There was a time in college football when THE GAME, LSU vs. Ole Miss. was one of great rivalry. It took place during the coaching era of Paul Dietzel and Charlie McClendon of LSU and Johnny Vaught of Ole Miss. It was a time when THE GAME was about the teams and the players. All three coaches were well known and were winners. Paul Dietzel and LSU won the national championship in 1958. Johnny Vaught won 3 national championships at Ole Miss. in 1959, 1960 and 1962. McClendon never won a national championship as a head coach but was Dietzel's defensive coordinator on the 1958 championship team and had a won-loss record of 137/59/7 in 17 years with the Tigers. The media's thing was about THE GAME and the players and not about the coaches who represented their profession with dignity.
The build up to the game started the week before with chants from both sides saying "Go to hell Ole Miss and Go to hell LSU. The chants continued well into game time. Both sides liked to brag, many tricks were played and never ending. It was a magical time as the game was always played close around Halloween and actually on Halloween. The goblins were well represented.
The rivalry produced many memorable moments of that era. Who can forget Billy Cannon's magical 89 yard punt return for a touchdown that provided the winning score for LSU 7-3. Conditions were horrible on the field from the rain, so bad that both teams at times punted on 3rd down in case the punter fumbled the snap they would have another down to try and punt again. Both teams entered the game with 6-0 records. Cannon's punt return is still considered one of the greatest plays in college sports and in Louisiana, the run is replayed on TV every Halloween because THE GAME actually took place Halloween night.
There was Bert Jones, LSU's quarterback against Ole Miss. on November 4, 1972 with LSU trailing 9-16 with only one second left on the clock who shot a touchdown pass to Brad Davis in the end zone and then executed a two point conversion to win the game 17-16. That one second magic is still debated because most thought the clock had expired on the previous play when there was only 4 seconds left on the clock. Several years later a billboard went up on the state line that read. "You are now entering Louisiana, set your clocks back 4 seconds."
Fast forward to this very moment, which is September 17, the week of THE GAME, LSU vs. Ole Miss, the rivalry of THE GAME and the players are absent from the sport's media, instead it is focused on Lane Kiffin, LSU's head coach and what may take place when he returns to Ole Miss this Saturday. Their reporting is all about what may take place at game time and how the school will react along with the fans. It is a rehash of their remarks after LSU signed Kiffin late last year. THE GAME, the rivalry, the players, the history, has been passed over. They even feel the need to report that Kiffin represents chaos wherever he goes.
This writer was a young man during the above mentioned era and witnessed THE GAME and the great rivalry. It was really a magical time seeing two rival teams whose players happened to be neighbors be so competitive. Many words passed back and forth between the teams, but the players and coaches respected each other and were a credit to THE GAME. The coaches of that era were gentlemen who cared.
The great memories of that era to those of us who are still living are still in place. The great plays, the competition, THE GAME and the rivalry will never be forgotten. It was truly a magical era.
This commentary written by Joe Lorio
