Who are the original members of the big eight Mississippi high school football conference?

Answer 1

I can't tell you the original eight, although I do know there was a coast representative.

Before all was said and done, the Big 8 was three divisions -- North, Central and South.

In the late 1960s-early 1970s, the make-up of the Big 8 included the following schools ... some are now renamed, some (Natchez, for example) no longer exist and some play as far down as Class 3A:

Biloxi

Brookhaven

Clarksdale

Cleveland

Columbia

Columbus

Corinth

Greenville

Greenwood

Gulfport

Hattiesburg

Jackson Callaway

Jackson Central

Jackson Murrah

Jackson Provine

Jackson Wingfield

Laurel

Meridian

McComb

Moss Point

Natchez

Pascagoula

Picayune

Tupelo

Vicksburg

Yazoo City

Cleveland was one of the last in and first out. Cleveland, Columbia and Yazoo City were among the first to drop down because they did not have the student body count to compete. Picayune was another to drop before Mississippi's high school conferences were disbanded.

I followed Big 8 football for years and there were some great coaches, players, teams and games.

cdGreenwood, Greenville, Clarksdale, Meridian, Vicksburg, Natchez, Jackson, Columbus... I have often wondered who they were. My guess would be these

The ones I recall from the mid 1950's are:

North Big 8: Jackson Central, Vicksburg, Meridian, Greenville, Columbus, Greenwood

South Big 8: Brookhaven, McComb, Natchez, Laurel, Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Moss Point

Most, if not all, were charter members as best I recall. There were more than 8 teams obviously.