The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Nickname
6/21/1999 | Trads
The University's nickname "Ole Miss" became part of University 100 years ago, in 1896, when it was selected in a contest held to identify a new student publication, the yearbook. It was suggested by the late Miss Elma Meek of Oxford. Each succeeding issue of the annual has been given this copyrighted identity.
The name gradually became synonymous with the University and is now a treasured segment of University history.
The late Frank E. Everett, Jr., B.A. '32, LLB '34, put it best when he wrote:
"There is a valid distinction between The University and Ole Miss even though the separate threads are closely interwoven."
"The University is buildings, trees and people. Ole Miss is mood, emotion and personality. One is physical, and the other is spiritual. One is tangible, and the other intangible."
"The University is respected, but Ole Miss is loved. The University gives a diploma and regretfully terminates tenure, but one never graduates from Ole Miss."
