A Slight Miscue

Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day loved his cold coach, John Howard Vaught, who passed to the great beyond at the age of 96, a month from his 97th birthday. The report that Day had an incurable case of cancer floated around town. Prayers were said. Money was contributed to the Baptist Church. Only problem was that the good friend who told the story had Eagle mixed up with someone else.
The pride of Columbia, Ms. is in excellent health I am happy to report. He wants to join his coach in the Pearly Gates some day, but not in the immediate future.
Day gained immortality at Ole Miss by leading the Rebels to a Cotton Bowl victory over Jim Swink's powerful TCU eleven, even not listening to his coach who told him to punt on fourth down late in the game. Day threw a perfect pass for a first down and the Rebels drove down the field and scored the winning touchdown.
Ed Orgeron had the same thought in mind no doubt when he went for a first down at mid-field leading Mississippi State, 14-0 , at the time. Orgeron gambled and not only lost the game, 17-14 but his job as well as Ole Miss' head football coach.
I saw Houston Nutt, the new Red and Blue coach, at this year's Heisman Trophy where his great running back McFadden again finished second in the voting. I asked Houston, who left Arkansas to go to Ole Miss, how recruiting was going and he reported just fine.
This was my 45th straight Heisman Trophy dinner, dating back to 1962 when I was the Executive Sports Editor-Columnist of the Trenton (N.J.) Times when Oregon's Terry Baker wpm the award.
A fine array of former Heisman winners were there for the occasion including Princeton's Dick Kazmaier, Notre Dame's Johny Lattner, and Ohio State's Hop Cassedy. John David Crow of Texas A&M was thee on the 50th Anniversary of his receiving the Heisman. Herschel Walker was there as the Silver Anniversary honoree. Vince and Barbara Dooley were there to support Walker, who would have probably joined Archie Griffin as a two-time winner had he not turned pro after his junior season.
I first met Walker at the Washington D.C,Touchdown Club dinner when he was honored as the top high school football player in the country. We visited the White House with other honorees that year. In New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl I urged Herschel to not turn pro and come back for his final year, telling him he would break all of the records. I remember Herschel's reply: "All the records." The money was too much to turn down, however, and he turned Pro.
Tim Tebow, this year's Heisman winner, the first as a sophomore, will be the pre-season favorite to repeat as a Heisman honoree in 2008, as he leads the Florida Gators. He had a cast on his right hand at the Heisman but will play in the Bowl game. Tim is a left hander, as you no doubt know.
Steve Spurrier was on hand to see another Gator win the Heisman. Several years ago he told me he nearly went to Ole Miss because of his high regard for backfield coach Johnny Cain and Johnny Vaught. His Father, a minister, got a church in Florida, as the story goes, so Steve left Johnson City, Tn. to go to Gainesville. I did not know this story until nearly 40 years later and asked Vaught why he could not have asked some elderly North Mississippi minister to retire so Rev. Spurrier could come to the Magnolia State. Vaught said he would not have done this. J.W. (Wobble) Davidson went to his grave saying this was a major mistake.
Had Spurrier gone to Ole Miss he would have followed Eagle Day, Bobby Franklin, Ray Brown, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing as the Rebel field general, continuing the Ole Miss glory days.
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I am going to Las Vegas for the All-American Football Foundation's West Coast Banquet of Champions Dec. 20. The Dinner is dedicated to the great fighter pilot General Robin Olds, who played for Red Blaik at Army in 1943 before entering World War II. Robin served with distinction in Korea and Viet Nam as well. The late Bil Ireland , longtime Athletic Director at UNLV will also be remembered at the Dinner.
The Banquet is sponsored by the Las Vegas Sports and Visitors Authority, leading in to the Las Vegas Bowl game featuring Brigham Young and UCLA.
It will be good to be back in Jackson for Christmas with the family, two of my three children and six grandchildren. Merry Christmas to one and all and Happy New Year.
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