History of the SEC: Ole Miss Rebels
When it comes to the University of Mississippi, its football team reflects both the small-town charm and big-time sophistication that the Oxford campus is know for.
No home to big-time college football is quite as quant, gracious, charming or Southern, and not in a geographical way. It features Rowan Oak, once the home of William Faulkner, Oxford Square, and The Grove, once described by The Sporting News as the “Holy Grail of tailgating experiences.” Just don’t forget the words to the “Hotty Toddy” cheer (but if you do, they’ll be more than happy to help you out.
The school is so entrenched in its roots and that doesn’t even use its own name. “Ole Miss,” was selected during a contest to name the yearbook in 1986, and over the years became synonymous with the university. Somehow, it’s just more fitting.
“There is a valid distinction between the university and Ole Miss even though the separate threads are closely interwoven,” alumnus Frank Everett Jr. wrote. “The university is buildings, trees and people. Ole Miss is mood, emotion and personality. One is physical, and the other is spiritual. One is tangible, and the other intangible. The university is respected, but Ole Miss is loved. The university gives a diploma and regretfully terminates tenure, but one never graduates from Ole Miss.”
At Ole Miss, the men don’t boast about having once dated the homecoming queen, they brag about having escorted a Miss America. And they take honor in remembering their sports icons, even if Casey Stengel did only coach the baseball team briefly in 1914. He’s considered part of their heritage and family, as are all the football players and coaches.
Georgia coach Vince Dooley once said: “When you hear forty-six thousand Rebels screaming for your blood, and meaning it, it can be eerie.” Now Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at Hollingsworth Field, the state’s largest facility, has a capacity of 60,038.
Ole Miss football dates back to 1890, when Dr. A.L. Bondurant was instrumental in the formation of the school’s athletic association. With the future dean of the graduate school serving as manager/coach, the first game was played against Southwest Baptist University of Jackson, Tennessee, a 56-0 victory that helped lead to a 4-1 season.
Almost immediately, the sport was popular. Among one of the more telling quotes in early school history was from James ‘Bobo’ Champion in 1893: “The athletic fever has now taken full possession of the university … and the time is already here when, in order to rank high in college or society, one must join the running crowd and play on the football team.”
It’s believed that C.D. Clark was the first paid football coach in 1894, when Ole Miss first faced a few of its future SEC rivals. It squeaked out a 6-0 victory against Alabama and beat LSU 26-6, but lost 40-0 to Vanderbilt to finish 6-1.
Like most of its collegiate counterparts, the early years saw numerous coaching changes and Ole Miss was no exception. Prior to 1925, the team had 22 different head coaches, the most noteworthy being a 7-1 finish under Dr. Nathan P. Stauffer in 1910. Over three seasons he had a 17-7-2 record.
Homer Hazel was the first coach to provide some stability, when from 1925-29 Ole Miss tallied a 21-22-3 mark. Ed Walker had a similar record during his eight years at the helm, and led the Rebels to their first bowl appearance. A 9-2 season brought a bid from the Orange Bowl, but during the 14-6 regular season finale against Mississippi State, fullback Clarence (Big Un) Hapes sustained a knee injury. He would be missed against Catholic University from Washington D.C.
A 67-yard sweep around the left side by Ned Peters put Ole Miss on the scoreboard, and sophomore halfback Ray Hapes returned from an injury to lead a second-half comeback, but despite being outgained 265 yards to 172, and in first downs 15 to seven, Catholic U. held on for a 20-19 victory
