By: Jimmie McDowell
NEW YORK CITY---For the second successive year a Sophomore won the Heisman Trophy. Sam Bradford of Oklahoma shaded Colt McCoy of Texas and last year's winner Tim Tebow of Florida for the award. Over two dozen former winners were on hand to salute the 2008 winner. It was my 45th sucessive Heisman Dinner in New York dating back to 1962 when Oregon State's Terry Baker was the recipient and I was the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton (N.J.)Times.
Dick Kazmaier of Princeton was the senior member returning followed by Hop Cassady of Ohio State, Paul Hornung of Notre Dame, and John David Crowe of Texas A&M.Bradford and Tebow cross swords in post-season play. In regular season McCoy bested Bradford when Texas and Oklahoma collided. Florida's only loss was to Ole Miss, who now plays Texas Tech, the team that edged Texas in the Longhorns' only blemish of the season in the Cotton Bowl.
Bradford and McCoy return in 2009 and perhaps Tebow too. He is checking out his NFL possibilities in the upcoming pro draft.
Kazmaier is not the oldest living Heisman winner. The fabled Doc Blanchard of Army and Johnny Lujack of Notre Dame are still alive but not traveling much. When the two locked horns at Yankee Stadium in 1946 the Cadets and Black Knights battled to a scoreless tie. On one play Blanchard, nursing a bad leg, broke clear but was tackled by Lujack, saving the day for the Irish.
In later years Blanchard told Lujack he scared the hell out of him. Lujack was elated to hear the remark and then Blanchard added: "I thought I had killed you.
After the Heisman I returned to Mississippi for one day before my flight to Las Vegas for the All-American Football Foundation's 98th Banquet of Champions honoring Dr. Bill McColl and his son Rev.Ducnan McColl, both Stanford All-Americans and Notre Dame All-American George Kunz.
A sudden snowstorm hit Vegas, shutting down the airport. I had to fly to San Diego, spend a night at the airport in a chair for five hours before catching an early flight to Vegas. The McColls were there, as was Kunz. Bill later played for the Chicago Bears and his teammates included Joe Fortunato and Harper Davis of Mississippi State and Modest John Dottley of Ole Miss.
The Foundation's next two Banquets of Champions will be in Jackson, Feb. l6 and in Princeton March 9 following the Maxwell Club Dinner in Atlantic City Marech 6.At the Jackson Dinner Johnny Vaught's Glory Year Field Generals will honored. They include the late Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear,the late Eagle Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, the late Doug Elmore and Glynn Griffing.
Ole Miss has not won a SEC Championship since,including the Archie Mannng years
The Sugar Bowl is observing its 75the Anniversary this year and has invited the Most Valuable players over the years. The Sun Bowl in El Paso is also 75 years old.
The Grand Daddy of all Bowl games features two once beaten teams Penn State and the University of Southern California, pitting two great coaches, Joe Paterno and Pete Carroll. Joe Pa has a new three year contract at age 82 and has recovered from recent hip surgery. I wrote and wished him well, predicting that by the time of the Rose Bowl he would be twisting again like he did last summer.
Southern Mississippi concluded its season with a come from behind victory over Troy University in New Orleans, giving Larry Fedora a 7-6 mark in his initial season at USM. Ole Miss is the underdog in its battle with once beaten Texas Tech Jan. 2 in Dallas The Rebels lost two early season games with Wake Forest and Vanderbilt on the last play of both games. They could have been 10-2 instead of 8-4. Now will Houston Nutt's Red and Blue wind up 9-4 of 8-5?
When Ole Miss came back to beat TCU in an earlier Cotton Bowl Hermand Sidney (Eagle) Day became the Mississippi Gambler with his heroic performance. In another Cotton Bowl Eli Mannng sparked Ole Miss to victory and got a high NFL draft choice in the process. Will Jevan Snead become another Ole Miss Cotton Bowl hero? I think he might.
If he does he could be in the 2009 Heisman picture as a Junior.
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Monday, December 22, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Army Navy Always Enjoyed
PHILADELPHIA-----Navy battered the Brave Old Army team,34-0, before a capacity crowd in the City of Brotherly Love. It was my 45th Army-Navy encounter. The teams meet here again in 2009 and then it is a question of where the 2010 classic will be played. Eight cities have expressed interest in hosting the Classic.
Over 80 of these 100 games have been played in Philadelphia and the City Fathers are going all out to convince Army and Navy officials that the game should always be held here. Over the years no other city has been a better host. The Army-Navy game I missed was the one played in the Rose Bowl where there was a major transportation problem getting all of the Midshipmen and Cadets non-football players to the Stadium.
Part of the package includes paying travel expenses for the Brigade and the Corps. Navy's Coach is Ken Niumatalolo, the first Samoan collegiate head football coach. Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk promoted the longtime assistant to the top job when Paul Johnson accepted the Georgia Tech assignment Stan Brock moved up at Army when Bobby Ross retired.
President George W. Bush, attending the game for the last time as Commander in Chief, walked towards the 50-yard line for the coin toss ceremony noted that the placekicker had left a football on the tee as he left warmup for the ceremony, delighted the crowd by kicking the ball quite impressively, making one wonder if Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would offer the outgoing President a job as a field goal and extra point specialist.
The night before a VIP reception was held for the Navy and Army brass and other notables in the beautiful Philadelphia Civic Center. A battle of the Bands highlighted the event with cheer-leaders dueling to a draw, while both bands played their hearts out. A lovely Navy cheerleader noted my presence and asked me if I wanted to dance with her. I could see why. Old Wagon Wheel dancers of downtown Jackson never die. Naturally I accepted the pretty lady Middie's invitation.
Sadler's dancing machine band was as great as ever. I look forward to returning to Philadelphia next year.
On another note as Bowl games were being announced I hasten to say that the All-American Football Foundation members, including over 150 colleges, do not vote until AFTER the post season games have been played. Only then do the members vote and select their All-America teams and Coaches of the Year in all divisions as well as National Champions in all divisions plus selecting 11 Colonel Red Blaik senior leadership Scholarship honorees.
While Oklahoma and Florida, once beaten, play in the designated major college championship game the All-American Football Foundation noted that the other contenders included two perfect record teams, Boise State and Utah plus once defeated Texas, Alabama, Penn State, USC, Ball State, and Texas Tech.
Penn State and USC have to think that which ever team wins the Rose Bowl the winner should have every right to share the national title with Oklahoma or Florida.
I will be in the Boston area for the AAFF's New England Banquet of Champions followed by the trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy festivities. I have attended every Heisman Dinner since my first one in 1962--46 years. It's always a pleasure to be there. Terry Baker of Oregon State was the winner .
Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino are Navy's Heisman winners. Army claimed three Heismans with Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis, and Pete Dawkins. December in New York is a special time of the year for me. Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's , Lunch at the 21 Club, Dinner at Neary's. I lived in the City for 17 years, and worked there for almost three decades. New York, New York, a wonderful town.
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Over 80 of these 100 games have been played in Philadelphia and the City Fathers are going all out to convince Army and Navy officials that the game should always be held here. Over the years no other city has been a better host. The Army-Navy game I missed was the one played in the Rose Bowl where there was a major transportation problem getting all of the Midshipmen and Cadets non-football players to the Stadium.
Part of the package includes paying travel expenses for the Brigade and the Corps. Navy's Coach is Ken Niumatalolo, the first Samoan collegiate head football coach. Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk promoted the longtime assistant to the top job when Paul Johnson accepted the Georgia Tech assignment Stan Brock moved up at Army when Bobby Ross retired.
President George W. Bush, attending the game for the last time as Commander in Chief, walked towards the 50-yard line for the coin toss ceremony noted that the placekicker had left a football on the tee as he left warmup for the ceremony, delighted the crowd by kicking the ball quite impressively, making one wonder if Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would offer the outgoing President a job as a field goal and extra point specialist.
The night before a VIP reception was held for the Navy and Army brass and other notables in the beautiful Philadelphia Civic Center. A battle of the Bands highlighted the event with cheer-leaders dueling to a draw, while both bands played their hearts out. A lovely Navy cheerleader noted my presence and asked me if I wanted to dance with her. I could see why. Old Wagon Wheel dancers of downtown Jackson never die. Naturally I accepted the pretty lady Middie's invitation.
Sadler's dancing machine band was as great as ever. I look forward to returning to Philadelphia next year.
On another note as Bowl games were being announced I hasten to say that the All-American Football Foundation members, including over 150 colleges, do not vote until AFTER the post season games have been played. Only then do the members vote and select their All-America teams and Coaches of the Year in all divisions as well as National Champions in all divisions plus selecting 11 Colonel Red Blaik senior leadership Scholarship honorees.
While Oklahoma and Florida, once beaten, play in the designated major college championship game the All-American Football Foundation noted that the other contenders included two perfect record teams, Boise State and Utah plus once defeated Texas, Alabama, Penn State, USC, Ball State, and Texas Tech.
Penn State and USC have to think that which ever team wins the Rose Bowl the winner should have every right to share the national title with Oklahoma or Florida.
I will be in the Boston area for the AAFF's New England Banquet of Champions followed by the trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy festivities. I have attended every Heisman Dinner since my first one in 1962--46 years. It's always a pleasure to be there. Terry Baker of Oregon State was the winner .
Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino are Navy's Heisman winners. Army claimed three Heismans with Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis, and Pete Dawkins. December in New York is a special time of the year for me. Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's , Lunch at the 21 Club, Dinner at Neary's. I lived in the City for 17 years, and worked there for almost three decades. New York, New York, a wonderful town.
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Coaching is a Tough Profession
BY Jimmie McDowell
Bowl Invitations follow this weekend. Ole Miss and Southern Mississippi will go bowling this year, getting additional practice time, a second spring training no less, in preparation for tough opponents. Mississippi State, fresh from a Liberty Bowl triumph last year, expected an even larger bowl this time around.
Sylvester Croom, the SEC Coach of the Year last year, is looking for a new job now after resigning following a dismal year, taking home three million dollars in the process. I expect Sly to land on his feet.
Other jobs are available, assuring the lobby of the American Football Coaches Convention being packed as out-of-work coaches look for another assignment. I appreciated the invitation from the AFCA to attend the annual Coach of the Year Dinner. I started going to this convention in 1952 while beating the drums for Mississippi Southern College and have attended most of the Conventions since. I appreciated being named an Honorary Life Member of the AFCA over 15 years ago.
When the All-America Football Foundation was launched in 1994 Coach Bob Devaney of Nebraska who was the Cornhuskers' Athletic Director was the first coach to respond and wish us well with a substantial check.
Boston College was next, thanks to the legendary Athletic Director Bill Flynn.
Awards presentations will be announced prior to the Heisman Trophy Dinner in New York Dec.13 on a ESPN TV Special from Florida. Maxwell Club voters had to vote before some of the season ending important games. The Heisman deadline is after the Conference Championship games and other traditional finales, including the UCLA-Southern California showdown. If the Tronans win they will play Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl.
In Clarksdale this week the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced that Juan Joseph of Millsaps' small college powerhouse was chosen the Charlie Conerly Awardee, edging two Ole Miss All-Americans OffensiveTackle Michael Oher and Defensive lineman Peria Jerry, who both should be in the Senior Bowl and be high NFL draft choices.
Mike Dubose did an outstanding job guiding Millsaps to a magnificent season and is deserving of being considered for a Division One coaching job. The one-time Alabama head coach is much appreciated on Methodist Hill.
Southern and Ole Miss both finished strong with the Golden Eagles under their new coach Larry Fedora remaining in the bowl family after a sluggish start after it appeared that their consecutive post season play come to a screeching stop.
The All-America Football foundation, after dinners in Newton, Ma. Dec. ll and Las Vegas Dec. l8 will return to Princeton, New Jersey for its 199th Dinner March 9 after its 99th Banaquet in Jackson Feb. 16 at the Jackson Hilton. The Quarterbacks of Johnny Vaught's championship Glory Years will be honored and remembered: Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Eagle Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing.
When the Ole Miss Centennial team was announced Eagle Day commented that how do you select the top Quarterback and suggested that quarterbacks who led teams to a conference title certainly should be considered. Eagle Day led Ole Miss to TWO SEC championships.
I will attend the Army-Navy game one again in Philadelphia with President George W. Bush also on hand. I have missed one Army-Navy game since I saw my first one in 1962, missing only the game played in theRose Bowl in Pasadena, This will be my 45th Army-Navy game.
I will also attend my 46th Heisman Trophy Dinner at the New York Hilton Dec. 15. I will miss my first National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Dinner this year since my first one in 1962. Appreciated the Invitation but with Dinners in New England and the West I simply could not stay that long in New York this time around.
My pick for the Heisman: Colt McCoy of the University of Texas.
His Longhorn backup of two years ago,Jevan Snead of Ole Miss, will be a Heisman candidate the next two years if he continues to improve like he did since his redshirt season in Johnny Rebtown
, ===30=======
Bowl Invitations follow this weekend. Ole Miss and Southern Mississippi will go bowling this year, getting additional practice time, a second spring training no less, in preparation for tough opponents. Mississippi State, fresh from a Liberty Bowl triumph last year, expected an even larger bowl this time around.
Sylvester Croom, the SEC Coach of the Year last year, is looking for a new job now after resigning following a dismal year, taking home three million dollars in the process. I expect Sly to land on his feet.
Other jobs are available, assuring the lobby of the American Football Coaches Convention being packed as out-of-work coaches look for another assignment. I appreciated the invitation from the AFCA to attend the annual Coach of the Year Dinner. I started going to this convention in 1952 while beating the drums for Mississippi Southern College and have attended most of the Conventions since. I appreciated being named an Honorary Life Member of the AFCA over 15 years ago.
When the All-America Football Foundation was launched in 1994 Coach Bob Devaney of Nebraska who was the Cornhuskers' Athletic Director was the first coach to respond and wish us well with a substantial check.
Boston College was next, thanks to the legendary Athletic Director Bill Flynn.
Awards presentations will be announced prior to the Heisman Trophy Dinner in New York Dec.13 on a ESPN TV Special from Florida. Maxwell Club voters had to vote before some of the season ending important games. The Heisman deadline is after the Conference Championship games and other traditional finales, including the UCLA-Southern California showdown. If the Tronans win they will play Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl.
In Clarksdale this week the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced that Juan Joseph of Millsaps' small college powerhouse was chosen the Charlie Conerly Awardee, edging two Ole Miss All-Americans OffensiveTackle Michael Oher and Defensive lineman Peria Jerry, who both should be in the Senior Bowl and be high NFL draft choices.
Mike Dubose did an outstanding job guiding Millsaps to a magnificent season and is deserving of being considered for a Division One coaching job. The one-time Alabama head coach is much appreciated on Methodist Hill.
Southern and Ole Miss both finished strong with the Golden Eagles under their new coach Larry Fedora remaining in the bowl family after a sluggish start after it appeared that their consecutive post season play come to a screeching stop.
The All-America Football foundation, after dinners in Newton, Ma. Dec. ll and Las Vegas Dec. l8 will return to Princeton, New Jersey for its 199th Dinner March 9 after its 99th Banaquet in Jackson Feb. 16 at the Jackson Hilton. The Quarterbacks of Johnny Vaught's championship Glory Years will be honored and remembered: Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Eagle Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing.
When the Ole Miss Centennial team was announced Eagle Day commented that how do you select the top Quarterback and suggested that quarterbacks who led teams to a conference title certainly should be considered. Eagle Day led Ole Miss to TWO SEC championships.
I will attend the Army-Navy game one again in Philadelphia with President George W. Bush also on hand. I have missed one Army-Navy game since I saw my first one in 1962, missing only the game played in theRose Bowl in Pasadena, This will be my 45th Army-Navy game.
I will also attend my 46th Heisman Trophy Dinner at the New York Hilton Dec. 15. I will miss my first National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Dinner this year since my first one in 1962. Appreciated the Invitation but with Dinners in New England and the West I simply could not stay that long in New York this time around.
My pick for the Heisman: Colt McCoy of the University of Texas.
His Longhorn backup of two years ago,Jevan Snead of Ole Miss, will be a Heisman candidate the next two years if he continues to improve like he did since his redshirt season in Johnny Rebtown
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Sunday, November 23, 2008
Golden Egg Game Sparkling
By Jimmie McDowell
A month ago this year's battle for the Golden Egg did not look so exciting, but then Ole Miss caught fire and added arch-rival LSU to its vanquished list, 31-12, in Tiger Stadium and Mississippi State came back from the near dead to rock the University of Arkansas, 31-28,at Scott Field in what would have made the late, great Leo Seal proud.
Now the stage is set for a monumental collision at Vaught Hemingway Stadium Thanksgiving Friday with State seeking to spoil Ole Miss' major bowl hopes. Houston Nutt's Rebels are going bowling but the result of the battle for the Golden Egg will decide how big a Bowl will it be. A win over State could send the Johnhy Rebs backs to Dallas against one of the double tough Big 12 teams which would cast the Red and Blue in an underdog role in the Cotton Bowl.
If Ole Miss stumps its toe it might mean playing in the Liberty Bowl against a Conference USA team. The Liberty Bowl would like to celebrate its 50th anniversary with Ole Miss participating.The Sugar Bowl is preparing for a big 75th Birthday and would like its best matchup possible. Ole Miss was always a Sugar Bowl favorite.
An added highlight of the Ole Miss-LSU game was the on campus salute to Billy Cannon,who will be inducted in to the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame in New York in December. Cannon was elected to the Hall years ago, but when he was involved in a counterfeit money situation, resulting in jail time the Induction was cancelled. Cannon has paid his debt to society, serving his time and has resumed his dentist practice.
I have attended many Sugar Bowl games over the years and appreciate being invited to come back for the 75th encounter in the Crescent City.
Hopefully, State's excellent showing against Arkansas will silence Sylvester Croom's critics. I expect State to give an even better effort against Ole Miss and the Rebels will have to play their best to defeat their arch-rivals from Starkville.
I cast my vote for the Charlie Conerly award, my semi-final vote that is. The final Conerly vote will take place after the Golden Egg battle.
Southern Mississippi also hopes to get in the bowl picture in their regular season finale in Dallas against Southern Methodist University. A loss sends the Golden Eagles home for the holidays. A victory should give Larry Fedora's warriors a post-season invite.
Millsaps and Delta State advance in the playoff with impressive wins last weekend It would be great if both teams could go all the way and claim national championships in their divisions. Jackson State's win over Alcorn at Mississippi Menorial Stadium 26-21. Jackson State will be seeking its second straight Southwest Athletic Conference title in Birmingham De. 13.
Houston Nutt, Rick Comegy, Mike Dubose and Ron Roberts have sparkled as head coaches at Ole Miss, Jackson State, Millsaps,and Delta State with Larry Fedora only a step behind. If State can upset Ole Miss Sly Croom will be a happy man. The Bulldogs' play against Arkansas was the way ole Maroons expected State to play all year.
Florida and Alabama clash in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta in two weeks. Both need to whip arch-rivals Florida State and Auburn to remain major contenders for the national title.
If Florida should win the national title with the only blemish in their own backyard against Ole Miss it would be the same as when Ole Miss whipped Notre Dame and the Irish rebounded and won the national title. The Irish did change quarterbacks after the loss to Ole Miss. Dan Devine promoted Joe Montana to run the offense.
--30----
A month ago this year's battle for the Golden Egg did not look so exciting, but then Ole Miss caught fire and added arch-rival LSU to its vanquished list, 31-12, in Tiger Stadium and Mississippi State came back from the near dead to rock the University of Arkansas, 31-28,at Scott Field in what would have made the late, great Leo Seal proud.
Now the stage is set for a monumental collision at Vaught Hemingway Stadium Thanksgiving Friday with State seeking to spoil Ole Miss' major bowl hopes. Houston Nutt's Rebels are going bowling but the result of the battle for the Golden Egg will decide how big a Bowl will it be. A win over State could send the Johnhy Rebs backs to Dallas against one of the double tough Big 12 teams which would cast the Red and Blue in an underdog role in the Cotton Bowl.
If Ole Miss stumps its toe it might mean playing in the Liberty Bowl against a Conference USA team. The Liberty Bowl would like to celebrate its 50th anniversary with Ole Miss participating.The Sugar Bowl is preparing for a big 75th Birthday and would like its best matchup possible. Ole Miss was always a Sugar Bowl favorite.
An added highlight of the Ole Miss-LSU game was the on campus salute to Billy Cannon,who will be inducted in to the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame in New York in December. Cannon was elected to the Hall years ago, but when he was involved in a counterfeit money situation, resulting in jail time the Induction was cancelled. Cannon has paid his debt to society, serving his time and has resumed his dentist practice.
I have attended many Sugar Bowl games over the years and appreciate being invited to come back for the 75th encounter in the Crescent City.
Hopefully, State's excellent showing against Arkansas will silence Sylvester Croom's critics. I expect State to give an even better effort against Ole Miss and the Rebels will have to play their best to defeat their arch-rivals from Starkville.
I cast my vote for the Charlie Conerly award, my semi-final vote that is. The final Conerly vote will take place after the Golden Egg battle.
Southern Mississippi also hopes to get in the bowl picture in their regular season finale in Dallas against Southern Methodist University. A loss sends the Golden Eagles home for the holidays. A victory should give Larry Fedora's warriors a post-season invite.
Millsaps and Delta State advance in the playoff with impressive wins last weekend It would be great if both teams could go all the way and claim national championships in their divisions. Jackson State's win over Alcorn at Mississippi Menorial Stadium 26-21. Jackson State will be seeking its second straight Southwest Athletic Conference title in Birmingham De. 13.
Houston Nutt, Rick Comegy, Mike Dubose and Ron Roberts have sparkled as head coaches at Ole Miss, Jackson State, Millsaps,and Delta State with Larry Fedora only a step behind. If State can upset Ole Miss Sly Croom will be a happy man. The Bulldogs' play against Arkansas was the way ole Maroons expected State to play all year.
Florida and Alabama clash in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta in two weeks. Both need to whip arch-rivals Florida State and Auburn to remain major contenders for the national title.
If Florida should win the national title with the only blemish in their own backyard against Ole Miss it would be the same as when Ole Miss whipped Notre Dame and the Irish rebounded and won the national title. The Irish did change quarterbacks after the loss to Ole Miss. Dan Devine promoted Joe Montana to run the offense.
--30----
Sunday, November 16, 2008
1958 National Champions
HATTIESBURG----Fifty years ago two unbeaten teams could have locked horns at the Sugar Bowl, LSU and Mississippi Southern College. As Sports Editor of the Jackson State Times I campaigned for such a showdown.
The New Orleans Sports Editor Bill Keefe mentioned the possibility. Paul Dietzel, who I nicknamed Pepsodent Paul because of his sparkling smile, said "Thanks, but no thanks."
John Cox, voice of Southern athletics for three decades, has written a book about this team and I heartily recommend it. The title is A Season to Remember 1958 Southern Miss Football. It is the Story of the UPI College Division National Championship.
This was Coach Pie Vann's 10th season as head coach of the Southerners as the team was called in those days. Southern had exploded on the national scene in 1953 defeating SEC Champion University of Alabama and later that season whitewashed the University of Georgia, 14-0.
The State Times went out of business in 1962 when Dumas Milner, the majority stockholder in a need for cash after property in the Bahamas went down the drain, offered the paper to two other major stockholders to former Jackson Mayor Leland Speed, Sr. and Parham Bridgers, a real estate mogul. The competing paper publisher of the Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News made a better offer, and Milner, one of the South's top car dealers, took the best offer, the best deal.
The Hedermans eliminated the competition, the State Times, and shut it down, sending all employees into the job search business. I went to the Houston Colt 45's , an expansion team with the New York Mets, and helped launch the Houston team's first good will caravan. A month or so later just before spring training began, I was recommended to the Trenton N.J. Times for the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist assignment covering the Yankees, the Mets, the other expansion team, the Phillies, the Giants, the Eagles and major college athletics. I headed East.
I watched with interest the 1962 and 1963 college football season Deep South battles including Johnny Vaught's warriors near the end of the Glory Year decade which I covered and Pie Vann's battling Southerners.
In 1958 Southern played only nine games, winning them all, including victories over three major college teams, Virginia Tech, North Carolina State and West Texas State. plus college division teams Louisiana Tech, Memphis State, Southeastern Louisiana. Abilene Christian, Trinity, and the University of Chattanooga , the Thanksgiving rival in those days.
Southern was captained by Jim Taylor and Richard Johnston who both attended the 50th reunion the night before the East Carolina game. Others on hand were John Russell, Little All-Amercan End Bob Yencho, George Sekul, Bill Weber, John Perkins, Sonny Tucker, Andin McLeod, Teeny Coats, Ray St. Pierre, Billy (Goat) Sullivan, Homer Boyd, J.C. Arban, Hugh McInnis, Charley McArthur, Pete Rich, Charley Dedwildler, former line coach Jack Thomas, trainer Larry (Doc) Harrington manager Jim Crawford, and stadium manager Ken Shearer, who also is the team historian and handles the mailing.
Former line coach Roland Dale,who turned down the head coach job after a couple of days, was the line coach in 1958 but left to enter private business, resulting in Jack Thomas' hiring. Earlier in the evening Dale and his wife Teenie were on hand to be recognized as a former Athletic Director with a beautiful room in the sparkling Athletic Office building.
Sekul was the field general of that team ably assisted by Teeny Coats and Billy Larsen,.Besides Thomas Coach Vann also had his great backfield coach Heifer Stuart still on board as well as Pete Taylor, who had succeeded the great H. A. Smith, a master recruiter. Ace Cleveland, former Hattiesburg American and Jackson sports writer. was the athletic publicity director, a job I held from 1951-l955. The Southern press box is named after Ace, who served his school for 30 years. His sons are the gifted Jackson scribes, Rick and Bobby. His grandson Tyler is a member of the Hattiesburg American sport s staff.
Reed Green was the Athletic Director during Pie's era after being hired as head coach. He brought Pie to Southern from Meridian High . Pie captained the Ole Miss football team in his playing days.
Southern won its Thanksgiving battle with Scrappy Moore's Chattanooga Moccasins with a goal line stand which impressed a 16-year old lad named John Austin Murphy who became a lifetime fan. He left Southern $180,000 in his will for athletic scholarships.
In 19558 Southern beat North Carolina State, 26-14, in Mobile and crushed Virginia Tech, 41-0, resulting Bill Keefe's column note of being the best small college team in the country.
It also caught Paul Dietzel's attention. A star in his playing days at Miami University in the Mid-America Conference Dietzel knew about such teams. He preferred to play Frank Howard's Clemson Tigers instead and LSU barely won the battle of the Bengals in New Orleans, handing Clemson's 7-2 season a third defeat.
Southern's great national champion college division team stayed home and the players on that team 50 years later still are sad that they did not get a chance to play the major college national champion LSU Tigers.
--30----
The New Orleans Sports Editor Bill Keefe mentioned the possibility. Paul Dietzel, who I nicknamed Pepsodent Paul because of his sparkling smile, said "Thanks, but no thanks."
John Cox, voice of Southern athletics for three decades, has written a book about this team and I heartily recommend it. The title is A Season to Remember 1958 Southern Miss Football. It is the Story of the UPI College Division National Championship.
This was Coach Pie Vann's 10th season as head coach of the Southerners as the team was called in those days. Southern had exploded on the national scene in 1953 defeating SEC Champion University of Alabama and later that season whitewashed the University of Georgia, 14-0.
The State Times went out of business in 1962 when Dumas Milner, the majority stockholder in a need for cash after property in the Bahamas went down the drain, offered the paper to two other major stockholders to former Jackson Mayor Leland Speed, Sr. and Parham Bridgers, a real estate mogul. The competing paper publisher of the Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News made a better offer, and Milner, one of the South's top car dealers, took the best offer, the best deal.
The Hedermans eliminated the competition, the State Times, and shut it down, sending all employees into the job search business. I went to the Houston Colt 45's , an expansion team with the New York Mets, and helped launch the Houston team's first good will caravan. A month or so later just before spring training began, I was recommended to the Trenton N.J. Times for the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist assignment covering the Yankees, the Mets, the other expansion team, the Phillies, the Giants, the Eagles and major college athletics. I headed East.
I watched with interest the 1962 and 1963 college football season Deep South battles including Johnny Vaught's warriors near the end of the Glory Year decade which I covered and Pie Vann's battling Southerners.
In 1958 Southern played only nine games, winning them all, including victories over three major college teams, Virginia Tech, North Carolina State and West Texas State. plus college division teams Louisiana Tech, Memphis State, Southeastern Louisiana. Abilene Christian, Trinity, and the University of Chattanooga , the Thanksgiving rival in those days.
Southern was captained by Jim Taylor and Richard Johnston who both attended the 50th reunion the night before the East Carolina game. Others on hand were John Russell, Little All-Amercan End Bob Yencho, George Sekul, Bill Weber, John Perkins, Sonny Tucker, Andin McLeod, Teeny Coats, Ray St. Pierre, Billy (Goat) Sullivan, Homer Boyd, J.C. Arban, Hugh McInnis, Charley McArthur, Pete Rich, Charley Dedwildler, former line coach Jack Thomas, trainer Larry (Doc) Harrington manager Jim Crawford, and stadium manager Ken Shearer, who also is the team historian and handles the mailing.
Former line coach Roland Dale,who turned down the head coach job after a couple of days, was the line coach in 1958 but left to enter private business, resulting in Jack Thomas' hiring. Earlier in the evening Dale and his wife Teenie were on hand to be recognized as a former Athletic Director with a beautiful room in the sparkling Athletic Office building.
Sekul was the field general of that team ably assisted by Teeny Coats and Billy Larsen,.Besides Thomas Coach Vann also had his great backfield coach Heifer Stuart still on board as well as Pete Taylor, who had succeeded the great H. A. Smith, a master recruiter. Ace Cleveland, former Hattiesburg American and Jackson sports writer. was the athletic publicity director, a job I held from 1951-l955. The Southern press box is named after Ace, who served his school for 30 years. His sons are the gifted Jackson scribes, Rick and Bobby. His grandson Tyler is a member of the Hattiesburg American sport s staff.
Reed Green was the Athletic Director during Pie's era after being hired as head coach. He brought Pie to Southern from Meridian High . Pie captained the Ole Miss football team in his playing days.
Southern won its Thanksgiving battle with Scrappy Moore's Chattanooga Moccasins with a goal line stand which impressed a 16-year old lad named John Austin Murphy who became a lifetime fan. He left Southern $180,000 in his will for athletic scholarships.
In 19558 Southern beat North Carolina State, 26-14, in Mobile and crushed Virginia Tech, 41-0, resulting Bill Keefe's column note of being the best small college team in the country.
It also caught Paul Dietzel's attention. A star in his playing days at Miami University in the Mid-America Conference Dietzel knew about such teams. He preferred to play Frank Howard's Clemson Tigers instead and LSU barely won the battle of the Bengals in New Orleans, handing Clemson's 7-2 season a third defeat.
Southern's great national champion college division team stayed home and the players on that team 50 years later still are sad that they did not get a chance to play the major college national champion LSU Tigers.
--30----
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Happy USM Reunion
By Jimmie McDowell
Hattiesburg-----The Black Knight and the jet-propelled Benton Bomber led a great group of the 1952 and 1053 Giant Killers gathering for another time in Hattiesburg as Southern Mississippi prepared to battle UAB. Perhaps the presence of these legends inspired the Golden Eagles to display their best effort of the 2008 campaign.
Fullback Bucky McElroy and Halfback Hugh Laurin Pepper, who should both be in the College Football Hall of Fame, are looking good. In 1952 , losing only to Alabama in regular season play Pepper and McElroy out-gained Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessells and Buck McPhail of Oklahoma in yards rushing.
In 1953 Pepper and McElroy led Pie Vann's Southerners to upset wins over Alabama, 25-19, and the University of Georgia, 14-0, who were quarterbacked by Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski. Zeke had been averaging three touchdown passes a game prior to coming to play Southern in Jackson before a standing room only crowd which led to the expansion of Mississippi Memorial Stadium.
On that memorable day Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, as strong a defensive end I have ever seen, kept Zeke fleeing for his life. The fact that Georgia could not even score tells you what a fine job was done by Southern. Southern's end coach was H.A. Smith, who played at Ole Miss and the Chicago Bears. Brumfield and the other end, Richard Caldwell, were his prize performers.
Brumfield, Pepper, and McElroy are all in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
At the Friday night party, Southern's Athletic Director Richard Gianinni saluted the group, calling them the players who launched Southern's national reputation. He was right. None of these great players have had their numbers retired. McElroy and Pepper should have their numbers retired together. You would not vote Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis of the Brave Old Army team separately.
Pepper and McElroy are not getting any younger. Bucky will soon hit 80, Pepper is slightly younger. Honor them while they are still breathing.
On another campus Ole Miss has only retired the numbers of Archie Manning and Chuckie Mullins, the ill-fated player who died after being seriously hurt against Vanderbilt. Not retiring the jersey numbers of Charlie Conerly and Brusier Kinard, to name two, is ridiculous. The speed limit at Ole Miss is supposed to be l8, Manning's number. As far as Eagle Day was concerned the speed limit should have been 19, his number. Modest John Dottley thinks it should be 24 his number. Conerly's 42 makes more sense, speed wise.
Back to Southern. In addition to McElroy, Pepper, Brumfield, and Caldwell others on hand included: Tony Rouchon, Bobby Posey, Hub Waters, Buzzy Clark, Billy Jarrell, Bo Dickinson, and 1951 teammates Pat Ferlise, Eddie Kauchick, and Bob McKellar plus Jim (Peanuts) Davenport, the quarterback who became a great major league third baseman with the New York and San Francisco Giants. He is still working for the Giants and lives is California.
Another pro scout C. Hampton Cook was also a member of the 1952 and 1053 teams. He won Little All-America honors as well before launching his coaching career and later his pro football scouting tour with the New Orleans Saints and finally the Philadelphia Eagles.
End Elmo Lang and guard Charlie Corne passed away since the last reunion a year ago. Leo (The Lion) Herrmann, a sturdy guard, and six-foot five Jim (Coon Dog) Davis could not attend because of health problems. P.W. (The Undertaker) Underwood came on board in 1954 and this Southern team also beat Alabama with Davenport the quarterback. He dropped by to say hello.
It as my pleasure to write about these teams as the Director of Athletic Publicity. I boldly predicted that Southern would beat Alabama in the Friday night college opener in Montgomery after Grantland Rice had picked Alabama, the defending Orange Bowl champion, to win the national championship. Birmingham Sports Editor Naylor Stone penned a column on same prior to the game.
After beating Bama the Southern team was met at the state border in Meridian and escorted
back to Hattiesburg where Coach Vann and the team received the key to the city.
Later in the year, on Halloween night, Southern was upset by Memphis State in Memphis.
McElroy remembers it like yesterday. He recalled that when the team came back from Memphis no police escorts were there, no keys to the city, only the campus dog was there.
The dog came over to the bus, lifted his leg on the tire and relieved himself. McElroy knew for all time there is no substitute for victory.
--30------
Hattiesburg-----The Black Knight and the jet-propelled Benton Bomber led a great group of the 1952 and 1053 Giant Killers gathering for another time in Hattiesburg as Southern Mississippi prepared to battle UAB. Perhaps the presence of these legends inspired the Golden Eagles to display their best effort of the 2008 campaign.
Fullback Bucky McElroy and Halfback Hugh Laurin Pepper, who should both be in the College Football Hall of Fame, are looking good. In 1952 , losing only to Alabama in regular season play Pepper and McElroy out-gained Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessells and Buck McPhail of Oklahoma in yards rushing.
In 1953 Pepper and McElroy led Pie Vann's Southerners to upset wins over Alabama, 25-19, and the University of Georgia, 14-0, who were quarterbacked by Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski. Zeke had been averaging three touchdown passes a game prior to coming to play Southern in Jackson before a standing room only crowd which led to the expansion of Mississippi Memorial Stadium.
On that memorable day Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, as strong a defensive end I have ever seen, kept Zeke fleeing for his life. The fact that Georgia could not even score tells you what a fine job was done by Southern. Southern's end coach was H.A. Smith, who played at Ole Miss and the Chicago Bears. Brumfield and the other end, Richard Caldwell, were his prize performers.
Brumfield, Pepper, and McElroy are all in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
At the Friday night party, Southern's Athletic Director Richard Gianinni saluted the group, calling them the players who launched Southern's national reputation. He was right. None of these great players have had their numbers retired. McElroy and Pepper should have their numbers retired together. You would not vote Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis of the Brave Old Army team separately.
Pepper and McElroy are not getting any younger. Bucky will soon hit 80, Pepper is slightly younger. Honor them while they are still breathing.
On another campus Ole Miss has only retired the numbers of Archie Manning and Chuckie Mullins, the ill-fated player who died after being seriously hurt against Vanderbilt. Not retiring the jersey numbers of Charlie Conerly and Brusier Kinard, to name two, is ridiculous. The speed limit at Ole Miss is supposed to be l8, Manning's number. As far as Eagle Day was concerned the speed limit should have been 19, his number. Modest John Dottley thinks it should be 24 his number. Conerly's 42 makes more sense, speed wise.
Back to Southern. In addition to McElroy, Pepper, Brumfield, and Caldwell others on hand included: Tony Rouchon, Bobby Posey, Hub Waters, Buzzy Clark, Billy Jarrell, Bo Dickinson, and 1951 teammates Pat Ferlise, Eddie Kauchick, and Bob McKellar plus Jim (Peanuts) Davenport, the quarterback who became a great major league third baseman with the New York and San Francisco Giants. He is still working for the Giants and lives is California.
Another pro scout C. Hampton Cook was also a member of the 1952 and 1053 teams. He won Little All-America honors as well before launching his coaching career and later his pro football scouting tour with the New Orleans Saints and finally the Philadelphia Eagles.
End Elmo Lang and guard Charlie Corne passed away since the last reunion a year ago. Leo (The Lion) Herrmann, a sturdy guard, and six-foot five Jim (Coon Dog) Davis could not attend because of health problems. P.W. (The Undertaker) Underwood came on board in 1954 and this Southern team also beat Alabama with Davenport the quarterback. He dropped by to say hello.
It as my pleasure to write about these teams as the Director of Athletic Publicity. I boldly predicted that Southern would beat Alabama in the Friday night college opener in Montgomery after Grantland Rice had picked Alabama, the defending Orange Bowl champion, to win the national championship. Birmingham Sports Editor Naylor Stone penned a column on same prior to the game.
After beating Bama the Southern team was met at the state border in Meridian and escorted
back to Hattiesburg where Coach Vann and the team received the key to the city.
Later in the year, on Halloween night, Southern was upset by Memphis State in Memphis.
McElroy remembers it like yesterday. He recalled that when the team came back from Memphis no police escorts were there, no keys to the city, only the campus dog was there.
The dog came over to the bus, lifted his leg on the tire and relieved himself. McElroy knew for all time there is no substitute for victory.
--30------
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Vaught Statue Dedicated
By Jimmie McDowell
OXFORD-----The dedication of the John Howard Vaught statue created by Brookhaven
physician J. Kim Sessums is a masterpiece. The six-foot statue was unveiled the morning of the Auburn-Ole Miss game before a large crowd, including many of the tall Texan's former players which included Charlie Flowers, Billy Ray Adams, Modest John Dottley, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Ray (Buck) Howell, Kenny Dill, Tommy Taylor, Billy Hitt, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Beaux Ball, Billy Mustin, Eddie Crawford, Warner Alford, Richard (Possum) Price and others.
Price and Jack (Bouncer) Robertson were co-chairs of the fund raising drive, and funds are still needed to pay the balance on the account.Men and women who admired Vaught and Ole Miss football are urged to contribute.
Chancellor Robert Khayat, who, of course, also played for Vaught, participated in the program an hour and a half before the kickoff. Houston Nutt's Red and Blue warriors added to the delight of the day with an impressive win over Auburn, coached by former Ole Miss grid mentor Tommny Tuberville.
The statue featured Vaught's traditional hat, alligator shoes, a beautiful suit, probably purchased at Steven's Men's Store in Jackson from salesman Bill Lee, Vaught's original "Road"Scholar. One day Vaught drove Lee to Batesville, pointed South towards Winona, Lee's home town, and told him to hit the Road.
Years later Vaught gave Bill Lee a pair of alligator shoes. Another time Lee called his old coach, a widower then, and told him the new fall suits had arrived and Vaught told William he had a very important meeting with the Game and Fish Commission scheduled in a couple of weeks and he would drop by the store which he did.
As the cuff was being penned Lee asked the Coach what was he going to be doing after his meeting and the Coach replied sternly that he had told him that he had to attend this important meeting--then asked" Why do you ask?"
Lee said that he thought the coach might enjoy taking a lovely 22 year old divorcee out of dinner. Vaught quickly replied: "The meeting should not have to last that long" and thought well of Bill Lee's suggestion.
Vaught would have enjoyed the win over Auburn as did the 55 thousand plus who witnessed the encounter. Well, scratch several thousand of the Plainsmen fans. It was the ninth game of the season and Ole Miss is now 5-4, one game from being bowl eligible. Bowl scouts were in abundance, headed by the Cotton Bowl, the Liberty Bowl, the Independence Bowl, the Capital City Bowl, the Papa John Bowl and the Music City Bowl.
The Rebels have an open date before playing Louisiana Monroe which shocked Alabama in Tuscaloosa last year, LSU in Baton Rouge, and Mississippi State. The Football season has been strange. With a little luck the Rebels could be unbeaten
Let us not forget Athletic Director Pete Boone, who also played for Vaught and as a center once snapped the highest center over a punter's head and later played in a foursome with Vaught at the Gulf Guaranty Golf Tournament. He admits he played rather poorly and told his old coach that he would practice and practice before next year's tournament and added that Vaught said that was fine but he also would be playing in a difference foursome the next time around.
Jevan Snead , the quarterback, came through when it counted against Auburn, but also threw some bad passes. He needs to practice and practice during the two weeks of getting ready for the final three games of the season and lead the Rebels to their first bowl game since Eli Manning was spectacular in a Cotton Bowl victory as was Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day in another cotton Bowl game over 50 years ago.
Raymond Brown, hero of an Ole Miss win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl, was also on hand for the display of the John Vaught statue. He also played in Baltimore's win over the New York Giants and Charlie Conerly in "the greatest pro game" after his glory days at Ole Miss. Brown set a new rushing record from the line of scrimmage running 92 yards for a touchdown after standing in his own end zone to punt. Realizing if he did kick a Texan would block the effort he tucked the ball under his arms and set sail for glory land. In the huddle he had told his mates to cover well, because he was exhausted.
Sixty yards into his touchdown gallop All-America Guard Jackie Simpson told him to lateral the ball to him since he must surely be getting tired. Brown simply gritted his teeth and went on to score, breaking Harol Lofton's longest run from scrimmage record.
After the statue ceremony the crowd was invited into the beautiful M Club for refreshments. Some one asked Lovelace a while back did he want to see the Archie Manning Room? Kent Jr,. replied that all he wanted to see was the Kent Lovelace Room.
---30------
OXFORD-----The dedication of the John Howard Vaught statue created by Brookhaven
physician J. Kim Sessums is a masterpiece. The six-foot statue was unveiled the morning of the Auburn-Ole Miss game before a large crowd, including many of the tall Texan's former players which included Charlie Flowers, Billy Ray Adams, Modest John Dottley, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Ray (Buck) Howell, Kenny Dill, Tommy Taylor, Billy Hitt, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Beaux Ball, Billy Mustin, Eddie Crawford, Warner Alford, Richard (Possum) Price and others.
Price and Jack (Bouncer) Robertson were co-chairs of the fund raising drive, and funds are still needed to pay the balance on the account.Men and women who admired Vaught and Ole Miss football are urged to contribute.
Chancellor Robert Khayat, who, of course, also played for Vaught, participated in the program an hour and a half before the kickoff. Houston Nutt's Red and Blue warriors added to the delight of the day with an impressive win over Auburn, coached by former Ole Miss grid mentor Tommny Tuberville.
The statue featured Vaught's traditional hat, alligator shoes, a beautiful suit, probably purchased at Steven's Men's Store in Jackson from salesman Bill Lee, Vaught's original "Road"Scholar. One day Vaught drove Lee to Batesville, pointed South towards Winona, Lee's home town, and told him to hit the Road.
Years later Vaught gave Bill Lee a pair of alligator shoes. Another time Lee called his old coach, a widower then, and told him the new fall suits had arrived and Vaught told William he had a very important meeting with the Game and Fish Commission scheduled in a couple of weeks and he would drop by the store which he did.
As the cuff was being penned Lee asked the Coach what was he going to be doing after his meeting and the Coach replied sternly that he had told him that he had to attend this important meeting--then asked" Why do you ask?"
Lee said that he thought the coach might enjoy taking a lovely 22 year old divorcee out of dinner. Vaught quickly replied: "The meeting should not have to last that long" and thought well of Bill Lee's suggestion.
Vaught would have enjoyed the win over Auburn as did the 55 thousand plus who witnessed the encounter. Well, scratch several thousand of the Plainsmen fans. It was the ninth game of the season and Ole Miss is now 5-4, one game from being bowl eligible. Bowl scouts were in abundance, headed by the Cotton Bowl, the Liberty Bowl, the Independence Bowl, the Capital City Bowl, the Papa John Bowl and the Music City Bowl.
The Rebels have an open date before playing Louisiana Monroe which shocked Alabama in Tuscaloosa last year, LSU in Baton Rouge, and Mississippi State. The Football season has been strange. With a little luck the Rebels could be unbeaten
Let us not forget Athletic Director Pete Boone, who also played for Vaught and as a center once snapped the highest center over a punter's head and later played in a foursome with Vaught at the Gulf Guaranty Golf Tournament. He admits he played rather poorly and told his old coach that he would practice and practice before next year's tournament and added that Vaught said that was fine but he also would be playing in a difference foursome the next time around.
Jevan Snead , the quarterback, came through when it counted against Auburn, but also threw some bad passes. He needs to practice and practice during the two weeks of getting ready for the final three games of the season and lead the Rebels to their first bowl game since Eli Manning was spectacular in a Cotton Bowl victory as was Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day in another cotton Bowl game over 50 years ago.
Raymond Brown, hero of an Ole Miss win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl, was also on hand for the display of the John Vaught statue. He also played in Baltimore's win over the New York Giants and Charlie Conerly in "the greatest pro game" after his glory days at Ole Miss. Brown set a new rushing record from the line of scrimmage running 92 yards for a touchdown after standing in his own end zone to punt. Realizing if he did kick a Texan would block the effort he tucked the ball under his arms and set sail for glory land. In the huddle he had told his mates to cover well, because he was exhausted.
Sixty yards into his touchdown gallop All-America Guard Jackie Simpson told him to lateral the ball to him since he must surely be getting tired. Brown simply gritted his teeth and went on to score, breaking Harol Lofton's longest run from scrimmage record.
After the statue ceremony the crowd was invited into the beautiful M Club for refreshments. Some one asked Lovelace a while back did he want to see the Archie Manning Room? Kent Jr,. replied that all he wanted to see was the Kent Lovelace Room.
---30------
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Return to Princeton
BY JIMMIE McDOWELL
PRINCETON----It was good to be back in Princeton for the salute to All-Americans Dick Kazmaier and Bill Bradley and the Harvard-Princeton football game this past weekend.
Bradley , who became a United States Senator after his Rhodes Scholarship and Old Nassau glory years, and Kazmaier, the 1951 Heisman Trophy winner, both wore jersey number 42. That number is being retired in honor of this legendary pair.
We attended the Friday night Dinner with a fine group of Princeton friends in beautiful and historic Jadwin Gym. Video presentation of both stars added to the evening. Kazmaier, a native of Maumee, Ohio, was a single wing tailback for Hall of Fame Coach Charlie Caldwell. Kaz chose to to to Harvard Business School rather than accept an offer from the Chicago Bears. Bradley, who also played Baseball one year at Princeton, was also a Mid-Westerner. He was a star for the New York Knicks after his Rhodes Scholarship days.
Bradley also ran for President of the United States as a Democrat, losing to Al Gore. What an outstanding President Bill Bradley would have been.
I am proud to be a member of the Princeton Football Association.
It was good to see All-American Fullback Cosmo Iacavazzi again. I covered Cosmo and Dick Colman's unbeaten and untied Tigers , as well as Bradley as the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton Times. Cosmo and teammate3 Stanislaus Malazewski, an All-American as well were prize recruits for the Tigers. How Notre Dame missed out on two lads named Iacavazzi and Malazewski I will never know. I do know that Zygmont Pierre Czarobski would have welcomed both with open arms.
Ziggy and George Connor are both in the College Football Hall of Fame. So are Kazmaier and Iacavazzi. And Stas Maliszewski belongs as does another Princetonian, Frank McPhee, a two-time All-American end. His cousin famed Pulitzer author John McPhee introduced Bradley and Kamaier at the Dinner.
The Harvard-Princeton game was much enjoyed with the Crimson coming from behind to win. I first covered Princeton football in 1962 with the Trenton Times after the Jackson State Times was bought and closed by the Hederman Family which owned the Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News.
I had been invited to help launch the Houston Colt 45's baseball team in the National League expansion which also included the New York Mets. I had covered Spring Training and the World Series during my Mississippi newspaper days. Former Mississippi College star Harry (Popeye) Craft was the first Manager of the Houston team. I was involved in the Colt's first Good Will Caravan, so after covering the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ole Miss the paper closed and I called Houston and went to work there.
After the Caravan made the rounds with spring training beginning to start I got the call from Trenton to come East and cover the Yankees and the Mets and the Phillies and the Giants and the Eagles. I did not hesitate to accept the offer and said Farewell to Houston.
Princeton has always been on of my favorite cities. I had thought about relocating the All-American Football Foundation in Princeton, who had played Rutgers in College Football's First Game. The National Football Foundation was launched in Rutgers and I worked there for eight years before the Foundation relocated in New York City.
Even when I worked in New Brunswick I lived in Princeton, which is as beautiful a City as I have ever seen. Princeton was also close to those Great Trenton Italian Restaurants: Lou Crecco's, the Homestead Inn, Johnny Boston's Tony Kall' s , DeLorenzo's, Rossi's and the like.
New Jersey is my second home. It is always a pleasure to visit. We have scheduled the AAFF Banquet of Champions in Princeton March 9.
Invitation this week received from the Heisman Trophy Director Rob Whalen to attend this year's Dinner Dec. 13-14-15, which I first attended in 1962. I have not missed any since so this will be my 46th Heisman Dinner. I continued to be the Heisman's Southern Regional Representative succeeding my good friend, the late Fred Russell of Nashville, who was also the Chairman of the NFFHF Honors Court.
Now the homestretch for this year's College Bowl Games and Champions begin. attending the Reunion of the great 1952 and 1953 Mississippi Southern Giant Killers on Friday followed by the dedication of the John Vaught statue and Ole Miss-Auburn game Saturday.
---30-----
PRINCETON----It was good to be back in Princeton for the salute to All-Americans Dick Kazmaier and Bill Bradley and the Harvard-Princeton football game this past weekend.
Bradley , who became a United States Senator after his Rhodes Scholarship and Old Nassau glory years, and Kazmaier, the 1951 Heisman Trophy winner, both wore jersey number 42. That number is being retired in honor of this legendary pair.
We attended the Friday night Dinner with a fine group of Princeton friends in beautiful and historic Jadwin Gym. Video presentation of both stars added to the evening. Kazmaier, a native of Maumee, Ohio, was a single wing tailback for Hall of Fame Coach Charlie Caldwell. Kaz chose to to to Harvard Business School rather than accept an offer from the Chicago Bears. Bradley, who also played Baseball one year at Princeton, was also a Mid-Westerner. He was a star for the New York Knicks after his Rhodes Scholarship days.
Bradley also ran for President of the United States as a Democrat, losing to Al Gore. What an outstanding President Bill Bradley would have been.
I am proud to be a member of the Princeton Football Association.
It was good to see All-American Fullback Cosmo Iacavazzi again. I covered Cosmo and Dick Colman's unbeaten and untied Tigers , as well as Bradley as the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton Times. Cosmo and teammate3 Stanislaus Malazewski, an All-American as well were prize recruits for the Tigers. How Notre Dame missed out on two lads named Iacavazzi and Malazewski I will never know. I do know that Zygmont Pierre Czarobski would have welcomed both with open arms.
Ziggy and George Connor are both in the College Football Hall of Fame. So are Kazmaier and Iacavazzi. And Stas Maliszewski belongs as does another Princetonian, Frank McPhee, a two-time All-American end. His cousin famed Pulitzer author John McPhee introduced Bradley and Kamaier at the Dinner.
The Harvard-Princeton game was much enjoyed with the Crimson coming from behind to win. I first covered Princeton football in 1962 with the Trenton Times after the Jackson State Times was bought and closed by the Hederman Family which owned the Clarion-Ledger and Jackson Daily News.
I had been invited to help launch the Houston Colt 45's baseball team in the National League expansion which also included the New York Mets. I had covered Spring Training and the World Series during my Mississippi newspaper days. Former Mississippi College star Harry (Popeye) Craft was the first Manager of the Houston team. I was involved in the Colt's first Good Will Caravan, so after covering the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ole Miss the paper closed and I called Houston and went to work there.
After the Caravan made the rounds with spring training beginning to start I got the call from Trenton to come East and cover the Yankees and the Mets and the Phillies and the Giants and the Eagles. I did not hesitate to accept the offer and said Farewell to Houston.
Princeton has always been on of my favorite cities. I had thought about relocating the All-American Football Foundation in Princeton, who had played Rutgers in College Football's First Game. The National Football Foundation was launched in Rutgers and I worked there for eight years before the Foundation relocated in New York City.
Even when I worked in New Brunswick I lived in Princeton, which is as beautiful a City as I have ever seen. Princeton was also close to those Great Trenton Italian Restaurants: Lou Crecco's, the Homestead Inn, Johnny Boston's Tony Kall' s , DeLorenzo's, Rossi's and the like.
New Jersey is my second home. It is always a pleasure to visit. We have scheduled the AAFF Banquet of Champions in Princeton March 9.
Invitation this week received from the Heisman Trophy Director Rob Whalen to attend this year's Dinner Dec. 13-14-15, which I first attended in 1962. I have not missed any since so this will be my 46th Heisman Dinner. I continued to be the Heisman's Southern Regional Representative succeeding my good friend, the late Fred Russell of Nashville, who was also the Chairman of the NFFHF Honors Court.
Now the homestretch for this year's College Bowl Games and Champions begin. attending the Reunion of the great 1952 and 1953 Mississippi Southern Giant Killers on Friday followed by the dedication of the John Vaught statue and Ole Miss-Auburn game Saturday.
---30-----
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Gene Hickerson Passes Away
By Jimmie McDOWELL
Gene Hickerson was the second Ole Miss football player named to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. He should have been the third. Charlie Conerly, the New York Giants field general for 14 years, still has not been enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Bruiser Kinard was the Rebels' first Pro Football Hall of Famer, just as he was the first Ole Miss man to win All-America acclaim.
Hickerson died at the age of 73, a victim of Alzheimer. He developed pneumonia and it was only a matter of time before he drew his last breath. Hickerson was called the best offensive lineman to ever play the game by the man he led interference for, the great Jim Brown. When Gene was inducted into the Pro Hall of Fame, Jim Brown pushed his wheel car to the podium.
Hickerson was one of Thomas King Swayze's prize recruits. Tom and Junie Hovious, noted bird dog fans, wanted to go to Grand Junction for the Bird Dog trials and by intermingling a football recruiting trip they did not have to pay mileage.
They knew of a hefty lad in Tiptonville, Tn. and dropped by his house to check him out. His Father was in the yard when they drove up to the house. They introduced themselves and asked Mr. Hickerson if his son was home. He said he was and called the lad out of the house. Out walked a king sized youngster with his shirt off. They saw all they needed to see and offered Gene Hickerson an Ole Miss football scholarship which he accepted.
Hickerson became a part of Johnny Vaught's Glory Years. So did Jackie Simpson, Gene's pal. One morning the police chief Burns Tatum called Vaught and said this time Simpson and Hickerson had gone to far and Vaught would have to let them go. Vaught asked Chief Tatum how long has he been the Chief of Police and Burns Tatum said proudly "25 years, John." Vaught replied that :"we sure are going to miss you."
Burns Tatum said that on second thought every boy needed a second chance. What Burns Tatum wanted was a second chance with John Howard Vaught.
Hickerson was co-captain of the 1957 Rebels. He helped lead Ole Miss to the 1955 SEC title followed by a victory for Ole Miss over Vaught's TCU Alma Mater in the Cotton Bowl followed by a 39-7 triumph over the University of Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss was 10-1, 7-3 and 9-1-1 during Hickerson's time at Ole Miss Gene Hickerson was named to the all-time Sugar Bowl team and the Ole Miss Team of the Century.
He was inducted into the Mississippi Sport s Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Ole Miss Sport's Hall of Fame in 1988.
It was my pleasure to cover the Rebels during that time as Sports Editor of the Jackson Daily News and the Jackson State Times.
Hickerson was six-three and 235 and cat quick. Jim Brown said he was the best down field blocker of all time blocking for Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell. for the Cleveland Browns. Gene's teammate at Ole Miss and Cleveland Johnny Brewer is battling Lou Gehrig's disease and another former teammate Larry Grantham is fighting Cancer--three of Ole Miss' best ever.
Charlie Conerly, meanwhile, should get a stronger looker by the NFL Veterans Committee. In the famed Giants-Baltimore "Best Game" which made Pro Football what it is today Conerly had been voted the game's MVP as the Giants went into the fourth quarter with a lead. The Colts kicked a late field goal to tie the game and send the contest into overtime. Baltimore won the game on Allen Ameche's TD run. The scribes voted again and Johnny Unitas was elected the MVP. Johnny has been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame a long time. Conerly is still on the outside looking in.
Conerly, the World War II Marine who fought in the South Pacific , was to New York in Football what Joe DiMaggio was to Baseball in Gotham. Wellington Mara, the Giants President, had been asked what was his favorite jersey number. "42" , Conerly's number, Wellington "Duke" Mara replied. He wanted to see Charlie's widow, Perian, accept Charlie's Pro Football Hall of Fame plaque in Canton, Ohio. He told me so before he passed away a couple of years ago.
Duke Mara's son, John, now the President of the Giants, feels the same way.
----30-----
Gene Hickerson was the second Ole Miss football player named to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. He should have been the third. Charlie Conerly, the New York Giants field general for 14 years, still has not been enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Bruiser Kinard was the Rebels' first Pro Football Hall of Famer, just as he was the first Ole Miss man to win All-America acclaim.
Hickerson died at the age of 73, a victim of Alzheimer. He developed pneumonia and it was only a matter of time before he drew his last breath. Hickerson was called the best offensive lineman to ever play the game by the man he led interference for, the great Jim Brown. When Gene was inducted into the Pro Hall of Fame, Jim Brown pushed his wheel car to the podium.
Hickerson was one of Thomas King Swayze's prize recruits. Tom and Junie Hovious, noted bird dog fans, wanted to go to Grand Junction for the Bird Dog trials and by intermingling a football recruiting trip they did not have to pay mileage.
They knew of a hefty lad in Tiptonville, Tn. and dropped by his house to check him out. His Father was in the yard when they drove up to the house. They introduced themselves and asked Mr. Hickerson if his son was home. He said he was and called the lad out of the house. Out walked a king sized youngster with his shirt off. They saw all they needed to see and offered Gene Hickerson an Ole Miss football scholarship which he accepted.
Hickerson became a part of Johnny Vaught's Glory Years. So did Jackie Simpson, Gene's pal. One morning the police chief Burns Tatum called Vaught and said this time Simpson and Hickerson had gone to far and Vaught would have to let them go. Vaught asked Chief Tatum how long has he been the Chief of Police and Burns Tatum said proudly "25 years, John." Vaught replied that :"we sure are going to miss you."
Burns Tatum said that on second thought every boy needed a second chance. What Burns Tatum wanted was a second chance with John Howard Vaught.
Hickerson was co-captain of the 1957 Rebels. He helped lead Ole Miss to the 1955 SEC title followed by a victory for Ole Miss over Vaught's TCU Alma Mater in the Cotton Bowl followed by a 39-7 triumph over the University of Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss was 10-1, 7-3 and 9-1-1 during Hickerson's time at Ole Miss Gene Hickerson was named to the all-time Sugar Bowl team and the Ole Miss Team of the Century.
He was inducted into the Mississippi Sport s Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Ole Miss Sport's Hall of Fame in 1988.
It was my pleasure to cover the Rebels during that time as Sports Editor of the Jackson Daily News and the Jackson State Times.
Hickerson was six-three and 235 and cat quick. Jim Brown said he was the best down field blocker of all time blocking for Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell. for the Cleveland Browns. Gene's teammate at Ole Miss and Cleveland Johnny Brewer is battling Lou Gehrig's disease and another former teammate Larry Grantham is fighting Cancer--three of Ole Miss' best ever.
Charlie Conerly, meanwhile, should get a stronger looker by the NFL Veterans Committee. In the famed Giants-Baltimore "Best Game" which made Pro Football what it is today Conerly had been voted the game's MVP as the Giants went into the fourth quarter with a lead. The Colts kicked a late field goal to tie the game and send the contest into overtime. Baltimore won the game on Allen Ameche's TD run. The scribes voted again and Johnny Unitas was elected the MVP. Johnny has been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame a long time. Conerly is still on the outside looking in.
Conerly, the World War II Marine who fought in the South Pacific , was to New York in Football what Joe DiMaggio was to Baseball in Gotham. Wellington Mara, the Giants President, had been asked what was his favorite jersey number. "42" , Conerly's number, Wellington "Duke" Mara replied. He wanted to see Charlie's widow, Perian, accept Charlie's Pro Football Hall of Fame plaque in Canton, Ohio. He told me so before he passed away a couple of years ago.
Duke Mara's son, John, now the President of the Giants, feels the same way.
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Sunday, October 12, 2008
Right Place at the Right Time
BY JIMMIE McDOWELL
Hattiesburg---Boise State , unbeaten and untied, and nationally ranked, gave Southern Mississippi a severe spanking before a home crowd estimated at over 30,000, to continue its bid for another Bowl game. Hopes for a post-season appearance by the Golden Eagles dimmed to the chagrin of the Black and Gold.
Meanwhile Mississippi State's win over previously unbeaten Vanderbilt sets the stage for a fine finish for the Bulldogs, a repeat, perhaps, of 2007.
Enjoying an open date Ole Miss has perfect Alabama right where it wants to--a possible repeat of a road victory in Tuscaloosa matching the shocking route of Florida in Gainesville. The Rebels chances of beating LSU in Baton Rouge also looks much better after the Bayou Bengal Tigers were battered by the Florida Gators.
Ole Miss invades Arkansas as well and the Porkers are feeling better after socking Auburn on the Plains, giving Bobby Patrino his best win since he replaced Houston Nutt in Fayetteville.
Ole Miss and State have to finish with a flourish to get into the Bowl picture and it could boil down to the Thanksgiving finale at Vaught Hemingway Stadium for either team.
Southern meanwhile hits the road to play Rice after three straight losses. Jeff Bower led USM to ten bowl trips in 11 years and then was relieved of his duties. If Bower wants to coach again I think he will get that opportunity after this season ends at another school who has to be impressed by his over-all record.
The 1958 perfect record national champion team will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall. Members of that team had an enjoyable gathering at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month to discuss the Reunion. Despite the loss of star running back Bo Dickenson who turned pro after his junior season hurt but George Sekul, J.C. Arban, Richard Johnson, and others took up the slack and Pie Vann and his staff masterminded one of their best coaching jobs ever.
As a Jackson Sports Editor I suggested that two perfect record teams should play in the Sugar Bowl, LSU and Mississippi Southern. Pepsodent Paul Dietzel was not interested in his Baoy Bengal Tigers playing the Southerners. There were not as many bowl games then as now so rather than go back to the Tangerine Bowl the 1958 Black and Gold decided if it could not play LSU they would stay home--and did.,
The 1958 team compares with the 1953 Giant Killers which beat SEC powers Alabama and Georgia quarterbacked by Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski. The 1953 Black and Gold suffered a Halloween night setback to Spook Murphy's Tigers. There were even fewer bowl games then and the 1953 team felt it should play at least in the Gator Bowl, but were not invited. The only invitation came from the Sun Bowl in El Paso where they had played the previous year and lost to College of the Pacific.
The 1953 team chose not to go to El Paso in a meeting with Athletic Reed Green and Coach Vann. Green asked me to talk to the team. I told him I would but only if the players and I were in the room. I told the team that we had beaten Alabama and should be playing Rice in the Cotton Bowl, but Alabama, the SEC champion, was invited instead.
I told them the only invitation we received was a return trip to El Paso and you older players know you did not play up to expectations and could go back and make up for this poor showing. Then I looked the freshmen on the team in the eye and said: " You boys who have never been to Juarez and saw those Senoritas, well, boys, you have not lived yet"
The vote was unanimous to return to El Paso. I wanted to go back as well as a single, ex-navy gunner.
---30-----
Hattiesburg---Boise State , unbeaten and untied, and nationally ranked, gave Southern Mississippi a severe spanking before a home crowd estimated at over 30,000, to continue its bid for another Bowl game. Hopes for a post-season appearance by the Golden Eagles dimmed to the chagrin of the Black and Gold.
Meanwhile Mississippi State's win over previously unbeaten Vanderbilt sets the stage for a fine finish for the Bulldogs, a repeat, perhaps, of 2007.
Enjoying an open date Ole Miss has perfect Alabama right where it wants to--a possible repeat of a road victory in Tuscaloosa matching the shocking route of Florida in Gainesville. The Rebels chances of beating LSU in Baton Rouge also looks much better after the Bayou Bengal Tigers were battered by the Florida Gators.
Ole Miss invades Arkansas as well and the Porkers are feeling better after socking Auburn on the Plains, giving Bobby Patrino his best win since he replaced Houston Nutt in Fayetteville.
Ole Miss and State have to finish with a flourish to get into the Bowl picture and it could boil down to the Thanksgiving finale at Vaught Hemingway Stadium for either team.
Southern meanwhile hits the road to play Rice after three straight losses. Jeff Bower led USM to ten bowl trips in 11 years and then was relieved of his duties. If Bower wants to coach again I think he will get that opportunity after this season ends at another school who has to be impressed by his over-all record.
The 1958 perfect record national champion team will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall. Members of that team had an enjoyable gathering at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month to discuss the Reunion. Despite the loss of star running back Bo Dickenson who turned pro after his junior season hurt but George Sekul, J.C. Arban, Richard Johnson, and others took up the slack and Pie Vann and his staff masterminded one of their best coaching jobs ever.
As a Jackson Sports Editor I suggested that two perfect record teams should play in the Sugar Bowl, LSU and Mississippi Southern. Pepsodent Paul Dietzel was not interested in his Baoy Bengal Tigers playing the Southerners. There were not as many bowl games then as now so rather than go back to the Tangerine Bowl the 1958 Black and Gold decided if it could not play LSU they would stay home--and did.,
The 1958 team compares with the 1953 Giant Killers which beat SEC powers Alabama and Georgia quarterbacked by Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski. The 1953 Black and Gold suffered a Halloween night setback to Spook Murphy's Tigers. There were even fewer bowl games then and the 1953 team felt it should play at least in the Gator Bowl, but were not invited. The only invitation came from the Sun Bowl in El Paso where they had played the previous year and lost to College of the Pacific.
The 1953 team chose not to go to El Paso in a meeting with Athletic Reed Green and Coach Vann. Green asked me to talk to the team. I told him I would but only if the players and I were in the room. I told the team that we had beaten Alabama and should be playing Rice in the Cotton Bowl, but Alabama, the SEC champion, was invited instead.
I told them the only invitation we received was a return trip to El Paso and you older players know you did not play up to expectations and could go back and make up for this poor showing. Then I looked the freshmen on the team in the eye and said: " You boys who have never been to Juarez and saw those Senoritas, well, boys, you have not lived yet"
The vote was unanimous to return to El Paso. I wanted to go back as well as a single, ex-navy gunner.
---30-----
Monday, October 6, 2008
Second Half of Season Begins
BY Jimmie McDowell
When Vanderbilt kayoed Auburn with an impressive come-from-behind victory a week after Ole Miss shocked the University of Florida it was apparent that Southeastern Conference teams could eliminate one another for the national title in 2008.
Florida now will try to hand LSU its first loss. Mississippi State will seek to do the same with Vanderbilt in Starkville. Ole Miss will rest a week to get ready for Alabama which was pushed to the wire by Kentucky. Arkansas continues to lose decisively and maybe it was a blessing for Houston Nutt to get out of Fayetteville.
Ole Miss could be 5-0. They just might give Alabama a surprise in Tuscaloosa in two weeks.
The Rebels can still go bowling even if they lose to the Crimson Tide. Wins over Auburn, Arkansas, US-Monroe and Mississippi State may not be impossible. Playing LSU in Baton Rouge maybe the toughest game after Alabama.
Mal Moore, Bama's outstanding Athletic Director addressed the Jackson Touchdown Club as the Tide enjoyed an Open Date. One question he answered was that the home team gets all of the money in SEC games involved. In the old days you would pay a guarantee to the visiting team. So it is important that teams play seven home games which is easier in today's 12-game schedule.
Moore cited that Alabama enjoys playing at a neutral stadium like Atlanta or Jacksonville and would like to play in Dallas in the Cowboys new stadium in the future. Too bad that Jackson could not get games as they used to do in the good ole days.
The Southern Mississippi-Georgia game drew a standing room only crowd in the 25 ,000 Jackson Memorial Stadium, resulting in a major expansion to over 40,000. Southern guaranteed Georgia $25,000 to come to Jackson. Football Coach Wally Butts, also the Georgia Athletic Director, later said that Georgia 's Athletic Director made a bad decision for Football Coach Wally Butts in agreeing to play Pie Vann's Giant Killers in 1953.
I enjoyed the trip to Oxford for the Vanderbilt game with good ole Bill Lee, Mack Cameron and his bride, Chrissy, Billy Beard and Amy Straus, who was still sorry her Florida Gators lost to the Red and Blue. Also enjoyed the famed Tail Gate which featured Ed Wilburn Hooker, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Dr.l Shed Roberson, Holcome Hector, Warner Alford, and Charlie Flowers. Beaux Ball was not there, vacationing in South America of all places.
The Johnny Vaught statue will be dedicated three hours or so before the Auburn kickoff. Time of game has not as yet been announced as we pen this column. Richard Price and Bouncer Robertson are co-chairman of this fund-raising event for their old coach.
We plan to see the Southern Mississippi-Boise State game in Hattiesburg. The 1958 unbeaten and untied Southern team was saluted at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. They will get together for their 50th reunion this season as will the Giant Killing 1953 Black and Gold eleven.
Bowl scouts will be watching closely as the second half of the campaign begins.
---30-----
When Vanderbilt kayoed Auburn with an impressive come-from-behind victory a week after Ole Miss shocked the University of Florida it was apparent that Southeastern Conference teams could eliminate one another for the national title in 2008.
Florida now will try to hand LSU its first loss. Mississippi State will seek to do the same with Vanderbilt in Starkville. Ole Miss will rest a week to get ready for Alabama which was pushed to the wire by Kentucky. Arkansas continues to lose decisively and maybe it was a blessing for Houston Nutt to get out of Fayetteville.
Ole Miss could be 5-0. They just might give Alabama a surprise in Tuscaloosa in two weeks.
The Rebels can still go bowling even if they lose to the Crimson Tide. Wins over Auburn, Arkansas, US-Monroe and Mississippi State may not be impossible. Playing LSU in Baton Rouge maybe the toughest game after Alabama.
Mal Moore, Bama's outstanding Athletic Director addressed the Jackson Touchdown Club as the Tide enjoyed an Open Date. One question he answered was that the home team gets all of the money in SEC games involved. In the old days you would pay a guarantee to the visiting team. So it is important that teams play seven home games which is easier in today's 12-game schedule.
Moore cited that Alabama enjoys playing at a neutral stadium like Atlanta or Jacksonville and would like to play in Dallas in the Cowboys new stadium in the future. Too bad that Jackson could not get games as they used to do in the good ole days.
The Southern Mississippi-Georgia game drew a standing room only crowd in the 25 ,000 Jackson Memorial Stadium, resulting in a major expansion to over 40,000. Southern guaranteed Georgia $25,000 to come to Jackson. Football Coach Wally Butts, also the Georgia Athletic Director, later said that Georgia 's Athletic Director made a bad decision for Football Coach Wally Butts in agreeing to play Pie Vann's Giant Killers in 1953.
I enjoyed the trip to Oxford for the Vanderbilt game with good ole Bill Lee, Mack Cameron and his bride, Chrissy, Billy Beard and Amy Straus, who was still sorry her Florida Gators lost to the Red and Blue. Also enjoyed the famed Tail Gate which featured Ed Wilburn Hooker, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Dr.l Shed Roberson, Holcome Hector, Warner Alford, and Charlie Flowers. Beaux Ball was not there, vacationing in South America of all places.
The Johnny Vaught statue will be dedicated three hours or so before the Auburn kickoff. Time of game has not as yet been announced as we pen this column. Richard Price and Bouncer Robertson are co-chairman of this fund-raising event for their old coach.
We plan to see the Southern Mississippi-Boise State game in Hattiesburg. The 1958 unbeaten and untied Southern team was saluted at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. They will get together for their 50th reunion this season as will the Giant Killing 1953 Black and Gold eleven.
Bowl scouts will be watching closely as the second half of the campaign begins.
---30-----
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Rebels on a Roll
Outlined under an early autumn sun the Johnny Rebs of Ole Miss shot down mighty Florida, 31-30, before over 90,000 shell-shocked Gator fans as a followup to Southern Cal's equally shocking loss to Oregon State. Alabama's conquest of Georgia between the Hedges in Athens followed later in the evening along with LSU's win over a battling Mississippi State football team.
Now the 2008 college football season reaches the half-way mark this Saturday with Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks invading Oxford.
Spurrier was heavily recruited by Johnny Vaught and Johnny Cain out of his Tennessee home town and almost went to Ole Miss, but Florida came up with a church for Steve's Father and the rest is history. Spurrier won the Heisman. If he had gone to Ole Miss the Rebels would not have suffered that Dry Spell, over 40 years since the Glory Years.
People forget that Archie Manning was not a part of the Glory Years. The field generals of that era included Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Eagle Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing.
All will be honored and remembered at the All-American Football Foundation's 99th Banquet of Champions February 16 at the Jackson Hilton.
Jevan Snead who came into his own as an Ole Miss Quarterback, crossed swords with Florida's Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and prevailed a week after throwing four interceptions in the last second loss to Vanderbilt. Ole Miss is leading the SEC in last second losses, first to Wake Forest and then to Vanderbilt.
The victory for Snead who was courted by Florida as a high school senior before the Gators landed Tebow. Edging Tim had to be extra sweet for Snead who went on to enroll at the University of Texas before transferring to Ole Miss and red-shirting. Ed Orgeron recruited Snead and other key Rebs in the win over the Gators.
Houston Nutt has Ole Miss headed in the right direction with the help of players Orgeron recruited. With any luck at all, Ole Miss could be 5-0 going into the South Carolina game at Vaught Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss still has to win three more games to become bowl eligible.
All-America candidate Michael Oher proved how important it is to come back for a senior year. Hope Greg Hardy realizes this. The worst example of an Ole Miss player coming out early was Rufus French, who made All-America as a junior, then jumped to the Pros and hardly was heard from again. Hardy was sensational against Florida and Peria Jerry, who teamed up with eight other defenders to stop Tebow cold on a fourth and one situation, damaging Tim's repeat Heisman Trophy hopes a bit.
Beating Florida had to be as sweet as his Arkansas season ending win over LSU last year.
Houston Nutt has inspired this year's Ole Miss team to shoot for the moon after the disastrous 2007 campaign under Orgeron.
Sly Croom had his Mississippi State team in the LSU game all of the way. A week off gives the Bulldogs a chance to snap out of their losing streak and be competitive in the second half of the year.
State's seniors had a meeting prior to the trip to Baton Rouge and that seems like a good sign. I attended the State, Southern and Ole Miss summer rallies in Jackson this summer and Croom had his seniors there. They were a very impressive group.
Alabama's 41-30 in over Georgia, a team picked by some to not only win the SEC but the national championship as well. Nick Saban is bidding for Coach of the Year. His field general John Parker Wilson has come into his own in a late bid for All-Star recognition. His leadership has been outstanding, a likely candidate for the All-American Football Foundation's Colonel Earl (Red) Blaik Leadership Scholarship, which goes only to seniors.
Bama beefed up its defense when it landed 366-pound Terrence Cody from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community college last year. The Alabama-Ole Miss game in Tuscaloosa looms large for both teams
The Ole Miss-Florida game could have gone into overtime if Kentrell Lockett had not blocked the Gators extra point attempt leaving the score 31-30. Offensively. Shay Hodge sparkled as Snead's favorite receiver with three catches , including the spectacular 86-yard scoring pass.
Dexter McCluster's 40-yard TD sprint was monumental and meant much to the Florida recruit after his heart-breaking fumble in the Vanderbilt end zone as the game drew to a close.
Auburn edged Tennessee in another important SEC game . Peyton Manning was on hand to cheer for the Volunteers. Imagine what it would have meant if both Peyton and Spurrier had attended Ole Miss. Johnny Vaught would have had a second Glory Years story. He asked Archie to send his boy to Ole Miss but Archie told his Hall of Fame coach that he would let his second son make up his own mind. Vaught, who helped Archie negotiate his first contract with the Saints had a response for this but it did not make any difference.
Had Peyton gone to Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi would have had two NFL Super Bowl winning field generals.
Now the 2008 college football season reaches the half-way mark this Saturday with Steve Spurrier's South Carolina Gamecocks invading Oxford.
Spurrier was heavily recruited by Johnny Vaught and Johnny Cain out of his Tennessee home town and almost went to Ole Miss, but Florida came up with a church for Steve's Father and the rest is history. Spurrier won the Heisman. If he had gone to Ole Miss the Rebels would not have suffered that Dry Spell, over 40 years since the Glory Years.
People forget that Archie Manning was not a part of the Glory Years. The field generals of that era included Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Eagle Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing.
All will be honored and remembered at the All-American Football Foundation's 99th Banquet of Champions February 16 at the Jackson Hilton.
Jevan Snead who came into his own as an Ole Miss Quarterback, crossed swords with Florida's Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and prevailed a week after throwing four interceptions in the last second loss to Vanderbilt. Ole Miss is leading the SEC in last second losses, first to Wake Forest and then to Vanderbilt.
The victory for Snead who was courted by Florida as a high school senior before the Gators landed Tebow. Edging Tim had to be extra sweet for Snead who went on to enroll at the University of Texas before transferring to Ole Miss and red-shirting. Ed Orgeron recruited Snead and other key Rebs in the win over the Gators.
Houston Nutt has Ole Miss headed in the right direction with the help of players Orgeron recruited. With any luck at all, Ole Miss could be 5-0 going into the South Carolina game at Vaught Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss still has to win three more games to become bowl eligible.
All-America candidate Michael Oher proved how important it is to come back for a senior year. Hope Greg Hardy realizes this. The worst example of an Ole Miss player coming out early was Rufus French, who made All-America as a junior, then jumped to the Pros and hardly was heard from again. Hardy was sensational against Florida and Peria Jerry, who teamed up with eight other defenders to stop Tebow cold on a fourth and one situation, damaging Tim's repeat Heisman Trophy hopes a bit.
Beating Florida had to be as sweet as his Arkansas season ending win over LSU last year.
Houston Nutt has inspired this year's Ole Miss team to shoot for the moon after the disastrous 2007 campaign under Orgeron.
Sly Croom had his Mississippi State team in the LSU game all of the way. A week off gives the Bulldogs a chance to snap out of their losing streak and be competitive in the second half of the year.
State's seniors had a meeting prior to the trip to Baton Rouge and that seems like a good sign. I attended the State, Southern and Ole Miss summer rallies in Jackson this summer and Croom had his seniors there. They were a very impressive group.
Alabama's 41-30 in over Georgia, a team picked by some to not only win the SEC but the national championship as well. Nick Saban is bidding for Coach of the Year. His field general John Parker Wilson has come into his own in a late bid for All-Star recognition. His leadership has been outstanding, a likely candidate for the All-American Football Foundation's Colonel Earl (Red) Blaik Leadership Scholarship, which goes only to seniors.
Bama beefed up its defense when it landed 366-pound Terrence Cody from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community college last year. The Alabama-Ole Miss game in Tuscaloosa looms large for both teams
The Ole Miss-Florida game could have gone into overtime if Kentrell Lockett had not blocked the Gators extra point attempt leaving the score 31-30. Offensively. Shay Hodge sparkled as Snead's favorite receiver with three catches , including the spectacular 86-yard scoring pass.
Dexter McCluster's 40-yard TD sprint was monumental and meant much to the Florida recruit after his heart-breaking fumble in the Vanderbilt end zone as the game drew to a close.
Auburn edged Tennessee in another important SEC game . Peyton Manning was on hand to cheer for the Volunteers. Imagine what it would have meant if both Peyton and Spurrier had attended Ole Miss. Johnny Vaught would have had a second Glory Years story. He asked Archie to send his boy to Ole Miss but Archie told his Hall of Fame coach that he would let his second son make up his own mind. Vaught, who helped Archie negotiate his first contract with the Saints had a response for this but it did not make any difference.
Had Peyton gone to Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi would have had two NFL Super Bowl winning field generals.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Long Weekend In MIssissippi
Down went Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Southern Mississippi at the hands of Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and Marshall. All three teams need major comebacks in an effort to have winning seasons. It will not be easy.
At Oxford with several opportunities to score near the Commodre goal line Ole Miss came up short. Four passes were intercepted as Jevan Snead had his worst day as a varsity quarterback as an Ole Miss Rebel. Penalties also plagued Houston Nutt's Red and Blue. Vanderbilt was simply a better team on this beautiful mid-September evening.
The pre-game tail gate was better than the ball game. All-American Charlie Flowers, J. Warner Alford, Chancellor Robert Khayat, Ed Wilburn Hooker, Dr. Shed Hill Roberson, Warren (Beaux) Ball were there. Missing were Billy Ray Adams, Kent Jr. Lovelace, and Bobby Ray Franklin.
Beaux Ball, former brother in law of Kent Jr., revealed that he was three years younger than Kent Jr. who refused to allow his daughter Alden LeGasse to throw a 70th birthday party for himn three years ago because he did not want anyone to know he was 70.
I made the trip with gool ole Bill Lee, Ray (Buck) Howell, and Bobby Howell. We saw Malone (Nick) Nicholson and his pals, who I had traveled with for the Samford game. Bobby Howell recalled the Jackson State riot when he was a city policeman when his superior the legendary Beavers Armstrong ordered his group to surround the protesters. His group included eight cops, including Bobby Howell.
Bobby met Coach Johnny Vaught years later and told the great coach that his brother, Ray, played for him. He said Vaught said that Ray caught one important pass in his career against Maryland. Vaught was teasing Bobby. Buck caught the first touchdown against the nationally ranked Terrapins over the great Dick Nolan for a TD which helped Ole Miss upset Jim Tatum's nationally ranked team.
Tatum had been a freshman coach at North Carolina when Vaught was Bear Wolf's line coach in Chapel Hill. On the morning of the Maryland game Vaught came by Howell's room,closed the door and said he wanted to talk to him. Howell said he figured that his coach was going to commend him on a great career as he prepared play his senior year. Vaught told him:" I have never been so disappointed in my life in you, Howell."
Howell said he is getting ready to fire me,send me back to Brookhaven disgraced and without a diploma. He went out there and played his best game. I heard the story years later and asked Vaught how many other rooms did he visit that day. He said " Several more." A master motivator and a Hall of Fame coach, John Howard Vaught.
I miss him as do the many, many great players who helped him launch the Glory Years at the University of Mississippi.
----30------
At Oxford with several opportunities to score near the Commodre goal line Ole Miss came up short. Four passes were intercepted as Jevan Snead had his worst day as a varsity quarterback as an Ole Miss Rebel. Penalties also plagued Houston Nutt's Red and Blue. Vanderbilt was simply a better team on this beautiful mid-September evening.
The pre-game tail gate was better than the ball game. All-American Charlie Flowers, J. Warner Alford, Chancellor Robert Khayat, Ed Wilburn Hooker, Dr. Shed Hill Roberson, Warren (Beaux) Ball were there. Missing were Billy Ray Adams, Kent Jr. Lovelace, and Bobby Ray Franklin.
Beaux Ball, former brother in law of Kent Jr., revealed that he was three years younger than Kent Jr. who refused to allow his daughter Alden LeGasse to throw a 70th birthday party for himn three years ago because he did not want anyone to know he was 70.
I made the trip with gool ole Bill Lee, Ray (Buck) Howell, and Bobby Howell. We saw Malone (Nick) Nicholson and his pals, who I had traveled with for the Samford game. Bobby Howell recalled the Jackson State riot when he was a city policeman when his superior the legendary Beavers Armstrong ordered his group to surround the protesters. His group included eight cops, including Bobby Howell.
Bobby met Coach Johnny Vaught years later and told the great coach that his brother, Ray, played for him. He said Vaught said that Ray caught one important pass in his career against Maryland. Vaught was teasing Bobby. Buck caught the first touchdown against the nationally ranked Terrapins over the great Dick Nolan for a TD which helped Ole Miss upset Jim Tatum's nationally ranked team.
Tatum had been a freshman coach at North Carolina when Vaught was Bear Wolf's line coach in Chapel Hill. On the morning of the Maryland game Vaught came by Howell's room,closed the door and said he wanted to talk to him. Howell said he figured that his coach was going to commend him on a great career as he prepared play his senior year. Vaught told him:" I have never been so disappointed in my life in you, Howell."
Howell said he is getting ready to fire me,send me back to Brookhaven disgraced and without a diploma. He went out there and played his best game. I heard the story years later and asked Vaught how many other rooms did he visit that day. He said " Several more." A master motivator and a Hall of Fame coach, John Howard Vaught.
I miss him as do the many, many great players who helped him launch the Glory Years at the University of Mississippi.
----30------
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