The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Rebels
6/21/1999 | Trads
The name REBELS as Ole Miss' official athletic nickname emerged in 1936. Suggested by Judge Ben Guider of Vicksburg, it was one of five entries submitted to Southern sports writers for final selection from a list totaling more than 200 proposed nicknames. The promotion was a contest sponsored by The Mississippian, student newspaper. Of the 42 newsmen contacted, 21 responded. "Rebels" was the choice of 18. The University Athletic Committee made the name official with the Committee chairman, the late Judge William Hemingway, stating: "If 18 sports writers wish to use Rebels', I shall not rebel, so let it go Ole Miss Rebels.'"
Two years later, the yearbook appeared as "The Rebel Number" with "Colonel Reb" making a new entrance as the publication's leading illustration. "Colonel Rebel" has since become a near-official University insignia.
Red & Blue
In 1893, when Ole Miss' first football team was in training for a five game season, Dr. A.L. Bondurant, organizer and manager coach, later recalled that "The team had much discussion as to the colors that should be adopted, but it was finally suggested by the manager that the union of the Crimson of Harvard and the Navy Blue of Yale would be very harmonious, and that it was well to have the spirit of both of these good colleges." These were adopted as the football colors, and have since been adopted by the University as its athletic colors. PMS number: Red 185, Blue 282 1/2.