JACKSON Miss.— The University of Mississippi has taken another step to reduce the visibility of its old mascot Colonel Reb, which could soon become a collector’s item on merchandise.
After Aug. 31, merchandising will be scaled back significantly for the caricature of an Old South goateed gentleman that served as the University of Mississippi mascot for decades. The mascot was banished from the sidelines nearly seven years ago as the school continued its move away from symbols of the Old South, and students voted to search for a new mascot last month.
The university has asked Collegiate Licensing Company to place Colonel Reb in its College Vault Program. There, he’ll join other university emblems, mascots and images from around the country that are regarded as historical trademarks produced only for special or commemorative events.
Ole Miss holds the trademark for Colonel Reb, but currently there are numerous licensees of the image, including Nike Inc.
Joe Hutchinson, vice president of Collegiate Licensing Company, said only a select few of those licensees will have access to the image. The rest have been told to stop producing merchandise after August, he said.
Hutchinson said no decision has been made yet on which companies will be allowed access to the logo.
“All of this is designed to make way for the new mascot that students are involved in creating over the next few months,” said Clay Jones, director of contractual services for the university.
