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The University of Mississippi Athletics
FRIDAY FLASHBACK: Ole Miss-Memphis 1979
8/29/2008 | Football
FRIDAY FLASHBACK rewinds to some of the memorable Ole Miss games from this week's all-time series. As the Rebels run some touted freshman running backs on the field Saturday against Memphis, we look back at one of the greatest debuts by a tailback in Ole Miss history. In the 1979 season opener at the Liberty Bowl, Buford McGee exploded on the Tigers from the first possession and finished with 160 rushing yards and a pair of TDs. The following is the Clarion-Ledger's account of the events of Sept. 15, 1979.
Sloan was right: Reb frosh key wild win, 38-34
By Jerry PorterClarion-Ledger
MEMPHIS Well, no one can ever doubt the honesty of Steve Sloan, not after Saturday night's 38-34 victory over Memphis State.
Sloan has said from the very beginning of fall practice that (1) his freshmen were very good and (2) his defense left a great deal to be desired.
And that was exactly the way things were for the Rebels in their season opener. The freshmen Buford McGee and Kinny Hopper in particular, were very, very good.
Unfortunately for the Rebels, they didn't play defense. Consequently, it was grab on to your seat and hold on for the 51, 166 fans who crammed the Liberty Bowl.
"So many things happened in this game, that it's hard to remember them all," said Sloan. "But I do remember lots of big plays."
McGee, the 18-year-old who was quarterbacking Durant High this time a year ago, took exactly two minutes and one second to make the first one.
On the Rebels' first possession, quarterback John Fourcade rolled right on the option, put a move on the Tigers' defensive end and then pitched to McGee.
He headed outside, broke a tackle, put a move on a Tiger defender and then turned on the jets for a 52-yard touchdown run. Hoppy Langley missed the extra point.
Nevertheless, before anyone could say Buford McGee or check to see if his diaper was pinned, he electrifies the Liberty Bowl's record crowd, much of which was Rebel fans.
On Memphis State's next possession, the Tigers turned the ball back over to Ole Miss on their 20, when fullback Richard Locke fumbled and linebacker Brian Moreland recovered.
Fourcade used McGee and senior Leon Perry to work the ball down to the nine, where he threw to Hooper, the rookie fullback from Cleveland, Tenn., for the Rebs' second score.
Perry caught a two-point conversion and it was 14-0. That lead lasted for less than two minutes, as Memphis State took advantage of the Rebel defense to score with just over six minutes left in the quarter.
Richard Williams returned the kickoff 61 yards, missing a TD when James Otis, another Reb freshman, ran him out of bound on Ole Miss' 37.
Kevin Betts passed to Ken Dunek for 14 yards and then hoisted a desperation throw into the end zone for Kevin Doak.
Defensive back Phil Freightman was called for interference, which set the Tigers up on the one, and Betts sneaked over for the score.
Ole Miss nullified that score, however, when Fourcade directed the Rebs 50 yards in four plays. The biggie was a 37-yard fun by Hooper, which allowed Fourcade to sneak over for the two.
But, again, the Rebel defense couldn't hold. State came roaring right back when Betts hit Richards on a quick in. He got away from Johnny Burrow and went 51 yards for a score. Betts his Richards again for a two-point conversion, and it was 21-14.
Ole Miss added a 38-yard Langley field goal, but the Tigers struck again after a Fourcade fumble, Betts running three yards to make it 24-21. And, with just 1:58 left in the half, people began thinking about a hot dog at intermission.
That was a mistake, for McGee apparently likes to finish things the way he starts them. On the first play after the kickoff, he slashed over right tackle and headed down the sideline, where he me the Tiger defense.
Or should we say the Tiger defense got a short glimpse of his from behind. Turning to his left, he circled away from the defense and ran 74 yards for his second touchdown of the half.
Ole Miss scored once more, this time on a 18-play drive that covered 81 yards and was culminated by Perry's two-yard charge up the middle.
It came in the closing minutes of the third quarter, after Memphis State had scored when Dewayne Ricketts plunged over from the one. The TD has been set up by 17- and 49-yard runs from Leo Cage.
From there, it was a matter of holding off the Tigers, especially after the Rebel offense turned the ball over twice.
Linebacker Todd Ondra intercepted a Roy Coleman pass, but the Tigers failed to score when Rusty Bennett missed a 38-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.
Then Fourcade was intercepted with 6:37 left, which set up MSU's final score. The Tigers went 31 yards in seven plays, Cage scoring again, this time from the two.
The two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Ole Miss defense hung on, finally polishing the Tigers off when Otis quite fittingly sacked Betts for a 13-yard loss.
McGee rang up 160 yards, the most of any Ole Miss back since Norris Weese rushed for 172 in 1972.
"I couldn't have asked for a better game in college," said McGee. "On the second score, I only had to beat one man. And I sure was lucky, because I was too tired to beat many."
