The 1962 Southern Miss Southerners football team was an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...

team that represented the

University of Southern Mississippi The University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss or USM) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to a ...

as an independent during the

1962 NCAA College Division football season The 1962 NCAA College Division football season was the seventh season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the NCAA College Division level. Conference standings Rankings Small c ...

. In its 14th season under head coach

Thad Vann Thad "Pie" Vann (September 22, 1907 – September 7, 1982) was an American football and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Southern Mississippi—known as Mississippi Southern College prior to 1962—from 19 ...

, the team compiled a 9–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 258 to 63, and was recognized as the UPI College Division national champion. The team's only setback was an 8–6 loss to

Memphis State } The University of Memphis (UofM) is a public university, public research university in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1912, the university has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. The university maintains the Herff College of Engineering ...

. Harold Hays and Johnny Sklopan were the team captains. The team played its home games at

Faulkner Field MM Roberts Stadium, also known as "The Rock", is an American football stadium located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It is the home of The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles football team. History The stadium was originally opened ...

Hattiesburg, Mississippi Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, located primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat and largest city) and extending west into Lamar County. The city population was 45,989 at the 2010 census, with the popul ...

Schedule

References

Southern Miss NCAA Small College Football Champions Southern Miss Golden Eagles football seasons Southern Miss Southerners football {{collegefootball-1960s-season-stub