A Comprehensive History of the University of Mississippi Mascot

The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, has a rich and multifaceted history when it comes to its mascots. This article delves into the evolution of these symbolic figures, from the early days of unofficial nicknames to the present-day Landshark, Tony. Understanding this history requires exploring the origins of the "Ole Miss" moniker itself, as well as the various figures that have represented the university's athletic teams over the years.

The Origin of "Ole Miss"

The story behind the name "Ole Miss" is relatively straightforward. However, the evolution of the school's mascots has been anything but simple.

Early Years and Unofficial Nicknames

Before a formal mascot was established, the University of Mississippi's athletic teams were referred to by various names. In 1893, they were simply known as "the University men" or "the Oxford boys." As time went on, other monikers such as "the Southerners" and "the Mighty Mississippians" gained traction in the 1920s. These early, unofficial nicknames reflected the lack of a unified identity for the university's sports teams.

In 1929, the university took its first steps toward solidifying its athletic identity by forming a selection committee to choose a mascot. "The Flood" emerged as the chosen name and was used until 1936. However, dissatisfaction with "The Flood" led The Daily Mississippian to sponsor a write-in competition for a new moniker.

From "The Flood" to the "Rebels"

In April 1936, The Mississippian newspaper held a contest to determine a new nickname for the Ole Miss athletic teams. Before this contest, the teams had been called by various names, including the Red and Blue, the Oxfords, the Mighty Mississippians, the Southerners, and the Crimson and Blue. Most recently and popularly, they were known as the Flood.

The Mississippian received many entries and subsequently placed several names-including Rebels, Raiders, Confederates, Stonewalls, and Ole Miss (without a nickname appendage)-in the hands of 21 sportswriters. "Rebels" was the choice of 18 out of the 21 sportswriters, a nickname alluding to the University Greys. After five months of contest and polling, the university's athletics committee formally approved the name, and its sports teams have been known as the Rebels ever since.

The Rise of Colonel Reb

In 1936, Colonel Reb was designed, and he served as the official sideline mascot from 1979 until 2003. Several theories exist as to who originally designed Colonel Reb, a cartoonish, older-aged colonel. One theory proposes that Billy Hix, the art editor for the 1936-1937 Ole Miss yearbook in which the Colonel first appeared, created the image as an illustration for the university's new athletics sobriquet. Another theory postulates that the student group responsible for publishing The Rebel humor magazine designed the Colonel, as this group-known as the "Rebel Club"-was founded in 1937 shortly after the University adopted the "Rebels" nickname. The magazine featured on its masthead an illustration of the Colonel that was identical to the one found in the 1937 annual. Still others maintain that the printing company that published the Ole Miss annual was responsible for the design.

University of Mississippi historian David Sansing has noted that "Blind Jim [Ivy] may have been the model for Colonel Rebel," citing the late Frank Everett, Jr., a Mississippi historian and prominent alumnus of the university. Ivy, blinded as a teenager while working with tar on the Tallahatchie Bridge, originally made his way to Oxford in 1896 and became a peanut vendor.

In 1940, Ole Miss students began voting for "Colonel Rebel" as the highest honorary position for male students on campus (not to be confused with the mascot). This title had previously been called "The King of Mardi Gras," but this name was changed by the Associated Student Body executive council in the fall of 1939. This distinction was made in addition to the female equivalent ("Miss Ole Miss"), which had been bestowed upon female students on campus for over a decade. Several distinguished Ole Miss alumni have been elected to one of these two positions, including former University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat. In 1975, former National Football League standout Ben Williams became the first black student to be elected "Colonel Reb." In 1989, star Ole Miss women's basketball player Kimsey O'Neal became the first black student to gain the title "Miss Ole Miss." In 1990, Roy Lee "Chucky" Mullins, the Rebel athlete who suffered a devastating football injury in 1989 that left him a quadriplegic, was elected "Colonel Reb" by the student body. In 2013, the Associated Student Body at the University officially changed the name of this honorary title from "Colonel Reb" to "Mr. Ole Miss."

As was the trend among many American colleges and universities during the 1970s, the university adopted a costumed mascot, based on its popular "Colonel Rebel" design. Thus, in 1979, Colonel Reb advanced from his 40-year history on paper to a living caricature on the field. For a brief period during the early 1980s, the Colonel also joined members of the Rebel cheerleading squad in traveling to several NBA games to perform at halftime shows, in which the group would use mini-trampolines and perform flashy, acrobatic slam-dunks and other basketball stunts.

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Controversy and Retirement of Colonel Reb

In 2003, the university retired Colonel Reb from the field in an effort to steer fans of the university away from symbols of the Old South. The administration was concerned about some members of the public who perceived a connection between the character and the Old South and removed Colonel Reb from the sidelines at Ole Miss athletic events as the official on-field mascot, though he was allowed at tailgates and other unofficial university functions.

The decision to retire Colonel Reb was met with mixed reactions. Some alumni and fans felt that the mascot was an integral part of the university's history and tradition. Others believed that it was time for a change, given the mascot's association with the Confederacy and the Old South. The Colonel Reb Foundation, a student group founded in support of reinstating Colonel Reb as the university's mascot, has sponsored the unofficial appearances of the mascot in The Grove on game day.

The Search for a New Mascot

Following the removal of Colonel Reb, a contest was held in which fans were invited to design a replacement. In 2010, the University announced it would establish a student committee to choose a new mascot for the school's teams.

Rebel Black Bear

In 2010, after the retirement of Colonel Reb, the Rebel Black Bear was selected as the Ole Miss mascot. However, the Bear was basically rejected.

The Emergence of the Landshark

The term "Landshark" at Ole Miss is a term first adopted by the Rebel football team’s defensive unit. Roots of the Landshark at the school date back only to 2008. After four consecutive losing seasons, the Rebel football team returned to national prominence with a 9-4 record which included a win over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. The term Landshark originated that season from senior linebacker Tony Fein, an Army veteran who served a one-year tour in the Iraq War before he arrived in Oxford, and was the leader of that defensive unit that was so stout against the rush.

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In 2017, the Ole Miss student body government held a referendum on whether to change the mascot from the Black Bear to the Landshark. A reference to a Saturday Night Live skit, the Landshark was originated in 2008 by senior linebacker Tony Fein and adopted by the Ole Miss football team's defensive unit. From September 26 through September 29, students cast more than 4,100 votes; 81% supported the change. On October 6, university chancellor Jeffrey S. Vitter announced that the Landshark would become the official mascot of Ole Miss.

Tony the Landshark

As of this writing, Ole Miss’s official mascot is Tony the Landshark. Tony the Landshark was introduced to the Ole Miss community in early August, when it was also revealed that he had been named after the late Tony Fein. Because of Fein’s role in introducing the Landshark to campus, Tony was named in honor of him.

Other Ole Miss Traditions

The "Hotty Toddy" Cheer

The Hotty Toddy cheer is a chant unique to Ole Miss.

Hell Yeah! Who in the hell are we? The cheer first appeared in print on November 19, 1926, in the student newspaper The Mississippian, now known as The Daily Mississippian. The Hotty Toddy was printed along with all of the popular sports cheers used by the students at the time. However, the lyrics were slightly different from the version used today.

While there are many theories as to where the Hotty Toddy cheer started, the exact origins remain a mystery. Perhaps the leading theory suggests that the cheer was created by the school's cheerleaders or band.

The cheer was printed several days before Ole Miss was set to face off against instate rival Mississippi State, who were said to refer to Ole Miss fans as "Hoity-Toitys." Ole Miss had lost thirteen straight games going into the 1926 matchup in Starkville. Prior to the game, Ole Miss held pep rallies on campus and even organized a train to take the students and the newly formed Band to the game. After Ole Miss won the game, the Rebel fans stormed the field and attempted to tear down their goalposts.

The cheer also appeared in the school's original fight song. According to The Ole Miss Experience, music professor Arleen Tye wrote a fight song for the school in 1931 entitled “Ole Miss.” The song's chorus included “Hi-ty, Ti-ty, Gosh a’mighty, Who the heck are we?”. While the original fight song was discontinued, the school's current fight song, Forward Rebels, includes the Hotty Toddy cheer as well.

Prior to every home football game, Ole Miss plays a video of a celebrity starting the Hotty Toddy cheer. Some of the celebrities that have participated include Russell Crowe, Snoop Dogg, Betty White, Katy Perry, Morgan Freeman, The Robertson Family from Duck Dynasty, Sandra Bullock, Jack Black, and more.

"From Dixie with Love"

A modification of the Elvis Presley song "An American Trilogy", now known as "From Dixie with Love" or "Slow Dixie", was also played during football games, both home and away. The song was first played during the halftime performance at the Ole Miss/LSU game of 1980 in Tiger Stadium. Upon its completion, the band received a standing ovation from more than 70,000 people on hand that day. It soon became a staple of the band for many years.

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