University of Mississippi

The University of Mississippi (also known as Ole Miss) is a public, coeducational research university located near Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1848, the school is composed of the main campus, with three branch campuses located in Tupelo, Southaven, and Booneville. UM maintains a field station in Bay Springs as well as the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Additionally, it is a sea-grant institute, as well as a space-grant institute.

Athletics

Ole Miss' sports teams, nicknamed the Rebels, compete in the competetive twelve-member Southeastern Conference (West Division) of the NCAA's Division I. The schools colors are red and blue, decidedly from the Crimson of Harvard, and the Blue of Yale-- 2 of the most prestigious schools at the time of choosing.

Related Topics:
Sports - Southeastern Conference - NCAA - Division I

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In recent years, the administration has attempted to distance itself from the negative connotations associated with its Confederate symbolism. In 1998, flagpoles were banned to discourage fans from displaying the Confederate battle flag at football games. This controversy began when coach Tommy Tuberville complained that the battle flag was undermining his efforts to recruit African-American athletes.

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In 2003, the administration eliminated Colonel Reb, the mascot since 1979. A contest was held in which fans were invited to design a replacement. The athletic department chose two finalists, Rebel Bruiser and Rowdy Rebel, and invited fans to vote on their favorite. The limited fan response, as well as ridicule from fans of rival schools, prompted the administration to cancel the poll, so Ole Miss currently has no mascot.

Related Topics:
2003 - Colonel Reb - Rebel Bruiser - Rowdy Rebel

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With a long history in intercollegiate athletics, the University competes in 18 men?s and women?s sports. 630 student-athletes received all-conference academic honors from 1995-2004. On the field, Ole Miss has gone through some lean years since the 1960s, but has enjoyed more success recently. Nine of the 18 teams advanced to post-season play in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. The 2003 football team won the West division co-championship, the women's basketball team appeared in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, and the 2005 baseball team made it to the Super Regionals.

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Ole Miss' athletic rivals are Louisiana State University (the Tigers) and instate rival Mississippi State University (the Bulldogs). They have also developed a strong football rivalry with Memphis

Related Topics:
Louisiana State University - Mississippi State University - Memphis

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"There is no rivalry between Memphis and Ole Miss as much as people want to think that the record between the 2 schools in football is 59-9. Memphis wants to think it is a rivalry but they are and always will be conference-USA football."

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