Ole Miss is trying find a new on-field mascot to replace the controversial Colonel Reb, and if you haven’t jumped on the national bandwagon yet, the only real contender so far might surprise you: Admiral Ackbar, the fish-faced alien with a small role in “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.”
With much popular support, the force behind the Admiral Ackbar movement has increased but has not gone without controversy. Recently, students had to vote on whether they wanted to be involved in deciding on a new on-field mascot. Die-hard Colonel Reb fans campaigned for a “no” vote, arguing Colonel Reb is irreplaceable. Doubtless, they want Colonel Reb back, but the University of Mississippi administration has already made it clear he will not be an option.
The on-field colonel was ditched in 2003 due to racial controversy. Critics said he represented the plantation system of the Old South.
The four Ole Miss students who came up with the idea of using Admiral Ackbar told Ole Miss’ student newspaper The Daily Mississippian they did it as a joke to spur the university and its students to begin the process of finding a new mascot.
I think the campaign for Admiral Ackbar is admirable, although the Star Wars character faces a million-to-one shot at really becoming the new on-field mascot, if for legal reasons alone. Ole Miss officials and its student government have virtually ruled out the idea.
The fact is, Ole Miss sports is having an identity crisis over its Confederate leanings, which they have experienced for years. Whether it’s Colonel Reb, the Rebel flag or “the South will rise again” chant, the issue of race at Ole Miss seems to make headlines quite often.
I understand why people affiliated with the university don’t want mascots and chants that are controversial and especially ones that come across as racist or are actually racist. Also, a racist image, even if only perceived, hurts recruiting for them. If Ole Miss wants to change directions to heal racial divisions, all the more power to them.
Colonel Reb fans and Rebel flag-toting sports-goers, however, argue the debate around these issues is needless. This state has long contained the Confederate emblem in its own flag. Although the state flag saw controversy years ago, if the rebel flag remains OK for the state to use, can it be said to be racist for Ole Miss?
Colonel Reb is indeed a figure of old Southern culture, but does that culture’s racism and slavery rule out celebrating its better aspects? In the capitol city, we have the Robert E. Lee building. Is that racist? These are difficult questions, and it doesn’t seem like we have a consistent way of addressing them.
Ole Miss making piecemeal changes by losing a Rebel flag here and a Colonel Reb there seems to send a confusing message. If Ole Miss doesn’t want an on-field Colonel Reb mascot, why keep the cartoon version on merchandise? Why even keep the name Rebels for their sports teams at all? And how are Ole Miss students to come up with a new on-field mascot but remain true to the “Rebels” name, as The Daily Mississippian reported they are expected to do?
The only thing to do is simple: come up with something ridiculous. That is why Admiral Ackbar is so cool. And, since he fights for the Rebel Alliance in the movie, he fits in with the “Rebel” name but without being controversial.
Another option to change the meaning of the Rebels would be, as my brother suggested, to have George Washington be the new on-field mascot. But Washington owned slaves, so the same controversy could still potentially come up again in the future.
The only other option would be to pick a generic mascot, like a tiger or a bear or some dumb-looking bird. The on-field mascot of a sports team doesn’t always have to be related to their name.
As you can see, the best option is Admiral Ackbar. At the least, he’s as good as anything else. If Ole Miss were able to hurdle over the legal issues and be welcomed into the Star Wars franchise (which they won’t), think of how cool their school would become for the first time.
Matt Watson is a graduate student majoring in Spanish. He can be contacted at [email protected].