One of the most iconic figures in Ole Miss and collegiate football history, Rebel legend Archie Manning will be further immortalized with a statue outside of Vaught Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the Ole Miss Athletics Department announced on Monday.
In conjunction with sculptor Dr. Kim Sessums, Ole Miss Athletics will erect a statue south of the football stadium and north of the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center, all surrounded by campus roads with speed signs honoring Archie and Eli Manning.
“Archie Manning is one of the most iconic figures in the history of Ole Miss and a person whose impact extends far beyond the football field,” said Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter. “His legacy as an Ole Miss Rebel, a leader, and a role model inspired generations of student-athletes, alumni, and fans. We are proud to honor Archie with a statue on our campus, where his remarkable story began, and to create a lasting tribute that will remind future generations of what he has meant to Ole Miss and to our entire university community.”
A native of Drew, Mississippi, Manning attended Ole Miss where he was the starting quarterback for three seasons. He was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection, an All-American, and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1970. He was the first Ole Miss player to have his number (18) retired. Manning was also an outstanding baseball player, having been drafted four times by major league teams.
Manning was the second overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft and played 11 seasons for the New Orleans Saints. He earned two Pro Bowl selections and was the NFC Player of the Year in 1978. He concluded his professional career with the Houston Oilers (1982-83) and Minnesota Vikings (1983-84), passing for 23,911 yards and 125 touchdowns in his NFL career.
Manning was the recipient of the Byron “Whizzer” White NFL Man of the Year Award, the highest honor given by the NFL Players Association, as well as the Spirit of Good Sports Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Manning and his wife Olivia were recipients of the National Pathfinder Award for their work post-Hurricane Katrina. Manning was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
A current resident of New Orleans, Archie and Olivia Manning have three sons, Cooper, Peyton (a 1998 Walter Camp All-American quarterback at Tennessee) and Eli (a two-time Second Team All-America quarterback at Ole Miss). In 2006, the National Father’s Day Council named him “Father of the Year,” and in honor of his college football accomplishments, the Sugar Bowl has created the Manning Award which goes to the nation’s top college quarterback.