What Is 1937 Ole Miss Rebels football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1937 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1937 college football season, finishing with a 3–6 record under head coach Ed Walker. They played in the Southeastern Conference and recorded notable wins against Memphis and Mississippi State.

Key Facts

The 937 Ole Miss Rebels finished the season with a 3–6 overall record
Head coach Ed Walker was in his second season leading the team
They played as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC)
The team won against Memphis (7–0) and Mississippi State (13–6)
Ole Miss played home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi

Overview

The 1937 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1937 NCAA college football season. Competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Ed Walker, who was in his second year at the helm.

Despite a challenging schedule, the Rebels showed moments of promise, securing three wins while facing tough competition across the South. The season reflected a transitional period for the program as it worked to build consistency in conference play.

Record: The team finished with a 3–6 overall record, including a 0–4 mark in SEC games, highlighting struggles in conference competition.
Head Coach: Ed Walker, in his second season, led the team with a focus on rebuilding the program after a 3–5–1 record in 1936.
Key Win: A 7–0 victory over Memphis on October 9, 1937, provided an early-season highlight and demonstrated defensive strength.
Rivalry Game: Ole Miss defeated in-state rival Mississippi State 13–6 on November 27, a crucial win that boosted morale despite the losing season.
Home Field: The Rebels played home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, which had a capacity of approximately 20,000 at the time.

Season Performance

The 1937 campaign featured a mix of non-conference and SEC matchups, with the Rebels facing several ranked opponents. The team struggled to maintain consistency, particularly in league games, but showed resilience in close contests.

September Games: The season opened with a loss to Centenary (7–6), a game marked by a late touchdown that sealed Ole Miss’s fate.
October Momentum: After defeating Memphis, the Rebels faced tough losses to Tulane and Vanderbilt, both of which were ranked teams at the time.
November Challenges: Losses to Kentucky and Alabama exposed offensive limitations, as the team failed to score more than 6 points in three games.
Defensive Effort: The defense held opponents to 10 or fewer points in five games, showcasing strength despite the losing record.
Final Game: The season concluded with a 13–6 win over Mississippi State, marking the only SEC victory and providing a positive note for the offseason.
Scoring: The Rebels scored a total of 67 points across nine games, averaging just under 7.5 points per game for the season.

Comparison at a Glance

Here is how the 1937 season compares to surrounding years in terms of performance and conference standing:

Season	Overall Record	SEC Record	Head Coach	Key Result
1935	4–5	0–3	Ed Walker (1st year)	Lost to Mississippi State
1936	3–5–1	0–4	Ed Walker (2nd year)	Tied Tulane 7–7
1937	3–6	0–4	Ed Walker (3rd year)	Beat Mississippi State 13–6
1938	3–7	1–5	Ed Walker (4th year)	Beat LSU 19–0
1939	3–7	0–6	Harry Mehre (1st year)	Lost to Vanderbilt 20–0

This table illustrates that the 1937 season was part of a prolonged rebuilding phase for Ole Miss football. While the win over Mississippi State stood out, the team continued to struggle in SEC play, failing to secure a conference victory until 1938. Coaching continuity under Ed Walker provided some stability, but results remained inconsistent.

Why It Matters

The 1937 season is a snapshot of Ole Miss football during a formative era, reflecting the challenges of mid-tier programs in the early SEC. Though not a standout year, it contributed to the long-term development of the program.

Historical Context: The 1937 season occurred during the Great Depression, affecting travel, attendance, and team funding across college football.
Program Growth: Each season under Walker laid groundwork for future improvements, eventually leading to more competitive teams in the 1940s.
Rivalry Tradition: The annual win over Mississippi State reinforced the importance of in-state rivalries in Southern football culture.
Coaching Legacy: Ed Walker coached Ole Miss from 1935 to 1937, compiling a 9–16–2 record, before being succeeded by Harry Mehre.
Stadium Development: Vaught–Hemingway Stadium evolved significantly after 1937, eventually becoming a major college football venue.
Statistical Record: The team’s performance is preserved in NCAA archives, contributing to the historical record of SEC competition.

Though overshadowed by later successes, the 1937 Ole Miss Rebels remain part of the foundation upon which the modern program was built. Their season reflects the perseverance required in collegiate athletics during a difficult economic and competitive era.