Ole Miss is changing their official mascot... again.
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Since 2010, Rebel the Bear has been the mascot for the athletic program and that was the choice after "Colonel Reb" went away back in 2003. This time around, Ole Miss is going with a landshark and Ole Miss Chancellor Dr. Jeff Vitter announced the change in an official letter.
The Oxford Eagle brings word from Vitter:
"Today, I'm excited to announce that we will move forward with the Landshark as the official mascot and retire Rebel the Bear. Athletics will be charged with designing, developing, and launching the Landshark mascot, with an anticipated unveiling before the 2018 season.
"In closing, I want to state unequivocally that we are — and always will be — the Ole Miss Rebels. And I am asking all Rebels to unite around our new Landshark mascot."
The choice to move toward a landshark was made was reportedly made after Ole Miss's Associated Student Body arranged a four-day vote and, with more than 4,000 votes, it was a landslide victor to the tune of more than 80 percent of the vote. In the grand scheme, this doesn't change a lot and Vitter was sure to note that the Ole Miss Rebels aren't going anywhere (something that does not have a universal approval rating, by any means) but this is a significant change and one that matters quite a bit in Oxford.
