In 2020, we are seeing athletes ask their teams and universities to make a real change in their image across the sports landscape. One easy, simplistic way to begin that change is through language. More specifically, seeing the names we use to refer to schools, mascots, and team names as carrying weight. Changing them may be a tangible step in the right direction. The University of Mississippi, better known as “Ole Miss,” is no exception.
For starters, the school is more commonly referred to as “Ole Miss.” Ole Miss was first chosen as a title for the university’s yearbook, and appears at first as a shortened, southern version of “Old Mississippi.” It’s pretty much confined to athletics and sporting events, as university Chancellor said it touches on the “university’s spirit.” However, a quick look at Southern history tells us that “Ole Miss” was a term used throughout the entire South… by enslaved African Americans, in reference to the wife of the plantation owner. It was shortened slang of the “old missus” or “old mistress.” It calls back the racial hierarchy of slavery and the culture of the Antebellum South.
It implied deference and servitude that is troubling to ask of its students, especially it’s student-athletes.
The name and branding problems in Oxford, Mississippi, aren’t just in the nickname for the school itself. While Colonel Reb, the mascot, was retired in 2003… the school still refers to all varsity sports teams, officially, as the Rebels. The school is working, slowly, towards separating itself from Confederate ideology and symbols of the Old South, but needs to speed up the process by renaming their teams.
Luckily for University, Chancellor Glenn Boyce, Athletic Director Keith Carter, and all University of Mississippi students, alumni, and fans… we at Belly Up are here to help. Below, we’ve come up with some new names for the University of Mississippi. At the bottom, let us know which one the university should run with by voting for one of our ideas.
Parker’s Nominated Name: The University of Mississippi River Flow
What are the first three things, in some order, you think of when you think “Mississippi?” Football? Racism? The Mississippi River? Well, here’s to a mascot that aims to end one of those connections and play off of another. The Mississippi River Flow is a team name and mascot based around the flow of the Mississippi River, the most consistent reference point in how big things are, or what side of the country you’re on.
The River Flow is a great mascot because much like the Stanford Cardinal, Tulane Green Wave, and Alabama Crimson Tide, it’s a singular being. It unites. It inherently brings people together. You’re no longer a rebel amongst a student body of rebels… you’re a part of a larger flow of water. How much damage can one droplet of water do? How much damage can the flow of a river like the Mississippi River do? See the strength of this unifying team name?
The costumed mascot would be some silly, 90’s era cartoon of a wave of water, a Southern ambiguous Poseidon, or a large-mouth bass fish native to the river that can navigate the flow itself. In any case, it would be a family favorite hit come alumni reunion football game. The school could don the same blue threads, and keep the same typeface “Ole Miss” is currently written in.
Plus, when partying at “The Grove,” “The Flow” can take on a whole other meaning. One of the dangers of taking on a new team name is losing tradition, which is something especially important in the South. Luckily for Mississippi, that doesn’t have to happen. The school already has a rich tailgating history, full of adult beverages constantly flowing. Why not make it another play on words? The flow before The Flow. And locking the Vaught? The fans linked up swaying side to side are just waves in the rivers flow. BOOM, traditions saved.
I can hear it now… “GO! FLOW! GO!”
Chaka’s Nominated Name: The University of Mississippi Grove
The idea of being a “rebel”, in and of itself isn’t bad.
The idea that your mascot has ties to confederate “rebels’’ that fought a war and divided a country in the name of enslaving and dehumanizing an entire group of people- well, that kind of makes your mascot problematic.
Just saying!
Now, Mississippi has been making some very recent strides. Back in 2015, the University of Mississippi announced that it would not fly the state flag on its campus due to the confederate symbol emblazoned in the top corner. The state legislature is finally following suit. The state has approved legislation to change the flag.
Mississippi might have 99 problems, but it’s flag ain’t one.
So, let’s get on this “rebel” fiasco.
Have you ever been to an Ole Miss football game? It is truly an experience. How about we embrace this part of the culture of the state?
The Grove is where Ole Miss fans tailgate and celebrate their team all day and all night long on Saturdays in the fall. The dress code is business casual, the food is soulful, and the atmosphere- well, let’s just say that I may have had a little too much fun as a road fan when I visited The Grove back in my college days. Hotty, toddy, gosh almighty!
As it has been said, Ole Miss might lose the game, but they always win the party! Nothing signifies this better than The Grove! It is truly the best winning tradition in Ole Miss Football history- time to embrace it!
Kev’s Nominated Name: The Ole Miss Losers
Ole Miss has been atrocious for the last 50 years. They have not won the SEC since 1963, and have not won the SEC West since 2003. They are losers top to bottom. Maybe Joey Freshwater will change that, but probably not. Things are not going well in Oxford. Most current Rebs fans want to scream “Go Losers” during a game anyway, why not make it official?
Teams also love sponsors. By naming Ole Miss “The Losers”, I’m sure DC would gladly fork over some money to plaster their characters all over campus. It would certainly give any future coach like Houston Nutt and Hugh Freeze some extra cash to sign a few five stars.
The biggest reason, however, is they need a name to stick. The Rebels go through mascots almost as often as they go through coaches. Mississippi is so attached to the memory of a bunch of traitors who have lost 100% of the wars they fought in, a great name is the best way to celebrate this legacy.
Loser is a great way to memorialize all the great players and men of Mississippi.
VOTE:
Vote below for which of the names is your choice. Have a better idea? Respond in the comments to let us know what you’re thinking and why!
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