What Is 1939 Ole Miss Rebels football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1939 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1939 college football season, finishing with a 6–3–1 record under head coach Ed Walker.

Key Facts

The 1939 Ole Miss Rebels compiled a 6–3–1 overall record.
They played as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and finished with a 2–2–1 conference record.
Head coach Ed Walker was in his fifth season leading the team.
The Rebels played their home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
Notable games included a 19–0 victory over Mississippi State and a 13–13 tie with Tennessee.

Overview

The 1939 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1939 college football season. Competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Ed Walker, who was in his fifth year at the helm. The Rebels played their home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, a venue that has hosted Ole Miss football since 1915.

This season marked a moderate step forward for the program, as the team showed improvement in both offensive consistency and defensive resilience. While not a dominant force in the SEC, the Rebels managed several key results that kept their postseason hopes alive for much of the year. The season concluded with a respectable 6–3–1 overall record and a 2–2–1 mark in conference play.

Record: The team finished with a 6–3–1 overall record, reflecting a competitive but inconsistent season across non-conference and SEC matchups.
SEC Performance: Ole Miss went 2–2–1 in conference games, demonstrating competitiveness against strong regional opponents like Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
Head Coach: Ed Walker, in his fifth season, continued to build the program with a balanced offensive approach and disciplined defensive schemes.
Home Stadium: All home games were played at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, which had a capacity of approximately 20,000 at the time.
Key Result: A 19–0 shutout victory over in-state rival Mississippi State highlighted the team’s defensive strength and regional dominance.

Season Highlights

The 1939 campaign featured several memorable performances and turning points for the Rebels. Despite missing a bowl game, the team showed flashes of potential that would lay groundwork for future success under Walker’s leadership.

September 30: Ole Miss opened the season with a 19–0 win over Southwestern Louisiana, setting a strong early tone with a shutout.
October 7: A 13–13 tie with Tennessee in Knoxville was seen as a moral victory, as the Rebels held a ranked opponent to a draw on the road.
October 21: A 14–0 win over Kentucky showcased the team’s improving rushing attack, led by fullback Ray Tallant.
November 11: The Rebels defeated Vanderbilt 13–7 in Nashville, marking a rare road win against a traditional SEC rival.
November 30: The season concluded with a 13–0 loss to LSU in Baton Rouge, ending any hopes of a winning conference record.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 1939 Ole Miss Rebels stacked up against other SEC teams that season:

Team	Overall Record	SEC Record	Key Result
Alabama	7–2–1	4–1–1	Won SEC; ranked #11 nationally
Tennessee	10–1	6–0	Undefeated in SEC; ranked #4
Ole Miss	6–3–1	2–2–1	Tied Tennessee; beat Mississippi State
Vanderbilt	3–7	1–5	Lost to Ole Miss 13–7
LSU	4–4–1	2–3–1	Defeated Ole Miss 13–0 in finale

The table illustrates that while Ole Miss was not among the elite SEC teams in 1939, they performed better than several conference peers. Their tie with Tennessee and win over Vanderbilt demonstrated the team’s ability to compete with ranked opponents. However, inconsistency in close games and a lack of depth ultimately prevented a breakout season. The Rebels finished unranked in the final AP Poll, but laid a foundation for improvement in the early 1940s.

Why It Matters

The 1939 season holds historical significance as part of Ole Miss’s evolving football tradition during the pre-war era. While not a championship contender, the team contributed to the growing identity of the program in the competitive SEC landscape.

Program Development: The season helped solidify Ed Walker’s tenure, contributing to long-term stability in the coaching staff.
Recruiting Momentum: Strong performances against rivals like Mississippi State boosted local interest and recruiting in northern Mississippi.
Stadium Legacy: Games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium reinforced the importance of home-field advantage in the South.
SEC Exposure: Competing with top teams like Tennessee increased national visibility for the Ole Miss program.
Historical Record: The 6–3–1 season is preserved in NCAA archives as part of the Rebels’ early conference history.
Pre-War Context: Played just before WWII, the season reflects college football’s role in American culture during turbulent global times.

Though overshadowed by later successes, the 1939 Ole Miss Rebels remain a footnote in the program’s journey toward national prominence. Their season exemplifies the challenges and triumphs of mid-tier programs striving for respect in a competitive conference.