MSU football history: Samford

If you don’t remember the name Samford ever appearing on an MSU football schedule in the past, there’s a good reason for that – it never has.

However, that doesn’t mean the two schools have never met on the gridiron.  Saturday’s matchup with the Bulldogs from Birmingham will actually be the 19th meeting between the two schools.  Prior to 1965, Samford was known as Howard College. The two schools first met in 1902 and played regularly during the early part of the 20^th century.

Mississippi State owns a 16-1-1 advantage in the series, with the lone loss coming in 1909 and the tie occurring in 1922.  The last meeting between the two schools took place on September 21, 1963 and this is the game we will look at today.  Here is the game description that appeared in the 1964 “Reveille”:

"Mississippi State, playing mostly with substitutes, moved the ball almost at will Saturday to defeat badly outclassed Howard College 43-0.  The Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference scored in every period and threw up a stout defense to force the Birmingham Bulldogs to play their entire offensive game from their own territory.Hoyle Granger, 210 pound sophomore fullback, smashed for two touchdowns and other long yardage to head a cast of sophomore backs exhibited by State.  Others scoring for State were (Bill) Moon, Ashby Cook and Guard Ronnie Kirkland.  Big Justin Canale kicked one 32 yard field goal and four of six extra points."

Mississippi State would go on to post a 7-2-2 mark for the 1963 season that would include a tie with the Sugar Bowl bound Ole Miss Rebels and a 16-12 Liberty Bowl victory over North Carolina State to conclude the season.