FRIDAY FLASHBACK: 1963 Sugar Bowl

FRIDAY FLASHBACK rewinds to some of the memorable Ole Miss games from this week's all-time series. Despite being conference rivals only since 1992, the Ole Miss-Arkansas series has a rich history that includes a pair of Sugar Bowl meetings. The first of which capped a perfect season for the Rebels and provided their third national title. The following is the Clarion-Ledger's account of the events of January 1, 1963.

Griffing-led Ole Miss Rebs Hawgtie' Razorbacks, 17-13

By Wayne Thompson
Jackson Clarion-Ledger

SUGAR BOWL STADIUM, New Orleans - In the most thrilling game played since politics was turned from a science into an art the Ole Miss Rebels outlasted a fighting University of Arkansas eleven for a 17 to 13 victory in the 29th annual Sugar Bowl classic here on New Year's day.

The big play of the game can't be singled out - all were tremendous in importance - but, as it turned out, not until defensive specialist Fred Kimbrell intercepted a Bill Gray pass with 2:25 left was the outcome definitely decided.

From that point the Rebels, who had used the aerial artistry of quarterback Glynn Griffing for the victory, stuck closer to the ground than the grass as they held on for victory.

It was Ole Miss' fourth Sugar Bowl win and fourth straight in six starts, beginning here in 1953 and the 10th bowl appearance for the Johnny Vaught - coached Rebels. It gave them a post-season mark of .700 - seven of 10.

At that, the Porkers were in it all the way although Ole Miss never trailed after Billy Carl Irwin kicked a 30-yarder with 11:48 remaining in the first half. Arkansas tied it first at 3-3 and then at 10-10. But after Ole Miss moved in front again at 17-10, the closest Arkansas could get was four points - not enough to win via the point spread but still dead perfect to the thousands of Rebel fans.

REB SCORES

In addition to Irwin's kick from the 30 - he has missed earlier on a similar attempt - Ole Miss scores were recorded by half back Louis Guy on a 33-yarder from Griffing and by Griffing himself on a half-yard sneak. Irwin also added both extra points.

For the Porkers kicking specialist Tom McKneely had a pair of fielders - a 30-yarder in the second period and a 22-yarder in the third when Arkansas, facing a fourth and goal situation and behind 17-10, chose to go for three and gamble on getting a touchdown later. The first part worked.

Their lone TD came on a five yard pass from Billy Moore to Jesse Branch early in the third period after a couple of Ole Miss boots - one physical, another mental - had given them possession deep in the Reb terrain.

RECORDS SET

McKneely's two fielders set one Sugar record, a pass from Gray to end Jerry Lamb for 68 yards to set up the first fielder, was another; while Griffing, voted the most outstanding here today and by a wide margin, completed 14 of 23 passes for 242 yards to set still another - the latter set by TCU's Davey O'Brien.

A crowd officially announced at 82,900 - just 10 short of the attendance record set here last year when Arkansas bowed to Alabama, 10-2 - sat under partly cloudy skies in brisk 60-degree weather to see this thriller between the perfect-record and Southeastern Conference champ Rebs against Arkansas, runner-up in the Southwest who carried a 9-1 mark into the game.

SAYS STATS

And, despite the closeness of the play, the Rebs did dominate both play and statistics. Ole Miss led 22 to 7 in first downs (13 passing, nine rushing) as compared to two and five for Arkansas: while the total yardage favored. Ole Miss 429 to 170. The Porkers got 73 of those yards in the air while Ole Miss had 269 aerially.

Ole Miss, which had led the nation on defense, had built that defensive fence pig tight but did not fully cope with the aerial attack which kept Arkansas in the game.

The Porkers made the first threat after Frank Lambert's punt early in the game sailed off the side of his foot for only 22 yards to the 27 - but that was the line of scrimmage - four plays later when McKneely missed his first fielder.

REB MARCH

From there the Rebs took over to show as offensive spark that moved from the 20 all the way to the Porker 13 in 17 plays before Billy Joe Moody made a TD to save on a pass from Griffing and Irwin missed his one, too.

Ole Miss quickly forced the punt, started from the Porker 49 and moved goalward with the second unit, directed by soph Jim Weatherly, on the field and with Weatherly getting the key gains before Branch made a third down save on a pass and Irwin kicked again from the 20 for that 3-0 lead with 11:48 left.

Later in the period Lambert was called on again to punt and this time booted it 50 yards with the Porkers taking over on their own 18. It was third and eight when Gray passed to end Jerry Lamb who was all alone at midfield.

Buck Randall, with a burst of speed motivated by desperation, finally got a hand on Lamb at the 20 with the Porker end losing his balance and stumbling to the 13. That was the line of scrimmage when McKneely got his 30 yarder to tie it up with 5 minutes left. Weatherly to Randall, a 17 yarder from Griffing to Chuck Morris and finally that 33 yarder to Guy the big plays. Irwin made it 10-3 with 2:14 left in the half.

PORKER TD

Starting the second half, Arkansas kicked and both Ole Miss deep men, in a probable signal mix-up, let it roll with Morris finally gaining possession and coming at the 18. Branch, in Arkansas biggest ground gain went to the five before taking Moore's TD toss.

Again Ole Miss moved - after a few seemingly disastrous seconds. Soph tailback Dave Jennings had fielded the kick in the end zone, started to run it out but stopped just inches short of the goal, grounding the ball. One official, thinking he had retreated into the end zone, called it a safety and a 12-10 lead was actually flashed upon the scoreboard. But, after a check with other officials, it was ruled a touchback and Ole Miss had offensive possession of the 20.

They moved the necessary 80 yards in just 10 plays with Griffing passing 17 to Guy, 35 to Guy and, after Jennings got eight, Guy moved for a first down on the seven. Griffing bulled his way to the half-yard line on first down, into the end zone on the second. Irwin made it 17-10 with 6:52 left in the third.

MORE THREATS

That finished the Rebel scoring, although they were threatening until the final whistle while the Porkers had one more threat which paid off in points.

This came after the ensuing kickoff and although aided by two five yard penalties, it was passes which did the damage. Moore passed to Branch for 30 yards to the Ole Miss 33; hit Branch again for nine to the 19; and finally to Lamb for nine and one-half to leave them a half yard short on fourth down. Fullback Danny Brabham drove over right guard for a first down on the 10 but Ole Miss held them to just five in three days and McKneely closed out the Porker counting with a 22-yarder.

Ole Miss moved from its own 25 to Arkansas' three on the next series before a TD pass was batted down by Parker; Hatfield saved another when the Rebs moved from the Porker 43 to the 24; while, after Morris made an interception at midfield, the Rebs moved to the eight where Tom Moore made a leaping interception. The Porkers moved out to the 19 before Kimbrell came through - and it was finally settled. Still Ole Miss moved from the 29 to the 10 as the game ended.

The victory was the 14th for SEC teams against 13 losses and is the first time the SEC had led in this classic since Tulane opened Sugar action with a 20-14 win over Temple back in 1935.

Arkansas fans had been calling for the hogs all weekend long - the Rebs finally pinned them up after a hard battle.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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