The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Announces Nationwide Contest To Develop New Mascot
7/29/2003 | Athletics
July 29, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - University of Mississippi Athletics Director Pete Boone Tuesday announced a nationwide contest to come up with a new Ole Miss mascot.
Contest rules call for "a figure who demonstrates a fighting spirit, exhibits independence, and challenges the status quo." The creator of the winning design will receive a $5,000 cash prize and two South Zone season tickets to all Rebel home football games for three years.
Boone said the university's 17-member Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics will select three finalists from the entries submitted. Students, active members of the Alumni Association, faculty and staff, donors to the athletics program, and season ticket holders then will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite design from among the finalists. The athletics committee will make the final decision based on input from the poll and announce the winner in late September.
"The decision to replace the 20-year-old mascot with a new energetic, vibrant figure has generated a great deal of interest," said Boone. "We've decided to open up the process for people to send us their suggestions and let our supporters have a voice in the selection."
He said the new mascot image will become a university trademark and will be used in a variety of formats including printed materials, merchandise, clothing, banners, and electronic presentations.
The deadline for contest entries is September 8. Entries should be submitted in an electronic format on a compact disk, or camera ready on 8x10 illustration board. All entries become the property of the university.
Contest rules and an entry agreement are available on the athletics department Web site at www.olemisssports.com/contest and www.olemisssports.tv/contest, or may be requested by writing to: Rebel Mascot/Logo Contest, c/o Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, PO Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848.
Rebel Mascot/Logo Contest Rules The University of Mississippi Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics is seeking an original mascot/logo design to complement the existing Ole Miss logotype that represents our intercollegiate athletics program. The university's teams are known as the Rebels, a figure who demonstrates a fighting spirit, exhibits independence and challenges the status quo. The image should depict a strong, energetic, vibrant character incorporating the colors red (pms 199) and blue (pms 280).
The following rules apply to the contest:
1. All entries must be an original work, eligible to be registered by the University as an official trademark, and accompanied by a completed and signed entry agreement.
2. The design element may use three colors (including black) and incorporate a "Rebel" figure. The winning design will be used in a variety of formats including printed materials, banners, clothing, decals, video tape and broadcast presentations, and on any number of products.
3. Entries should be submitted electronically on a compact disk in an EPS or other vector file, or a finished format on 8x10 white illustration board suitable for photographic reproduction. The design must hold detail when reduced to 1-inch by 1-inch , and enlarged to 6-feet by 6-feet. Each entry should be submitted in color and black and white.
4. The winning entry will be selected by the University of Mississippi Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics which reserves the right to modify the image as it sees fit.
5. All entries must be received not later than September 8, 2003 and become the property of the University of Mississippi. Entries will not be returned.
6. Complete and sign the entry agreement and return it with your entry to:
Rebel Mascot/Logo Contest c/o Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics PO Box 1848 University, MS 38677-1848
