Tribute to the greatest Tiger of them all.......Billy Cannon

The Call

October 31, 1959. LSU was ranked #1 Nationally in the AP poll, winners of 19 consecutive games. Ole Miss was undefeated and ranked #3 in the same AP poll.


This is the way it was reported in a record made for WAIL radio in Baton Rouge in the early 60’s.

J.C. Politz made the call.

“It was Halloween night 1959. The witches and goblins may have had some effect, but it was mainly the rugged Ole Miss Rebels that had the LSU Tigers on the short end of a 3 –0 score. With 10:38 seconds to go in the final quarter, Ole Miss had the ball.”



“It’s actually about third down and about 19 yards to go. Going back into punt formation is Jake Gibbs.......of Ole Miss. He stands on his own 28 , he gets a pass from center , he boots it and gets another nice kick away going way down field. Billy Cannon watches it bounce, he takes it at his own 11, he comes back up field to the 15, stumbles momentarily, he’s at the 20, running hard at the 25, gets away from one man at the 30, still runs at the (inaudible) ......at the 35, at the 45... he’s on the 50, he’s in the clear on the 45, the 40 (inaudible due to crowd noise)...............the 15, the 10, the 5 he scores!!!!!”

“Billy Cannon raced some 89 yards for a touchdown. Listen to the cheer for Billy Cannon as he comes off the field....great All-American!

“Holding will be Warren Rabb, down on one knee at the 10 yard line. Kicking will be Wendell Harris waiting on the snap-back from Langham....waiting on the quiet of the crowd too. The snap back, the ball is down on the ground, it’s up in the air, and it’s good.....LSU leads 7 – 3.”

With 1:30 seconds remaining in the game, Ole Miss had the ball on the LSU two. It was fourth down and goal to go.............


“You should be able to tell by the cheer from the crowd if they score or not. The ball is at the two yard line. Left halfback flankered, Elmore is the quarterback...he takes, he fakes, he’s running hard he’s hit right on about the goal line....HE DOES NOT SCORE....HE DOES NOT SCORE.”

“Lynn Leblanc hit him on about the one yard line (it was actually Warren Rabb, Rabb was #12 and Leblanc # 72) with the aid of Billy Cannon and LSU takes over with 29 seconds remaining in this ballgame.”

“LSU will try to hang on to the ball, Johnny Robinson out on a flanker to the right, Rabb takes and knifes his way right up the middle of the line, he might have picked up one yard on the play, 14 seconds, 13 seconds, 12 seconds...LSU leading 7 – 3! 10 seconds, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 , 3, 2, 1 That’s the game!”