Sugar Bowl

1961

 

Ole Miss 14

Rice 6

 

Mississippi Fight Song

 

Johnny Vaught’s Ole Miss Rebels came to the 1961 Sugar Bowl hunting a national championship. With the only blemish on the record being an October tie with LSU, the Rebels were ranked #2 in the nation. To find an opponent for Mississippi proved difficult. Louisiana State segregation laws severely limited the bowl's choices, and although there was a long-shot attempt at luring No. 1 Minnesota because the Big Ten's contract with the Rose Bowl had briefly lapsed, the Sugar settled for the Rice Owls after their season-ending loss to Baylor because the Bears had already accepted a Gator Bowl invitation.

 

The 1960 season had witnessed a resurgence for Rice football. The Owls followed a 1-7-2 season in 1959 with a 7-3 mark, finishing tied for second in the SWC.  It was a tall order for the Owls, facing an Ole Miss squad that had been in two of the last three Sugar Bowls.

 

The game drew a sellout crowd of 82,851 to Tulane Stadium, and the fans saw heavy favorite, Ole Miss, start fast as expected. Quarterback Jake Gibbs took his team on a short touchdown drive on its first possession. Gibbs’ eight-yard scamper gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead in the opening moments. At that point, the game became a little frightening for the Rebels.

 

There was no scoring in the second period as the defenses for both teams took over. The score was 7-0 at the half. In the second and third periods, Rice got the better of it, driving four times into the Mississippi red zone only to come up empty. Finally, the Owls’ drove 77-yards in 18 plays, Butch Blaine completed the march with a two-yard run around the right end on fourth down. Max Webb’s PAT attempt failed, leaving the Rebels clinging to a one-point lead, 7-6.

 

Midway through the fourth quarter, Ole Miss drove behind the hard running of Jim Anderson. Anderson’s running set up Gibbs’ three-yard score with 5:16 left. Anderson finished the game with 59 yards rushing on 15 carries.

 

Rice had dominated after the game’s opening touchdown by Gibbs. They outgained the Rebels 281-186 and had a 19-13 advantage in first downs and ran 81 plays to Ole Miss' 60. As New Orleans States-Item columnist Pie Dufour put it, "Rice left too many men on base." Following the game, Ole Miss was awarded the national title by the Football Writer’s Association, and became the first SEC team to win the Grantland Rice Trophy.

 

 

Gibbs dives for yardage during first quarter scoring drive

 

Gibbs passes to George Blair for first down

 

The '60 Owls were a surprise

 

Ole Miss media guide

 

Attendance- 82,851

 

Scoring Summary

 

First Quarter

UM- Gibbs 8 run (Green kick)

 

Third Quarter

RU- Blume 2 run (Kick failed)

 

Fourth Quarter

UM- Gibbs 3 run (Green kick)

 

Individual Statistics

 

Rushing

UM- Anderson 15-59, Doty 4-25, Crespino 2-25

RU- Blume 7-54

 

Passing

UM- Gibbs 5-15-43

RU- Cox 11-20-143, Kerbow 3-7-35

 

Receiving

UM- Blair 2-18, Crespino 2-21

RU- Webb 3-31

 

Home

Next