[Verginius Rufus]

Alcorn University is named for a Reconstruction-era governor, who had been a Whig planter before the war, if I remember correctly. They could call the team the Scalawags. Or perhaps honor the memory of an early president of the institution, Hiram Revels, and call them the Revelers.

Apparently Governor Alcorn had a pretty good record during the short time he was governor in trying to secure equal rights, but I'm surprised that there hasn't been a push to rename the university (since he had been a slaveowner).

[bourbon]

I believe you are correct re: Gov. Alcorn. There is also a county named after him in N.E. Mississippi.