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----
Sunday, November 23, 2008
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------
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