Allah Ack-Bama. It’s that time of year again

Wins against the Crimson Tide are rare for my Bulldogs. Heck, they’re rare for any ball club.

On November 1, 1980, the largest crowd in Mississippi history witnessed the Bullies defeating the top-ranked Tide 6-3 at Memorial Stadium in Jackson. Over the years, the size of that crowd has grown by thousands of fans who will tell you, “I was there when we beat the Bear.”

Two teams that ran the triple-option offense and played stout defense played their hearts out that day. It featured the inventor of the Wishbone, Emory Bellard, and the legendary Bear Byant. The keys to the Bulldog win were winning the turnover battle, and playing a more physical game than Alabama.

If my Bullies have a chance in the upcoming game, these will again be the keys to victory.

In the words of Emory Bellard, “Ohhhhh, was it good!”

The video from November 2, 1980 is a classic. It even has famous Coke commercial featuring Mean Joe Green.

Enjoy!

“Mississippi State broadcast legend Jack Cristil hosts his weekly show with Mississippi State head coach Emory Bellard. This show would be a little different as Mississippi State had just knocked off two time defending national champion and #1 ranked Alabama 6-3 in Jackson.”

I was there when we beat the Bear.

In 1980, Mississippi State enjoyed one of it’s finest victories on the gridiron, ending top-ranked Alabama’s 28 game winning streak.

Emory Bellard was the coach.

Bellard, 83 has died.

RIP, Coach.

h/t Marcello

previously:  Wishbone Wisdom

read more:  ESPN

Wishbone Wisdom: Emory Bellard tells his story

The celebration in the home team locker room of Jackson’s Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium was a raucous one. Players were hugging, high-fiving, and yelling.

No. 1 Alabama suffered a shocking 6-3 loss to heavy underdog Mississippi State on Nov. 1, 1980, and the Bulldogs had no reason to be quiet. And then they did.

Legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant walked in.

“A hush came over us and everybody took a knee,” recalled John Bond, then an MSU freshman quarterback. “He was dressed just like in the pictures.”

Bryant took off his Houndstooth hat, and with help from a state trooper, stepped up on a folding chair. To the players who had ended his hope of winning a third consecutive national title, he spoke.

“He said simply, `You whipped us,'” said Emory Bellard, then State’s coach. “There weren’t any excuses. On that day, I had to agree.” source

Emory Bellard. State folks loved him.

Even when the rest best and brightest offensive minds of the college football world had abandoned the wishbone set, Emory Bellard was still refining and tweaking triple option football, and bringing a no-excuse toughness to the Bulldog nation.

After his stay at MSU, Bellard returned to Texas high school football.

Now he tells his story as the author of “Wishbone Wisdom, Emory Bellard: Texas Football Visionary” (as told to Al Pickett, State House Press, $19.95 trade paperback).

I think I’m going to have to read this one. If you love real football as much as I do, you’ll want to read it too.

And, to John Bond and his family, our hearts are breaking for you. Know that thousands of hands are clasped in prayer for y’all.