UNLV Moving On From Popular Mustachioed Mascot

UNLV isn't trying to be a bunch of Rebels, but the school has indeed decided to keep its nickname. It just is doing away with its mascot.

That means the dude known as "Hey Reb" is being retired. The school already removed a statue of the guy, so most fans of the program sort of knew a mascot change was coming.

According to Ray Brewer of the Las Vegas Sun, "The mascot, originally a wolf in a Confederate uniform and in more recent years a mustachioed 'frontiersman,' has been under fire by some students on and off since the 1970s."

New UNLV president Keith Whitfield explained the decision to do away with the mascot in a statement to students. Whitfield was hired over the summer.

UNLV Rebels mascot Hey Reb spins a basketball on his finger before the team's game against Cincinnati at the Thomas & Mack Center. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

“I was drawn to lead this great university because I identified with its spirit, determination and daring style,” Whitfield wrote to students. “Rebels are not afraid to fail and create a new path when one doesn’t exist. For all these reasons and many more, we will continue to be known as Rebels.'"

All of this is great, assuming you were actually offended by Hey Reb, but what will UNLV come up with next? Yeah, no one knows. That decision hasn't been determined.

All we really know is UNLV will still be called the Rebels and their mascot will look less, well, rebellious. We think.