Sebastian the Ibis - wikipedia 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. Sebastian is the first and only Hispanic - American college mascot and identifies as Cuban. 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. '' `` 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. '' 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. 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. 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. 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 Jump up ^ `` ' claro que sí ( soy Cubano ) ' ''. Official Instagram comment @ UM_Sebastian. Retrieved 15 December 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` History University of Miami ''. Archived from the original on November 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 09 - 12. Jump up ^ Foxsports.com : Florida State & Miami Traditions Jump up ^ University records Jump up ^ `` 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 Located in : Coral Gables, Florida 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 Men 's basketball Women 's basketball Football Atlantic Coast Conference Cobb Stadium Florida Cup Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park Hard Rock Stadium Orange Bowl Sebastian the Ibis Seminole War Canoe Watsco Center 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 Founded : 1925 Students : 16,848 Endowment : 844.6 million 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 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1991 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 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 -- 38 1938 -- 39 1939 -- 40 1940 -- 41 1941 -- 42 1942 -- 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 -- 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 2017 -- 18 Miami Hurricanes women 's basketball Venues Miami Beach Auditorium ( 1972 -- 1985 ) Knight Center ( 1985 -- 1988 ) Miami Arena ( 1988 -- 2002 ) Watsco 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. & Mrs. 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 ) Cavalier ( Virginia ) HokieBird ( Virginia Tech ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sebastian_the_Ibis&oldid=815591383 '' Categories : Atlantic Coast Conference mascots Miami Hurricanes Miami Hurricanes football 1957 establishments in Florida Talk About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 15 December 2017, at 19 : 59. 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Question: why does miami have a duck as their mascot
Answer: when the school's yearbook chose its name to be "The Ibis