LayupKing

I remember his pre-game chant at the 1963 Cotton Bowl with Texas:

RATTLE THE CATTLE ... RATTLE THE CATTLE... RATTLE THE CATTLE.

Texas fans could not believe it.

Project,
Who do you like as LSU's DH this year ...

I like Gaines, Cook and Wilkinson. They will all get better with work and minutes. Hope to see some improvement in LeBlanc. NBA likes their shooting guards 6-5 or better. Cam will have to play better D and be willing to pass the ball inside to be a big hit at the pro level.

Alvin Roy was instrumental in their development in strength training. He was an Istrouma High graduate and convinced the football coach at Istrouma High School, Fuzzy Brown, to commit his team to strength training, which he did prior to the 1954 season, Cannon's junior year.
Roy had been the trainer for the 1952 USA Olympic weight lifting team. He was more knowledgeable about the benefits a strength training than anyone in the South. Prior to the 1958 season, Cannon, Robinson, Jimmy Taylor and Bob Pettit were all being coached by Roy at his studio on Oklahoma Street between Nicholson Drive and Highland Road a few blocks south of the Pastime. Roy Winston and Norbert Roy, two seniors at Istrouma, were also working under Alvin Roy's supervision. Taylor and Pettit were in the early stages of their professional careers. Pettit and the St. Louis Hawks won the NBA championship in 1958. Taylor and the Green Bay Packers won their first NFL title in 1961. Both give Alvin Roy credit for their increased strength and stamina to Roy for helping them become dedicated to strength training. Roy contended that Cannon, had he concentrated on weight lifting, would have been the strongest man in the world. Robinson also got started lifting weights while in high school but did not begin training under Roy until he got to LSU. The LSU athletes, Pettit, Taylor, Cannon and Robinson helped Roy get connected with several NFL teams. At the time no other team -- college or professional -- were utilizing strength training to benefit their athletes. I have a book around here somewhere that quotes Roy on his development of Cannon, and how his speed increased as his strength increased. If I can find that book, I will send that information along to you.

How do you play a horn wearing a mask?

The King is dead!
Long live the King!

Bear Bryant was the first coach that I remember using that expression.
The media kept trying to get him to commit to his area of emphasis ... offense or defense.
He said, "I don't coach the offense. I don't coach the defense. It's my job to get 'em to beat with one heart beat."

Doc Fenton's recruitment is a good story. It was between LSU and Mississippi State.
Starkville was dry. Baton Rouge had nickel beer. No contest!

I saw Y.A. Tittle play as a freshman tailback against Tulane in Tiger Stadium. He was 14-18 that day, his best passing percentage as Tiger. LSU won 25-6, finishing 2-5 on the season. LSU went to the T formation the next season and had a 7-2 record, and set a school record for average yard for rush. Ray Coates (Jesuit High) and Dan Sandifer (Byrd High) were the starting halfbacks. Red Knight (Bossier High) was the fullback. End Clyde Linsdey was the MVP. They were 9-1 in 1946 and went to the Cotton Bowl. Injuries crippled the Tigers in 1947, Tittle's senior year. Ole Miss won the SEC in Vaught's first season, beating LSU 20-18 in Tiger Stadium. Charley Connerly passing to Barney Poole was an unstoppable combination for the Rebels. Tittle intercepted a Connerly pass and had his "Joe Burrow moment". He had blockers in front of him about the OM 35 when a Reb player tried to tackle Y.A and broke the belt to his pants. As his pants slipped down, Tittle held the ball with one hand and his pants with the other. Ole Miss caught him. The Rebels held and won the game and the SEC title. I was a boy scout and ushered at the game. I was 12 years old at the time.

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.