Preface: There are a few spectacular plays in football that you will only see one time regardless of how many games you attend or watch on TV.
Such was the case for me when I saw the most outstanding punt I had ever seen before or since in a game. The game was extremely tight, man it kept everyone on the edge of their seats for the entire game.
Anyway, the punt:
Jimmy Miller was a barefooted punter for Ole Miss. It was 4th down and Ole Miss had to punt the ball. The line of scrimmage for Ole Miss was their own 18 yard line. Miller punted the ball, and it was so high it looked like it was even with the lights in the West Upper. If I remember correctly the ball actually hit in the end zone on the first bounce and rolled out of the back of the end zone. I do know it rolled out of the back of the end zone,regardless of where it initially hit the turf. When our punt returner first saw the ball he started backing up and then realized there was no way he could field the ball and then just turned around and watched the ball hit and the roll out of the back of our end zone.
I have seen a lifetime of football since that game in 1976 and I have never seen any other punt come close to that one punt in terms of height and distance. Coach Carlen said the next day on his show he had never seen a punt in all of his career like the one by Miller that Saturday night. I can't even remember what the 2nd best punt I have ever seen but it would be no where near the punt kicked by Miller that night. I guess one of the best punts I ever witnessed, in terms of great results for the Gamecocks, was the one by Jay Feltz against quempsum. My best friend and I sat in the South End Zone for that game.
But I wish someone on the board that saw the Ole Miss game of 1976 would also comment about the punt. It was amazing. I have been thinking about trying to get Tommy Suggs' e-mail address and ask him what he remembers about that punt. There aren't many people I know today that attended the game. Sadly many of my friends and relatives that saw the game have passed away.
Anyway, if there is anyone out there who remembers the punt please feel free to describe what you remember about that punt.
Such was the case for me when I saw the most outstanding punt I had ever seen before or since in a game. The game was extremely tight, man it kept everyone on the edge of their seats for the entire game.
Anyway, the punt:
Jimmy Miller was a barefooted punter for Ole Miss. It was 4th down and Ole Miss had to punt the ball. The line of scrimmage for Ole Miss was their own 18 yard line. Miller punted the ball, and it was so high it looked like it was even with the lights in the West Upper. If I remember correctly the ball actually hit in the end zone on the first bounce and rolled out of the back of the end zone. I do know it rolled out of the back of the end zone,regardless of where it initially hit the turf. When our punt returner first saw the ball he started backing up and then realized there was no way he could field the ball and then just turned around and watched the ball hit and the roll out of the back of our end zone.
I have seen a lifetime of football since that game in 1976 and I have never seen any other punt come close to that one punt in terms of height and distance. Coach Carlen said the next day on his show he had never seen a punt in all of his career like the one by Miller that Saturday night. I can't even remember what the 2nd best punt I have ever seen but it would be no where near the punt kicked by Miller that night. I guess one of the best punts I ever witnessed, in terms of great results for the Gamecocks, was the one by Jay Feltz against quempsum. My best friend and I sat in the South End Zone for that game.
But I wish someone on the board that saw the Ole Miss game of 1976 would also comment about the punt. It was amazing. I have been thinking about trying to get Tommy Suggs' e-mail address and ask him what he remembers about that punt. There aren't many people I know today that attended the game. Sadly many of my friends and relatives that saw the game have passed away.
Anyway, if there is anyone out there who remembers the punt please feel free to describe what you remember about that punt.
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