Ole Miss Quarterback Jake Gibbs Named SEC Football Legend

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Jake Gibbs, a first team All-America quarterback while playing at Ole Miss from 1958 to 1960, will be one of 12 Cingular Southeastern Conference Football Legends honored here this weekend when Arkansas and Florida clash for the 2006 SEC football championship. Gibbs led the SEC in passing and total offense in 1959 and went on to earn All-America and All-SEC honors in 1960. In that year, he finished third in the Heisman Trophy race and was voted SEC Back of the Year and SEC Player of the Year. Gibbs led the Rebels to a share of the National Championship in 1959 and 1960 and was selected Most Outstanding Player of the 1961 Sugar Bowl. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Gibbs also was selected by Sports Illustrated as the eighth best collegiate quarterback of the modern-day era. Other former players to be recognized include quarterback Steve Sloan of Alabama, linebacker Cliff Powell of Arkansas, running back Bo Jackson of Auburn, defensive back Louis Oliver of Florida, tailback Garrison Hearst of Georgia, defensive end Jeff Van Note of Kentucky, quarterback-halfback Y.A. Tittle of LSU, offensive guard Wayne Harris of Mississippi State, tight end Willie Scott of South Carolina, offensive guard Chip Kell of Tennessee and quarterback Eric Jones of Vanderbilt. The SEC Legends Dinner, presented by Cingular, is set for Friday night at 6:00 in the Centennial Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency. The legends will also be presented during the Dr Pepper SEC FanFare on Saturday at the Georgia World Congress Center and during pregame ceremonies at the Georgia Dome. "We are extremely honored to have Jake Gibbs represent Ole Miss as one of the 2006 Legends of SEC Football," said Athletics Director Pete Boone. "Jake was a leader both on and off the field during his days at Ole Miss. His selection as a permanent co-captain indicates just how well he was respected by his coaches and teammates." Previous Ole Miss players selected as SEC Legends of Football include tailback Charlie Conerly (1994), end Barney Poole (1995), Coach John Vaught (1996), running back Kayo Dottley (1997), quarterback Archie Manning (1998), fullback Charlie Flowers (1999), lineman-kicker Robert Khayat (2000), end Ray Poole (2001), defensive lineman Ben Williams (2002), running back Billy Ray Adams (2003), end Allen Brown (2004) and defensive tackle Andre Townsend (2005). Gibbs was a two-sport All-American at Ole Miss. As a third baseman, Gibbs also helped Ole Miss claim SEC baseball titles in 1959 and 1960. He rated All-Conference honors three years (1959-60-61), was an All-District pick two years (1960-61), and was All-America in 1960 and 1961. His .384 career batting average still rates as the fourth best in Ole Miss baseball history. After graduating from Ole Miss in 1961, Gibbs began working at the University of Mississippi athletic department as a part-time quarterback coach and recruiter while a member of the New York Yankees. His major league career with the Yankees spanned ten years (1962-71). Following the 1971 season, Gibbs retired from baseball and returned to Ole Miss as head baseball coach in 1972. In 19 seasons as baseball coach at Ole Miss, he compiled a 486-389-9 (.555) overall record, which makes him the all-time winningest coach in Rebel baseball history. As the Rebel head coach, Gibbs led his squads to a pair of SEC titles (1972, 1977), three SEC Western Division pennants (1972, 1977, 1982) and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Gibbs spent 24 years with the Ole Miss Athletic Department, including those 19 years as head baseball coach. After stepping down as baseball coach in 1990, he served two years as an Administrative Assistant before retiring from the University of Mississippi. He returned to baseball in the summer of 1993 as catching coach in the New York Yankees' bullpen. Gibbs served as manager of New York's Class A Tampa team in the Florida State League during the 1994 and 1995 seasons. A native of Grenada, Miss., Gibbs is also a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame. He is married to the former Patricia Monteith of Oakland, Miss. They have three children -- Dean, Monte and Frank.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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