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Ole Miss Football: Rebels Introduce New Landshark Mascot

By Daniel Skipper

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: A young fan of the Mississippi Rebels cheers against the Wofford Terriers on September 10, 2016 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. Mississippi defeated Wofford 38-13. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: A young fan of the Mississippi Rebels cheers against the Wofford Terriers on September 10, 2016 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. Mississippi defeated Wofford 38-13. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /
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Saturday’s ‘Meet The Rebels’ for Ole Miss football in the IPF was the backdrop for the reveal and introduction of the new Ole Miss Landshark mascot ‘Tony’.

Saturday marked ‘Meet The Rebels’ which has become a popular annual event for Ole Miss football fans, players and coaches. The event gives fans a chance to meet and greet players and coaches and get autographs. Very popular among the younger Ole Miss fans, the preseason event would be even more exciting today with the reveal of the new Ole Miss mascot.

Over the past number of years the University of Mississippi fans, students and alumni have been split over mascot issues. With the termination of the Colonel Rebel the die was cast for a solid replacement and the search was on. After a ballot vote among the student body there was the former mascot ‘Rebel Bear’ who was surrounded in controversy because of some of his antics on the field.

Now in 2018 we have a new mascot which was unveiled and introduced to Rebel Nation Saturday in the IPF. Rebel Nation welcomed ‘Tony’ the new Landshark mascot for the Rebels. In a stage show topped off with lights and fog the new mascot was welcomed with excitement and loud applause. It appears Tony was a hit with the younger fans which matters most.

The Original Landshark

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When it comes to the Ole Miss Landshark mascot we all know it came from the original Landshark Tony Fein. Of course, Fein played linebacker for the Rebels in 2007 and 2008 and was the very first Rebel player to throw ‘Fins Up’ after a great defensive play on the field.

There is that old saying, “you had to be there” but in this case you didn’t. From the moment Tony threw up the very first ‘Fin’ it spread like wildfire among the Rebels defense and the fans. Then the Landshark Defense was born and the ‘Fins Up’ would dominate the Vaught from that moment forward.

Fein, a Port Orchard Washington native and former Iraqi war veteran, was a huge part of the Rebels success in the two seasons he played and was a very vocal leader for Ole Miss both on and off the field. After graduating from Ole Miss and a brief stint in the NFL Fein tragically passed away in 2009.

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In Closing

It’s a great to see the excitement from Ole Miss football fans for the new Landshark mascot. The best part of it is the fact that it honors a great player in the history of Ole Miss football. Tony Fein was way more than just the player who threw up the first ‘Fins Up’. He was a great young man who was an outstanding football player and he was as dedicated to his country as he was to Ole Miss. Tony’s story is a great one and it’s great to see him honored. Hotty Toddy!

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