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.
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