The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum will celebrate one of the biggest upsets in Mississippi football history on Oct. 12, 40 years and 25 days after it happened.

On Sept. 17, 1977, 21-point underdog Ole Miss defeated eventual national champion Notre Dame 20-13 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on a sweltering, summer-like afternoon.

A sellout crowd of 48,200 attended to watch the Rebels, who finished that season at 5-6, defeat a undefeated Notre Dame team, loaded with future NFL players, that never lost again and defeated Texas and Earl Campbell in the Cotton Bowl to finish No. 1.

The event will be held at the MSHOF. Highlights of the game will be shown. Ole Miss quarterbacks Bobby Garner and Tim Ellis, receiver Robert Fabris and running back James Storey, who caught two touchdown passes will join key assistant coaches Jim Carmody and Jack Carlisle, two Mississippi Sports Hall of Famers, on a panel to discuss the game.

The event will begin with a 5:30 reception, followed by the program. Tickets are $25, which includes, beer, wine, a tailgate menu and the program. Call the museum at 601 982-8264 for more details or to order tickets.

For more on the game, read Rick Cleveland’s account on the 40th anniversary.


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Rick Cleveland, a native of Hattiesburg and resident of Jackson, has been Mississippi Today’s sports columnist since 2016. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s in journalism, Rick has worked for the Monroe (La.) News Star World, Jackson Daily News and Clarion Ledger. He was sports editor of Hattiesburg American, executive director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. His work as a syndicated columnist and celebrated sports writer has appeared in numerous magazines, periodicals and newspapers.
Rick has been recognized 13 times as Mississippi Sports Writer of the Year, and is recipient of multiple awards and honors for his reporting and writing.