Ole Miss Football: 1959 Ole Miss Rebels, Greatest Team In SEC History?
If you are a fan of Ole Miss football then you’ve heard the legend and lore of the greatest team in Ole Miss history. The 1959 Ole Miss team is not only the greatest team in Ole Miss history but some believe the greatest team in SEC history.
With the recent passing of former Ole Miss football and NY Jets great Larry Grantham, we remember the 1959 team. Many of us weren’t alive when the 1959 team was etching it’s mark in the Ole Miss and NCAA record books. However, the national championship sign which hangs in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium reminds of us a time when the Rebels were dominant.
Of course, there have been some great teams throughout the history of the SEC. Think of the teams which were fielded by Bear Bryant and General Neyland. How can Ole Miss possibly begin to compare with some of their greatest teams? Really, it’s easy to see when you look at the numbers.
By The Numbers
Ole Miss Rebels Football
When you look at the numbers of the 1959 Ole Miss Rebels you immediately notice their record of 10 wins and only 1 loss. This was not an undefeated season for the Rebels.
Of course, I know you’ve heard of the wild Billy Cannon punt return for TD on Halloween night which allowed LSU to win 7-3.
Of course, Ole Miss and LSU faced each other once again that season. In the Sugar Bowl Ole Miss shut out the Bayou Bengals 21-0. In fact, that shutout was the Rebels 8th shutout of the season.
Ole Miss allowed only 2 offensive TDs the whole season and outscored their opponents 329-21. The other TD was the Halloween night punt return by Philadedephia, Mississippi native Billy Cannon.
The 1959 Ole Miss Rebels were awarded the National Championship through the college football research groups of Berryman, Dunkel and Sagarin. Coached by the legendary John Vaught they were honored as the SEC Team of the Decade. According to OleMissSports.com, the January 1996 Sagarin Ratings System ranked them as the 3rd best team collegiate team from 1956 thru 1995.
Roster Of Legends
Besides Larry Grantham there were plenty of other Rebel greats on that team. Fullback Charlie Flowers finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting that season. Also on that 1959 team was quarterback Jake Gibbs who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting the following season.
Related Story: Greatest Rebel QBs Ever!
They are indeed a great team and recognized as such. Of course, with all the great players which have graced the SEC’s greatest teams since 1996, how would they rank? There certainly hasn’t been a defense which was as ‘shutdown’ during a season. I wonder how the 1959 Rebels would stack up against the rest of the SEC greats.