LEAKED: Image of Ole Miss’ new landshark mascot

Ole Miss has had their fair share of mascot uncertainly over the past few years. They retired the problematic Colonel Reb mascot in 2003, finally replacing him with Rebel Black Bear in 2010. Then last fall, the mascot was again changed, this time to a Landshark. For more on this history, watch this snazzy video from our friends over at Red Cup Rebellion.

The move to the landshark will culminate at the annual “Meet the Rebels” day this weekend, where the official on-field landshark mascot is expected to be unveiled. Good Bull Hunting has scoured our sources, and we are pleased to bring you this exclusive early look at Laynce the Landshark.

The landshark moniker at Ole Miss goes back as far as 2008, with the Rebel defense adopting the name. It gained even more traction in recent years with players and fans alike donning the fin handsign on their foreheads.

“With Laynce (prononced ‘Lance’), Ole Miss sought to create a mascot that represents the modern Ole Miss student, “ said the ghost of William Faulkner in a prepared statement. “With his knit button-down, chubbies, deck shoes and red solo cup, Laynce is equally suited to networking in The Grove and cheering on the Rebels on the field at Vaught Hemingway Stadium. We are excited for the upcoming season and the positive impact Laynce will have on all fans of Ole Miss football.”

Laynce’s look was developed by a multidisciplinary panel over the course of the past nine months. The panel experience a period of upheaval following the departure of coach Hugh Freeze, and would eventually end up being chaired by chart-topping pop singer and noted Ole Miss mascot enthusiast Katy Perry.

Perry didn’t have to go far to find inspiration for the new Landshark mascot, drawing heavily from her 2015 Super Bowl halftime co-stars. While Left Shark is the celebrity of the two, Ole Miss officials ultimately decided to use Right Shark, as he seemed to better align with the fanbases political leanings.

(obligatory disclaimer that this isn’t real, knowing full well that nobody who believed it read past the headline anyway)