COLUMN: Jake Gibbs, Ole Miss’ first two-sport All-American, still has all the moves

Last night at the Powerhouse in Oxford, diehard Rebel Curtis Downs and his orchestra were skillfully playing songs from yesteryear for a fundraiser for The Pantry, an organization that philanthropically feeds underprivileged residents of our fair city.

As Curtis sang classics like “For the Good Times” by Ray Price and “Dream Lover” by Bobby Darin, a couple broke the ice on the dance floor.

A tall lady and her rhythmic partner, doing what we oldtimers call “cuttin’ a rug.”

My wife wasn’t feeling well so my “date” was my beautiful daughter Michelle, who had a rare free Friday night from her “My Michelle’s” catering business.

As we watched them elegantly dancing so perfectly in synch, it dawned on me. I was watching an Ole Miss legend.

It was 85-year-old Jerry Dean “Jake” Gibbs, the first two-sport All-American in Ole Miss history.

Even though Gibbs and I go back a long way, he was the Ole Miss baseball coach when The Spirit was founded in 1982, I had not seen him in a while. He really hadn’t changed much – his hair was longer than he normally wore it, but he was still Jake, still an athlete, just an older version.

“Michelle, you are watching one of the best athletes to ever come through Ole Miss right now,” I said. “Arguably you are watching one the best athletes ever in the SEC and the nation.”

My girl was more impressed with Jake’s dance moves, but as I watched, I felt a little sad that Michelle and those of her generation and younger probably do not recognize what a wonder and marvel Jake Gibbs was in his time at Ole Miss.

I was small when he played for the Rebels, but I can remember my Dad, who also played football at Ole Miss long before Jake, talking about the “unbelievable kid from Grenada.”

Jake is known for being a two-sport All-American – football and baseball, but that’s just the individual “stuff.” Gibbs quarterbacked two of the three national championship teams Ole Miss claims.

In 1959, the Rebels were 10-1, losing only to Billy Cannon’s famous punt return that kept the Rebs from a perfect record. The ’59 Rebels, as most Ole Miss fans know, was named Team of The Century while scoring 329 points and only giving up 21 and avenging the loss to LSU with a 21-0 spanking of the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl.

In 1960, the Rebels were 10-0-1, SEC Champions and National Champions with Jake under center again and serving as team captain along with future Ole Miss athletics director Warner Alford. Again, LSU was the only blemish with a 6-6 tie in Oxford. That year, Jake was named All-American. He also captured SEC Player of the Year and SEC Back of the Year during that special season.

In the football offseason, Jake was named All-American in baseball in 1960 and 1961. Twice. All-American. The best of the best. Two times. Amazing.

After Ole Miss, Jake spent his professional sports career with the New York Yankees and then returned to Oxford to coach quarterbacks under Coach John Vaught for a few seasons before taking over the baseball program for 18 years where he was named SEC Coach of the Year twice while winning the SEC in 1972 and 1977.

Yes, there he was. Out on the dance floor, leading the way.

Jake Gibbs, Ole Miss football and baseball hero, prolific storyteller, New York Yankee, two-sport All-American. An Ole Miss sports legend.

And, by the way, he’s a terrific dancer, but who would expect anything differently? The man can just do it all. Still, after all these years.

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