From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 1959 LSU Tigers football team
1959 LSU Tigers football team
1959 LSU Tigers football and No. 3 Ole Miss was touted as 1959’s "Game of the
Year." Ole Miss held a 3–0 lead until the 4th quarter,
often punting on first down due to the wet conditions
on the field. With about 10 minutes left in the game,
Ole Miss punted and Billy Cannon took the punt at the
LSU 11. Cannon charted a course along the Ole Miss side-
lines, weaving between Rebel defenders, eluding tacklers,
and racing towards the goal line for an 89 yard punt re-
turn score. Ole Miss then started a determined drive and
marched down to the two yard line where it was 4th and
goal with 18 seconds left. The Ole Miss ball carrier was
stopped at the one by Cannon and his teammates to en-
sure the 7–3 victory. However the next week, LSU lost
Bowl,
Sugar Bowl, L 21–0 vs. Ole Miss
its next SEC game against Tennessee at Knoxville, 14–13,
Conference Southeastern Conference when Cannon’s attempt at a 2 pt conversion failed. The
Tigers finished the season without another loss, 9–1, and
Ranking
they were ranked No. 3 in the nation behind No. 1 Syra-
Coaches #3 cuse and No. 2 Ole Miss.
AP #3
In the meantime Billy Cannon won the Heisman Tro-
phy by one of the widest margins in the history of the
1959 record 9–2 (5–1 SEC) trophy balloting. The Tigers were invited to play in the
Head coach Paul Dietzel Sugar Bowl, and their opponent was to be none other
than Ole Miss, in a rematch. At first Paul Dietzel, LSU’s
Home stadium Tiger Stadium coach, was not anxious to replay the Rebels, but he was
Seasons persuaded to do so by the athletic director, Jim Corbett.
« 1958 1960 » By the time Jan. 1 came, three LSU star players were in-
jured, including quarterback Warren Rabb, and halfbacks
Wendell Harris and Johnny Robinson. The Tigers were
The 1959 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana
soundly beaten by the Rebels, 21–0.
State University in the 1959 college football season. The
Tigers were coached by Paul Dietzel and were the defend-
Schedule
ing national champions.
Pre-season References
• The Fighting Tigers: Seventy-Five Years of LSU Football by
The Tigers were a near unanimous pre-season favorite to
Peter Finney, LSU Press, Baton Rouge, 1968
repeat as national champions in 1959. Most of the play-
ers from the National Championship team of 1958 were
returning, including the All-American halfback Billy Can-
non, who had come in third in the 1958 Heisman ballot-
ing.
Season
LSU had no real trouble in winning its first 6 games in
1959, though its offense was not as potent as 1958’s. Its
defense made up for it by being even stingier, allowing
only 6 points in 6 games. In the 7th game of the season
LSU faced its sternest test—undefeated Ole Miss on Hal-
loween in Tiger Stadium. That game between No. 1 LSU
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 1959 LSU Tigers football team
Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 19, Rice* #1 Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA NBC W 26–3 48,613
1959
September 26, #9 TCU* #1 Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 10–0 65,694
1959
October 3, 1959 #13 Baylor* #1 Shreveport, LA W 22–0 32,308
October 10, Miami (FL)* #1 Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 27–3 64,864
1959
October 17, at Kentucky #1 Stoll Field/McLean Stadium • Lexing- W 9–0 33,230
1959 ton, KY
October 24, at Florida #1 Florida Field • Gainesville, FL W 9–0 47,578
1959
October 31, #3 Ole Miss #1 Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 7–3 67,327
1959
November 7, at #13 Tennessee #1 Shields-Watkins Field • Knoxville, TN L 14–13 45,682
1959
November 14, Mississippi State #3 Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 27–0 63,272
2959
November 21, Tulane #3 Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA W 14–6 65,057
1959
January 1, 1960 vs. #2 Ole Miss* #3 Tulane Stadium • New Orleans, LA (Su- NBC L 21–0 81,141
gar Bowl)
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches’ Poll released prior to game.
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Categories:
• 1959 NCAA University Division football season
• LSU Tigers football seasons
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