jlvanals

October 14th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^

Actually, black bears used to be indigenous to this region (the Mississippi Delta) and its surrounding areas, especially northern Louisiana.  For reference, read William Faulkner's "The Bear".  Until the 1920s bear hunts were still common in this part of the South.   There was a particular variety even called the "Louisiana Black Bear" and it is making a mild comeback in certain rural parts of the state.

Texas wildlife and fisheries report on it:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_w7000_0013_louisiana_black_bear.pdf

MGlobules

October 14th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^

Mississippi back when and the association of the state with bears at one time was pretty strong. Google the words black bear and Mississippi and you strike fairly serious pay dirt.

HartAttack20

October 14th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^

That's pretty boring. The Rebel Land Shark would've been interesting, although I don't exactly know what that is. The best option was clearly Admiral Ackbar. Damn you George Lucas.

jtmc33

October 14th, 2010 at 12:44 PM ^

Wow!  Ole Miss allowing anything black to represent their school shows just how far it has come over the last 140 years.

What's more shocking is that the Black Panther came in a close second

Tacopants

October 14th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^

I thought Hotty Toddy could be the most douche-tastic mascot of the land.  Such unrealized potential there.

Land Shark would have also been good, but like everybody predicted, the bear won because it is the most PC and therefore least interesting of the 3.

jmblue

October 14th, 2010 at 3:07 PM ^

Why did they need a mascot?  I don't understand their allure.  I see mascots as something that appeals mainly to small children, and it doesn't seem like that many kids go to college sporting events.  Does their adult fanbase really get a kick out of seeing a guy in a big furry suit?

jmblue

October 14th, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^

Except that this is a nationwide phenomenon.  Eight of the 11 Big Ten schools have mascots, and one of the other three (Illinois) had a mascot until the NCAA forced them to get rid of it.  And Nebraska actually has two mascots.