![]() ![]() Under Brewer’s direction, Ole Miss won for the first time ever at Alabama, won at LSU for the first time since 1968, gained its first victory over Georgia since 1976 and earned its first victory over Arkansas in Little Rock since 1960. ![]() That success continued during his stretch as head coach, as the Rebels were 8-3 against the Bulldogs, including seven wins in his first eight seasons. He took the Rebels and their fans bowling five times, becoming the only Ole Miss head coach to guide five of his first 10 teams to a bowl game.ĭuring his playing days, Brewer was on teams that went 3-0 against in-state rival Mississippi State. Ole Miss had not been to a bowl game in 12 years, was nowhere to be found in the national polls and coming off five straight losing seasons.īrewer promised to once again make Ole Miss competitive, and time would tell that he remained true to his word. When Brewer was selected to succeed Steve Sloan in December 1982, he did so with high hopes of turning around a football program that had fallen from the nation’s elite. However, a closer look reveals an interesting fact: In his tenure at Ole Miss, which began before the 1983 season, Brewer became the dean of Southeastern Conference coaches, a position he inherited in 1993 when Auburn’s Pat Dye retired and Tennessee’s Johnny Majors left the Vols for Pittsburgh. When compared to the Vaught era (1947-70 1973), Brewer’s coaching career at Ole Miss may not seem long. His 11 seasons as head coach also represented the second-longest tenure coaching Ole Miss football, more years than anyone with the exception of Vaught, who had 190 victories during his 24-plus campaigns as leader of the Rebels. Our prayers go out to the Brewer family and all of Rebel Nation during this time.”ĭuring his 11 years at the helm of the UM football program, Brewer’s 67 total victories placed him second behind Vaught. “He was greatly admired by his players and his teammates and will forever be engrained in the history of Rebel football. “As a coach and player, Billy Brewer shared a love for Ole Miss that was unparalleled,” Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke said. He is survived by his sons Brett (Susan) of Memphis, Tennessee and Gunter (Rhonda) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and grandchildren Keaton (Kate), Blaine (Tara), Lauren, Bailey and Brogan. In addition to his parents, Brewer was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Kay Gunter Brewer, and brothers Robert “Bobby” Brewer and Richard “Red” Brewer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Palmer Home in Columbus, Oxford-University United Methodist Church or the M-Club Scholarship fund at the University of Mississippi. A private family service will be held Sunday (May 20) at Gunter-Peel Funeral Home in Columbus. Saturday (May 19) at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. ![]() “Billy” Brewer, 83, who played on three of Johnny Vaught’s greatest teams at the University of Mississippi and then returned years later to become the second-winningest head football coach in school history, passed away late Saturday afternoon (May 12) at Tresevant Manor in Memphis, Tennessee, following a brief illness.Ī memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. "Ten other players are on Hale's teams, but they are there merely to conform with gridiron rules.Chucky Mullins (38) and head coach Billy Brewer prepare to lead the Rebels onto the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. In 1921, Hale scored 161 points and gained 2,160 yards as he was selected All-Southern. He stood 5'11" and weighed 170 pounds.ĭuring the war he was wounded, reported missing, and found later in a hospital in France. He is the name sake of the Hale in Robinson-Hale Stadium, wherein Mississippi College plays it home games. Hale was also inducted into the Millsaps College Sports Hall of Fame in 1970. He was elected to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1961, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963. He was nominated though not selected for an Associated Press All-Time Southeast 1869-1919 era team. "Goat" played quarterback at Mississippi College from 1915 to 1916 and again from 1920 to 1921, after serving in World War I. He battered through the line, scoring a touchdown, and ran past the end zone until his head hit a wooden building, loosening several planks. Hale got the nickname "Goat" playing there against Brookhaven in 1914. Hale was born in Jackson, Mississippi and played high school football at its Central High School. After playing, he served many years as a coach. Edwin Whitfield "Goat" Hale (Janu– March 25, 1983) was an American football player for the Mississippi College Collegians who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. ![]()
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