.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Bear's Shadow
7/5/2000 | Football
July 5, 2000
By Ted Dunnam
Abilene (Tex.) Reporter-News Staff Writer
When mentioning Southeastern Conference football coaching legends, the name that immediately comes to mind is that of Paul "Bear" Bryant.
And as prominent as Bryant was in his heyday as a head coach, former Mississippi University head coach John Vaught is overshadowed just as prominently by The Bear's presence.
Vaught compiled a 190-61-12 record at Ole Miss in 24 years as head coach, a glorious career spanning from 1947 to 1970 when failing health forced him to resign. Vaught, though, was in good enough condition at age 91 this past week to join the other celebrities participating in the Slingin' Sammy Baugh Celebrity Golf Tournament in Snyder.
If he took a backseat to Bryant, Vaught says that sits well with him.
"Bear Bryant and I had a great relationship,'' Vaught said. "He was one of my good friends, and we lost him way too soon. He was as good of a coach as there was.''
Vaught was an all-American at TCU, completing his senior season in 1928 when Baugh was a sophomore at the school. Once taking the reins at Ole Miss, Vaught experienced a high level of success.
He led the Rebels to six SEC titles, the 1959 Dunkel System national crown, the 1960 Football Writers Association of America, Dunkel System and Williamson System national championships, and the 1962 Litkenhouse Ratings national title.
Vaught's 1959 team was recently ranked the third best collegiate football team of all time, according to the Jeff Sagarin Ratings.
"I was proud of all of my teams. I couldn't tell you which one was best or which I liked the best,'' Vaught said. "Do you have brothers and sisters? Children? Aunts and uncles? Which do you like the best?
"That's something I let other people decide. I just had great experiences coaching all of my teams.''
Vaught had success with a variety of formations and, over the course of 24 years, much different personnel.
"When I was first there, we used the old Notre Dame box set with motion people,'' Vaught said. "Then we went to the split-T with a lot of variations off of it. I just tried to adapt to my personnel, and most of the time we were fortunate in being able to do that.''
Although Vaught still sees every home game in Oxford (Miss.), Jackson (Miss.) and Memphis (Tenn.), he says his involvement with the Rebel football team is minimal these days.
"I had a time that was very special for me, and now it's time for other people to take over,'' Vaught said. "I like our new head coach (David Cutcliffe). He's got a fine football mind, and he's a student of the game.
"He knows what he's doing, and he's going to bring a winner to Ole Miss.''
