Billy Cannon, LSU's only Heisman Trophy winner, dies at age 80

stephenPE · May 20, 2018

Dr. Billy Cannon, LSU's only Heisman Trophy winner regarded as the school's greatest ever football player, died in his sleep Sunday morning at the age of 80.

Playing on both sides of the ball as most players did in the 1950s, Cannon led the Tigers in his junior year to its first national championship in 1958 and he won the Heisman as a senior in 1959.

Cannon was a rare athlete, even by today's standards, combining sprinter speed with brute strength. He could consistently run a 9.4 in the 100-yard dash and, at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, he had the size to overpower his opponents as well as outrun them.

78 · May 20, 2018

Thanks, Coach. Now I really feel old.

Ancient Reptile · May 20, 2018

stephenPE said:
Dr. Billy Cannon, LSU's only Heisman Trophy winner regarded as the school's greatest ever football player, died in his sleep Sunday morning at the age of 80.

Playing on both sides of the ball as most players did in the 1950s, Cannon led the Tigers in his junior year to its first national championship in 1958 and he won the Heisman as a senior in 1959.

Cannon was a rare athlete, even by today's standards, combining sprinter speed with brute strength. He could consistently run a 9.4 in the 100-yard dash and, at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, he had the size to overpower his opponents as well as outrun them.

Nice post. Wouldn't hurt to mention Halloween and the fact that 210# was bigger in the 1950s.

stephenPE · May 20, 2018

Cannon was the star running back for LSU during the 1958 national championship season and was awarded the Heisman Trophy the following season. He was a two-time unanimous All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year, but the moment that immortalized Cannon's college career is also one of the best plays in LSU history.

Playing against Ole Miss on Halloween in 1959, LSU trailed the Rebels 3-0 in a defensive battle in the fourth quarter. Cannon scored the game-winning touchdown on an incredible 89-yard punt return score, shaking defenders and breaking tackles before emerging from the crowd and pulling away as the Death Valley crowd roared

Okeechobee Joe · May 20, 2018

What a lot of people don't know is that the undefeated number one ranked LSU Tigers went to Shields-Watkins field in Knoxville, Tennessee the next week and were beaten by a not very good Tennessee team 14 - 13. Cannon was completely shut down.

Then there was rematch between Ole Miss and LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss who had lost previously 7 - 3 to LSU won the re-match 21 - 0.

GR8 2B · May 20, 2018

I counted at least 6 broken tackles in that Halloween run of his.

MidwestChomp · May 20, 2018

I think Rog said he went to school with Billy? I'm sure they shared some good times with the nitrous.

Ancient Reptile · May 20, 2018

Okeechobee Joe said:
What a lot of people don't know is that the undefeated number one ranked LSU Tigers went to Shields-Watkins field in Knoxville, Tennessee the next week and were beaten by a not very good Tennessee team 14 - 13. Cannon was completely shut down.

Then there was rematch between Ole Miss and LSU in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss who had lost previously 7 - 3 to LSU won the re-match 21 - 0.

Who was the Ole Miss fullback?

Okeechobee Joe · May 20, 2018

Ancient Reptile said:
Who was the Ole Miss fullback?

The quarterback was Jake Gibbs an All-American.The fullback was Charley Flowers. Is that right.? And no, I didn't look that up. Jake Gibbs played on the New York Yankees baseball team as a back-up catcher to Yogi Berra and Elston Howard. Charley Flowers played in the AFL. Billy Cannon was significant in that there was a bidding war between the NFL and the AFL. The AFL won with Cannon going to the Oakland Raiders where he played tight end.

Ancient Reptile · May 20, 2018

Okeechobee Joe said:
The quarterback was Jake Gibbs an All-American.The fullback was Charley Flowers. Is that right.? And no, I didn't look that up. Jake Gibbs played on the New York Yankees baseball team as a back-up catcher to Yogi Berra and Elston Howard. Charley Flowers played in the AFL. Billy Cannon was significant in that there was a bidding war between the NFL and the AFL. The AFL won with Cannon going to the Oakland Raiders where he played tight end.

Yesh, Flowers. My memory is that Flowers out played Cannon In the Sugar Bowl rematch. Is that right?

LagoonGator68 · May 20, 2018

Okeechobee Joe said:
The quarterback was Jake Gibbs an All-American.The fullback was Charley Flowers. Is that right.? And no, I didn't look that up. Jake Gibbs played on the New York Yankees baseball team as a back-up catcher to Yogi Berra and Elston Howard. Charley Flowers played in the AFL. Billy Cannon was significant in that there was a bidding war between the NFL and the AFL. The AFL won with Cannon going to the Oakland Raiders where he played tight end.

Ancient Reptile said:
Yesh, Flowers. My memory is that Flowers out played Cannon In the Sugar Bowl rematch. Is that right?

You guys might be older than me! Hard to believe.....Jim Taylor was his FB in '57 and out rushed Cannon 750+ yard to 550+ yards and was drafted by the Packers.

Paul Dietzel and his damn Chinese Bandits....we didn't play them yearly back then.

Okeechobee Joe · May 20, 2018

Ancient Reptile said:
Yesh, Flowers. My memory is that Flowers out played Cannon In the Sugar Bowl rematch. Is that right?

I was 9 years old then. I remember watching the game on television. I think Flowers did outplay Cannon. There was a good chance Flowers did because his team won 21 - 0. When I was growing up and first learning about football LSU and Ole Miss were the kings of the SEC. Alabama was terrible under Ears Whitworth. But in 1960 Bear Bryant took over at Alabama and they won the National Championship in 1961. Charley Pell was on that team. He played in the offensive line, He was a guard I think. Pell's voice and mannerisms were a lot like Bryant's.

I remember in 1964 with a sophomore quarterback named Steve Spurrier the Florida Gators beat Ole Miss
30 - 14. This was a real shocker back then. It represented the turning of the tide. Ole Miss was starting to go into a long decline. People knew then that one day Florida with its great growth in population would be a football power. It just took longer that what everybody thought.

Ancient Reptile · May 21, 2018

My closest HS friend was at bama when Bryant arrived. He was highly offended when Bryant discovered that the best use for most of the players he inherited was as tackling dummies. I was at UF when Spurrier and enjoyed his success greatly

Swamp Donkey · May 21, 2018

Do Corndogs stink even worse once they are dead?

Are you guys really talking about the 50s?

stephenPE · May 21, 2018

It was must a matter of time before

side-view-of-a-provence-donkey-defecating-isolated-on-white-picture-id613532272

on the thread............

stephenPE · May 21, 2018

Okeechobee Joe said:
I was 9 years old then. I remember watching the game on television. I think Flowers did outplay Cannon. There was a good chance Flowers did because his team won 21 - 0. When I was growing up and first learning about football LSU and Ole Miss were the kings of the SEC. Alabama was terrible under Ears Whitworth. But in 1960 Bear Bryant took over at Alabama and they won the National Championship in 1961. Charley Pell was on that team. He played in the offensive line, He was a guard I think. Pell's voice and mannerisms were a lot like Bryant's.

I remember in 1964 with a sophomore quarterback named Steve Spurrier the Florida Gators beat Ole Miss
30 - 14. This was a real shocker back then. It represented the turning of the tide. Ole Miss was starting to go into a long decline. People knew then that one day Florida with its great growth in population would be a football power. It just took longer that what everybody thought.

didnt Graves go into Bear territory and beat him in 63. Biggest win in UF history till then maybe. Bonfire in the middle of 13th and Univ ave

LagoonGator68 · May 21, 2018

stephenPE said:
didnt Graves go into Bear territory and beat him in 63. Biggest win in UF history till then maybe. Bonfire in the middle of 13th and Univ ave

LagoonGator68 · May 21, 2018

Swamp Donkey said:
Do Corndogs stink even worse once they are dead?

Are you guys really talking about the 50s?

What about it....!

Theologator · May 21, 2018

This is all a bit before my time (I was born in ‘61) but I’ve enjoyed the thread.

NVAGATOR86 · May 21, 2018

Saw an earlier post about Billy Cannon and the NFL/AFL. He was drafted first in the 1960 draft by the NFL Rams. He did go to the AFL but with the Houston Oilers (now the Tenn Titans) Later in his career he ended up with the Raiders and Chiefs, He actually played in Super Bowl 1 with the Chiefs. Billy was a great player with the Oilers and won two AFL titles with them. I believe he was the MVP in both title wins.

In my much younger days I was a big AFL fan and he was one of my favorites.

Now I can't remember if I took my tylenol this morning but I do remember Billy Cannon in 1960.

See what you guys have to look forward to?

Billy Cannon, LSU's only Heisman Trophy winner, dies at age 80

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