Bob Witt (1999) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Bob Witt

Induction:
1999

Bob Witt was a starting two-way end for Coach Reed Green on the 1941 team that some people feel was one of the best in school history. That 1941 team finished the season with a record of nine wins, no defeats and one tie.
Bob was a key ingredient to the team’s success that season on both offense and defense. He was one of the favorite passing targets of quarterbacks Les DeVall and Dipsey Dews. More times than not that season they would look for Witt on a key passing situation. Enough though the opposition knew that was where they were looking, Witt would a way to get open and make the catch. He was also a superb blocker and backs like Joe Vetrano, Art Van Tone and Joe Latham would vouch for the fact that without his assistance out on the corners they would not have enjoyed the success they did. So talented was Witt, that Coach Reed Green occasionally used him on end around plays.
Witt was a terror at defensive end as well and spearheaded a defense that allowed on 40 points all year long. In fact they shutout four of their 10 opponents that year and no one scored more than seven points against them. Time and time again Witt would make a key play on defense like a key fumble recovery in a 19-7 win at Louisiana Tech or playing a major role in holding Northwestern Louisiana to just 81 yards rushing in a 21-7 over the Demons.
After World War II and a brief period of service to his country, Witt like many other veterans returned to Hattiesburg to get his degree, but to also play football. On a veteran laden team Witt again emerged as one of the team’s stars. It was a team that was filled with talented players at the end position. Along with Witt, the ends on that team included Hall of Famers Jay Smith and Pete Taylor, along with Spot Honaker and Boots McCormick.
That 1946 team that Witt played on would finish that first post-war season with a 7-3 record for Coach Reed Green. Three times the ’46 offense scored over 50 points including a pair of 65-0 wins over Jacksonville State and Louisiana College. It was also another solid defensive unit as well. Six times that season they would hold their opponents scoreless and only two opponents scored more than one touchdown.
The 1946 team was much deeper than the one Witt had played on in 1941, so competition for playing time was much keener. But Witt was able to draw on the experience that he had gained prior to the war, plus an even tougher approach to the game, to make himself even more valuable to the squad.
One of the highlights of the 1946 season was a trip to what some people consider the school’s first post-season bowl appearance. The Southerners were invited to Havana, Cuba to play in the Cigar Bowl, beating the University of Havana 55-0.
The veterans of World War II wanted to return and play at Southern Miss for Coach Reed Green and assistant Pie Vann. And even convinced some that hadn’t played at Southern before the war to come back with them.