Cannon's run saluted 50 years later

Associated Press
Published Saturday, October 31, 2009

BATON ROUGE, La. - When Billy Cannon first pulled on a purple and gold LSU uniform, he never figured he'd do anything on a football field that would last 50 years.

By the time his college career was over, the star running back had won a national title (1958), a Heisman Trophy (1959) and his No. 20 jersey had been retired, making him the first LSU player to receive such an honor.

As it turns out, No. 9 LSU has a home game on the 50th anniversary of the most famous of Cannon's many highlights, a slashing, tackle-breaking, 89-yard punt return that lifted the Tigers to a 7-3 triumph over No. 3 Mississippi.

During the game against Tulane, LSU will commemorate the play, widely believed to have clinched Cannon's Heisman that year. Now 72, Cannon will be honored on the field while the play is rerun on the massive video boards above the stands behind each end zone. Cannon promised with a grin this week that he and his old teammates would not attempt a re-enactment.

"I've looked at my guys and I don't think any of us could finish it, but we've enjoyed it very much over the years," Cannon said. "Every player is proud of their part in that run and in their preparation to play in that game."

Footage of the Halloween night run, which can be found on the Internet, shows Cannon snagging a bouncing punt at the LSU 11, slipping a slew of tacklers and finally breaking loose along the right sideline as the Tiger Stadium crowd goes wild.

What a many forget is that Cannon also had a hand in Ole Miss' only points.

"I was probably one of your better fumblers, too," he said, referring to his turnover in LSU territory that led to the Rebels' field goal.

Cannon went on to a successful pro career in the American Football League with the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders, and after football went to dental school. In 1983, however, he was arrested on federal counterfeiting charges, ultimately pleaded guilty, served half of a five-year sentence and came out broke.

Though tarnished for a time, Cannon's reputation has been rebuilt through his work as a dentist at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where he tries to serve as a positive example for inmates, and through his routine participation in LSU events.

Cannon, who grew up in Baton Rouge and even saw Y.A. Tittle play for the Tigers, was quick to dismiss the idea that his runback stands as the greatest play in LSU history. Rather, he says, it was all about timing.

"Do you know how many great football players we've seen play in that stadium?" Cannon said. "I think it's the time or the moment that makes a great play stand up."

Story ©2009, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.