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The University of Mississippi Athletics
FRIDAY FLASHBACK: Ole Miss - Rice 1961
10/29/2010 | Football
Oct. 29, 2010
FRIDAY FLASHBACK rewinds to some of the memorable Ole Miss games from the past. This week features the Rebels' 1961 Sugar Bowl victory, which gave Ole Miss its second-straight national title. Ole Miss will honor that 1960 national championship squad during tomorrow's game.
Gibbs Guides Ole Miss' 14-6 Victory
Rice Outgains Rebs in 27th Sugar Bowl
Wayne Thompson, Clarion-Ledger Sports Editor
Sugar Bowl Stadium, New Orleans - Despite being the most marked man since Joseph was shanghaied into trading his striped coat for a one-way ticket to Egypt, quarterback Jake Gibbs scored touchdowns in the first and final periods to spark the Ole Miss Rebels to a 14-6 victory over the Rice Owls in the 27th annual Sugar Bowl Classic here Monday.
Thus, the Rebels started out 1961 just like they began 1960 - with a Sugar Bowl triumph - and although the '61 effort came a day late and not by too big a margin, it was big enough and enabled the Rebs to successfully defend their Sugar title. Also, it was the 15th straight game for Ole Miss to go without a defeat and the fourth straight bowl victory. The Rebs are now 3 and 2 in this Crescent City Classic.
The Rice Owls, 10-point underdogs going into the game, were not without their moments as they made more threats than Castro and almost completely dominated the offensive side of the picture in the second and third quarters. Halfback Butch Blume tailed Rice's lone score in the third period on a sweep of right end for three yards while Max Webb's attempted conversion was wide to the left and, at that moment, left Ole Miss leading by one point at 7-6. Webb had earlier missed a field goal attempt to the right from the Ole Miss 29-yard line in the same period.
Ball Control
That ball control play in the mid periods gave Rice a 19-13 first down edge but Ole Miss led in the ground statistics, getting 143 net yards on the ground as compared to Rice's 103; while in the air, Rice completed 14 of 28 passes for 178 yards while Ole Miss had just 5 of 15 for 43 - with several other Gibbs' efforts being dropped by open receivers.
The game was played on an almost perfect afternoon for football with the temperature in the high 50's and the sun shining most of the day, but a rather brisk wind made overcoats good company. The Sugar Bowl turf was in good enough condition and did not hamper the efforts of either eleven.
Ole Miss, Southeastern Conference Champs as well as defending champions here, came out fast and today's victory over a tough Rice team - better than the 7-3 record indicated - could put it in line for the Grantland Rice Trophy. The Rebs should be at least in contention for the major award.
Winning the toss and choosing to receive, the Rebs struck for the initial touchdown in just three minutes and 19 seconds - and it might have come too easily as they gave an early indication of turning the game into a rout.
Gibbs Outstanding
Jerry Daniels returned Webb's short kick nine yards to the Reb 35; Hoss Anderson got 13; Gibbs made four; Anderson added seven; and Bobby Crespino, used sparingly as a running threat and all season, took a Gibbs hand-off and raced 27 yards to the Rice 15 with Daniels leading the interference. Anderson lost one; Gibbs hit George Blair for eight and then the Grenada great, named most outstanding here Monday, went wide to his left, cut back and pranced in for the score. Allen Green added his first of two conversions and it was Ole Miss 7, Rice 0, with 11:41 left in the quarter.
But, until that fourth quarter drive and another threat moments later in the final period, the Rebs were through threatening as Rice took over. Late in the opening quarter, Owl center Jim Stroud pounced on an Anderson fumble at the Reb 45 and Rice kept moving, going to the 23 in five plays before Reb guard Bookie Bolin intercepted a Randall Kerbow pass at the Reb 26 and returned to the Ole Miss 48, it was the first of four big and key interceptions by Ole Miss during the day.
Rice Drive
Rice took possession at its own 13 after a Reb punt just four plays after Bolin's interception and made another dangerous move. Usually held fairly well in check for the first two plays of each series, the Owls always had it on third down to keep the drive alive that moved from the Rice 13 to the Ole Miss 10—77 yards in 15 plays. Roland Jackson, Kerbow, Jerry Chandler, Blume and Gary Poage all contributed yardage as did passes from Kerbow to talented receivers. The big play came when Rice had fourth and inches from the Reb 26 and Ole Miss expected a line plunge. Instead Blume went wide to his right down to the 10. It was the same play used later for Rice's TD.
From the 10, Kerbow lost three on an attempted pass when tackled by Anderson before Green intercepted a Kerbow toss at the nine and fell down. He had killed the threat, and on second down.
Ole Miss took over and, on second down from the 13, Gibbs fumbled but it was after the whistle despite a difference of opinion from Rice fans and the Rebs quickly punted out of danger. Again Rice moved, going from its own 43 to the Ole Miss 18 in five plays with Blume getting 16 on a big gainer, before Johnny Robinson stopped that threat with an interception on the six which he returned to the 17.
Moves Again
In the third period, the Owls again were on the move and went from their own 30 to the Ole Miss 13 in eight plays including four complete passes. Quarterback Billy Cox, a potent Soph. lost back to the 21 when hit hard by Bob Benton and Ralph Smith, two passes fell incomplete and Webb came in to try his fielder which was wide right.
Taking over at the 20, Ole Miss moved out to the 39 on a Gibbs to Crespino toss before three straight Gibbs aerials hit their mark and were dropped and Rice had possession at its own 23 after the punt. Downfield they moved, striking through the air like their feathered namesakes, with the big play coming when it was third and 12 from the Own 44—with a Cox-to-Dan Brast toss good for 30 yards to the 26. Blume and Webb plus carried to the 14 and that same duo, plus Cox, drove to the Reb 21 for a first down. Jackson got one, Jackson made none, Cox lost back to the two and it was fourth down and Blume went to his right for six. Webb's kick was wide and Ole Miss led 7-6 with 1:05 left in the third. The Owl drive had gone 77 scoring yards in 18 plays.
Ole Miss couldn't go, far enough at least, after receiving and punting; held rice for a chance; and took over at its own 43 after a punt. This time the Rebs got moving and stayed alive.
Anderson got 14 yards in two plays, Doty and Anderson combined for a first down at the 28 before Doty moved 11 yards to the 17.
Gibbs hit Crespino for an eight yarder, Anderson went to the six for a first down, Anderson got three more, was stopped for no gain, Gibbs was held and then went wide to his right and scooted in. Green's kick made it 14-6 with 5:16 left.
Rice ran one play after the kickoff before another Kerbow pass was intercepted by Reggie Roberton at the 28 and returned to the 11 and Ole Miss hearts rested a moment. Elmore lost back to the 14, Gibbs hit Doty for four, Gibbs was thrown back to the 17 and a fourth down pass was patted down.
The Owls had one more chance and couldn't go with the Rebs taking final possession with 25 seconds left. One play failed to gain and Green came in to try a field goal from the 37—it would have been a 47 yard effort, but it was far short. Rice did have time for one anti-climatic play before Ole Miss officially claimed the victory.
