This college season marks the 50th anniversary of the two-point conversion rule. Prior to 1958, collegiate teams could add only one point after scoring a touchdown by kicking, running, or passing from the two-yard line. Beginning with the 1958 season, the "extra point line" was moved back to the three-yard line and successfully place or drop kicking the ball through the uprights still counted only one point, but a run or pass completion to the end zone tallied two points. High schools and eventually the NFL followed suit making the two-point rule universal.

One-half century ago, American's witnessed other significant events besides a college football rule change. Elvis Presley was drafted into the army, Alaska became the 49th state, Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi Army overthrew the monarchy, and the College All-Stars beat the NFL champion Detroit Lions 35-19 to kick off the 1958 football season.

In the South, LSU Coach, Paul Dietzel, created a three-platoon system to circumvent the limited substitution rules of the day. His "White" team played both ways. The Gold a/k/a "Go" team offense only; and the "Chinese Bandits" were defensive specialists. Dietzel's creative innovation helped propel LSU to an undefeated season and a National Title. The final hurdle for the LSU Tigers was a Sugar Bowl match-up against Frank Howard's ACC Champion Clemson Tigers. Dietzel's boys, led by future Heisman Trophy running back, Billy Cannon, defeated Clemson 7-0 in a ferocious defensive struggle that left even the capacity crowd exhausted as the final seconds ticked away.

The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech were still Southeastern Conference rivals in 1958. In Coach Wally Butts' last season the Dawgs went 4-6 finishing 10th in the conference. Bobby Dodd's Yellow Jackets fared a little better going 5-4-1 and finishing 9th in the league. Butts received a nice going away present, however, Georgia upset Tech 16-3 to close out the season.

Old Claude could relate quite a few other memories of that season 50 years ago, but I'm getting a little misty-eyed. So, let's take a look at this week's action in the greatest spectator sport in America: Southern College Football!
Miami over Georiga Tech by 2
Florida over Citadel by 48
Vandy over Tennessee by 7
Arkansas over Mississippi State by 4
Clemson over Virginia by 6
Maryland over FSU by 3
Boston College over Wake Forest by 5
North Carolina over N.C. State by 10
Virginia Tech over Duke by 14
Upset Special: Ole Miss over LSU by 3