In 1957 San Sebastian Hall, a residence hall on campus, sponsored an Ibis entry in the homecoming celebration. Its popularity grew among the students during the 50’s. The local marsh bird was considered UM’s first unofficial mascot when the school yearbook adopted the name "Ibis" in 1926. From time to time, opposition has arisen to the name that would "reinforce Miami’s negative reputation as a weather-beaten community living constantly under the threat of destruction." But as one UM official rationalized in the 60’s, "Does anyone think Chicago is overrun by bears just because the town has a football team by that name? Sebastian the Ibisįolklore maintains that the Ibis, a symbol of knowledge found in the Everglades and Egypt, is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm. Told that the local dignitaries and University officials wanted to name the team for a local flora or fauna, Norris said the players wouldn’t stand for it and suggested "Hurricanes" since the opening game had been postponed by such a storm. Another version holds that Miami News columnist Jack Bell asked end Porter Norris of the 1926 team what the team should be called. Some reports say the 1927 football team held a team meeting to select Hurricanes, hoping they would sweep away opponents just as the devastating storm did on September 16, 1926.
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