Final Project

Can He Make A Comeback?

A look at Colonel Reb, his future at Ole Miss, and the people that support him

In 2003 Colonel Reb was removed as the official mascot of the University of Mississippi. Seven years later he is now replaced by the Louisiana Black Bear. Many people are against the Louisiana Black Bear but haven’t taken action to show the administration how they feel. Except for one group, the Colonel Reb Foundation.

The members of the Colonel Reb Foundation have gone out of their way to show the Ole Miss administration how upset they are about the new mascot. They have made a billboard, passed out stickers at games, made radio ads, and most recently they held Save Colonel Reb Week.

Save Colonel Reb week was held April 25 through April 29. It was a week filled with on-campus activities that promoted the reinstatement of the beloved mascot. The activities included a pool party, a Black Bear hunt on the Square, and a rally to deliver 4,100 petitions to Ole Miss Chancellor, Dan Jones.

“It (Save Colonel Reb Week) is to show students that there is still a fight alive for the Colonel,” said Brian Ferguson, executive director of the Colonel Reb Foundation. “A lot of students believe they were deceived by the administration and there needs to be something done.”

He and the rest of the members of the Colonel Reb Foundation believe that if they continue to push the administration and not give up that Colonel Reb will one day be reinstated as the official Ole Miss mascot.

Others disagree. Katura Finn, freshman journalism major, thinks Colonel Reb is a lost cause. “I don’t see the point…the administration got rid of him for a reason and I don’t think they will ever bring him back.”

Brian Ferguson still has faith that Colonel Reb will come back. He looks to other schools like Purdue and the University of North Dakota for inspiration. There is also a state legislative bill trying to pass that would make Colonel Reb the official mascot. “As long we get the support of alumni and half of the student body, we will fight for Colonel Reb”

sources: Brian Ferguson, executive director of the Colonel Reb Foundation, colonel@saveolemiss.com

Katura Finn, student, 678-315-3971

video of Black Bear Hunt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ims2netsU