100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 63 Days - Looking back at a memorable 1963

Jeff Lebby’s era of Mississippi State football has arrived.

The Bulldogs are on their third coach in as many years as Mike Leach’s tragic passing opened the door for defensive coordinator Zach Arnett’s debut as head coach last year. That experiment failed before the year even ended for State and now it’s Lebby’s turn to take the wheel.

While there is always a risk in hiring first time head coaches, Lebby brings to Starkville an exciting offensive scheme that has been productive everywhere he’s been. The coach has also brought with him some swagger that has the fanbase ready to see what’s next.

Over the course of the next 100 days, we will take a look at Lebby’s roster and even some fun historical rewinds that will bring back memories for Dawg fans of all ages.

Today, we look back at a memorable season and one of State’s most memorable bowl games.  

100 Day Bulldog Countdown: 63 Days – Looking back at a memorable 1963  

In the middle of some lean years (more like decades), the Bulldogs had a fun year in ’63. State had seven-straight seasons under Allyn McKeen in which the Bulldogs had a winning season. From 1940-47, State was 53-15 with the schools first – and only- SEC Championship.

From 1948-62, MSU went through six coaches and had just five winning seasons. Paul Davis would deliver State’s best season in nearly 20 years would be on the way. Davis was hired in 1962 after Athletic Director Dudy Noble was fired in 1959 and head football coach Wade Walker stepped in to lead the department. In ’61, Walker would step away from being head coach and Davis was promoted from assistant to head coach.

Expectations weren’t especially high for Davis and is first year didn’t exactly change the opinions as the Bulldogs finished 3-6. In year two, however, the Bulldogs found some magic. State jumped out to a 4-0-1 start to the season with a win at Tennessee and the tie coming at Florida. After dropping the only two losses of the season to Memphis and Alabama on the road by a combined eight points, State knocked off Auburn and LSU and would tie with No. 3 Ole Miss, 10-10.

The season earned the Bulldogs their first bowl game since 1940 as they were invited to the Liberty Bowl to play NC State. Most State fans are familiar with the Liberty Bowl being played in Memphis, but that wasn’t the case at this point. State traveled all the way to Philadelphia, Pa., for this one.

Just over 8,000 people were there to watch a game that was infamous for the frigid temperatures. Legendary State broadcaster spoke about the sub 20 degree temps often during his career. His cup of coffee froze solid, his pen failed to write and he uttered the famous line that the atmosphere was “colder than a pawnbroker’s heart.”

One of the great highlights of State history came early in the ball game as Bill McGuire blocked a Wolfpack punt and All-SEC end Tommy Inman scooped it up to score a touchdown. State led 13-0 in the first half after Sonny Fisher scored but NC State would cut into a 16-6 lead with a score in the fourth quarter at 16-12.

MSU would hang on to win despite the late surge and the Bulldogs were Liberty Bowl champs.

State finished the season 7-2-2 with a 4-1-2 record in the SEC. The Bulldogs finished fourth in the SEC with a tie against the SEC Champion Rebels, a win over second place Auburn and a one-point loss to third place Alabama.

All great seasons happen thanks to great players. State had All-American lineman in defensive tackle Tommy Neville and center Pat Watson. Three backs on offense were also key in Ode Burrell, Sonny Fisher and Hoyle Granger and they earned All-SEC honors, as did Inman. More importantly, Davis earned SEC Coach of the Year honors.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs weren’t able to follow that successful season with another. Davis coached three more seasons with the Bulldogs and didn’t win more than four games in a season. The next season with seven or more wins would come over a decade later when Bob Tyler led the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record in 1974.

Nonetheless, the season is still one to remember all of this time later.