Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame
Morris Brown
- Induction:
- 1969
Morris (Lightin') Brown was another of the great Southern Miss running backs who played immediately after World War II. He was known for his outstanding speed and quickness and it was because of those abilities that he got his nickname.
   Brown played regularly for Southern Miss from 1947 to 1950 and was a major factor in the success of the teams during that time.
   He arrived at Southern Miss after a stint in the United States Navy and immediately started to make a contribution. In 1947 only the great Bubba Phillips carried the ball more times than Brown. Phillips carried 78 times that year, while Brown toted it 74. Brown would rush for 194 yards and score two touchdowns and return 11 kickoffs for a 21.5 yard average in leading the Golden Eagles to a 7-3 record, that included a win over Auburn.
   As a sophomore in 1948 Brown would carry just 42 times for 96 yards but score three touchdowns. He would once again be utilized as a kickoff return man and return 8 that season for a 17.5 yard average. That 1948 Southern Miss team again went 7-3, but won six of its last seven games and four times scored over 38 points.
   After playing for Coach Reed Green his first two seasons, Brown would begin playing for Thad (Pie) Vann in 1949 and really begin to come into his own. He would carry the ball 62 times that season for 386 yards and six touchdowns. He would also catch two passes and return four kickoffs for a 19.8 yard average. The Golden Eagles would post a 7-3 record for the third straight year and would twice score over 50 points including a 67-28 win over Northwestern Louisiana. He had one of the best games of his career that season when he rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-26 loss to Alabama.
   As a senior Brown would again enjoy a stellar campaign. He would carry the ball 73 times for 385 yards and score a touchdown, catch a career high 11 passes for 231 yards (21.0 yard average) and a touchdown and return nine kickoffs for a 13.6 yard average. The team would struggle to just a 5-5 record, but came on strong by winning four of their last five games.
   He would finish his career at Southern Miss with 251 carries for 1061 yards and 12 touchdowns to join the select company at the school to rush for 1,000 yards in their careers.
   Like many others of that era Brown was one of those players that came to play every time they stepped on the field. There were times in his career when he would be hurt, but still manage to play. There were times when the team seemed to be out of it, but Brown would always seem to find a way to rally them and get them back in the game. And there were times when Southern Miss was facing a difficult situation and Brown would do something to help the team succeed.
   His contributions helped lay the solid foundation of Southern Miss football.
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   Brown played regularly for Southern Miss from 1947 to 1950 and was a major factor in the success of the teams during that time.
   He arrived at Southern Miss after a stint in the United States Navy and immediately started to make a contribution. In 1947 only the great Bubba Phillips carried the ball more times than Brown. Phillips carried 78 times that year, while Brown toted it 74. Brown would rush for 194 yards and score two touchdowns and return 11 kickoffs for a 21.5 yard average in leading the Golden Eagles to a 7-3 record, that included a win over Auburn.
   As a sophomore in 1948 Brown would carry just 42 times for 96 yards but score three touchdowns. He would once again be utilized as a kickoff return man and return 8 that season for a 17.5 yard average. That 1948 Southern Miss team again went 7-3, but won six of its last seven games and four times scored over 38 points.
   After playing for Coach Reed Green his first two seasons, Brown would begin playing for Thad (Pie) Vann in 1949 and really begin to come into his own. He would carry the ball 62 times that season for 386 yards and six touchdowns. He would also catch two passes and return four kickoffs for a 19.8 yard average. The Golden Eagles would post a 7-3 record for the third straight year and would twice score over 50 points including a 67-28 win over Northwestern Louisiana. He had one of the best games of his career that season when he rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-26 loss to Alabama.
   As a senior Brown would again enjoy a stellar campaign. He would carry the ball 73 times for 385 yards and score a touchdown, catch a career high 11 passes for 231 yards (21.0 yard average) and a touchdown and return nine kickoffs for a 13.6 yard average. The team would struggle to just a 5-5 record, but came on strong by winning four of their last five games.
   He would finish his career at Southern Miss with 251 carries for 1061 yards and 12 touchdowns to join the select company at the school to rush for 1,000 yards in their careers.
   Like many others of that era Brown was one of those players that came to play every time they stepped on the field. There were times in his career when he would be hurt, but still manage to play. There were times when the team seemed to be out of it, but Brown would always seem to find a way to rally them and get them back in the game. And there were times when Southern Miss was facing a difficult situation and Brown would do something to help the team succeed.
   His contributions helped lay the solid foundation of Southern Miss football.
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