History of Ole Miss Football
HISTORY & RECORDS HISTORY OF OLE MISS FOOTBALL The University of Mississippi boasts a long and col- orful football history, which includes the formation of the first football team in the state, as well as one of the most successful programs in the history of collegiate football. In its 120-year history, the Ole Miss football pro- gram has claimed three national championships (1959, 1960 and 1962), six Southeastern Conference titles (1947, 1954, 1955, 1960, 1962, and 1963), and one SEC Western Division title (2003). In addition, Ole Miss has produced 54 first-team All-America selections and 162 First Team All-SEC selections, appeared in 34 bowl games with 22 wins, and sent almost 300 players into the professional ranks. REBEL FOOTBALL BEGINNINGS The beginnings of the program can be traced all the way back to 1890 when Dr. A.L. Bondurant, who would later serve as Dean of the Graduate School, urged Ole Miss students to help in the formation of an Athletic Association in the interests of football, baseball and ten- First Ole Miss All-American Bruiser Kinard (Left) nis. Such a group became a reality a short while later, and Kinard, in 1936. Kinard, who also earned All-America things to come for Ole Miss. During his 24-year tenure, in 1893, a football team was organized, with Bondurant first-team honors in 1937, would be the first of 46 Reb- the Rebels would have only one losing campaign. serving as the manager-coach. els to earn the prestigious national accolade. Vaught’s squads, however, didn’t stop at just That first squad set a precedent that was to be- Under Walker’s tenure, Ole Miss took another step winning league titles.
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