The wide-ranging reactions to Ole Miss’ new on-field mascot
Published 7:43 pm Saturday, August 11, 2018
Ole Miss revealed its new on-field mascot Saturday afternoon as part of the school’s Meet the Rebels festivities at the Manning Center, and reactions to it were, well, mixed.
Landshark Tony, as it’s officially been named, sports a football jersey and pants with a flat shark head accompanied with a toothy grin stretching from eye to eye. Tony will wear No. 47 in honor of the late Tony Fein, the former Ole Miss linebacker who began the landshark mantra for the defense in 2008.
Reactions near and far to the Rebels’ new mascot quickly began pouring in on social media. Here’s a sample.
Ole Miss has a new mascot, and he's already in the running with Purdue Pete for the most nightmare-inducing in the country https://t.co/8ayYIaZb7d
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 11, 2018
In a pinch, you can heat up Tony’s head and use it to iron your shirt!
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 11, 2018
Clarification here: Colonel Reb was in my mind, but he’s actually been gone for 15 years.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 12, 2018
While I like the idea of a land shark mascot, I think the costume design from Ole Miss really leaves a lot to be desired. I always enjoyed Rebel Black Bear but that just may be me. Anyway, let’s get to football season now plz.
— Robby Donoho III (@RobbyDonoho) August 11, 2018
Holy crap the new Landshark mascot Ole Miss unveiled is disturbing to say the least… The bear was wayyyy better. #SEC #OleMiss pic.twitter.com/ptDvYtxXqo
— Clayton Hall III (@clayton_hall3) August 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/LizHale333/status/1028382387942699015
So I’ve been trying to figure what the Ole Miss landshark mascot reminded me of…
Guys pic.twitter.com/6PICbuSp14
— Cole Crenshaw (@ColeCren1222) August 11, 2018
I’m not sure that I can be an Ole Miss fan anymore. Can’t we just stick with no mascot? Like this is embarrassing.
— Tylan Cade Manus (@tylanmanus) August 11, 2018