RIP Billy Cannon

[Chewbaccer]

Heisman winner, made one of the most iconic plays in college football history. Sad day for LSU football.

 

[NolePride]

Heisman winner, made one of the most iconic plays in college football history. Sad day for LSU football.

Yes it is. It was Halloween Night when he ran that punt back...wasn't
it?

He had issues later on, but he battled thru all that and when he
couldn't really shine as a RB in the NFL...he became a damn good
Tight End for the Raiders. (or was it the Oilers?)

He brought LSU out of the has-been column. He has to be one
of their greatest all-time players. He's right up there with Alvin
Dark and Y.A. Tittle.

 

[olympicoscar]

One of the first great players I ever watched. LSU could not move the ball against Mississippi. Without Cannon's great return they never would have won that game. Not really suited for the NFL/AFL, Cannon's greatest success remains as LSU's greatest all time player.

 

[olympicoscar]

Really shocked at how few responses to this. Maybe before everyone's time? If I'm not mistaken, Cannon was the number 1 overall pick of the initial AFL draft?

 

[4down20]

He brought LSU out of the has-been column.

The only time I remember LSU not being a near automatic win was when Saban and Les Miles were there. And generally, the only time they would win was during Alabama's bad years/coaches. Perkins, Dubose, etc.

 

[batchaps4me]

RIP. Great player for LSU with their legendary play.

 

[Boise4Life]

Really shocked at how few responses to this. Maybe before everyone's time? If I'm not mistaken, Cannon was the number 1 overall pick of the initial AFL draft?

I would have to think so. He won the Heisman 60 years ago. I had never heard of him, but I watched his punt return on YouTube. It said that LSU still shows the replay before every home game. That's pretty sweet.

Looks like he had some issues. I read on his wiki page that he was charged with theft as a 17 year old for extorting money from some men he had seen with prostitutes and then years later he did time for printing $6MM in counterfeit bills and burying them in his back yard.