Where did UNLV Rebels get their name?
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| UNLV Rebels Concept Football Helmet |
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Rebels nickname was chosen in 1957, when the school was founded. The name was chosen to reflect the city of Las Vegas' reputation as a place where people come to "rebel" against the status quo.
The first UNLV Rebels mascot was a live wolf named Beauregard. Beauregard was dressed in a Confederate uniform, which led to some controversy in the 1970s. In 1976, the university decided to retire Beauregard and the Confederate imagery associated with the Rebels nickname.
In 1982, UNLV introduced a new mascot named Hey Reb! Hey Reb! was a cartoonish figure modeled after the western trailblazers of the 1800s. Hey Reb! was a popular mascot and served as the face of the UNLV Rebels for over 30 years.
In 2021, UNLV retired Hey Reb! after the George Floyd protests. The university decided that the mascot was no longer appropriate in a time of racial reckoning.
UNLV is currently without a mascot. The university is in the process of selecting a new mascot that will represent the school's values of diversity, inclusion, and community.
