Johnny Vaught’s Rebels defeated LSU 21-0 in Sugar Bowl to finish No. In both major polls, they ranked 2nd. They won 10 games and lost one, outscoring opponents 350 to 21, despite the fact that starters seldom played much in the second period. The 1959 team may be the most memorable in college football history if it wasn’t for Billy Cannon’s famous punt return in a 7-3 loss at LSU at Baton Rouge. Marvin Terrell and Richard “Possum”, starting guards, weighed 215 and respectively 208 pounds. They were two of best players ever. End Larry Grantham, a future NFL star, weighed in at 195. Bruising fullback Charlie Flowers weighed 198. James Roberts, a sophomore tackle and a 240-pounder was the largest man on the roster. Roberts, who was red-shirted for the season, didn’t actually play. Nobody who played actually weighed more that 225. Fast forward 60 years to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Ole Miss’ D.K. Metcalf was a wide receiver who measured 6’3″ and weighed 228 pounds. This is more than any other player for the 1959 Rebels. Metcalf was able to run a 4.33 40 yard dash and bench-press 225 pounds 27 times, without having to stop. A photo of Metcalf shows that he seems to be growing muscles. Even more amazing, Mississippi State defensive lineman Montez Sweat was 6-6 and 265 pounds. He ran his 40 yard in 4.41 seconds. This is faster than many elite running backs or wide receivers. Recall: The combine clock was 4.67 in 1985 for Jerry Rice, the greatest receiver of all time. Sweat plays the exact same position as Larry Grantham in 1959. Sweat is 6 inches taller than Grantham and weighs 65 more pounds. Amazing. Grantham was as fast and agile as ever, but he didn’t run a 4.41. Sweat will still make millions and millions of dollars if he becomes a player like Grantham in the NFL. Today’s football players are stronger, faster and more powerful than ever before. There is so much science involved in nutrition, weight training and bio-mechanics. Stretching and other techniques are also important. We have not made the same strides in strengthening ligaments, cartilages, bones, and skulls. All those parts are at greater risk when there is a combination of muscle, size, and speed. Common sense says so. Weight training has been the most effective way to make a difference, according to me. It’s a science. College football programs spend millions on weight training and weight rooms. How was weight training in 1959? Art Doty was a halfback for the 1959 Ole Miss team. Doty stated, “Nobody lifted weights.” Robert Owens, an East St. Louis tackle, was the only one who lifted weights before coming to Ole Miss. He was all muscle.” Owens, who is 6-feet tall with a weight of 218 pounds, appears on the 1959 roster. Doty chuckled that Owens had lifted weights in highschool and told Coach Vaught that he needed weights. Doty explained that Coach Vaught asked someone to go and get some coffee cans. He filled them with concrete, and then stuck an iron rod inside. Owens was the only one who used them. Terrell and Price were players that some people call “country strong.” Terrell, who passed away last December, was the closest player to Sweat’s combination speed and size. Doty stated that Marvin could run with anyone of our backs. Terrell didn’t lift weights. Doty stated, “What we did was to run.” Coach Vaught was a big believer in running. After practice, we ran 20 50-yard sprints. Speed was Coach Vaught’s game.” This explains why 24 out of 41 players on the roster were under 200 pounds. Bobby Franklin and Jake Gibbs, the stars among quarterbacks, weighed in at 180 and 175, respectively. In 1959, players could play both offense and defense. It was a time when there was literally no rest for the weary. This is why you don’t see 300-pounders on old rosters.