John Vaught, the great Ole Miss coach, built much of his 190-61-12 record on Archie's talent. Archie made All-America in 1969 and 1970 and was named the QB on the school's Team of the Century (1893-1992).

Archie's son Cooper Manning, a receiver, was a freshman member of the Ole Miss team in 1992, but a congenital narrowing of the spinal canal and a bulging disk in his neck ended his career.

Ole Miss fans were hurt, bewildered, peeved, angry when Peyton Manning chose Tennessee over his father's alma mater. One reason for his selection was because he didn't want to be continually compared to the most beloved player in Mississippi history.

I've always liked Archie because he is a nice, friendly fellow who makes a newspaperman's job easy. He's a good interview and he's eager to help.

Archie and Peyton were in town as co-speakers at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club's annual banquet in February. I decided to write a column about Archie and a story about Peyton. They would have to be written before the banquet to make the deadline.

I phoned Archie at his office in New Orleans, and we had an amiable chat. When Peyton, the young star of the Indianapolis Colts, arrived in Birmingham I phoned him at his hotel.

"Daddy said you'd be calling," he told me in a friendly voice. He was most cooperative, very talkative.

Now, this may seem like a small thing, but it's not. I deal with so many ignorant, selfish egomaniacs in this business that finding a couple of old fashioned good guys is refreshing.

And it makes me hope their son and brother does well at Ole Miss.

Mississippi head coach David Cutcliffe and Eli have discussed the Manning legacy at Mississippi and all it portends. "You can't run from those things," said Birmingham's Cutcliffe, who was Peyton's offensive coordinator at Tennessee. But he believes Eli can handle it.

Eli stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 205 pounds. He has the Manning arm. In other words, he can make all the throws.

I'll bet he'll be a good interview, too.