 Classic SI photo by Ronald C. Modra |
How sweet
From Jackson State to the NFL, the offensive backfield was always Walter Payton's place. The Columbia, Miss., native retired as the NFL's career rushing leader and appeared in nine Pro Bowls. Payton also scored 125 career touchdowns and made 492 receptions.
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Walter Payton, Columbia
No one was sweeter: set NFL record for career rushing yards (16,726); also one of the game's best blocking backs.
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Jerry Rice, Crawford
In 1984 set NCAA single-season record for TD catches (28); first NFL player with 1,000 receptions, 15,000 receiving yards, 150 TD catches.
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Lance Alworth, Brookhaven
Had more than 1,000 yards receiving every year from 1963 to '69; led AFL in TD receptions three times.
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FLASHBACK |
1987: Rice Is a Breed Apart
Even cornerbacks of the best pedigree bite when 49er Jerry Rice makes his moves
Okay, gentlemen, are you all here? Green. Hayes. Irvin. Lewis. Walls. Good, then, let's start the briefing. Put your egos in your watch pockets. We want all you elite cornerbacks to grasp the gravity of the situation. Things are getting out of hand with San Francisco's Jerry Rice. Item: He has three gears -- fast, very fast and gone.
FULL STORY
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SI COVERS |
Golden Archie
Before being known as Peyton and Eli's dad, Archie Manning was a football idol in his own right. Manning was Ole Miss' star quarterback when the Rebels played Alabama in the first college game to be nationally televised in prime time.
Click here to see a gallery of every Mississippi cover
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THE SI POLL |
Who do Mississippians root for? SI asked the Magnolia State residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Atlanta Braves | 29% |
New York Yankees | 8% |
St. Louis Cardinals | 6% |
Favorite NFL team
New Orleans Saints | 20% |
Tennessee Titans | 16% |
Green Bay Packers | 13% |
Favorite NBA team
Los Angeles Lakers | 13% |
Memphis Grizzlies | 8% |
Favorite NHL team
Detroit Red Wings | 4% |
Anaheim Mighty Ducks | 4% |
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Favorite pro team
New Orleans Saints | 16% |
Atlanta Braves | 10% |
Green Bay Packers | 10% |
Favorite college
Mississippi State | 26% |
Ole Miss | 21% |
Southern Mississippi | 13% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Archie Manning | 24% |
Brett Favre | 21% |
State's biggest rivaly
Ole Miss-Mississippi State | 77% |
State's biggest rival
Favorite announcer
John Madden | 20% |
Jack Crystal | 12% |
More a fan of college or pro sports?
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 84% |
Basketball | 43% |
Winter Olympics | 42% |
Summer Olympics | 42% |
**Multiple responses allowed | |
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*Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 400 Mississippi residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/- 5%.
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Dec. 10, 1817 (20th state)
Area: 48,434 square miles
Bird: Mockingbird
Capital: Jackson
Economy: Agriculture -- Cotton, poultry, cattle, catfish, soybeans, dairy products, rice. Industry -- Apparel, furniture, lumber and wood products, food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment.
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Flower: Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
Nickname: Magnolia State
Population: 2,844,658 (31st)
Pro sports teams: None
Major college programs: University of Mississippi Rebels, Mississippi State University Bulldogs, University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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0 Number of AFL players enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, prior to the induction of Lance Alworth (Brookhaven, Miss.) in 1978.
0 Number of native Mississippians enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, prior to the induction of James "Cool Papa" Bell (Starkville) in 1974.
1 Major college to recruit Brett Favre coming out of high school.
10 Points by which Mississippi State lost to eventual champion Loyola in the 1963 NCAA tournament. The "Maroons," as they were then known, defied a court order to play in the Mideast Regional.
15 Touchdown passes Favre threw as a true freshman at Southern Mississippi, which recruited him as a defensive back before he worked his way up the quarterback depth chart.
56 Mississippi wins over Mississippi State in the teams' 99 college football meetings (the Rebels are 56-37-6), including a 24-12 win in 2002.
80 Wins as head coach at Southern Miss for Jeff Bower, who has lost 58 games and tied one since taking over his alma mater's program in 1990.
436 Yards passing completed by Archie Manning (33-of-52) in the 1969 showdown against Alabama, the first college football game to be nationally televised in prime time, which the Rebels lost, 33-32.
464 Points Walter Payton scored to set an NCAA record at Jackson State (1971-75).
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Tommy Tuberville
Tuberville coached Ole Miss for four seasons, but in November 1998 -- shortly after promising not to leave the school -- he jumped to Auburn. Mississippians' most hated opponents: LSU (37%) and Alabama (27%).
Tommy Tuberville | 36% |
Bear Bryant | 9% |
Steve Spurrier | 7% |
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