University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame
Melvin "Bucky" Waters
- Induction:
- 1970
Melvin (Bucky) Waters was one of those special people who just seemed destined to be an outstanding football players. Maybe it runs in the family, maybe they just have a knack for the game or maybe they were just born with the talents and skills to be successful. In the case of Waters it was all of those things.
His brothers Fred and Hub would both play at Southern Miss and both be good enough to make it to the Hall of Fame, Fred in baseball and Hub in football. But Bucky Waters also had that innate knowledge of the game and the talents and skills to do the things he had to do to help the team win.
As a two way tackle at Southern Miss, Waters played in 1941, then after serving in the military during World War II, returned to play in 1946 and 1947.
As a two way tackle Waters was everything that you wanted him to be. He had the size, the strength and the quickness to plow open gigantic holes for the Southern Miss offense time and time again, and create great havoc to rushers and passers on the defensive side of the ball.
Waters made his debut with Southern Miss during the magical 1941 season. It was a year that would see Southern open the year the a 70-0 win over Georgia State, win its next six games and then after a 0-0 tie with Southwestern Louisiana, win its final two games to complete a 9-0-1 year.
Waters started off playing behind future Hall of Famer Roland Loper and Arnold Stevens, but as the year went along it became more and more obvious that Waters would be the man to handle that position in the years to come.
With the outbreak of World War II, Waters like many other teammates enlisted in the military and went on to serve for several years. He kept in shape playing ball in the service occasionally, but once the war ended he was ready to continue his career at Southern Miss.
In 1946 there was no doubt that Waters would start at tackle for Coach Reed Green and he helped lead the team to a 7-3 record that year. With Waters leading the charge up front the Southern offense twice that year scored 65 points and scored 55 points another time. On defense they recorded six shutouts that season.
In 1947 he was elected permanent captain of the team and led them to another 7-3 year that included an impressive 19-13 win over Auburn. Although the Southern offense wasn't quite as potent as it was the year before, the defense led by waters was solid again shutting out three opponents and holding three others to a touchdown or less.
Waters also played with the 1947 Southern Miss baseball team as an infielder.
Following his career at Southern Miss he enjoyed a successful career as a coach and school administrator.
His brothers Fred and Hub would both play at Southern Miss and both be good enough to make it to the Hall of Fame, Fred in baseball and Hub in football. But Bucky Waters also had that innate knowledge of the game and the talents and skills to do the things he had to do to help the team win.
As a two way tackle at Southern Miss, Waters played in 1941, then after serving in the military during World War II, returned to play in 1946 and 1947.
As a two way tackle Waters was everything that you wanted him to be. He had the size, the strength and the quickness to plow open gigantic holes for the Southern Miss offense time and time again, and create great havoc to rushers and passers on the defensive side of the ball.
Waters made his debut with Southern Miss during the magical 1941 season. It was a year that would see Southern open the year the a 70-0 win over Georgia State, win its next six games and then after a 0-0 tie with Southwestern Louisiana, win its final two games to complete a 9-0-1 year.
Waters started off playing behind future Hall of Famer Roland Loper and Arnold Stevens, but as the year went along it became more and more obvious that Waters would be the man to handle that position in the years to come.
With the outbreak of World War II, Waters like many other teammates enlisted in the military and went on to serve for several years. He kept in shape playing ball in the service occasionally, but once the war ended he was ready to continue his career at Southern Miss.
In 1946 there was no doubt that Waters would start at tackle for Coach Reed Green and he helped lead the team to a 7-3 record that year. With Waters leading the charge up front the Southern offense twice that year scored 65 points and scored 55 points another time. On defense they recorded six shutouts that season.
In 1947 he was elected permanent captain of the team and led them to another 7-3 year that included an impressive 19-13 win over Auburn. Although the Southern offense wasn't quite as potent as it was the year before, the defense led by waters was solid again shutting out three opponents and holding three others to a touchdown or less.
Waters also played with the 1947 Southern Miss baseball team as an infielder.
Following his career at Southern Miss he enjoyed a successful career as a coach and school administrator.
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