Fred Haynes - Haynes: "The Littlest Tiger"

Haynes: "The Littlest Tiger"

The LSU Alumni News called Haynes the "mini-brute from Minden." The publication noted that Haynes did not impress scouts because he was too short and too light in weight. In the Southwest Conference, "Little General" Haynes, as he was affectionally called, led LSU to consecutive victories in 1967 over Texas A&M University in College Station, Rice University in Houston, and Baylor University in Waco. That was the same year that his father was elected to a second term as sheriff. Coach Charles McClendon, in relying on Haynes as quarterback, said that duplication of the 1967 success in passing would be LSU's goal for 1968.

Haynes led LSU in total offense. He averaged 142.7 yards a game on 67 offensive plays and completed 20 of 30 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown. Against Baylor, he moved the Tigers to four touchdowns. In October 1966, he first quarterbacked the Tigers after Nelson Stokely was injured in the September 24 game with the Rice Owls of Houston, Texas.

Haynes gained national attention when Sports Illustrated published an article entitled "The Littlest Tiger". At the time of his death, Haynes still held the LSU record for the most rushing yards as a quarterback. He holds this record even though he missed the last four games of his career because of a hand injury. On New Years Day, 1968, he quarterbacked the 34th Sugar Bowl, when LSU defeated the University of Wyoming at Laramie, 20-13. He also played in the Peach Bowl held in Atlanta on December 30, 1968, when LSU defeated Florida State University at Tallahassee, by a score of 31-27.

A Baton Rouge newspaper once described Haynes as "the quarterback who looks like a choir boy." Despite his success in sports, Haynes was said to have been a modest man who downplayed his success. His starting quarterback record for 1966 was 5-4-1; 1967, 7-3-1, and 1968, 8-3-0. He graduated from LSU in 1969 with a degree in education but entered the pharmaceutical sales business after college graduation.