The #3 ranked Ole Miss Rebels are trying to continue on a magical run and any SEC run inevitably involves facing the LSU Tigers. A game that has had historical significance for both teams for the last 60-plus years ago with renewed national implications this year.
A LSU-Ole Miss game is like many border state rivalries as both schools fight for wins, for players and for bragging rights.
For Ole Miss fans, there are few teams that invoke as much passion and out right hatred as LSU.
These are my top reasons to hate the team that can’t even spell their mascot’s name correctly (Tigahs?)
1959 – LSU 7 Ole Miss 3 – The Cajun Heisman. The source of so much frustration for Ole Miss fans even today occurred in Baton Rouge nearly 55 years ago. #1 LSU faced #3 Ole Miss and Ole Miss led a defensive slug fest until late in the game when Billy Cannon took a punt and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown, virtually breaking tackles by every Rebel on the field, some even had two shots at him. Ole Miss quickly made it back down the field but were held short of the goal as time ran out at the LSU 1 yard line. Ole Miss played the Tigers again in the Sugar Bowl and demolished LSU 21-0 and were deemed national champs by some polls but the Associated Press named Syracuse the title winner prior to the bowl games, which was the custom in the day.
1960 – LSU 6 Ole Miss 6 – A near perfect season. Ole Miss and Johnny Vaught entered the game at #1 in the nation and heavy favorites against an LSU team with only one win. It was also a rare LSU-Ole Miss game played in Oxford as back in these days Ole Miss could sell more tickets in Baton Rouge or Jackson. The Tigers led most of the game and Ole Miss was able to get a late touchdown to tie it. Ole Miss went on to win the Grantland Rice trophy as national champions but the LSU tie prevented Ole Miss from being named Associated Press national champions.
1961 – LSU 10 Ole Miss 7 – Dietzel’s best game. #1 ranked Ole Miss ran up against another inspired LSU team that ended the Rebels national title hopes. LSU rallied to get the lead in the second half and head coach Paul Dietzel has mentioned this may have been his greatest game.
1970 – LSU 61 Ole Miss 17 – LSU throws oranges at Archie. This game was for the SEC title and an Orange bowl birth. Archie broke his wrist three week earlier and played with a huge cast on his non-throwing hand. The Rebels played well for two quarters but the defense began to get to Archie and the landslide began. The Tigers put up 61 points and threw oranges at Archie as the crowd knew the win over Ole Miss meant a trip to the Orange bowl. This was Archie’s only loss to LSU.
1972 – LSU 17 Ole Miss 16 – The Night The Clock Stopped. Ole Miss had the #6 LSU team on the ropes and were holding on a late goal line stand. The clock showed 4 seconds left to play on third down at the Ole Miss 10. An end zone pass from Bert Jones to Jimmy LeDoux fell incomplete but as the Rebels celebrated their win, the game clock still showed one second remaining. The Tigers then proceeded to complete the next pass and the ensuing extra kick completed the improbably come back. There were signs left at the Louisiana state line that read, “You are now entering Louisiana. Set your clocks back four seconds.”
2002 – LSU 14 Ole Miss 13 – Eli picked off. After winning three straight games in Baton Rouge and 4 out of the last 5 over LSU, Ole Miss and Eli had hit a rough stretch of his junior year. Coming in on a 4 game losing streak, Eli took a 13 to 7 lead into the fourth quarter. Despite losing 3 fumbles, LSU’s defense held Ole Miss in check and gave Marcus Randall time to find Devrey Henderson for a late touchdown. As Eli lead the team back down the field a tipped pass landed in CB Corey Websters hands with less than 2 minutes remaining and LSU ran the clock out.
2003 – LSU 17 Ole Miss 14 – Eli Trips. The year that literally made me question my existence. The best team that had ever played at Ole Miss enters the game undefeated in SEC play and they get LSU at home. The winner goes to Atlanta to represent the Western division. Ole Miss got an early interception for a touchdown and WR Chris Collins stepped out of bounds on a cut down the sidelines that would have put the game away. Instead the Rebels missed two field goals. Eli Manning tripped on his own lineman’s feet at the end to sack himself and end his last shot at Atlanta. Ole Miss out played LSU for most of the game, they benefited from Ole Miss’ missed field goals and go on to win the national title.
Lets hope 2014 sees the Rebels cruise through Baton Rouge and not let those Tigers ruin our party once again.