. Again, from the Wiki:
Smokey was selected as the mascot for Tennessee after a student poll in 1953. A contest was held by the Pep Club that year. Their desire was to select a coon hound that was native to Tennessee. At halftime of the Mississippi State game that season, several hounds were introduced for voting. “Blue Smokey”, owned by a Rev. Bill Brooks was the last, and howled loudly when introduced. The students cheered and Smokey became the mascot.
Oh, and there was this:
Smokey II was stolen by Kentucky students in 1955 and was involved in an incident with the Baylor Bear’s mascot Judge at the 1957 Sugar Bowl.
I don’t even want to know what kind of “incident” but I can guess (shudder).
Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?
by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Mar 5, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
lets take... oh, alabama as an example
the elephant had long been associated with the football team (according to some sources, a 1930 game with ole miss is where it started). but the school didn’t have an official mascot until 1979 when big al was chosen. that’s about half a century without a mascot and it didn’t really seem to affect us too much.
so, yeah, we have a mascot. whoopee. we get to see stuff like this before the game. way to honor our proud traditions. but whatever costume the cheerleader is wearing on the sideline, it’s still pretty clear the official “mascot” is secondary to the label “Crimson Tide.” check any sports page you want and count how many times one of the school’s teams are referred to as “elephants.”
your argument has consistently been that ole miss must have a mascot that honors the state’s heritage or something – not the school, not the athletics but the state. but alabama’s nickname and mascot both reflect the tradition and history of the football team (and, by extension, the rest of the school’s athletics).
by your logic alabama should abandon both the elephant and crimson tide to take some symbol more reflective of the state… say… the Steelers or the Rockets. and if you can’t see how absurd that is, it just emphasizes how inane your point is concerning ole miss.
my suggestion concerning this pile of nonsense? let them choose whatever the hell they want as the official mascot and then keep doing this…
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
by kleph on Mar 5, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions 7 recs
Read this---^
Ramblin, please read this a couple of times. Posted it next to your computer screen for a few weeks or on your make-up mirror or somewhere else where you will read it again.
Well said, kleph.
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
read all the post
mascot envy
Even those mascots that seem to have no relation to the school names are soaked in tradition and folklore of the history of the school.
There are stories substantiated by written and tribal lore to explain the connections of both of these odd mascots.
I am to the point that it would almost be best to be like Michigan and not even have a mascot. After all, when people want to know what a Rebel is and who and what it represents we simple include the whole Rebel nation.
-——————————————————————————————————————————-
If we can’t come up with a great mascot, just don’t have one.
Try reading my post once before you point your finger Role Player.
I like the Landshark mascot idea the best so far.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:16 PM EST up reply actions
You must have missed the point of his post...again
He was not suggesting the landshark as a mascot, he was saying, “choose whatever the hell [you] want…and continue to [kick ass].”
Trying comprehending what you read.
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
I gotta say...
…your argument I think actually lends itself more to the idea that the mascot should be a “landshark.” Organically developed from a member of our own football team (RIP Tony Fein), and he could still be a Rebel. I know it was a sportswriter that likened the Tide that day in 1930 to a “herd of elephants,” but I still see a similarity of circumstance.
Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?
by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Mar 5, 2010 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
no...
i see landshark more analogous to “crimson tide.”
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
Explain further?
Crap…now I’m going to be skipping lunch while going back to confirm the origins of the “Tide” and “elephant” imagery. Stupid need-to-research-useless-stuff gene.
Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?
by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Mar 5, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
Okay...that didn't take long.
From Wikipedia (so it HAS to be true):
Hugh Roberts, former sports editor of the Birmingham Age-Herald, is credited with coining the phrase “Crimson Tide” in an article describing the 1907 Iron Bowl played in Birmingham. The game was played in a sea of red mud with Auburn a heavy favorite to win. Alabama held Auburn to a 6-6 tie, thus graduating to their newfound nickname.
And two elephant legends:
Officially, following the 1930 game versus Ole Miss, Atlanta Journal sports writer Everett Strupper wrote:“At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, ‘Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,’ and out stamped this Alabama varsity. It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size.”
Another account attributes the Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk Company for the elephant association. Alabama used the Birmingham Trunk Company’s luggage to travel to the 1930 Rose Bowl. The luggage company’s trademark was a red elephant standing on a trunk. When the football team arrived in Pasadena, the reporters greeting them associated their large size with the elephants on their luggage.
[takes off Bama fan hat, puts Rebel fan hat back on]
Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?
by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Mar 5, 2010 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
both are traditionally associated with the team and alabama athletics as a whole
but the fact that, at some arbitrary point, the school decided to make one an “official” mascot did nothing to change the importance of the other.
the landshark, in my opinion, is a symbol originating from the team itself. they have chosen to use it and the fanbase has embraced it as well. the tragic death of tony fein only amplifies these associations. the landshark is also completely devoid of the negative connotations other such traditions have carried (TSWRA, for example) giving it an honesty those symbols could never match.
if landshark survives the test of time, and i see no reason it cannot, it will be more of a real representation of the spirit of the program than whatever foam headed costume is eventually approved by the administration.
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
Look, I just want to see Chevy Chase on the Powe-tron
…in a landshark outfit. Then when he sticks his head out of the shark mouth instead of “Live from New York” it’s “Are You Ready?”
Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?
by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Mar 5, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
landshark
I like the Landshark as a mascot the best. It was something originated by the players. It has a beginning here at the school and a story.
The Black Bear has very little tie in to the University of Mississippi.
Besides, I’m a little old school and liked the landshark episodes on Saturday Night Live back in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
At least the band could play the theme to Jaws when he came running out for the first game. That would be exciting! It definitely belongs to the school and the teams
Maybe he could were 47 for Tony Fein.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
As well as Jimmy Buffett's "Fins"
The band already plays “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and there’s no real difference between the two anyway. I swear I think they’re playing Fins when it starts, and then they go into the CIP chorus and my hopes are dashed.
Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?
by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Mar 5, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
landshark
This is a landshark, no water needed. It doesn’t come in with the tide.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
tradition and who makes it a tradition
There is a big difference between changing and adding traditions and when it is done.
My argument is by changing a mascot and soon the nickname now is more difficult than changing or adding it in the past.
What if the Rammer Jammer cheer was banned by Bama? It is directly related to the confederate soldiers of an Alabama regiment that trimmed their uniforms in yellow.
Changing now has a larger impact than back in the thirties or even fifties. It doesn’t impact as many people.
Ole Miss is attempting to change during a time period when they have the largest fan base ever. The need to do so without negatively impacting that base is important.
If you make a change to drastic an alienate a large percentage of the fan base, you might impact the attendance and contributions from that fan base enough to cause the school to suffer economically.
My argument about the Rebel mascot is indicative to how many people who support Ole Miss feel.
At this point if there’s going to be changes it would be better for the school to include the entire fan base, not just the 5 or 6 thousand that might vote on campus.
The 18,000 students who presently attend may not have but a 20-30% interest. The graduated students and fan base may feel much differently.
There’s talk of expanding our stadium again if our season ticket sales continue to be strong.
If there is a change that alienates some of that fan base it could impact those sales.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions
rammer jammer
Only someone as anal as you would still something called rammer jammer.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 8:54 PM EST up reply actions
What a friggin'..
Awesome spear by the elephant. FTW
by Dwide Schrude on Mar 5, 2010 7:55 PM EST up reply actions
how appropriate
the use of spear after the mention of rammer jammer, how long have you and kleph been together?
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
I'm glad you have resorted to the always intellectual gay bashing.
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
you missed
My argument has been the mascot should have some tie in to the school not just grabbed out of the air with no relation to the school.
I have heard nothing to tie the Roosevelt black bear story back to Ole Miss. My first post, was to show the how divided the fan base could become if the process to find a new mascot alienated people from the whole fan base.
As I stated on this post, I like the landshark it originated with the program.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 8:53 PM EST up reply actions
OK. You want to tie Teddy to Ole Miss? Lemme do it to it.
Teddy was invited to Mississippi to hunt bears by Gov. Andrew Longino, who was succeeded by Gov. James Vardaman, who has a building named after him on campus (which is home to the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation).
BAM, TIE-IN.
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
7 degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon
I rather have a landshark, at least it was started by one of our own.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 6, 2010 1:41 AM EST up reply actions
Pop culture fail
The sociological term is “Six Degrees of Separation”
The game is “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon”
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
Vardaman
I didn’t know we had a Vardaman building. Ouch. And the fact that it houses the WWIRR is just weird, wacky, and wild
I'll use the Valu-Jet example
When a Valu-Jet plane crashed into the Florida Everglades, their profits plummeted. It didn’t matter that Valu-Jet had done nothing that any other Airline had done, they just happened to have their name on the side of a plane that crashed. Afterwards, people assumed the worst, that the company had cut corners in an effort to save money, and, as a result, the plane crashed killing everyone on board.
Did these people have any proof that Valu-Jet had cut corners or, that as a result, the corners which were cut caused the accident? No. As a matter of fact, Valu-Jet was held harmless after an investigation. But it didn’t matter. The damage had been done. People associated Valu-Jet with planes slamming people into the ground, and that hurt their bottom line.
So, they changed their name. Did the prices change? Did the pilots change? Did the airplanes change? Did the service change? No. Airtran is an economical alternative to flying, and since the name change, their loyal customers, of which I am one, didn’t care about the name change because we had received good service in the past at an affordable rate. However, others, who normally would not have flown on Airtran, now felt more comfortable about getting onto one of their planes, even though they had no reason to fear getting on the plane in the first place.
In case you haven’t realized where this is going yet, it doesn’t matter whether or not OM slams planes into the ground, just like it doesn’t matter whether Airtran is racist. It’s perception.
By changing our name, or our mascot, who do we risk alienating? The people who spent four years at the University and have spent time, money, effort, and emotion in being a part of its sports programs? The same ones who threatened to leave over the flag? That seems unlikely. Our vast numbers of sidewalk alumni? We really don’t have any. Most of the OM fanbase went to school there, and they will always have a degree from the University along with memories of the times they had there. Their loyalty is almost locked in. Attrition will be minimal at best.
On the other hand, what can we expect to gain? Will people be more willing “fly with us” if the first thing that comes to mind is a racist past? Just like people’s perceptions of Airtran, they may be based on little facts and what they’ve seen on the news, but they are still their perceptions. The university has to compete with everybody to garner the best student population, and they are doing the best they can by changing the perception of the University as a whole. This starts at OM, just like at Valu-Jet with a change in image.
I have no idea why people can’t get this through their fucking skulls.
Yeah... But...
ValuJet’s mascot was really cute. (Forgive me if this picture doesn’t work. I’ve never done this before)
good comparison
We have to hope that the name change doesn’t cause the same reaction as the crashing of the plane.
Is it a good decision to allow only the present students who don’t seem to be too involved with the mascot to be the only votes to be counted. Would it not be a better decision to allow a more comprehensive vote to obtain more “by in” from the entire fan base.
At this time has it’s largest fan base ever, it would be a shame to lose anyone because they felt alienated from the process. Being treated unfairly and not having a say in the change can be more impacting than just the name change alone.
Is it really that hard to understand that this isn't anything important
Who gave a fuck when any of this happened?
As you can see by the above mascot changes and success following, all we are trying to do is win championships. Please go get fucked by a big black bear and cry that Colonel Reb wouldn’t have done it so hard.
by ColRebsLastBreath on Mar 5, 2010 2:28 PM EST reply actions
the saints went through something like 14 uniform changes in as many years
during the 80s and 90s. but notice how it wasn’t until ownership improved and they got a good coach that they won a superbowl.
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
Exactly
No one gave two shits when they did it either. It is a meaningless thing that for some reason people think is important to Ole Miss. It isn’t. Getting a makeover will help us get better players and better personnel, which will hopefully lead to championships. It doesn’t guarantee it by any means.
by ColRebsLastBreath on Mar 5, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
Ole Miss and the SEC
until we are packing 80 plus thousand in the seats we will be a mid tier athletic program in the sec.
Changing names isn’t going to improve recruiting. Having a coach that can win and the players respect will bring better players.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:28 PM EST up reply actions
This is not logical.
kleph hints at this. Changing their logos did not attract the smart management and coaching decisions, and none of those are examples of a mascot that has changed.
P.S. That “old cartoonish minuteman” is badass!
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
and lets not forget...
the resounding success florida had on their championship run when they revamped the helmet logo to have that new hotness.
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
Oh yes...the mighty italic.
I praise you.
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
HOLY SHIT
is that horse snotting lasers?
THAT IS FUCKING AWESOME
what was the point of this thread again?
drunk comment of the week: Loveliest Little Village on the Plains is just code for one road leading to a giant clusterphuck every gameday
by Wallacewade04 on Mar 5, 2010 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed, the Broncos need to go back to the old logo.
There isn’t a point, not a good one anyways.
by ColRebsLastBreath on Mar 5, 2010 10:41 PM EST up reply actions
last breath exactly
I don’t see one of these that would come close to the change that Colonel Reb to a Black Bear would have. Once again you get an F for effort.
Updating the same thing isn’t the same as changing the mascot completely.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
We are staying the rebels
All we are doing is updating what the Rebel is. It is the exact same thing. Exactly the same fucking thing.
Originally we were going from this:
TO THIS 
Now we have moved on to this: 
Saying that it isn’t, “that’s is just your opinion, man.”
by ColRebsLastBreath on Mar 5, 2010 10:39 PM EST up reply actions
hold your breath as long as you want
The administration has decided to go in a different unfortunately.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 6, 2010 1:38 AM EST up reply actions
must be for you
none of those logo updates change the name. They are just updated version of old logos.
You don’t understand, I understand perfectly. Why do you think this has been an on going process for the last 20 years.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:23 PM EST up reply actions
not quite the same
those updated versions of the same name don’t compare to a change from Colonel Reb to a Black Bear.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
There is nothing wrong with our colors or logo...
They are classic and rooted in history – that’s what our school is about anyway. Why would we want to change it? We’ve worked hard to create a brand and our name, logo, unis, colors, etc are all part of that brand. The Ole Miss mascot change debate is nothing more than the (uneducated) media making a big deal about something that is not a big deal to we Mississippians and Southerners in general. This unwanted media spotlight causes powers to be at the University to cower beneath the weight of their White Guilt instead of letting the truth be enough and telling anyone who doesn’t like it to take a hike.
Let’s get our stories straight.
by oxford roll @ two stick on Mar 5, 2010 3:43 PM EST reply actions
You double-posting trol!!!
I’m glad you found your soapbox to bring more irrelevant speak to this conversation.
Telling people to “take a hike” is not effective if you want friends. Trust me, I tried it. Because I feel your pain though, I’ll be your friend.
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
Double-posting?
I just used my “inspect member” privileges and have determined your accusation to be false.
Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Mar 6, 2010 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
Your "privileges" suck.
I looked at his profile, to which everyone has access, and OR@TS has made three comments on this blog, two of which are the exact same in two different places.
Glad you are not a lawyer or a judge.
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
I thought you were saying he is two separate accounts
registered under one email address or IP. THAT is privileged information which your weak ass cannot touch.
Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Mar 8, 2010 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
Sounds powerful.
How does it feel touching IP addresses?
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
Like looking God in the face and having him say to you,
“you are my most wondrous creation.”
Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Mar 8, 2010 1:02 PM EST up reply actions
hmmm
Another Rebel who doesn’t think we should go down without a fight.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:00 PM EST up reply actions
If we change anything..
Could we get another cool alternate jersey? Oregon has 100 of them every year. I think one that’s like, the Confederate flag with numbers and a name on it would be awesome.
And for pants, they can be the wool pants they wore in the Civil War.
over the top
Instead you prefer to hide behind the likeness of a teddy bear, maybe.
That will make everyone forget for sure. Everyone likes a teddy bear.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 5, 2010 9:03 PM EST up reply actions
Right Direction...
But how about instead we make our mascot James Earl Ray? Think of the possibilities when we play Memphis!!
Or even better, JAMES EARL JONES
BOOM, JUST RE STAR WARS-ED THIS BITCH!
And I just broke my own rule. Oh well.
Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Mar 6, 2010 9:16 AM EST up reply actions
Part of me keeps coming back to this thread..
Hoping to find out ramblinrebelman is just a gag like the Squawk ’Em Hawk ’Em thing was.
Isn't it weird that...
…per sheer number of comments, ramblinrebelman can be considered one of the most popular posters on RCR?
There's a darkness on the edge of town.
per sheer number of comments, ramblinrebelman can be considered one of the most popular posters on RCR?
Abject stupidity draws attention. After a while, people get sick of it.
Look at Sarah Palin. Look at the KKK.
reply button.
Yeah I know. I keep expecting him to go away but it just hasn’t happened yet.
There's a darkness on the edge of town.
As long as we're talking about tradition...
Can someone get our damn name right? We’re not the “University of Mississippi”; instead, we are “The University of Mississippi.” Much like tOSU is “The Ohio State University,” we are tUM.
Do we have
enough tuba players to dot all the I’s in Mississippi?
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 9, 2010 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, actually
Last semester we had 24. We had a hard time fitting them all in the band photograph.
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
new cheer
Just a little tradition being started by the new administration.
WE ARE! OLE MISS!
5 years from now we won’t be able to say the cheer, they will have removed Ole Miss also.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 8, 2010 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
5 years from now
we won’t be able to say WAOM because they will have realized it’s just as dumb (or dumber) as that “RED! BLUE!” chant they did the last couple years.
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
Big difference between
“won’t be able” and "have chosen not to.’ I thought the student voice spoke pretty clearly on this issue last semester and it was voted not to have him do that anymore, although he still did for the LSU game.
There's a darkness on the edge of town.
don't you just love
The way the new administration listens to the student body?
And you folks think the Black Bear hasn’t been picked out for us already.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 9, 2010 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
Two entirely different things
For one, the mascot issue is intended to be a symmetry between the administration and the students. The administration will most likely propose mascots, as will the students, and there is a large chance a black bear will indeed be proposed.
The WAOM guy has nothing to do with the administration. He is a product of the Cardinal Club, if I remember right, because he was the idiot who MC’d their pep rally this fall.
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
So how many times did he fail........
before he realized no one liked the cheer? Once or twice? What made him come back for more humiliation?
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 9, 2010 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
Probably money
or, y’know, free entrance to the stadium, sideline access, and the ability to hang out with the cheerleaders.
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
What about this?
I have said we ought to think about a mule, for many reasons that have to do with Mississippi history and military history and originality and hard work, blah blah blah.
But this awesome story from Sports Illustrated is real reason. See if you love the “Vicks-burg” reference as much as me. Soooo old school.
Summary:
In 1967 Steve Kiner, an All-America linebacker for the Tennessee Volunteers, talked shit before the unranked Archie Manning-led Rebels were to play the No. 3-ranked Vols in Knoxville. He said the Rebels were a “bunch of mules”, that had no chance against the Volunteers.
Well Ole Miss got fired up and beat the hell out of Tennessee in that game, 38-0. There seems to be some dispute as to whether Archie himself shouted “How you like them mules now?” or some such to Kiner during the throttling. The game has been called the Tennessee Massacre.
I always thought if there was ever a time and place for a mascot to be born, that was it. If you don’t like a mule, that’s fine. But this does have some history behind it.
I designed this logo back in 2000, the last time all this stuff went down. I sent it to the Administration, but never heard from them. Oh well. I’ll let it die after this.
Don't try and lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock 'n roll.
by RobRob9 on Mar 9, 2010 2:09 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I personally love this idea.
I could really get behind this 100% and I’m not even close to kidding.
Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Mar 9, 2010 8:51 AM EST up reply actions
The game was in 1969. My bad. An "edit" feature would be great.
Don't try and lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock 'n roll.
Not to get sidetracked,
but the SBN folks told us why they don’t want editing in comments and basically it’s that editable comments allow trolls to post ridiculous shit then delete it or change it after hell breaks loose.
Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Take a picture, trick.
by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Mar 9, 2010 8:52 AM EST up reply actions
Game was in Jackson. Again, I suck. Just read the story.
Don't try and lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock 'n roll.
by RobRob9 on Mar 9, 2010 2:27 AM EST via mobile reply actions
who wants to be a mule
Being a mule is only cool if you are winning ball games. If your losing then you just look like a mule. A mixed breed that can’t reproduce.
Is it any "cooler" to lose games with an elderly old man as your mascot?
As if being “cool” were even a going concern? This is still a mascot we’re talking about, right?
Here’s what you have said about what makes a proper mascot on this very thread:
“Like I said school lore is tradition. It may or may not have happened, but there a story behind it anyway.”
“Even those mascots that seem to have no relation to the school names are soaked in tradition and folklore of the history of the school.”
“There are stories substantiated by written and tribal lore to explain the connections…”
“My argument has been the mascot should have some tie in to the school not just grabbed out of the air with no relation to the school.”
The mule satisfies all of those qualifications. Mississippians have used mules throughout the state’s history, from plowing fields to pulling cannons. Mules are proud, hard-working, tough and stubborn animals that don’t take shit from anyone. Mules have legitimate folklore associated with the school (the Tennessee Massacre). And mules have the biggest dicks in the animal kingdom.
But I digress. If you don’t like mules, that’s fine. And you’re an Ole Miss fan, like me, so we’re on the same team. I’m not here to bash fellow Rebels.
But I’ve read all of your posts. You don’t like anything except maybe the Landshark idea. Why didn’t you just say “Hey, I like the Landshark for a new mascot, what do you guys think?” in your first post and save everybody some time?
Don't try and lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock 'n roll.
no one is making you read this post.......
So if your frustrated don’t blame me for not writing "Hey I think Landshark would be a cool mascot. Because honestly I think it sucks. I would rather have no mascot, which I also wrote.
What is frustrating, 32 years of being an Ole Miss Rebel is going to end, and there is very little you or the alumni will be able to do to stop it.
and if we can’t pass off an old man in a gray suit as anything but a plantation owner then they sure in the hell aren’t going to continue to let us call ourselves Rebels.
umbai, sorry for your frustration. Quit reading the damn posts.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 9, 2010 11:00 PM EST up reply actions
Hey, I'm not blaming you for my HBP
I am, however, irked for your failure to close your quotations.
If you’re pissed about us not POTENTIALLY being Ole Miss Rebels anymore (yeah yeah, naivete on my part, you’ve made the point, broken record, etc, whatever), think about what the students and alums of the schools like Arkansas State, North Dakota, and the others who’ve had to change their athletics names and mascots over the years felt. Did they feel bad?
Yes.
Did they raise this much of a fuss about it?
HELL no.
Good galloping ghosts, RRM. Your behaviour on this blog truly makes your username appropriate. ramblin’ indeed. I haven’t seen someone so long-winded and stubborn about his POV since Strom Thurmond’s filibuster.
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
good thing they didn't call us horse shit......
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse.1 Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny (the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey). All male mules and most female mules are infertile. No matter the size of their genitalia.
I still wouldn’t won’t to be a mule.
I also stated that I liked Landshark the best so far. I didn’t say I was completely sold on the idea. I still believe the administration will pull rank and put the Black Bear in place just in time for football season.
We continue to go from extinct civil war relics, to animals who can’t even reproduce themselves to a bear that has become nearly extinct in our own state.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 9, 2010 10:46 PM EST up reply actions
dude, seriously
You’re too hung up on the infertility of the mule.
It doesn’t make a damn bit of difference whether or not our mascot can make baby mascots. If the mule dies, then we can just go buy another one. No big deal for me, is it for you?
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
We can't find a better story than someone else calling us Mules
I’m sure threw the years people have referred to us using many disrespectful names and then we were able to defeat them during a football contest.
Why don’t you get a few more names used to disrespect the people and the school that represents Mississippi and that way we will have a choice between the likes of:
Tired ass mules
inbreed cousin lovers
rednecks
and faggot preppies
or maybe we just listen to the likes of Hey guess what you get when those Mississippi mules spend to much time down by the watering hole?
Ole Piss.
Sorry don’t see a whole lot of positive coming out of a mule for a mascot. I rather have a damn possum or Ackbar.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 12, 2010 9:47 PM EST up reply actions
You won't be a mule. You'll be a Rebel.
The mule would be the mascot. Try to keep up.
Don't try and lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock 'n roll.
you need to keep up
With a mule as the mascot do you think anyone else in the conference will call us anything but a bunch of old ass mules from Mississippi.
Of course the mule does show more commitment and integrity than most of you so called Ole Miss faithful.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 12, 2010 9:31 PM EST up reply actions
you need to sober up and think
about the image for a minute. Do you want to be associated with an animal that is a cross between a horse and an ass?
There is way too many negatives that can be used when associating our school and ourselves to a mule.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 12, 2010 9:36 PM EST up reply actions
Oh, so you're saying
You don’t want to be associated with a horse’s ass.
Too late, buck-o
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
unfortunately a horse's ass
would be a step up from a mule’s ass.
I would prefer not to be associated with either.
Maybe you would, that is your choice. Go vote.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 15, 2010 4:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I'll still be a Rebel
I’ll just be associated with an animal that is more genetically flawed than most all your cousins who married each other.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 12, 2010 9:39 PM EST up reply actions
That's it.
If this inbreeding/cousin comment doesn’t scream MSU or LSU troll, I don’t know what does.
And for those who question why a troll from another team would bother to know so much about Ole Miss, well you’ve never experienced the bat-shit crazy called “American Idol fanbases.” They make SEC fans look like amateurs.
Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?
by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Mar 13, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
i am not a troll
But it does concern me when I hear some students wanting to be known for being associated to a derogatory comment made by an opposing team’s player.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 15, 2010 4:30 AM EDT up reply actions
How do we know
you’re not a troll?
Pics or GTFO
And here's a lighthouse keeper being beheaded by a laser beam!
We hate those mixed breeds, don't we?
Damn miscegenation…
not really
my wife’s family is from Colombia, so all five of my children could be considered mixed breeds.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 12, 2010 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
Five? Buy a TV.
Hyundai, it's the new motherfuckin Lexis
by Hoyt Brumley on Mar 14, 2010 8:19 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm just doing my part
too change the culture at Ole Miss by sending five mixed breeds that have been taught to do for their fellow man and to hate no one.
You just think I am a card carrying member of the Klan. Because I respect the students who fought and died for our state and school and would like to continue to honor them.
I’ve only argued that it will not be easy to change the things that so many hold near and dear to their hearts. Most of you have spent 3-7 years there as students. I have spent the last 32 years there as a fan, a student, and a parent. I have put more money into Ole Miss than any of the students who presently attend. Why do they get to choose the mascot?
There are a few of us who send checks on a regular basis who feel the university is not addressing the supporters of our school.
I think it would be in the best interest of the school not to exclude those people when deciding on a new mascot, name change and other changes the new administration feels are needed to take a step up in being known as a top school for education.
One bad decision without the support of those who write the checks could be a major set back for the school.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 15, 2010 4:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I've never said you were a member of the Klan.
I have continually said that you fail to make logical statements, that your arguments are boring, and you are making issue over something of which you have no control.
Congratulations, you have spent more money on the school than me. That’s easy, I didn’t pay a dime to go there.
One bad decision is a major step back? Learn your place. If you want that much power start making donations in the 6 or 7 digit range.
Hyundai, it's the new motherfuckin Lexis
by Hoyt Brumley on Mar 15, 2010 5:33 AM EDT up reply actions
exactly my point
I don’t believe all 50,000 season ticket holders donate 6 figures. I do believe that about 20,000 season ticket holders don’t want to change to a bear as the mascot. Most would prefer to not have one. Just like before colonel Reb.
If you alienate 20,000 season ticket holders would that have a large enough impact financially to change the direction the university is presently pursuing?
Let’s see if the season tickets sell out this year. I have until April to put in my request for 4.
After the new mascot is picked by the university, I mean voted on by the students, lets see what happens.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 17, 2010 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Give me a four-figure sum...
and I’ll support whatever mascot you want me to.
I'm a Rebel, but I bleed the cherry and silver of the Lobos.
how many will
not support a mascot they don’t associate with the school is what it comes down to.
It may be better to let the mascot issue go.
I still believe the “Rebels” is on the block for change also.
The best we can come up with to save the Rebels is to associate it with Ackbar?
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 17, 2010 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions
That was a joke you dumbass.
Hyundai, it's the new motherfuckin Lexis
by Hoyt Brumley on Mar 17, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Does it have to be in dollars?
If not, I’ve got that sum for you right now.
Hyundai, it's the new motherfuckin Lexis
by Hoyt Brumley on Mar 17, 2010 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions
The sad thing is
I’ll support the Ole Miss Lawn Darts for a buck and a half. That’s a dollar fifty more than anyone gave me to cheer for Colonel Reb.
I never cared for col reb
myself and don’t really care that he is gone. What I am concerned about is, the trend. If we are to remove all that is about the civil war from our names how will they keep the Rebels without associating it to something other than the civil war Rebels?
The progression will be to change the mascot and then change the schools nickname to match the mascot.
Elephants and tide don’t matter, Alabama wasn’t looking to change the tide or anything else associated with the civil war. The yellow hammer cheer is reference to the civil war.
What I don’t want to see is the University of Mississippi Black Bears.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 17, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!
If you don’t care about Col. Reb the fuck off back to your rat infested double wide and leave us the fuck alone. If you don’t care about it the do us all a favor and go play in traffic.
Hyundai, it's the new motherfuckin Lexis
by Hoyt Brumley on Mar 17, 2010 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Alabama's teams
aren’t called the Elephants. You follow?
And no matter what we do we won’t be as confusing as Auburn.
So put away the veterinary books.
Don't try and lay no boogie woogie on the king of rock 'n roll.
no but I always
refer to their fans as elephant turds when addressing them in most post.
by ramblinrebelman on Mar 12, 2010 9:33 PM EST up reply actions
Firebird for Mascot
Consider having a phoenix/firebird as our mascot. This idea recognizes and honors our past while being a symbol of hope and renewal. Watch our videos for more and join the facebook group.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WIpWeITdAs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT7fTWDZLtE&feature=related
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=329265706516&ref=ts
[above]
Not sure why the facebook link messed up, but you can log into facebook and search Firebird for Ole Miss Mascot.
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