Sebastian the Ibis

Sebastian the Ibis

University	University of Miami
Conference	ACC
Description	Anthropomorphic American white ibis
Origin of name	San Sebastian Hall
First seen	1957

Sebastian the Ibis is the official mascot for the University of Miami. He is an anthropomorphized American white ibis with a Miami Hurricanes football jersey, number 0.

History

The ibis was chosen as Miami's unofficial mascot by Nathan Duncan in 1926 when the school's yearbook chose its name to be "The Ibis."^[1]

"Miami adopted a native marsh bird called the Ibis as the official mascot in 1926. The Ibis is known for its bravery as a hurricane approaches. Folklore maintains that other birds look to the Ibis for leadership. The Ibis uses its instinct to detect danger. It is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits, giving warning that danger is imminent. As the storm passes the Ibis is the first to reappear, a sign that clear skies are approaching."^[1]^[2]

Sebastian the Ibis

The first official mascot for the Miami Hurricanes was a 65-pound brown and white boxer dog named Hurricane I. Chosen in 1950, the canine wore a ceremonial orange and green blanket with his name lettered in white.

Sebastian was created in August 1957 by Norman A. Whitten, Director of the Student Union at UM, and was used as a homecoming competition entry. The next year, student John Stormont performed at Hurricanes football games dressed up in a makeshift ibis costume. The original costume was made from various materials: armolite insulation for the head, white terry cloth for the body to resemble feathers, ROTC spats for the feet, and toes made from burlap. "The whole costume took three weeks to complete and cost about $30", Stormont said in a Miami Herald interview. The current costume dates from 1984.^[1]

The ibis was originally named "Icky", but was then renamed after San Sebastian Hall (where Stormont was a resident), which became a university dormitory in 1939. The building, now an apartment building, still stands at the intersection of LeJeune Road and University Drive in Coral Gables.

During the first national championship season for the Miami Hurricanes football team, including their 31-30 victory over #1 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, the Ibis was portrayed by Bill Mooney, a senior at the university, from Orangeburg, NY. This second generation Ibis costume was designed and made by UM alumnus and former Disney artist Randy Jack (RJ) Ogren. It was also in the National Championship victory parade riding with Coach Schnellenberger. ^[3]

From 1984 through 1992, Sebastian was portrayed by John Routh, who also portrayed The Miami Maniac at baseball games, and later Billy the Marlin for the Florida Marlins. Routh created what is now Sebastian's signature: the C-A-N-E-S cheer, where Sebastian forms the letters with his body.^[4]

Sebastian was tackled by a group of policemen in 1989 for attempting to put out Chief Osceola's flaming spear. At the time he was wearing a fireman’s helmet and yellow raincoat and holding a fire extinguisher. When a police officer tried to grab the fire extinguisher he was sprayed in the chest. Sebastian was handcuffed by the other four officers but released when they realized how ridiculous it looked for them to be arresting a bird.

Sebastian typically leads the University of Miami football team as it enters the field through the smoke.

References

1 2 3 "History | University of Miami". Archived from the original on November 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
↑ Foxsports.com: Florida State & Miami Traditions
↑ University records
↑ "For the Birds: former Sebastians flock to first-ever mascot reunion". Miami Magazine. Fall 2005. Retrieved October 22, 2010.

External links

Official website

University of Miami

Academics	Undergraduate & Graduate: School of Architecture College of Arts and Sciences School of Business Administration School of Communication School of Education College of Engineering Frost School of Music School of Nursing and Health Studies Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Graduate: Graduate School Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine School of Law

Athletics	Hurricanes Baseball Basketball Football Atlantic Coast Conference BankUnited Center Cobb Stadium Florida Cup Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park Hard Rock Stadium Orange Bowl Sebastian the Ibis Seminole War Canoe

Places	Jackson Memorial Hospital Jerry Herman Ring Theatre John C. Gifford Arboretum Little Salt Spring Miami Project to Cure Paralysis The Alamo University station Lowe Art Museum

People	Alumni Faculty Presidents

Activities	Band of the Hour Iron Arrow Honor Society The Miami Hurricane WVUM 90.5 FM

Miami Hurricanes football

Venues	Orange Bowl (1937–2007) Hard Rock Stadium (2008–present)

Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Florida (Florida Cup; Seminole War Canoe) Florida State (Florida Cup) Nebraska Virginia Tech

Culture & lore	Sebastian the Ibis Band of the Hour The U Quarterback U Hail Flutie Catholics vs. Convicts Miami 4–3 defense Wide Right I Wide Right II FIU–Miami brawl 2011 athletics scandal

People	Head coaches NFL players Statistical leaders

Seasons	1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

National championship seasons in bold

Miami Hurricanes men's basketball

Venues	Miami Beach Auditorium (1960s–1980s) Knight Center (1985–1988) Miami Arena (1988–2002) Watsco Center (2003–present)

Culture & lore	Sebastian the Ibis 2011 athletics scandal

People	Head coaches Notable players

Seasons	1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

Miami Hurricanes women's basketball

Venues	Miami Beach Auditorium (1972–1985) Knight Center (1985–1988) Miami Arena (1988–2002) BankUnited Center (2003–present)

Culture & lore	Sebastian the Ibis

People	Head coaches

Seasons	1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17

Mascots of the Atlantic Coast Conference

Atlantic Division	Baldwin the Eagle (Boston College) The Tiger (Clemson) Osceola and Renegade (Florida State) Cardinal Bird (Louisville) Mr. & Ms. Wuf (North Carolina State) Leprechaun (Notre Dame) Otto the Orange (Syracuse) Demon Deacon (Wake Forest)

Coastal Division	Blue Devil (Duke) Buzz & Ramblin' Wreck (Georgia Tech) Sebastian the Ibis (Miami) Rameses (North Carolina) Roc the Panther (Pittsburgh) CavMan (Virginia) HokieBird (Virginia Tech)

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