Student government at the University of Mississippi will circulate a 'yes-or-no' questionnaire, available at polling locations for the Associated Student Body senate elections, asking students if they want to keep "Col. Reb" as the Ole Miss mascot.

The university administration has decided to replace the bearded Southern gentleman as the mascot for Ole Miss sports teams.

About 150 supporters of the Colonel Rebel mascot rallied at Ole Miss last week, saying they will not give up the fight to keep the bearded old man on the sidelines at sporting events.

Administration officials said the decision to replace Colonel Rebel with a more athletic-looking mascot is final. The nicknames Rebels and Ole Miss will not be changed and the Colonel Rebel logo will still be used by the university.

The university is sponsoring a contest to solicit ideas for a new look for a mascot. Monday was the deadline for entries to be submitted.

The 12-member Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, which includes students, faculty, alumni and staff, will meet Friday to narrow the entries to the final three.

In mid-September, the university will conduct an online election for students, due-paying members of the alumni association and donors to the athletics fund. Those groups will choose the final design, and the winner will be revealed in late September or early October.