What Is 1938 Ole Miss Rebels football team

Overview

The 1938 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1938 college football season. Competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team struggled to find consistency under head coach Ed Walker, who was in his third year at the helm.

The Rebels finished the season with a 3–6 overall record and a 1–4 mark in conference play. Despite some flashes of potential, the team was outscored 129–55 over the course of the nine-game schedule, highlighting defensive shortcomings and offensive inefficiency.

• Head coach Ed Walker led the team in his third season, compiling a 3–6 record in 1938 after a 5–5 season the previous year.
• The Rebels played their home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, which had a seating capacity of approximately 20,000 at the time.
• Ole Miss opened the season with a 13–0 win over Southwestern Louisiana, marking their only shutout victory of the year.
• They suffered a 20–0 loss to eventual national champion TCU in a non-conference matchup that exposed gaps in talent and preparation.
• The team’s final game was a 19–0 loss to Mississippi State, extending the Rebels’ losing streak to three games to end the season.

Season Performance and Results

The 1938 season was marked by inconsistency, with Ole Miss winning only one of their five home games and failing to secure a road victory. The Rebels’ offense averaged just 6.1 points per game, while their defense allowed an average of 14.3 points per game.

• September 30: Defeated Southwestern Louisiana 13–0 in Oxford, setting a positive tone early in the season.
• October 8: Lost 14–0 to Mississippi State Teachers College, a rare non-SEC opponent on the schedule.
• October 15: Fell 14–7 to Kentucky, marking their first SEC loss of the season.
• October 22: Lost 13–0 to Tennessee, a top-tier SEC team that went on to finish ranked.
• November 5: Suffered a 20–0 defeat to TCU, a nationally ranked team that finished the season undefeated.
• November 12: Won 7–6 against Vanderbilt, one of the closest games of the season.
• November 19: Lost 20–7 to Georgia, reflecting ongoing struggles against SEC competition.
• November 26: Lost 19–0 to Tulane, a significant setback against a regional rival.
• December 3: Concluded the season with a 19–0 loss to Mississippi State in the annual Egg Bowl.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 1938 Ole Miss Rebels compared to other SEC teams in key statistical categories:

The table shows that Ole Miss ranked near the bottom of the SEC in both scoring and defense. While teams like Tennessee and Alabama dominated defensively, the Rebels struggled to keep games competitive, finishing with the second-lowest point total in the conference.

Why It Matters

Though the 1938 season was forgettable in terms of wins and losses, it provides historical context for the evolution of the Ole Miss football program. This era laid the groundwork for future improvements under new leadership in the 1940s.

• The 1938 season highlighted the need for improved offensive schemes and quarterback development, as the team averaged fewer than 7 points per game.
• Defensive lapses, including four shutout losses, underscored the importance of disciplined tackling and secondary coverage.
• The loss to TCU exposed a talent gap between Ole Miss and elite national programs of the era.
• Struggles in the Egg Bowl intensified fan demand for greater competitiveness against in-state rivals.
• The season contributed to Ed Walker’s eventual departure, paving the way for Frank “Bear” Bryant’s hiring in 1940.
• Historical records from 1938 help document the early years of SEC football and the growth of college athletics in the South.

The 1938 Ole Miss Rebels may not be remembered for victories, but their season remains a data point in the long arc of the program’s development toward future success.