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.
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