How Sebastian The Ibis Became UM’s Mascot

Most college football fans know Sebastian The Ibis as the official mascot of the University of Miami. But did you know the original name of the first Ibis mascot was “Icky”? The Ibis was originally chosen as the school’s unofficial mascot in 1926 by Nathan Duncan after the student body chose to name the university’s first yearbook “The Ibis”. The first on-field mascot at football games was a 65-pound boxer dog named Hurricane I in 1950. The Ibis made its debut in 1957. Its original name was Icky. UM student John Stormont was the original Icky. The name was later changed to Sebastian, named after an on campus building called San Sebastian Hall, where Stormont lived. The building, now an apartment building, still stands at the intersection of LeJeune Road and University Drive in Coral Gables. According to folklore, the ibis is the last animal to leave before a hurricane hits and is the first to return after the storm passes. To read more stories about the history of the Orange Bowl, visit us at https://www.facebook.com/ghostsoftheorangebowl