Gator Bowl Memories: Rugged Ole Miss Defense Too Much For Gators in 1958 Gator Bowl
Monday, December 26, 2011 | Football
By Chris Harry
GatorZone.com Contributing Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- After a winless midseason run of three games when Florida scored just 18 points in tying Vanderbilt and back-to-back losses against LSU and Auburn, the 1958 Gators were staring at a 2-3-1 record with four games remaining.
A bowl berth seemed unrealistic, at best.
But then came a 7-6 defeat of Georgia and wins over upstart Florida State in the first meeting between the schools and a victory over Miami in the regular-season. That run highlighted a four-game winning streak that put UF's record at 6-3-1 and was enough for the Gator Bowl Selection Committee to come calling with the second invite to Jacksonville in six years and just the second postseason berth in UF history.
Florida's opponent for the 14th Gator Bowl? Southeastern Conference power/rival Mississippi.
To the time capsule, we go.
THE DATE: Dec. 27, 1958
IN THE HEADLINES THAT DAY
* Government forces suffering severe setbacks at the hands of insurgents in Central Cuba warned civilians the army plans all-out air and ground attacks against rebel positions in popular places, as reports swirled that forces loyal to President Fulgencio Batista lacked numbers against mounting troops loyal to revolutionary Fidel Castro's communist movement.
* Pope John Paul XXII went to Rome's prison as a father visiting his wayward children. “You couldn't come to see me, so I came to see you.” His simple remarks brought tears to hardened eyes among the 1,500 convicts who cheered the Supreme Pontiff in the first trip by a pope to the Rome prison.
* President Eisenhower set up an office inside a glassed-in porch at his frozen farm in Gettysburg, Pa., to begin a leisure composition of his annual State of the Union message to Congress.
IN THE THEATERS
“tom thumb” starring Russ Tamblyn, Peter Sellers and Terry Thomas
“The Defiant Ones” starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier
“Vertigo” starring James Stewart and Kim Novak
ON THE TUBE
“Sea Hunt”
“The Donna Reed Show”
“77 Sunset Strip”
ON THE AIRWAVES
(Billboard's Top 3 songs of 1952)
“Volare” (“Nel Blue Dipinto Di Blue”) by Demenico Modugno
“All I Have To Do Is Dream” by the Everly Brothers
“Don't / I Beg You” by Elvis Presley
FOR SALE
3-bedroom, 2-bath home (avg. cost): $12,750
Chevy Impala: $2,695
Postage stamp: 4 cents
Gallon of gasoline: 25 cents
Bread: 19 cents a loaf
THE GATOR BOWL SET-UP
The mighty Ole Miss Rebels (10-2) came to the Gator Bowl as a six-point favorite, having led the SEC in rushing, but also spicing their offensive attack with exactly 1,000 yards passing.
Folks, that was a bunch back in the day.
The Gators' strengths were found in the offensive and defensive lines, with some catcalls coming in the run-up to the game doubting Florida -- after going just 1-3-1 in league play -- really deserved to play in a bowl game.
It was by virtue of what were billed as “impressive losses” that got the Gators there. Those were a 10-7 defeat to LSU, which claimed the '58 national championship a month earlier, as well as a 6-5 loss to Auburn, which won the national title the year before and finished that '58 season ranked No. 4.
One pre-game analysis focused on Rebels quarterback Bobby Franklin and the fact he outweighed UF counterpart Jimmy Dunn by 25 pounds, “but is the same master quarterback,” and wondered how Florida would fair against Mississippi's two sturdy running backs in Kent Lovelace and “Cowboy” Woodruff.
The game was to be broadcast on national TV (“to all 48 states, as well as Alaska.”).
THE GAME
Mississippi's high-powered offense took a back seat to a rugged Rebels defense, which shut down Florida threat after threat to escape the Gator Bowl with a 7-3 victory before a wet and chilled crowd of more than 41,000.
Not five minutes into the game, Rebels backup fullback James Anderson plunged across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown run. Not three minutes later, Gators halfback Billy Booker booted a 17-yard field goal.
And that was it for the scoring.
Seven minutes, 10 points.
One newspaper account called it a “thrilling spectacle with great punting and the occasional long run that had spectators sitting on the edge until the game's final play.”
Note: There was no mention of what happened on that final play.
Both teams rushed for 157 yards, with Anderson garnering game MVP honors with 62 of those ground yards and the lone touchdown. Only 18 passes were thrown, just seven completed.
IN THEIR WORDS
Following their season-long pattern, the Gators couldn't win the big one.
-- The Tampa Morning Tribune
“It took a tremendous team effort on both parties today and although the Gators did not take the opportunity handed to them by the Rebels on several occasions I still think it was Florida's finest effort of the season.”
-- UF coach Bob Woodruff.
“Though they didn't say, the Florida Gators depicted disappointment and dejection as they paraded slowly to the dressing rooms after having been defeated by an outstanding group of Rebels 7-3. Mud and sweat clinging to the once white jerseys of the Gators provided the nation's television audience mute testimony of a tremendous struggle in the giant oval called by one of the bowl committee men as “the best Gator Bowl game seen here in a long time.”
-- Bill Blogget, The Tampa Morning Tribune
“Well, suh, ah think today was a pretty bad day for bawl-handling. We changed our tactics and strategy during the game quite a bit and tried to keep Florida off balance. We use a hesitant type of signal-calling and if our opponents aren't used to it it can give them fits at first.”
-- Ole Miss coach Johnny Vaught (quoted through his deep Southern drawl)
“Shoot, we should have beaten them by four or five touchdowns and we had the opportunities, but that is the breaks.”
--Florida quarterback Jimmy Dunn
“We gave them 'nuff breaks, but they jus didn't take 'em. I think LSU was the toughest team we played, but Florida is next to 'em. Those cotton-pickin' ends, [Don] Fleming and [Bill] Hudson, gave me fits on the bootleg and rollout pass plays. Fo' sho', those boys know how to hit.”
--Mississippi quarterback Bobby Franklin (also quoted through his drawl)
