Halloween always brings out the crazies, but it will take some doing to top what happened 50 years ago in the most famous game in Deep South history.
Rick Cleveland of the Clarion Ledger tells the story of No. 1-ranked Louisiana State, the defending national champion, playing host to No. 3 Mississippi on a damp Halloween night in 1959 at Tiger Stadium.
Bill Rogers, 29, of Jackson, Miss., traveled to Baton Rouge with two buddies, who had tickets to the long sold-out game. Rogers didn't have a ticket, but he planned to scalp one upon his arrival at Tiger Stadium. In case that didn't work, he had a backup plan, which he carried in a duffel bag.
Rogers quickly realized nobody was selling tickets, so it was time for Plan B.
A high school referee, Rogers brought his uniform in the duffel bag. He ducked into a bathroom, changed into his referee's uniform, put a whistle around his neck and headed for the main gate.
The attendant opened the gate and Rogers walked in.
He continued to walk down to the field and took a seat on the Mississippi bench.
A short time later, the officiating crew arrived.
"Who the hell are you?" the referee asked.
"There was nothing I could do but tell the man the truth,'' Rogers said. "When I told him, he just laughed and laughed and then he told me to enjoy the game. He said, if anybody asks you what you're doing, just tell them you're a backup in case one of us gets hurt.''
Rogers ended up watching one of greatest games in college football history, free of charge from the sideline.
The game's signature play came in the fourth quarter when Billy Cannon shook off several tacklers and raced 89 yards for LSU's only touchdown. You can see Rogers in the video as he comes off the sideline and starts to follow Cannon around the 22. Rogers is only a few yards behind Cannon as the eventual Heisman winner races past the Mississippi bench and into the end zone. Rogers signals a touchdown.
"That was just my referee's instincts," Rogers said.
It was the only score the Tigers would need, as they beat the Rebels, 7-3.
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