5 Possible Sideline Mascots Announced At Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. - The University of Mississippi says nearly 13,100 alumni, season ticket holders, students and others have voted online to narrow a list of possible school mascots.

While sports teams will still be called the Rebels, an animal or human character is being sought to replace the Colonel Reb image that was retired about seven years ago amid complaints it was too reminiscent of the Old South.

The Ole Miss Mascot Selection Committee says the top five choices, in no particular order, are a horse, a land shark, Hotty and Toddy, a lion and a bear.

Ole Miss' signature cheer is "Hotty Toddy." The mascot committee says the phrase could be embodied by a pair of Muppet-like characters.