1959 LSU Tigers football team
Encyclopedia
The 1959 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University
in the 1959 college football season
. The Tigers were coached by Paul Dietzel
and were the defending national champions.
were returning, including the All-America
n halfback Billy Cannon
, who had come in third in the 1958 Heisman balloting.
on Halloween in Tiger Stadium
. That game between No. 1 LSU and No. 3 Ole Miss was touted as 1959's "Game of the Year." Ole Miss held a 3–0 lead until the 4th quarter, often punting on first down
due to the wet conditions on the field. With about 10 minutes left in the game, Ole Miss punted and Billy Cannon took the punt at the LSU 11. Cannon charted a course along the Ole Miss sidelines, weaving between Rebel defenders, eluding tacklers, and racing towards the goal line for an 89 yard punt return score. Ole Miss then started a determined drive and marched down to the two yard line where it was 4th and goal with 18 seconds left. The Ole Miss ball carrier was stopped at the one by Cannon and his teammates to ensure the 7–3 victory. However the next week, LSU lost its next SEC game against Tennessee at Knoxville, 14–13, when Cannon's attempt at a 2 pt conversion failed. The Tigers finished the season without another loss, 9–1, and they were ranked No. 3 in the nation behind No. 1 Syracuse and No. 2 Ole Miss.
In the meantime Billy Cannon won the Heisman Trophy
by one of the widest margins in the history of the trophy balloting. The Tigers were invited to play in the Sugar Bowl
, and their opponent was to be none other than Ole Miss, in a rematch. At first Paul Dietzel, LSU's coach, was not anxious to replay the Rebels, but he was persuaded to do so by the athletic director
, Jim Corbett
. By the time Jan. 1 came, three LSU star players were injured, including quarterback Warren Rabb
, and halfbacks Wendell Harris
and Johnny Robinson. The Tigers were soundly beaten by the Rebels, 21–0.
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in the 1959 college football season
1959 college football season
The 1959 college football season saw Syracuse University crowned as the national champion by both the AP and the UPI wire services. Mississippi , which had outscored its opponents 350-21, finished #2 in both polls, and its only loss during the regular season had been to LSU, which ultimately...
. The Tigers were coached by Paul Dietzel
Paul Dietzel
Paul Dietzel is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at Louisiana State University , the United States Military Academy , and the University of South Carolina , compiling a career record of 109–95–5...
and were the defending national champions.
Pre-season
The Tigers were a near unanimous pre-season favorite to repeat as national champions in 1959. Most of the players from the National Championship team of 19581958 LSU Tigers football team
The 1958 LSU Tigers segregated football team represented Louisiana State University during the 1958 college football season. Under head coach Paul Dietzel, the Tigers cruised to an undefeated season capped by a win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl...
were returning, including the All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n halfback Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon
William Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
, who had come in third in the 1958 Heisman balloting.
Season
LSU had no real trouble in winning its first 6 games in 1959, though its offense was not as potent as 1958's. Its defense made up for it by being even stingier, allowing only 6 points in 6 games. In the 7th game of the season LSU faced its sternest test—undefeated Ole MissUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
on Halloween in Tiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium (LSU)
Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It is best known as the home stadium of the Louisiana State University football team.Tiger Stadium opened with a capacity of 12,000 in 1924...
. That game between No. 1 LSU and No. 3 Ole Miss was touted as 1959's "Game of the Year." Ole Miss held a 3–0 lead until the 4th quarter, often punting on first down
Down (football)
A down is a period in which a play transpires in American and Canadian football.-Description:A down begins with a snap or free kick , and ends when the ball or the player in possession of it is declared down by an official, a team scores, or the ball or player in possession of it leaves the field...
due to the wet conditions on the field. With about 10 minutes left in the game, Ole Miss punted and Billy Cannon took the punt at the LSU 11. Cannon charted a course along the Ole Miss sidelines, weaving between Rebel defenders, eluding tacklers, and racing towards the goal line for an 89 yard punt return score. Ole Miss then started a determined drive and marched down to the two yard line where it was 4th and goal with 18 seconds left. The Ole Miss ball carrier was stopped at the one by Cannon and his teammates to ensure the 7–3 victory. However the next week, LSU lost its next SEC game against Tennessee at Knoxville, 14–13, when Cannon's attempt at a 2 pt conversion failed. The Tigers finished the season without another loss, 9–1, and they were ranked No. 3 in the nation behind No. 1 Syracuse and No. 2 Ole Miss.
In the meantime Billy Cannon won the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
by one of the widest margins in the history of the trophy balloting. The Tigers were invited to play in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
, and their opponent was to be none other than Ole Miss, in a rematch. At first Paul Dietzel, LSU's coach, was not anxious to replay the Rebels, but he was persuaded to do so by the athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
, Jim Corbett
Jim Corbett (athletic director)
James J. Corbett was the athletics director at Louisiana State University from 1955 until 1967. He also served as the first president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics from 1965-1966...
. By the time Jan. 1 came, three LSU star players were injured, including quarterback Warren Rabb
Warren Rabb
S. Warren Rabb was a former American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback who played for the Detroit Lions of the NFL and the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. He was selected in the second round of the 1960 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University...
, and halfbacks Wendell Harris
Wendell Harris
Wendell Harris was an American football defensive back in the National Football League in the 1960s. He played college football at Louisiana State University and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 1962 NFL Draft.-References:...
and Johnny Robinson. The Tigers were soundly beaten by the Rebels, 21–0.