1959 LSU Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1959 LSU Tigers football Southeastern Conference SEC 3 3 9–2 5–1 Paul Dietzel 5th Tiger Stadium Sugar Bowl L 0–21 vs. Ole Miss The 1959 LSU Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1959 college football season. In their fifth year under head coach Paul Dietzel, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 9–2, with a conference record of 5–1, and finished tied for second in the SEC.1959 LSU Fighting Tigers Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 8, 2023 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/louisiana-state/1959-schedule.html Halfback Billy Cannon won the Heisman Trophy for the season. Schedule 1959 AP September 19 w y 1 Rice Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA NBC 26–3 48,613 https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald-surprising-owls-had/133127172/ Surprising Owls had LSU worried Waco Tribune-Herald September 20, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com September 26 w y 1 TCU 9 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 10–0 65,694 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-lsu-trims-tcu-in-air/133127240/ LSU trims TCU in air Victoria Advocate September 27, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 3 w y y 1 Baylor State Fair Stadium Shreveport, LA 22–0 32,308–35,455 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-35000-watch-lsu-tigers-romp-o/133127363/ 35,000 watch LSU Tigers romp over Baylor, 22 to 0 The Shreveport Times October 4, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 10 w y 1 Miami (FL) Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 27–3 64,864–67,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-lsu-starts-slow-ga/133127492/ LSU starts slow, gains win No. 4 Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star October 11, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 17 w y 1 Kentucky McLean Stadium Lexington, KY 9–0 33,230 https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-lsu-shades-cats-90/133127571/ LSU shades Cats, 9–0 Arizona Daily Star October 18, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 24 w y 1 Florida Florida Field Gainesville, FL rivalry 9–0 47,578 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-cannon-carri/133127647/ Cannon carries LSU past Florida, 9–0 The Knoxville News-Sentinel October 25, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com October 31 w y 1 Ole Miss 3 Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA rivalry 7–3 67,327 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-bully-cannons-89-y/133127763/ Billy Cannon's 89-yard punt return gives LSU 7–3 victory over Ole Miss in 'Game of Year' The Daily Advertiser November 1, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com November 7 l y 1 Tennessee 13 Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN 13–14 45,682 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98808266/vols-end-long-lsu-spurt/ The Montana Standard Vols end long LSU spurt November 8, 1959 March 31, 2022 Newspapers.com November 14 w 3 Mississippi State Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA rivalry 27–0 63,272 https://www.newspapers.com/article/monroe-morning-world-lsu-routs-maroons/133127869/ LSU routs Maroons Monroe Morning World November 15, 1959 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com November 21 w 3 Tulane Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA Battle for the Rag 14–6 65,057 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85644689/cannons-45-yard-touchdown-run-boosts-be/ The Daily Advertiser Cannon's 45-yard touchdown run boosts Bengals to 14–6 win, Sugar Bowl invite November 22, 1959 September 19, 2021 Newspapers.com January 1, 1960 l y 3 Ole Miss 2 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl NBC 0–21 81,141 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-journal-ole-miss-slaughter/133127986/ Ole Miss slaughters LSU, 21–0, in Sugar Bowl The Knoxville Journal January 2, 1960 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com Preseason The Tigers were a near unanimous preseason favorite to repeat as national champions in 1959. Most of the players from the national championship team of 1958 were returning. 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 Halloween in Tiger Stadium. That game between No. 1 LSU 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 very 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 sidelines, weaving between Rebel defenders, eluding tacklers, and racing towards the goal line for an 89 yard punt return touchdown. 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. Ole Miss quarterback Doug Elmore was stopped at the one by Cannon and his teammates to ensure the 7–3 victory. However, the next week, LSU lost its next SEC game against Tennessee at Knoxville, 14–13, when Cannon's attempt at a 2 pt conversion failed. The loss not only cost LSU a shot as repeating as national champion, it also denied them the SEC championship, which went to the Georgia Bulldogs, and ended a 19-game win streak—the longest in school history—that started in the last game of 1957. The Tigers defeated Mississippi State and Tulane to finish the season 9–1, and they were ranked No. 3 in the nation behind No. 1 Syracuse and No. 2 Ole Miss. Cannon won the Heisman Trophy by one of the widest margins in the history of the trophy balloting at the time. The Tigers were invited to play in the Sugar Bowl, and their opponent was Ole Miss, in a rematch. At first Paul Dietzel, LSU's coach, was not anxious to replay the Rebels, but he was persuaded to do so by the athletic director, Jim Corbett. By the time January 1 came, three LSU star players were injured, including quarterback Warren Rabb, and halfback/defensive backs Wendell Harris and Johnny Robinson. The Tigers were soundly beaten by the Rebels, 21–0, and were outgained 373–74. Following the Sugar Bowl, Cannon signed a professional contract with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League, which was scheduled to begin play in September 1960, spurning an offer from the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams. References Additional sources The Fighting Tigers: Seventy-Five Years of LSU Football by Peter Finney, LSU Press, Baton Rouge, 1968 LSU Category:LSU Tigers football seasons LSU Tigers football