Vic Purvis: A Legacy at Southern Mississippi

Vic Purvis, a former Southern Mississippi quarterback and renowned voice in the program’s history, passed away on May 30 at the age of 82 after battling Alzheimer’s disease. Southern Mississippi expressed their sadness in a statement, ‘Vic was an outstanding football player and radio analyst at Southern Miss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.’

Purvis played a unique role at Southern Mississippi. From 1963 to 1965, he was a dual-threat quarterback who contributed significantly to the program. Following his playing days, he served as a color analyst from 1975 to 2014 on Southern Miss radio broadcasts, sharing his insights for over four decades.

James Victor Purvis hailed from Puckett, Mississippi. He joined Mississippi Southern College, now known as Southern Mississippi, after excelling at Puckett High School. Under coach Thad ‘Pie’ Vann, he played in 28 games, starting all but one from 1963 to 1965. He was notable for leading the team in both passing and rushing, a rare achievement. Purvis amassed 663 rushing yards as a senior in 1965, with a total of 1,495 yards over three seasons. He also led in passing, accumulating 1,727 yards, eight touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. His 238-yard rushing performance against Memphis in 1965 is among the best in school history. The Golden Eagles had a 19-8-1 record in the games he started.

Purvis spent two seasons as a defensive back and kick returner with the AFL’s Boston Patriots. He started one game in 1966 and played in 14 total contests. A shoulder injury cut his playing career short, but broadcasting became his new path.

In 1974, Purvis began his broadcasting career as a guest analyst on the Southern Miss radio network. This role turned permanent as he went on to work 471 football broadcasts. He became as familiar to fans as the players and coaches he described. By the time he retired in 2014, he had called five conference championships and 17 bowl games, along with many key moments in the program’s history.

Purvis was honored with inductions into both the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.