Willie Heidelburg, a football pioneer, died earlier this week at the age of 63. Services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Christ United Methodist where a huge sanctuary might possibly hold all those who will want to pay their respects to a kind, unassuming gentleman who played a huge role in Mississippi […]
When the 1959 Rebels are celebrated tonight at the Renasant Bank Toast to the 1959 Rebels 53-year-old Rose Hopper of Madison will be one of those toasting. “How could I not?” Rose Hopper said this morning when she purchased her tickets. When you read her story you will understand. Rose Hopper was born in Meridian […]
Willie Heidelburg, a tiny, kind, mild-mannered man who never sought the spotlight but flitted into it nonetheless in October 1970, has died. Heidelburg, an assistant coach at Belhaven, was the only African American on the field on Oct. 17, 1970, when he scored two touchdowns to help Southern Miss defeat fourth-ranked Ole Miss 30-14 in […]
Boo Ferriss was honored all different kinds of ways at Mississippi State on homecoming weekend. He was the grand marshal of the homecoming parade. John Cohen had him address his baseball team. And the MSU Kappa Sigma fraternity chapter named their beautiful courtyard in honor of Ferriss, who was initiated more than 70 years ago. […]
Larry “Doc” Harrington, the first athletic trainer ever selected for induction into your Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, died Saturday following a long illness. He was 81. At Southern Miss, folks knew Doc as much more than a guy who taped ankles and eased aches and pains. Says USM, MSHoF and College Football Hall of […]
This was last week’s column syndicated through the Mississippi Press Association (thank-you, MPA and subscribing newspapers). Since it was written, Ray Perkins has had shoulder surgery (Tuesday), coached against East Central with his arm in a sling (Thursday), won 47-0, and moved to No. 3 in the national rankings. ELLISVILLE ― Sun-burned, 71-year-old Ray Perkins […]
DVDs of the recent Tribute to Kent Hull, sponsored by Friends of Kent Hull and your Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, are available. The Tribute to Kent Hull, filmed by Shorter Productions, runs about an hour in length and includes highlights from Hull’s playing days, a taped tribute by Marv Levy, and poignant […]
Four years ago, the Jackson Touchdown Club celebrated the 50-year anniversary of the famous 1959 Ole Miss-LSU game. The late, great Paul Dietzel and Billy Cannon were on hand. So were nine 1959 Ole Miss Rebels. This was my column from that night. Your Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate the 1959 […]
