Cannon Marking Scores at Football Games

In 1963 Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity began firing a cannon to mark scores at home football games. In January 1968 the firing of the cannon was a major topic of discussion at the SEC Athletics Directors’ Conference, with Auburn’s Jeff Beard complaining that there was in place a gentlemen’s agreement among SEC institutions that cannons would not be discharged at their games. Beard also voiced safety concerns, to which Phi Sigma Kappa responded in the Daily Beacon with a description of the elaborate safety precautions taken.

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  • Title Cannon Marking Scores at Football Games
  • Author
  • Keywords Cannon Marking Scores at Football Games
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
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  • Access Date July 20, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 4, 2018