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News Nuggets, 02.06.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Ole Miss coaching legend Vaught dies

John Howard Vaught, 96, who left an indelible mark during his 25 seasons as the head coach at Ole Miss, passed away Friday night at his residence at Hermitage Gardens of Oxford, MS.

"With the death of John Vaught, we lose an epic figure of Twentieth Century college football," said Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat, who played for Vaught. "Universally recognized as one of the great coaches in American football history, he brought dignity, intellect, creativity and vision to the game.

"The University of Mississippi has been shaped and influenced by Coach Vaught and we are a better place as a result of his leadership. His players admired and respected him, University administrators and faculty appreciated his commitment to academic excellence and football fans loved him. His was a life well-lived. He will be missed."

Vaught's first 24 teams won 185 games, lost 58 and tied 12, and that record — up to the time of his heart seizure in October of 1970 — was second-best nationally among active major college coaches.

He returned as the Rebels' head coach three games into the 1973 season when asked to replace Billy Kinard. Ole Miss went 5-3 during the remaining eight games to finish the year 6-5. When Vaught finally stepped down for good, his overall coaching record at the University of Mississippi stood at 190-61-12.

Vaught's teams won six Southeastern Conference championships from 1947-70 and only one other coach in the league had claimed that many titles at that time. He was selected SEC Coach of the Year six times by the Associated Press, twice by United Press International, twice by the Nashville Banner, and twice by the SEC Coaches.

In 1993, he was chosen by Ole Miss fans as the "Coach of the Century" (1893-1993) when the University of Mississippi celebrated the school's first 100 years of football.

His name is still a part of football Saturdays in Oxford. In 1982, Hemingway Stadium, the historic home facility of the Rebels, was renamed Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

C-USA guards in running for Cousy Award

A pair of Conference USA point guards are among the 16 finalists named for the 2006 Bob Cousy Award. The award is given to the nation's top point guard. UAB's Squeaky Johnson and Memphis' Darius Washington, Jr., are under consideration.

Johnson ranks 10th nationally in assists per game (6.3), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.64) among players with 50 or more assists and eighth in steals per game (3.1). He leads Conference USA in three-point field goal percentage, hitting on 52.9 percent (27-of-51). Johnson averages 7.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game as well for the Blazers.

Washington, Jr., has helped lead the Tigers to a No.3 national ranking. The sophomore is averaging 13.8 points per game (7th) and 3.8 assists per game (9th). He was the C-USA Freshman of the Year last season and was a preseason all-league selection entering this year.

The winner will be announced at an April 3 press conference during the Final Four. Fans can vote at www.cousyaward.com.

C-USA Basketball Standings, Scores & Schedule

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:45 PM