The Greatest Game

The Sports Illustrated cover called the Baltimore-New York Giants game the greatest in Pro Football history. The come-from-behind overtime triumph for Baltimore was indeed a thriller
The Giants, sparked by the veteran Charlie Conerly, the World War II Marine hero from Ole Miss, were leading and the sports writers had been given their MVP ballot. They had voted and Conerly was elected Most Valuable Player.
Then the Colts rallied behind Johnny Unitas' great arm to tie the score and send the game into sudden death overtime. Baltimore won on Alan Ameche's crash into the end zone. The writers voted again and Unitas was chosen MVP.
In the recent SI article Conerly's name was not even mentioned. Unitas is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Conerly is not, the most glaring omission in the Pro Hall at Canton, Ohio. For the rest of his life Conerly could not understand why he had not been elected. He played until he was 40. Brett Favre announced his retirement at 38. He is a sure bet for the Pro Hall when he becomes eligible. Unitas was elected to the Pro Hall years ago.
Unitas is not in the College Football Hall of Fame because he played for the University of Louisville in the 1950's. Then the Mid-America stars and the Southern Independents could only merit Little All-America recognition. Conerly was elected to the College Hall before he passed away and cherished the honor.
I saw Unitas and Louisville play twice in 1951 and 1952. The Cardinals shaded Southern 14-13 in Louisville on a rain-soaked field and Southern whipped Louisville and Johnny U in Jackson behind the slashing dashing running of two of the best running backs to ever play on the same team, Fullback Bucky McElroy and Halfback Hugh Laurin Pepper, who out gained Oklahoma's Heisman Trophy winner Billy Vessells and Buck McPhail in 1952.
Pepper and McElroy both got Little All-American recognition but are not in the College Football Hall of Fame. Neither are Johnny Unitas, Chattanooga's bruising fullback Dick Young or Miami University's Tom Pagna.
When I was working for the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Little All-American were not elected to the college Hall, which I always felt was a mistake. Later standouts from small colleges are now being elected to the Hall, which is a good thing, BUT the Little All-Americans from the 1940's and 1950's should not be forgotten and should be honored while they are still alive or posthumously if they have passed away.
The Mid American and Southern Independents of that time are now major universities. When I was working for the NFFCHF we had several special dinners as not to conflict with the major induction dinner at the Waldorf Astoria to honor groups of Pioneer Players. Certainly these men I have mentioned are in the Pioneer Category now. As a dues-paying Chapter member I make this suggestion and trust the brass will take this into consideration and right this wrong.
Electing Charlie Conerly to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Ole Timers group and McElroy,Pepper, Unitas, Dick Young and Tom Pagna should be honored in the College Hall.
Little All-Americans of that time could play for anyone. In 1953 Southern Mississippi beat SEC Champion Alabama and the University of Georgia, who were quarterbacked by Bart Starr and Zeke Bratkowski behind the great running of McElroy and Pepper.
Buster Poole of the Ole Miss staff said the two big ones who got away from the Rebels were Pepper and Lance Alworth. McElroy was at one time Southern's all-time rushing star. And while his record has been broken remember he and Pepper were splitting the ball carrying duties.
They also played Offense and Defense, 60 minute men, Pepper a great pass defender and kick returner. McElroy a bruising linebacker who was a key in the whitewashing of Georgia which had been averaging three touchdown passes a game behind Bratkowski's magic. Stonewall Jackson Brumfield, a tower of strength as a defensive end, cat quick J.T. Shepherd and McElroy and company gave Zeke the longest day in his college career.
Coach Wally Butts, also the athletic director at Georgia, said the Athletic Director made a mistake scheduling the Mississippi Black and Gold.
General Robert R. Neyland of Tennessee scouted the Southern-Alabama season opener. Tampa scout Sam Bailey introduced himself to the General at halftime and told him Tampa was going to Hattiesburg to play and asked for advice. The General looked Sam in the eye and said " Don't Go."
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Great Weekend At Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND----Jimmy Clausen is healthy and the California quarterback is the key to the University of Notre Dame's football program this fall. In the spring game Clausen was much improved over last season where he was handicapped by injuries.
It was good to be in South Bend and see old friends prior to the All-American Football Foundation's Mid-West Banquet of Champions at the Marriott Hotel, across the street from the College Football Hall of Fame. The Dinner was dedicated to two top football people who passed away, All-American Jerry Groom , President of the Leahy Lads and one of the best centers the Irish ever had, and Coach Terry Hoppener, the Indiana coach who died over a year ago.
Terry's successor, Bill Lynch, was there along with Athletic Director Rick Greenspan and a delegation of Hoosiers.
Groom intercepted a pass late in the Irish-SMU game to save the day for Leahy's Irish. SMU was led by Doak Walker and Kyle Rote. In one game the fierce hitting Groom had four teeth loosened. He came to the sidelines for the medics to take a look, as did Frank Leahy. " Oh, Gerald" the Coach said," they are doing amazing things with teeth today. Get back in there, Lad."
Groom was six-four and played over 220. He later played pro football with the old Chicago Cardinals. He and Jack Connor were the men behind establishing the Leahy Lads organization and scholarship program. Jack had worked for J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. His brother was the legendary tackle, George Connor, who was recruited out of high school by Moose Krause of Holy Cross.
Krause had returned to his alma mater at Leahy's invitation about the time Connor arrived at Holy Cross. After World War II Connor did not return to Holy Cross. He checked in at Notre Dame. In high school Connor and Zygmont P. Czarobski were the two best tackles in the Chicago program. Both played left tackle. Ziggy had played for the Irish before going off to war. He was a starter on the 1943 team which featured All-Americans Creighton Miller and Angelo Bertelli. When Bertelli was called into the service during the football season he was replaced by Johnny Lujack.
Coach Leahy approached Ziggy in pre-season and told him he knew what great high school rivals he and George Connor were and they both played left tackle but then pointed out that Ziggy was faster and quicker than Connor and was also better diagnosing plays and would help the team better at right tackle. Ziggy made the switch.
Taking a test one day Connor went through a question and answer quiz quickly. So did Ziggy a few seconds later. The professor grading the papers noticed something. He called Ziggy in for a conference and asked whether he had copied Connor"s paper. Ziggy said absolutely not. The Professor wanted to know why Connor on one question wrote, "I don't know. "Ziggy's test paper noted that " I don't know either."
Lujack was Creighton Miller's freshman. A senior was always assigned a freshman to help in the transition from high school to college. Before the holidays Lujack asked Miller, whose uncle was one of the Four Horsemen, Don Miller, to borrow his monogram blanket. Creighton did not think well of the idea but Lujack told him not worry he would take good care of the blanket. A couple of days later Lujack asked Creighton did he want to buy a lottery ticket."On what?" Miller wanted to know." " A monogram blanket." John Lujack replied. Miller shouted "What" . John said he should not worry and several days later Miller won back his monogram blanket and Lujack had raised money to go home for the holidays."
When Creighton Miller died, Lujack gave the Leahy Lads $100,000.00 for its Scholarship fund in Creighton's honor and memory.
I am proud t o be an Honorary member of the Leahy Lads.
Ole Miss and Notre Dame should play again on the gridiron . They are 1-1. Notre Dame wanted to play the Rebels on a neutral field in New Orleans but the SEC apparently would not approve it. With two of the most beautiful campuses in America they should play home and home.
Ole Miss beat Notre Dame in Jackson. The Irish evened the count in South Bend. Ole Miss took its great band to the game and they were so spectacular Notre Dame hired the Rebs' band director Luther Snavely.
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Spring Football in Oxford

OXFORD----A record spring football Red-Blue crowd applauded at game's end following a 40-14 Red victory over the Blues at Vaught-Hemingway,marking the debut of Houston Nutt as the new gridiron coach at Ole Miss.
History of the Glory Days was labeled in the South end zone, banners of the championship days of John Howard Vaught and his star-studded staff composed of All-Americans like Bruiser Kinard and Johnny Cain and All Pro Buster Poole. Juinie Hovious, an all SEC back, and J>W> (Wobble) Davidson the master freshman coach, who decided who could and who could not cut the mustard.
Roland Dale, Ray Poole, Billy Mustin and Eddie Crawford joined the staff later. Vaught's inaugural season, 1947, featured one of the best passing combos in college football history, Single wing tailback Chunkin': Charlie Conerly and George Barney Poole. The Rebels won the SEC and only played in the inaugural Delta Bowl because Everett Pidgeon's Memphis Coca Cola Company was a major sponsor.
The Sugar Bowl wanted this team but Ole Miss promised to play in Memphis even before the season started and declined the chance to go to the Crescent City because the University had given its word to play in Big Shelby.
In 1948 Ole Miss went 8-1 and stayed home, losing only to Tulane, a power at that time. Ole Miss thought they had earned the right to play SMU and Doak Walker and Kyle Rote but Oregon, featuring Norm Van Brocklin was invited instead. Farley Salmon and Barney Poole sparked that uninvited team. The 1948 Rebs will be saluted at the May 15 All-American Football Foundation Mid-South Banquet of Champions at the Hollywood Resort Hotel in Tunica. Salmon will receive a special salute and Barney will be remembered with other teammates that evening.
In the 2008 spring game Ole Miss unveiled the red shirt quarterback Javan Snead, who is all wool and a yard wide to the delight of the 28,311 on hand, including All-America Charlie Flowers, Dr. Shed Hill Roberson, and Ed Wilburn Hooker of Wild Bunch renown. Warren (Beaux ) Ball was in Oxford for the Noble family reunion and missed the pre-game party in the Grove, featuring Eli Manning and Patrick Willis, latest Rebs to explode on the Pro Football scene.
It was reported that several years ago Beaux Ball was talking to teammate Chancellor Robert Khayat, when several people came by to congratulate the Chancellor on landing Phil Beta Kappa for the University of Mississippi. Finally, they said, Bo questioned Khayat and wanted to know why everyone was excited about Ole Miss landing another Fraternity.
Snead was the field general Ed Orgeron recruited after he left the University of Texas and was heavily counted on to help Big Ed turn the program around. Completing 20 of 26 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, Snead would help any program improve. Ole Miss also displayed a replacement for Ben Jarvis Green Ellis in Cordera A Eason, who scored two touchdowns and gained 101 yards rushing.
Dexter McCluster also shone brightly snaring passes for 106 yards and gaining 35 yrds rushing, scoring a touchdown.
Houston Nutt is a proven winner on a national level. His Arkansas team beat national champion LSU, you recall.
The Rebels did not add a banner in the South end zone for FORTY years, until Eli Manning led Ole Miss to a western division title. Ole Miss still has not played in the championship game in Atlanta. The field generals who led Ole Miss to championships were Conerly, the triple threat, who was also a superb defender as well, Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day, Raymond Brown, Bobby Ray Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore, and Glynn Griffing.
Younger fans think Ole Miss winning football started with Archie Manning. As good as he was he never led Ole Miss to a SEC championship.
Now Jevan Snead hopes to join the SEC and national championship category by putting the 2008 Rebels in the South End zone as a blue ribbon winner.
Snead still has three years eligibility. Barring an injury I think he will accomplish the mission.
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The Passing of Ray Poole

OXFORD----Last of the famed Poole Brothers of Ole Miss Ray Smith Poole, Sr. passed away several weeks before his 87th birthday. He served his country during World War II with distinction in the South Pacific in the Marine Corps and fought in Saipan and Okinawa. His group was scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan when President Harry Truman approved the use of the Atomic Bomb, bringing the end of the War.
Before the War Ray had played Football,Baseball, and Basketball at Ole Miss. After entering the service he played one year at North Carolina Pre-Flight before overseas duty. He signed a Baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs and a Football contract with the New York Giants. His older brother Buster was the best defensive end in Pro Football, just as Don Hutson was the best offensive end before the War.
Buster also served his country in World War II and was playing in New York when the announcement of Pearl Harbor took place. He resumed play with the Giants after the War, losing three prime years as did many other great players. Buster was then invited to join Johnny Vaught's coaching staff at his alma mater.
Younger Brother Barney played on Red Blaik's unbeaten Army team for three years and then returned to Ole Miss for two more years.Service time did not count, so Barney played eight years of college football. His end coach at Ole Miss was his brother Buster.
Ray played in the Canadian League after his days in New York.
The Methodist Church in Oxford was full as family and friends came to bid Ray Poole goodbye.His nephew Paige Cothren delivered a marvelous eulogy. His bride of57 years survives with two children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces. Wanda Poole will miss her dear husband immensely as will all of us who cherished his friendship. He was my pal for six decades.
There were so many stories to tell which would not have been possible at the Church service.
Ray had persuaded John Vaught to use the field goal as an offensive weapon and he coached a young Paige Cothren to become one of the best in college football. Ray was also a master scout aiding the legendary Thomas King Swayze in recruiting the best players in Mississippi to come to Ole Miss.
Every one and his brother knew Ray Poole in Mississippi.He started looking at9th and l0th graders before anyone else. Ray was fired by Ken Cooper, who had replaced Billy Kinard as head football coach at Ole Miss. Earlier Cooper had recommended that Kinard replace Jim Poole as a starting end in his senior year. Later Cooper told Ray's son, Ray Jr. that he had the wrong last name to play for Ole Miss. Vaught had recommended Cooper to replace Kinard and had to eventually fire him.
Cooper wound up working for the Telephone Company.
The strength of Ole Miss' great Glory Years was recruiting. The Quarterbacks of the Glory Years were the Field Generals Charlie Conerly, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Eagle Day,Raymond Brown, Bobby Franklin, Jake Gibbs, Doug Elmore,and Glynn Griffing. Their greatest claim to fame was in Victories.
Boo Ferriss who pitched against Ray Poole in College thought that Ray Poole had the potential of a big league pitcher. Ray was scheduled to pitch against the Yankees in a Memphis exhibition game. I accompanied Butch Lambert Sr., who owned the car, the Brothers Stribling Jack and Bill to Memphis to see Ray beat Joe DiMaggio and the Yankees. The game was rained out and we went to the Peabody Hotel to invite Joe D to join us for refreshments.
We fanned out to find the Yankee Clipper. Big Bill Stribling knocked on tiny Phil Rizzuto's door and the little fellow nearly fainted when Strib asked if DiMaggio was there. I found Joe D.in a telephone booth, introduced myself and invited him to join us. He thanked me for the invitation and then said it would not look right to be drinking in public which made complete sense. I said Goodbye and my pals. I told Joe the story years later when I was working in the East.
I never asked Joe who might he be calling on a rainy afternoon in Memphis.
One day when I was working for Mississippi Southern Ray called to tell me he was coming to Hattiesburg and said we should have dinner and see what else was happening. He worked for a Sporting Goods organization after the Pro Football Season ended. Players needed an off season job in those days.
When I met Ray at a restaurant he asked what was happening? I said Absolutely nothing. No ball games, nothing, except for the electric chair execution of a little fellow, with a big fat girl friend who had killed two cops in a robbery. With nothing else to do, Ray Poole and I went to the Execution. Ray said he did not think the little fellow was ready to go.
Ray Poole like Barney played at Ole Miss before and after the war. In 1946 Ray was not only the Football Captain but elected Colonel Rebel as well.
I will miss Ray Poole. So will many, many others. who were privileged to have known him.
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