Hall of Fame
Position: Quarterback
Years: 1958-1960
Place of Birth: Grenada, MS
Date of Birth: Nov 07, 1938
Jersey Number: 12
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
High School: Grenada, MS (Grenada HS)
His name was written as Jerry D. Gibbs, but everyone called him Jake Gibbs. In his three years 1958-1960, Mississippi had a 29-3-1 record. In his junior year, 1959, he was All- Southeastern Conference quarterback, led the conference in total offense, and threw to Bob Crespino for a 78-yard play against Vanderbilt. As a senior in 1960 he was co-captain with Warner Alford. The team was 10-0-1 and was voted national champions by the Football Writers Association. Gibbs was unanimous choice for All-American quarterback. Gibbs was a star in still another sport, baseball. He went into the pro ranks and played 10 years as a catcher with the New York Yankees, 1962-71. In six of those years, 1965-70, he returned to the Mississippi campus after the baseball season and served as assistant football coach. After his professional playing career ended, Gibbs served 19 years as Mississippi baseball coach. He returned to professional baseball, serving as coach for the Yankees in 1993 and manager of Tampa in the Florida State League in 1994.
