The Paper Trail

Lucasfilm Addresses Admiral Ackbar’s Mascot Prospects

March 1, 2010 RSS Feed Print

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The ongoing search for a new mascot at the University of Mississippi has gained national attention. After students voted in favor of having a say in choosing the mascot, speculation ramped up that Ole Miss could end up with Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar as the mascot. The momentum created by the Ole Miss Rebel Alliance, a group that originally intended to use Ackbar solely for the purpose of promoting a "yes" vote on participating in finding a new mascot, has not slowed. Many students are now pushing for Ackbar.

On Friday, Lucasfilm, the production company of the man behind Star Wars, George Lucas, offered its support of the Ackbar movement, the New York Times reports. The Times report calls the statement a tongue-in-cheek endorsement of Ackbar's candidacy. The use of Ackbar would probably need to be legally approved by Lucasfilm before Ole Miss could even craft a mascot in Ackbar's image.

"Lucasfilm is flattered that our Star Wars fans at the University of Mississippi are considering electing Admiral Ackbar as their mascot. The last time we checked in with Admiral Ackbar, he was leading the Rebel Alliance Fleet on a critical mission so it will be difficult for him to show up for the games!"

That's not exactly a legal signing off on Ackbar as the Ole Miss mascot—and the students haven't voted for Ackbar in any form yet—but it's an indication that the production company might play along if the ol' admiral gets to suit up as the Ole Miss mascot.

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Tags:: University of Mississippi,; college athletics,; colleges

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IT'S A TRAP!!!!!!!!

David of CA 2:18PM January 08, 2011

I am a MS st fan/alumni and hate Ole Miss and that would change if this were to happen. I personally think Col Reb was a retarded artifact of the past, but never really cared about it. This selection is a tongue and cheek joke, and it is a funny one. Not only is there a cool factor too it, but it also mocks the absurd racist innuendo of the past. It's also fun...and what if nothing else should college football be about.
Anyone who see's something wrong with this selection (to the tone of L. Parker of MS above) is taking college football mascots too seriously.

Leighton of AL 8:28AM September 14, 2010