The 1966 season presented Coach
Vann’s team donned in what had become their usual old gold helmet with
one-inch black center stripe. The three-inch player identification numerals
on each side of the shell were changed to a block style. It was again
expected to be a season controlled by the Vandal defense and for the most
part, it was under the leadership of Captain and linebacker Ken Avery who
went on to a productive pro career with the Giants, Bengals, and Chiefs
[see HELMET HUT http://www.helmethut.com/Features/Dr.Ken53.html ].
He was later successful in the parking garage and limousine service
businesses. The offensive “Raiders” behind quarterbacks Glen Bynum and Terry
McMillan and the rushing of Milo McCarthy was productive enough to keep all
of the games competitive except the finale against an Alabama squad that finished number three in
the nation. The 348 total yards the Tide put on the Vandals was
statistically “expensive” but the proud defensive unit with 230 pound
defensive end Tom “Skee” Roussel and 5’9”, 210 “Poochie” Stringfellow, who
later became a successful high school coach after a try-out with Ottawa of
the CFL, still finished the season as the national leader in total defense.
Devrow finished his career with fifteen total interceptions and played for
the Browns in ‘67. Close losses to Memphis State by 6-0, Mississippi State by 10-9, and Ole Miss by 14-7, where
the Southmen had to punt seventeen times, produced what was for Coach Vann,
a poor 6-4 record.
After the ’66
season, offensive coach Lambright left to become the head coach at USM rival
Louisiana Tech where he coached Terry Bradshaw and took the Bulldogs to the
College Division Regional Championship Game in 1968 and ’69, 1971 and ’72,
and won the National title in ’73. The Southerners were left with a brutal
1967 schedule that would have them facing four top opponents in five weeks,
including SEC in-state rivals Mississippi State and Ole Miss, and highly ranked Alabama in Mobile. The team hung tough for three quarters
versus the Tide before falling 25-3 and then, on October 14, made history as
they served as Mississippi State’s Homecoming opponent and upset
their hosts 21-14. Quarterback Tommy Boutwell, a Perkinston JC transfer, who
completed fifty-five of 104 passes for the season, found wingback Ronnie
Channell for a touchdown pass and tailback Tony Yelverton ran for the
winning touchdown. Coach Vann noted this win as “the greatest squad victory
in the history of football at Southern,” and they almost had another the
following week in a close 14-7 loss to Ole Miss. By season’s end leading
rusher Johnny Johnson’s 503 yards were augmented by his twenty receptions,
running well behind the blocking of fullback Frank Johnston and guard Ihor
Kondrat who also served as a solid place kicker. The Vandal defense remained
a rock-ribbed unit, built around 260 pound noseguard Rex Barnes, linebacker
Larry Ussery who claimed four of his six total interceptions against Terry
Bradshaw of Louisiana Tech, and defensive back and return man Steve Fore who
had seven interceptions. Roussel who had always been one of the leaders,
spent three seasons at linebacker with the Redskins, two with New
Orleans, and one with the Eagles. The squad finished
the season ranked third nationally against the rush and sixth in total
defense.
