Magnolia State Live reported today that Ole Miss will officially be changing its mascot to the landshark.
BREAKING: Ole Miss boots Rebel Black Bear, adopts the landshark as the official university mascot
— Alex McDaniel (@AlexMcDaniel) October 6, 2017
Chancellor Jeff Vitter announced the move in a letter to university stakeholders, according to the report. The landshark received 81 percent of the vote in a student referendum last Friday.
The landshark has been the unofficial mascot of the Ole Miss defense since 2008. That year, the Rebels rode a strong defense to a 9-4 record and a victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.