Ole Miss fans put their hand on their forehead as the “Landshark” or “Fins Up” hand gesture, a tradition that started with a linebacker and has become the signature celebration for the entire Ole Miss fanbase.

Origin of the Landshark

The gesture traces back to Tony Fein, an Ole Miss linebacker and Iraq War veteran who played for the Rebels in 2008. During a hot summer practice, Fein was frustrated about his spot on the depth chart and started making a shark- fin motion with his hand on his forehead after big plays. Teammates and coaches noticed it, and the “Landshark” identity quickly caught on with the defense.

After each big stop, Fein would press his hand to his forehead like a shark’s dorsal fin breaking the water, and the team adopted “Fins Up” as their battle cry. The Landshark became a symbol of the defense’s toughness and swagger, especially during Ole Miss’s rise in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

How Fans Use the Gesture

Ole Miss fans adopted the Landshark hand signal as their own, using it to celebrate big defensive plays, touchdowns, and victories. At games, when the defense makes a stop, you’ll see thousands of fans in red and blue put one hand on their forehead, fingers together and palm facing forward, mimicking a shark fin.

It’s also used more broadly as a greeting among fans and as a show of school pride at all Ole Miss sporting events, not just football. The gesture is so iconic that the university later made the Landshark its official mascot, naming him “Tony” in honor of Tony Fein.

Why the Forehead?

The hand-on-forehead motion specifically mimics a shark’s dorsal fin cutting through the water, which fits the “Landshark” nickname. It’s simple, visible from a distance, and easy for a whole crowd to do in unison, making it perfect for a stadium-wide celebration.

Over time, it’s become as much a part of Ole Miss culture as “Hotty Toddy” — a quick, unmistakable way for fans to say, “We’re Rebels, and we’re hunting”.

Bottom line: Ole Miss fans put their hand on their forehead as the “Landshark” / “Fins Up” gesture, a tradition born from linebacker Tony Fein in 2008 that now unites the entire fanbase at games and beyond.