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The University of Mississippi Athletics
FRIDAY FLASHBACK: Homecoming 1966
10/16/2009 | Football
FRIDAY FLASHBACK rewinds to some of the memorable Ole Miss games from this week's all-time series. The Rebels have faced a variety of opponents for homecoming, and like UAB, some are now members of Conference USA. One such foe is in-state adversary Southern Miss, whom the Rebels matched up against for four straight homecomings from 1966-69.
Ole Miss' six-game win streak to finish out the 2008 campaign was reminiscent of 1966, when the Rebels opened 2-2 before closing out the regular season with six in a row. That streak began with a fourth quarter rally against the Golden Eagles to provide the Ole Miss family with a happy homecoming. The following is the Clarion-Ledger's account of the events of October 15, 1966.
Late Rally by Ole Miss Kills USM's Upset Bid
Cunningham Gets Both TDs In Slim 14-7 Win
By Wayne Thompson
Clarion-Ledger Sports Editor
Until that belated rally, which came late in the final period, the Southerners had used a break and a tenacious defense to grab a 7-0 lead which loomed more insurmountable than truth as time became a factor.
PUNT RETURN
But, a 57-yard punt return by Doug Cunningham and a placement by Jimmy Keyes knotted the count with 7:22 remaining and at their next opportunity, the Rebels drove 54 yards in just five plays with the same Cunningham leaping over from the one for the clincher with 4:01 left on the clock.
The victory, which must be credited in part to Ole Miss' superior depth plus a more than potent defense, was the Rebs' third of the season against a pair of losses. USM, which must welcome Open Date to the schedule after a trio of consecutive heart breaking losses, is now 2-3.
Sophomore quarterback Gary Bourgeois scored Southern's lone tally, skirting right end from the one after a bad pass from center on fourth down and a subsequent blocked punt had given the visitors a first down on the four. George Sumrall added the point for a 7-0 USM lead with 5:01 left in the initial period.
And, it stood taller than Paul until that fourth-quarter rally which enabled the Rebels to salvage a victory in this Homecoming encounter witnessed by some 25,000 fans on a perfect afternoon for football.
All night rains had quit in early morning, the sun had broken through - like the Rebs did in the final period and the temperature was in the 60s to furnish a perfect setting for the competition.
True enough, defense did definitely dominate the proceedings until that belated thrust with quarterbacks from both teams doing lots of running but mostly on and off the field as Ole Miss employed three during the afternoon, Southern four at odd times.
LOT OF NOTHING
To be perfectly truthful, for the first three periods both offenses had shown the most nothing since West Texas and the next time such futility will be approached is when someone attempts to swim the Pacific with a gin fan.
Giving a true indication of that is; or the first 30 minutes, both teams made only one first down apiece with Southern getting one early and Ole Miss finally moving the chains with 2:07 left in the half.
The Rebs did pick up a bit in the second half, getting seven for a total of eight for the afternoon while the Southerners also got just one after intermission - a total of two.
Ole Miss' offense moved for 244 yards, 150 of these via ground yardage and 94 in the air with the Quarterbacks completing seven of 17: while the Southerners had 98 yards 53 afoot and 45 via passing, completing five of 10. No passes were intercepted.
Southern also punted 17 times with Dickie Dunaway averaging 40.9 on the boots but missed the record by one. Union University punted 18 times against the Rebs in pre World War II days.
Individually, Bobby Wade carried 22 times for 77 yards, Cunningham 11 for 34 and Bill Matthews three for 22. For Southern, Milo McCarthy had 16 yards, Glen Bynum 19 and Bourgeios 27 - all on 10 carries.
Terry McMillan did all of USM's passing while for the Rebs, Jody Graves completed five of 11, Bruce Newell two for five and Carroll Walker none for one.
In receiving, Clyde Dowd caught two for 35 while John Johnson, Ronnie Channel and Larry Tolbert (a tackle) all caught one for short gains. For Ole Miss Cunningham caught two for 27, Rocky Fleming two for 19, Steve Terracin one for 39 - to set up the winning score - Mac Halk and Wade one each.
Southern got into business early after Ole Miss had faced a fourth-and-one situation from its own 29, Chuck Hinton's snap to punter Chuck Norman sailed far over his head with Norman eventually recovering the ball on the two and attempting to punt.
But, it was blocked by end Troy Craft - magnificent all day-and rolled out at the four. One the first play, Bynum was hit for a loss back to the seven by Sartin and in came Bourgeois. He rolled right, missing the touchdown by inches. He didn't miss on his next try and Southern's chances and fans were lifted several times higher than space.
But, for all practical purposes, the Southerners were offensively through and got just one more first down for the distance. In fact, Southern made only one other partial threat, moving from its own 40 to the Ole Miss 41 after the second Rebel touchdown for their next penetration of Reb terrain.
USM BOBBLE
A fumble by Bourgeois, at the USM 22, recovered by Lee Garner gave the Rebs one first half chance from that point. But, two plays later, Cunningham's bobble was covered by Craft to kill that move.
Midway the third period a 13 yard punt return by Cunningham, a short ground effort and a nice yarder by Cunningham gave Ole Miss a first down on the 26; but the Southerners got tough and Keyes' attempted 39-yard fielder was blocked by Craft again at the Southern 35.
Pushed back to their 20 after a 64-yard punt by Dunaway which just died in the end zone, the Rebs drove out to the Southern 36 where a fourth-down effort was halted when Cunningham slipped at that point.
Another punt exchange followed before it happened. Cunningham gathered in Dunaway's boot at his own 43, seemed to be trapped at midfield before breaking loose and flying down the sideline. Keyes' point knotted it.
Southern couldn't go after receiving and Cunningham returned this one just five to the USM 47 but clipping moved Ole Miss back to its 46.
Wade, on a draw, got eight before the big play. Newell faded back and hit big Steve Terracin who gathered the ball in around the 20, finally being pulled down at the seven - 39 key yards.
Cunningham went to the one, Wade was stopped just short and Cunningham leaped for the most cheered yard in recent Rebel history.
It meant, of course, just one thing. Ole Miss, by damn.
