Ole Miss to erect statue of Archie Manning outside athletic centre
The institution has acknowledged the former star’s collegiate legacy and ongoing family ties to the sport, with further details on the installation expected shortly.
Ole Miss has confirmed plans to erect a statue of former football star Archie Manning on campus, specifically situated outside the Manning Center. The announcement was made by a university spokesperson to the Clarion Ledger on 8 August, with the institution stating that further details regarding the statue will be released in the coming days.
Manning, aged 77, played quarterback for the university from 1968 to 1970 under coach Johnny Vaught. During his collegiate career, he also played baseball and set a school record with 56 touchdowns, accumulating 5,576 yards of total offense. He finished third in the 1970 Heisman Trophy voting before being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and selected second overall in the 1971 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.
The statue will be the second honour of its kind for an Ole Miss football player. Chucky Mullins, who was paralysed in a 1989 game and died in 1991, has a movable bust featured on game days. Other athletic statues on campus include those of Johnny Vaught, dedicated in 2008, Coolidge Ball, unveiled in 2021, and Tim Elko, unveiled in 2024.
Manning’s connection to the university extends through his family. His son, Eli, played for Ole Miss from 2000 to 2003 and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2003. Archie Manning currently runs the Manning Passing Academy with his sons, while his grandson, Arch, is the quarterback for the University of Texas and is considered a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.
The institution has previously acknowledged Manning’s status through campus infrastructure. Speed limit signs on campus are set to 18 miles per hour, referencing Archie Manning’s jersey number, and Ole Miss football practices in the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center.
