The current mascot of the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is the Rebel Black Bear. The Rebel Black Bear was introduced as the official mascot in 2010, replacing the original mascot, Colonel Reb. The decision to change the mascot came after a push from students and alumni for a more inclusive and modern representation. The Rebel Black Bear was chosen as the new mascot in a highly publicized contest. Various options were considered, including the Landsharks and Hotty Toddy, but the Rebel Black Bear ultimately won the popular vote. The black bear was chosen to represent strength, courage, and independence, qualities that align with the spirit of the university and its athletic teams.
Current ole miss mascot
Published 8:23 pm Friday, September 29, 2017
A sign urging students to vote for the landshark for a new mascot for Ole Miss is located outside the Lyceum on campus, in Oxford, Miss. on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.
Rebel the Bear mascot at Ole Miss vs. Tennessee at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, October 18, 2014.
The Landshark looks poised to make a splash as the new mascot for Ole Miss.
In a four-day vote organized by the Associated Student Body, Ole Miss students voted to replace Rebel Black Bear, the current mascot, with a Landshark.
According to a letter posted to the ASB Facebook page, over 4100 votes were cast this week with 81 percent of those votes in favor of a Landshark as Ole Miss’ mascot.
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“In an age as politically divisive as our own, such agreement and unanimity is rare. This represents a step toward fulfilling the University Creed more and more in our everyday lives, further tightening the bonds between all members of the Ole Miss family and uniting the student body behind a mascot that truly embodies the spirit of our great university,” ASB officers Elam Miller, Jennie Jesuit, Dylan Wood, Will Nowell and ASB President Dion Kevin III said in the letter. While the vote passed, the mascot change remains in limbo as further steps are needed to make the shift from the bear to the Landshark official. The Associated Student Body will present an official document to the university before the Vanderbilt football game on Oct. 14. From there, the university will determine if an official change will take place. According to a statement from Ole Miss spokesman Ryan Whittington to The Associated Press on Sept. 19, the vote by the students is an advisory vote and not binding to Ole Miss Chancellor Jeff Vitter or the Ole Miss Athletics Department.
However, in a joint statement from Ole Miss administration and Ole Miss Athletics issued on Sept. 18, the university is willing to listen to the students regarding the school’s mascot. “We value the important role that students play as an active voice in the life of our campus community. We are always interested in the viewpoints of our students,” the statement said.
Ole Miss is officially adopting the Landshark as its new mascot
BATON ROUGE, LA – OCTOBER 22: Detric Bing-Dukes #43 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates during the first half of a game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NCAA By Jay Rigdon on October 6, 2017 October 6, 2017Ole Miss retired their Colonel Reb mascot way back in 2003, amid concerns about the optics of having a genteel southern white man be the mascot for a school that already called their teams the Rebels. The Rebels name stuck, of course, because when you have a tradition dating back to…uh, let’s see here…oh, 1936? That’s as far back as the Rebels nickname dates? Would have guessed it was longer, given the only argument to keep is tradition, all things considered, but anyway, when you have a tradition dating back to 1936 you don’t just toss it overboard.
So in 2010, a black bear named Rebel was introduced as a replacement mascot. Now, though, Ole Miss is going in a decidedly different direction with a rebrand, announcing that they’re replacing the bear with Landsharks.
Ole Miss (the University of Mississippi), will continue to be the “Rebels.” The Landshark will be its mascot – think Alabama Crimson Tide has an elephant as a mascot; Auburn Tigers have an Eagle.
Still, people know what an elephant is and what an eagle is. But what’s a landshark?
At Ole Miss, it began as gesture on the field during a game in 2008. It was a “fins up” gesture made by a Rebel player.
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“At Ole Miss, ‘Landshark’ is a term adopted by the Rebel football team’s defensive unit. As part of that identity, defensive players will celebrate big plays by putting a hand to their forehead in the shape of a shark fin. A battle cry of “fins up” also contributes to the players’ persona. With the popularity of both the players and the “Landshark” celebration, Ole Miss fans and student-athletes from other sports have also performed the hand gesture as a tribute to the Rebels on the football team.”
Ole Miss owns trademarks to “Landshark” and “Fins Up.”
That gesture is the “thumb to forehead” move the football team performs, or that Marshall Henderson used to do when he wasn’t flipping off opposing fans. Landshark won in a landslide:
Ole Miss students voted overwhelmingly last week to adopt the Landshark. The vote was advisory to university leadership. In recent days, the Chancellor has received additional feedback from stakeholders prompting the move.
“Upon learning of the ASB poll of students, we sought input from the executive committees of the Ole Miss Alumni Association, the Staff Council, the Faculty Senate, and the Graduate Student Council, as well as from the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the Spirit Squad head coaches,” Dr. Vitter said.
“In each case, the support for the Landshark mascot was unanimous. In addition, the past presidents of the Ole Miss Alumni Association and the boards of the Alumni Association and M-Club enthusiastically endorsed the action of the Alumni Association executive committee.”
And hey, credit to Ole Miss, this is kind of fun. Frankly they should probably just go all in on Landsharks as their nickname, because again, Rebels only goes back to 1936. 1936! For a variety of reasons, that’s probably not happening any time soon, though, so at least we can enjoy the spectacle of a shark on the sideline of SEC sporting events. Plus, it’s a nice distraction from the current state of the Ole Miss football program.
Of course, not everyone is thrilled about the change:
Imagine someone at Ole Miss realizing that their morning was going to consist of reaching out to Marshall Henderson to help engender support for a rebranded mascot effort. That’s not a fun morning.
The black bear was chosen to represent strength, courage, and independence, qualities that align with the spirit of the university and its athletic teams. Since its introduction, the Rebel Black Bear has become a beloved symbol of Ole Miss. The mascot can be seen at sporting events, pep rallies, and other university functions.
About Jay Rigdon
Jay is a columnist at Awful Announcing. He is not a strong swimmer. He is probably talking to a dog in a silly voice at this very moment.
It interacts with fans, poses for photos, and helps build school spirit among students, alumni, and supporters. The Rebel Black Bear has had a positive reception overall, but it has also faced some criticism and resistance from those who were attached to the previous mascot, Colonel Reb. Some argue that the Rebel Black Bear does not accurately represent the university's history and traditions. However, the university administration and many students and alumni believe that the new mascot is more inclusive and reflects the changing values of the university. In conclusion, the current mascot of Ole Miss is the Rebel Black Bear. It was introduced in 2010 as a more inclusive and representative symbol for the university. While it has faced some criticism, it has become a cherished and recognizable figure that embodies the spirit and values of Ole Miss..
Reviews for "Unmasking the Current Ole Miss Mascot: Behind the Symbolism"
1. Jennifer - ★☆☆☆☆
I was really disappointed with the current Ole Miss mascot. It lacks creativity and originality. The design is outdated and does not represent the spirit of the university. I was hoping for a mascot that would ignite enthusiasm and support from the fans, but this one falls flat. It's time for the university to reevaluate and come up with a more dynamic and inspiring mascot.
2. Mike - ★★☆☆☆
The current Ole Miss mascot is unimaginative and unexciting. It feels like it was designed without any thought or consideration for the fans or the university's traditions. I was expecting something more unique and representative of the rich history and culture of the region. I don't feel any connection or pride when I see this mascot, and I hope the university decides to explore other options that can better capture the essence of what Ole Miss stands for.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I find the current Ole Miss mascot to be rather boring and unmemorable. It lacks the energy and charisma that a mascot should have to rally the fans and create a sense of excitement during games. It is almost forgettable, and it's disappointing to see such a lackluster representation of the university. I believe that a new mascot should be considered as it would bring a renewed spirit and passion to Ole Miss events.