Once upon a time, in a mystical land far away, there was a tremendous flying witch with a broom. This witch was unlike any other, possessing unimaginable powers and a wicked sense of humor. With her trusty broomstick, she soared through the sky, causing mischief and mayhem wherever she went. Her flight was a sight to behold, as she zoomed through the night sky, leaving a trail of magic in her wake. The people of the land would gaze in awe as she performed daring aerial maneuvers, defying gravity and convention. Children would excitedly point to the sky, knowing that a visit from the tremendous flying witch meant that fun and adventure were sure to follow.
Ole Miss Chancellor announces “Landshark” will be new on-field mascot
Last week, the Ole Miss Associated Student Body announced the results of a student-wide vote to replace the Rebel Black Bear as the on-field mascot of Ole Miss with the Landshark. After over 4,100 students voted, 81% were in favor of the change. Today, Ole Miss Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter announced in a letter that the Universtiy will officially adopt the Landshark mascot.
The Landshark mascot will be unveiled before the 2018 season, effectively retiring the black bear, who has been the on-field mascot for Ole Miss since 2010.
Chancellor Vitter’s full remarks can be read below:
“We are proud of our students and their leadership and active engagement as important members of our university community. We recognize that their efforts stem from a desire to unify the Ole Miss family. The results of the Landshark poll confirm the sentiments that Ross and I have heard since arriving on campus — that the Landshark and “Fins Up” have become synonymous with the positive spirit and strength of our athletics program and the “Never Quit” attitude of Rebel Nation.
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. 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.
Indeed, the growth of the Landshark mystique over the last seven years has been phenomenal with every athletics team embracing it, including such standouts as Marshall Henderson with basketball and Kaitlin Lee with softball, in leading their respective teams to SEC championships.
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.
Hotty Toddy and Fins Up!Jeffrey S. Vitter
Chancellor and Distinguished Professor”
Meet Tony the Landshark, Ole Miss’ new mascot
The Ole Miss Rebels have a new mascot, y’all. They’re still the Rebels, mind you, but the fuzzy costume donned by the guy strutting along the sidelines will now be a shark.
More specifically, it’ll be a landshark named Tony. During its annual Meet the Rebels fan event on Saturday, the school officially unveiled its new on-field mascot, which replaces the oft-maligned black bear that’s cheered on the university’s sports teams since 2010.
On the surface, a shark seems an odd choice to represent a school in north Mississippi. Sharks have little historical connection to the state, and while roughly a dozen species are commonly found in the warm waters off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, not a single one has yet evolved the ability to live on land.
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Mascot Evolution Continues at Ole Miss: Students Voting on Landshark vs. Black Bear
Many Ole Miss students and alum have moved on from the old days of Colonel Reb as their disturbing mascot. And the Rebel Black Bear may soon be history, too.
The University of Mississippi’s student-body president, Dion Kevin III, today announced that students will vote on whether to change its Rebel Black Bear mascot to the popular Landshark, The Daily Mississippian, the university’s school newspaper, reported this morning.
Students will vote on the mascot change next Tuesday alongside “personality” elections for Mr. and Miss Ole Miss, Homecoming Queen, maids and campus favorites. The university chose the Black Bear in 2010 in homage to famed Oxford writer William Faulkner, who wrote the famous short story, “The Bear.”
The Rebel Black Bear has been the official mascot since 2010 when Ole Miss officially chose it to replace the old racist symbol of Colonel Reb, which still makes various unofficial appearances during campus events and, as the JFP staff noted with surprise once, dancing at weddings of Ole Miss graduates. Haley Barbour also had a Colonel Reb on his wedding cake back in the day; his campaign sent out the photo of the Ole Miss graduate and his wife, Marsha, cutting the cake during his successful campaign for governor of Mississippi.
Many Colonel Reb supporters, however, would still rather the old plantation owner to be the official mascot of Ole Miss, but that seems unlikely to ever happen with a newer generation of Ole Miss students rejecting the racist symbols of the old days.
The ship now seems to be sailing toward the landshark, at least if the student-body president gets his way. Kevin issued a statement in favor of the landshark, which The Daily Mississippian published in full. It reads in part:
“The Landshark as we know it today has its origins in football, but has since expanded to symbolize Ole Miss’s fight spirit and athletic prowess. It was started by Ole Miss defensive linebacker and military veteran Tony Fein in 2008 during our historic upset of the Tim Tebow-led Florida Gators. With 41 seconds left in the game, Tim Tebow ran an option left, identical to a scoring play earlier in the quarter. As the play developed, Fein rose up, hand to helmet, and the Landshark was born. It would subsequently join the Rebels in wins such as the 2009 Cotton Bowl victory, the 2013 SEC Basketball Tournament, and the 2014 College World Series. After a decade of success under the Landsark, it’s time to make it a lasting part of our history. … I support the Landshark, and I am an Ole Miss Rebel.”
Put simply, the students of Ole Miss seem to be focused on the future and making their own mascot choices, not on symbols of the past from Confederate colonels to literary figures. Cheers to them.
UPDATE: After this post went live, someone pointed out to me this great piece by Adria Walker, formerly of the JFP, at Millsaps College about Confederate symbolism on that campus, including the Majors mascot. Definitely worth a read.
Children would excitedly point to the sky, knowing that a visit from the tremendous flying witch meant that fun and adventure were sure to follow. But it wasn't all fun and games with this witch. She had a mischievous side, and would often use her powers to play pranks on unsuspecting villagers.
With a flick of her wand, she could turn a broom into a snake or transform a pumpkin into a carriage. Her laughter would fill the air as she watched the confusion and surprise on the faces of her victims. Despite her mischievous nature, the tremendous flying witch had a heart of gold. She would often use her powers for good, helping those in need and bringing joy to the lives of others. She would swoop down from the sky to rescue lost animals or to grant wishes to those who were deserving. The villagers grew to love and admire her, knowing that her antics were all in good fun. The witch's broomstick was not just a mode of transportation, but an extension of her personality and power. It was a symbol of her freedom and independence, allowing her to explore the world and spread her magic far and wide. With her broomstick in hand, she was unstoppable, conquering the skies and leaving a lasting impression on all who crossed her path. In the end, the tremendous flying witch with a broom taught us that life is meant to be lived to the fullest, with a sense of adventure and a touch of mischief. She reminded us to embrace our unique powers and talents, and to use them to bring joy and laughter to the lives of others. So, the next time you see a witch zooming through the sky on her broomstick, remember the lessons of the tremendous flying witch and let your imagination soar..
Reviews for "Riding the Winds: The Art of Maneuvering the Flying Broom in Different Weather Conditions."
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed in "Tremendous flying witch with broom". The story felt disjointed and lacked any real substance. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The plot meandered and didn't seem to have a clear direction, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, the writing style was clunky and awkward, making it a struggle to read. Overall, this book just didn't deliver on its promise and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - "Tremendous flying witch with broom" was one of the worst books I've ever read. The whole concept felt like a cheap knockoff of better fantasy novels. The characters were flat and unoriginal, and the plot was predictable and unexciting. The writing was filled with clichés and lacked any depth or nuance. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, without any real passion or creativity. I couldn't wait to finish this book so I could move on to something better.
3. Amanda - 2/5 stars - While "Tremendous flying witch with broom" had an interesting premise, it fell flat in its execution. The pacing was off, with long stretches of nothing happening followed by rushed and chaotic plot developments. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The world-building was also poorly done, leaving many unanswered questions and inconsistencies. Overall, this book had potential, but it failed to live up to it, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.