Game Statistics from '59 LSU-Ole Miss

I couldn't find anything on Google

Might have to dig around in the basement of Middleton for something like this.

The best I could find: LINK

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I know they punted on 1st down alot!

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I think you mean 3rd down.

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I think you mean 3rd down.

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Johnny Vaught actually did punt on 1st down a few times in that game.

Cannon's return came on a 3rd and 17 punt.

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Cannon's return came on a 3rd and 17 punt.

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Cool, thanks didn't know this!

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Johnny Vaught actually did punt on 1st down a few times in that game.

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I heard Johnny Vaught talk about Billy's return a couple years before he died on TV (before our 2003 battle with Eli) and he was still bitter about it. He said Cannon didn't want to return it, but the ball took a funny bounce and basically was going to hit him so he had to field it. It was pretty funny (but he was serious).

That Ole Miss team had 8 shutout in 11 games (including LSU the 2nd time around...reminds me of something). They only gave up 21 points all season (two other teams scored 7 points in blowout losses). No wonder they were bitter. LSU had similar stats too until Missy blanked them 21-0 in the Sugar. I'm not even close to being an old timer, but I just looked up the scores from that year out of interest hearing how good both teams were.

Transcript of J.C. Politz call of Cannon's run and the last Ole Miss play which ended on the goal line. I am an "ole timer" and vividly remember the game and Cannon run. It was one of the highlights of my life.......

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 golblins 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 upfield 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 (inaudilbe 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!”

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I know they punted on 1st down alot!
Supposing because the field was soo moist?
Was 3, my dad always swore he was there with the other 500,000 who claim but family recalls him listening to radio!

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I graduated in 1960 so I was there in the North end zone, on line with the hash marks.

Ol Miss regularly punted on third down - they were nursing their 3-0 lead and wanting to avoid turning over the ball with a possible bad snap on a punt.

LSU did not punt until fourth down.

Nobody ever punted on first down.

After Cannon's run, Ol Miss marched down the field and got a first down inside the five yard line. On first down, they made it to the one yard line, but LSU was offside on the play.

They refused the penalty because it would have set them back to the two-yard line and they would rather have the extra yard than the extra play.

They were unable to gain that last yard.

Best game I ever saw.

edit - damn - I had 7-3 in as the score before the run. old age is crappy.