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ASB Announces "Landshark Referendum" To Change Ole Miss Mascot, Vote Upcoming
Kaitlin Lee throws up the fin after a strikeout in the NCAA tournament. Photo by Steven Gagliano
On Monday morning, the Ole Miss Associated Student Body released a statement to announce the new “Landshark Referendum” seeking to change the on-field mascot from the Rebel Black Bear to the Landshark.
The Landshark has been a symbol at Ole Miss since former Rebel LB Tony Fein first threw up the gesture against Tim Tebow’s Gators in Ole Miss’ 2008 upset of Florida. Since then, the Landshark has made its way to the basketball court, softball and baseball fields and across Rebel nation. The full statement from ASB president Dion Kevin III can be seen below:
The vote will take place on September 26th as a part of campus-wide elections.
Steven Gagliano is the managing editor of HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at steven.gagliano@hottytoddy.com.
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| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |
Bart
September 18, 2017 at 10:13 am
well at least it s something that fans can relate to and there might be marketing possibilites
anything would be better than that stupid bear which everyone ignores
the downside is the slippery slope argument,,,is this the first step to losing Rebels??
D Burke
September 18, 2017 at 10:32 am
The commies took Colonel Reb away and Ole Miiss has succumbed to all commie requests like withering snowflakes.. The Landshark is about as stupid as the bear. Who really gives a damn anymore—-not the school that was loved by all only a few short years ago. Why hasn’t Col. Sanders been removed? Just because certain individuals like fried chicken??? The hypocrisy is overwhelming but the administration , students, and alumni of Ole Miss cower like babies at a handful of few “offended” snowflakes. Why don’t they make a snowflake their mascot—–would be so much more appropriate!!!!
Mark H Stowers
September 18, 2017 at 10:34 am
We have a mascot. Put the Rebel back on the field.
Jeri
September 18, 2017 at 11:10 am
We want our Rebel back!!!! Think about all the alumni!!!! It isn’t just for the students that are there now! It’s for the many generations that have loved ole miss and gave so much to it! It never should have been changed!!! We want to bring back our Colonel Reb!!!! I’m sick of trying to appease those that have nothing to do with ole miss! Let those who have the ♥️Of ole miss decide!
Dianne Turgeon
September 18, 2017 at 11:19 am
Amen!
Dianne Turgeon
September 18, 2017 at 11:19 am
Yes we do!
Dianne Turgeon
September 18, 2017 at 11:21 am
The Landshark IMHO represents the defense. The Colonel needs to comeback…he represents the entire team!
Davis
September 18, 2017 at 12:18 pm
He landshark hasn’t represented our defense in years
SP
September 18, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Great idea – with all the other trouble swirling around the program, let’s dredge up the mascot fight again.
Dianne's Concious
September 18, 2017 at 12:35 pm
Young African-American’s slaving away in the field giving their blood, sweat and tears so the white rich folks can enjoy their Saturday. I believe Colonel Reb truly does represent everything that Ole Miss stands for. Now, as to him representing the team… not so sure about that.
Tara
September 18, 2017 at 12:44 pm
How bout we go back to original Colonel Reb and leave traditions alone!!
Sandy Taylor
September 18, 2017 at 2:38 pm
If I am not mistaken, Col. Reb was designed to honor an elderly black (African-American) gentleman who assisted Ole Miss with it’s athletic events, and is not designed to show disrespect to anyone. Are we going to now have to see the students pick a new mascot every year? I support Col. Reb, and say to you all: you chose Ole Miss as your college of choice, and if you feel disrespected, why come to Ole Miss. Leave our mascot as Col. Reb as originally selected, or choose another college to attend.
Karen Vincent
September 18, 2017 at 2:55 pm
Why is UNLV allowed to be Rebels, but we are not?
G. C.
September 18, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Just Curious about a Minor detail. First, this reminds me of (1)a Communist election, (2)”Sentence First-Verdict Afterwards.” If the Goofus Landshark has already been decided upon, why have a “Referendum”? I believe Alice gives the best Answer:”Stuff and Nonsense”. Is this Student Body this weak? Vote Colonel Reb back in, and watch who gets Triggered. Truly, Ole Miss has slipped down a Rabbit Hole.
Waite Ligon
September 18, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Let’s hear it for the Colonel!!
Dan Bowen
September 18, 2017 at 7:53 pm
I did not graduate from Ole Miss but both of my parents did, and I was born in Oxford. This is so stupid. Colleges are now the ones making bad decisions every day. Is this really THAT important. I guess if you graduate with $50,000 in student debt because college costs are way more than they should be, at least you will feel that you accomplished something.
Elle Muses
September 18, 2017 at 11:04 pm
Agreed, Dan Bowen. In the grand scheme of things, this is not important. It’s time to move on, people. Can we get fired up about more substantive issues?
Tim Heaton
September 20, 2017 at 6:20 am
Ole Miss doesn’t need a mascot.
The University of Michigan, Stanford University, University of Illinois and Indiana don’t have mascots. That is pretty good company.
The mascot needs to evolve naturally. ‘Bama’s Al is from an Ole Miss game in 1930 where the sportscaster described the team as “red elephants”. Rebel the Bear didn’t fail because it’s un-creative (it is that too), it failed because it’s not how people associate with Ole Miss. There isn’t a legend or story surrounding the bear – any bear – with the school. I still don’t know if the bear is from “Go Down Moses”, or from Teddy Roosevelt’s hunting trip where “Teddy Bear” was conceived. Point is, no one knows where the bear came from.
Landshark? Beware. Like the guy that shows up to practice with flashy neon cleats, you better have the talent to back that choice up – or you’re a laughing stock.
Ole Miss is Rebel enough without a Mascot.
Vic
September 22, 2017 at 11:59 am
I agree with you, Tim. If we’re not going to have a mascot that has anything to do with the team name, why have one? I’d almost be for keeping the bear rather than change it to anything but Rebel. A new mascot every few years looks every but as ridiculous as some think the bear is.
HOG
September 22, 2017 at 12:33 pm
The one and only mascot of Ole Miss is Col. Rebel. This administration has tired to push a Bear on us, now a shark! They seem to want to divert us from the NCAA Investigation to this mascot mess, something is probably going on that they don’t want us to know about. Keep a close eye on this bunch!!!
Reb Fan
September 22, 2017 at 12:59 pm
This vote is not Student led! The administration created the idea, are pushing the idea, and they want the student body to vote for that shark! It is a creation of the administration!
CalRebGal
September 27, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Tim Heaton is right. You don’t need a mascot to do a thing…and when you talk history and tradition, you have to think beyond your century. And outside the SEC. Col. Reb’s not coming back. But starting the Landshark’s not going to make Ole Miss look any better. I went to Ole Miss for grad school, lived in the South for 25 years and am now near Stanford, where the Cardinal used to be the Indians and had a mascot. (Understandably gone.) We have the goofy dancing Tree but it’s not official and it least it makes sense for Stanford’s history. (Palo Alto means Tall Tree.) Ole Miss has great spirit and great cheerleaders…and we’re still the Rebs. Love that and leave the other. Amen, Tim!
Michele Duncan
October 6, 2017 at 7:05 am
I also think all this is nonsense and I am a State fan. I have and always will identify with Col. Reb. When referring to Ole Miss. With that being said brother that fried chicken comment is just not cool. That mentally is out dated and part of the problem……..if you want people of all races to respect your school of choice and it’s mascot you need to respect them(on all levels). If you say the mascot isn’t a symbol of racism then make what is essentially a pretty racist and stereotypical state like that you are just throwing fuel on a fire. Have a good one and for you Hotty Totty on my friend and over here I will Hail State!!