"A bit asinine having a rebel mascot in a state that was not involved in the civil war."--Colorado was involved in the Civil War, sending troops down to New Mexico to stop a Confederate invasion, and the Reynolds gang carried out guerrilla operations towards the end of the war as part of a Texas battalion.  I do agree that having a Johnny Reb-type mascot doesn't align with the history of the area and should probably be changed, though.  Columbine uses a Revolutionary soldier as its Rebel mascot and that would be far more appropriate as well as patriotic.