Happy Billy Cannon Day for those who celebrate
- Thread starter onewoof
- Start date
They played the radio broadcast of that return a couple of times at Dudy Noble when Rebel coach Jake Gibbs went out to the mound for a pitching change.
Gibbs was the punter, who had the last chance to tackle Cannon.
Gibbs was the punter, who had the last chance to tackle Cannon.
As I'm sure most know, he was born in Philadelphia, MS.
CLEVELAND: Neshoba native Cannon made his name in Baton Rouge - Meridian Star
Billy Cannon, who died at age 80 over the weekend, remains the answer to a most interesting trivia question: What native Mississippian scored perhaps the most famous touchdown in college […]
meridianstar.com
I knew his parents very well. His given name was Billy, not William. He was born in the Tucker community of Neshoba County, not Philadelphia. Babies were born at home in those days, not hospitals. Drs traveled. Abb was after Abb Deweese, sawmill owner who was good friends and very helpful to his father, Harvey. Sawmill was later sold to Weyerhauser. Rick Cleveland full of crap, as usual.
It should be required viewing at every Ole Miss/MS State game. It is the perfect picture of their National Championship going up in flames.
I remember my Dad saying he had relatives in the House community, so I’m not surprised about Tucker
Both his parents Harvey and Virgie, went to House High school. His mom Virgie came from a large family. There would be a big family reunion at Crossroads church which was held every year on the Sunday before the Neshoba County fair. In those days the fair started on Monday. That was their trip "home" every year. That's how I know them. There are still a few on his cousins living in Neshoba County, but of course they are getting old. One his cousins still lives in the House community.
His parents were two of the finest people you can imagine.
His parents were two of the finest people you can imagine.
I know a guy whose real name is Jimmy. He gets ticked if you call him James.
Fun fact: John Darnell’s dad, JB, was my little league coach when I was 12. Great coach.
Back then, bowl games didn't count for much. Mythical national champion was decided by season records based on wire service polls. Also, LSU's starting Qb was injured and was either couldn't play or was very limited. They also had other offensive players out with injuries. Basically, all LSU could do offensively in that game was hand the ball off to Cannon, which everyone in the stadium could see coming. So when the teams we at full strength and it mattered. UM lost. They always tried to save face by saying " we won the rematch" . But no one cared then, and certainly don't now. Propaganda is the only thing UM is good at.
The 1959 Rebel team was the first to get a "Participation Trophy"- they not only didn't win the National Championship, but they also didn't even win the SEC. Led by Fran Tarkenton, Georgia won with an 7-0 Conference record.
So, they were given "The Team of the Decade" trophy to assuage their hurt feelings.