Jake Scott (1982) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Jake Scott

Induction:
1982

There have been many outstanding linemen at the University of Southern Mississippi over its many years of football, each unique in their own special way. Some were big and powerful men that were able to overpower people with simply their physical strength. Others with the speed and quickness that made them difficult to block.
   Jake Scott, who played guard from 1936 to 1938, had a little bit of both, and used his skills and talents to establish himself as one of the top linemen in school history.
   In addition to his physical skills, Scott was a confident player, secure in his ability to do what was necessary for Southern Miss to win, and secure in the ability of his team to pull together and accomplish its goals.
   Coming to Southern Miss from Scooba, Mississippi, Scott would play the 1936 season for Coach Pooley Hubert, his final year with the team. Although the 1936 team was loaded with some outstanding players, especially in the line, Scott would make enough of an impression to earn some playing time that year.
   The outstanding 1936 club would finish the year with a 7-2-1 record, finishing the season by winning six of its last seven games.
   Scott would see even more playing time during the 1937 season as Coach Reed Green took over replacing Hubert. Playing on both the offensive and defensive lines,
Scott would play a part on a Southern Miss team that would finish 7-3, with the three losses coming by a total of 18 points. The offense with Scott’s solid blocking up front would score over 30 points four times that year, including two games when they scored over 50.
   The ’37 defense opened the year by shutting out its first three opponents, then after allowing a touchdown in a 7-0 loss to Louisiana Tech, shutout the next three teams that they played. They would add another shutout in the season finale giving them seven on the year. Defensively the team would give up only 24 points all season.
   Scott’s final season with Southern Miss in 1938 would see him as an integral part in both lines as the team raced to a 7-2 record. Once again the offense with Scott up front blocking was outstanding as they scored over 30 points four times, including twice over 40 points. The defense recorded six shutouts and allowed only 26 points all season long.
   In the three seasons that Scott was a part of the Southern Miss football program they won 21 games, lost seven and tied one and had 17 shutouts.
   Scott’s blocking ability on the offensive line is still remembered by those that played with him and against him and his speed and quickness as a defensive lineman, that allowed him to sack the quarterback or drop a ball carrier for a loss, played a big role in the success of the defenses he played on.
   Scott also played basketball for Southern Miss from 1937 to 1939.