Podcasts History Mississippi Moments Podcast MSM 323 Thad Pie Vann -Rebuilding the Football Program at Mississippi Southern College

MSM 323 Thad Pie Vann -Rebuilding the Football Program at Mississippi Southern College

Published: Aug. 10, 2012, 8:48 p.m.

During WWII, Mississippi Southern College (Southern Miss)\xa0discontinued its football program. After the war, Coach Thad \u201cPie\u201d Vann combed the South looking for new players.

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\xa0 Vann recalls the decision to leave the Gulf States Conference and how an undefeated season in 1958 led to national recognition.

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\xa0\xa0 Vann served as head football for Southern Miss from 1947 to 1968.\xa0 He notes how the growth of the program matched the growth of the school.

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\xa0\xa0 Pie Vann was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987.\xa0 He passed away in September 1982.

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