re: I saw Billy Cannon and Joe Burrow play

I saw Billy Cannon score two touchdowns against Texas Tech in Lubbock in 1957 -- an athletic 59-yard pass reception and run, which included his hurdling the defensive back on the play, and a 97-yard kickoff return up the middle of the field. Not many LSU fans made it to Lubbock that night. I was fortunate to see all of his games in Tiger Stadium and Tulane Stadium in 1958 and 1959. I saw Joe Burrow play in Tiger Stadium, too. But the great thing about the Burrow years were the away games on TV -- especially Georgia, Oklahoma and Clemson to end the season. Other than the Lubbock game, the only away games I saw Cannon play in person were the Tulane game and the two Sugar Bowls against Clemson and Ole Miss. The only televised games of the Cannon era were the Clemson Sugar Bowl, LSU-Rice in the 1959 opener and the Ole Miss Sugar Bowl, which closed out the 1959 season. But I saw those live. Cannon played both ways and was a good blocker, tackler, passer. receiver, punter and place kicker. He had speed and power, but his speed was not utilized enough as a receiver. LSU only threw deep to him twice in 1958 and one resulted in a 63-yard scoring pass against Duke. No deep passes that I recall in 1959. However, I do think Joe Burrow could have played both offense and defense if the rules dictated it. He was a tough runner and took a lot of punishment after he passed the ball. Both were decisive winners of the Heisman. I have to say that I enjoyed the offensive game of 2019 much more than the 1958-59 offense.