and the mascot of at least 2 of their state sponsored universities.

I've actually seen a black bear here in Mississippi.

I am NOT a fan of Ole Miss though.

I live near Southern Miss who are the Golden Eagles, even though golden eagles can be found almost everywhere in North American except the southeast US. Southern Miss used to be the Confederates and then changed to just the Southerners with the Mascot being Colonel Nat during that whole time (Short for Nathan Bedford Forrest, founder of the Klan) Thank goodness that was changed back in the civil rights era. Originally they were the Normalites back in the turn of the century which would be awesome if they had kept that.