Bobby Holmes (1966) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Bobby Holmes

Induction:
1966

       Bobby Holmes was undoubtedly one of the best all around football players ever produced by Southern Miss and few players in the rich tradition of the school have rated above him as a quarterback and a punt returner.
         In high school Holmes proved what Southern Miss fans and coaches would one day find out, that he was a winner. Playing high school ball in Tallassee, Alabama his team had a streak of 58 consecutive wins and he was named to the all-state team.
         Holmes had shown what he could do during a couple of season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College in Perkinston before coming to Southern Miss. During the 1948 season at Perk, Holmes led the Bulldogs to a share of the national junior college championship and was named to the JuCo All-America team.
         When he joined the Southern Miss program for the 1949 season there was little doubt that Holmes would immediately challenge for playing time and perhaps even move into the starting lineup. That's exactly what the 5-9, 170-pound signal caller did and as the team's starting quarterback led them to a 7-3 record.
         Holmes completed 56 of 99 passes that year for a then school records 903 yards and eight touchdowns. He also proved to be an exciting runner as well as he carried the ball 58 times for nearly 200 yards that season.
         The explosive Southern Miss offense that year averaged 29.9 points a game led by Holmes and 379.2 yards a game.
         Although Holmes drew occasional action on the defensive side of the ball, it was as a punt returner that he was able to make a name for himself in addition to his quarterbacking skills. He led the team in punt returns with six that season for an incredible 209 yards, an average of 34.8 yards a return. He also brought two punts back for touchdowns that season and both were against Alabama. In a 34-26 loss to the Crimson Tide, Holmes returned punts 82 yards and 95 yards for scores in the fourth quarter. The 95-yarder is still the longest in school history, while the 82-yarder still ranks as the fourth best in school history.
         The team struggled somewhat in the 1950 season posting just a 5-5 record, but Holmes had another sensational year completing 52 of 99 passes for 660 yards and two touchdowns. With the great Bubba Phillips now returning kicks and Holmes being so valuable to the team at quarterback, he only returned a couple of punts that year, but he also picked off his first career interception.
         Despite struggling at times that year the Holmes led Southern Miss squad still captured the Gulf State's Conference championship, wrapping up the title with a 41-20 win over Louisiana Tech.
         Holmes is remembered today as one of the most exciting players to have ever worn the Black & Gold. His coaches and teammates respected his leadership abilities, but it was his ability to make the plays that won games that earned him his spot in the Southern Miss Hall of Fame.