The 1970 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season and in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Auburn where Ole Miss lost 35âÂÂ28. Archie Manning was the quarterback for Ole Miss. This also marked the last season of coach Johnny Vaught's first tenure as the Ole Miss coach.
Manning broke his left forearm when he fell on the artificial turf of Hemingway Stadium during the homecoming game vs. Houston. He missed the Rebels' next two games, including a stunning Egg Bowl loss, then returned for the regular season finale vs. LSU wearing a heavy cast. He also played in the Gator Bowl wearing the cast.
Vaught was stricken with a heart attack during Ole Miss' open week in late October (the Rebels were originally scheduled to play LSU in Baton Rouge on Halloween, but the game had been shifted to the first Saturday of December so it could be televised by ABC). Assistant Bruiser Kinard served as interim coach for the last four regular season games and the Gator Bowl. In his role as athletic director, Bruiser named brother Billy Kinard as football coach for 1971.
Ole Miss was one of three SEC teams, along with Auburn and Georgia, which did not schedule an 11th game.
Homecoming
Archie Manning broke his left forearm less than five minutes into the third quarter after being sandwiched between two defenders with Ole Miss leading 14âÂÂ7.