Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame
Louis Lipps
- Induction:
- 1994
Louis Lipps was one of the most talented and skilled wide receivers and kick returners that Southern Miss has ever produced.
Wasn’t a highly recruited player at East St. John’s High School in Reserve, Louisiana, but former USM offensive lineman Jerry Fremin was an assistant coach there, and alerted the Golden Eagles about the versatile athlete, who played quarterback in high school.
Lipps was a late signee for the Golden Eagles, signing the summer prior to the 1980 season, but he made an immediate impact. He caught two passes that year for 28 yards, but also showed his skill as a kick returner by returning three kickoffs for 61 yards (20.3 yard average) and eight punts for a 6.8 yard average. Lipps helped the Golden Eagles to an 8-3 record in 1980 and a berth against McNeese State in the Independence Bowl.
Although he missed three games in 1981 with a severe charlie horse, Lipps established himself. He caught nine passes for a 20.1 yard average and one touchdown, while returning seven punts. The team went 9-1-1 that year and went on to play Missouri in the Tangerine Bowl.
Lipps moved into the lineup as a full-time starter in 1982 and led the team in receiving with 38 catches for 468 yards (12.3 average) and two touchdowns. He also returned 23 punts for a 12.2 yard average and a touchdown to rank among the nation’s leaders in that department. The 1982 team finished the year 7-4 and snapped Alabama’s 56-game home winning streak with a 38-29 win in Tuscaloosa.
Lipps capped a magnificent career in 1983 with a career high 42 catches for 800 yards (19.0 average) and five touchdowns. He also returned 40 punts for an 11.6 average to once again rank among the best in the country. The 1983 team finished the year at 7-4, which included wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Lipps finished his career as the school’s second all-time leading pass receiver by catching 91 for 1,477 yards (16.2 average) and eight touchdowns. Only two players have ever had more receiving yards than Lipps. Over the final two seasons of his career Lipps would catch 80 passes for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns.
As a punt returner Lipps will be remembered as one of the best in school history. He returned 78 in his career for 827 yards (10.6 average) and a touchdown. Only two players (Andrew Mott & Ricky Floyd) have ever returned more punts in school history and only four players have had more punt return yards.
Lipps was a second team all-South Independent selection in 1982 and a first team selection in 1983 in addition to being named honorable mention All-American as a senior.
He was a first round pick (23rd player overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1984 NFL draft and played for the Steelers from 1984 to 1991.
Wasn’t a highly recruited player at East St. John’s High School in Reserve, Louisiana, but former USM offensive lineman Jerry Fremin was an assistant coach there, and alerted the Golden Eagles about the versatile athlete, who played quarterback in high school.
Lipps was a late signee for the Golden Eagles, signing the summer prior to the 1980 season, but he made an immediate impact. He caught two passes that year for 28 yards, but also showed his skill as a kick returner by returning three kickoffs for 61 yards (20.3 yard average) and eight punts for a 6.8 yard average. Lipps helped the Golden Eagles to an 8-3 record in 1980 and a berth against McNeese State in the Independence Bowl.
Although he missed three games in 1981 with a severe charlie horse, Lipps established himself. He caught nine passes for a 20.1 yard average and one touchdown, while returning seven punts. The team went 9-1-1 that year and went on to play Missouri in the Tangerine Bowl.
Lipps moved into the lineup as a full-time starter in 1982 and led the team in receiving with 38 catches for 468 yards (12.3 average) and two touchdowns. He also returned 23 punts for a 12.2 yard average and a touchdown to rank among the nation’s leaders in that department. The 1982 team finished the year 7-4 and snapped Alabama’s 56-game home winning streak with a 38-29 win in Tuscaloosa.
Lipps capped a magnificent career in 1983 with a career high 42 catches for 800 yards (19.0 average) and five touchdowns. He also returned 40 punts for an 11.6 average to once again rank among the best in the country. The 1983 team finished the year at 7-4, which included wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Lipps finished his career as the school’s second all-time leading pass receiver by catching 91 for 1,477 yards (16.2 average) and eight touchdowns. Only two players have ever had more receiving yards than Lipps. Over the final two seasons of his career Lipps would catch 80 passes for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns.
As a punt returner Lipps will be remembered as one of the best in school history. He returned 78 in his career for 827 yards (10.6 average) and a touchdown. Only two players (Andrew Mott & Ricky Floyd) have ever returned more punts in school history and only four players have had more punt return yards.
Lipps was a second team all-South Independent selection in 1982 and a first team selection in 1983 in addition to being named honorable mention All-American as a senior.
He was a first round pick (23rd player overall) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1984 NFL draft and played for the Steelers from 1984 to 1991.
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