1962 Cotton Bowl Classic
26th Cotton Bowl Classic
Ole Miss Rebels Texas Longhorns
(9–1) (9–1)
SEC SWC
7 12
Head coach: 
Johnny Vaught		 Head coach: 
Darrell Royal
APCoaches
55
APCoaches
34
1234 Total
Ole Miss 0070 7
Texas 6600 12
DateJanuary 1, 1962
Season1961
StadiumCotton Bowl
LocationDallas, Texas
MVPMike Cotten (Texas QB)
Bob Moses   (Texas E)
FavoriteOle Miss by 3 points[1][2]
RefereeCharles W. Bowen (SEC;
split crew: SEC, SWC)
Attendance75,504
PayoutUS$175,000 per team[3]
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersChris Schenkel, Johnny Lujack
Cotton Bowl Classic
 < 1961  1963 > 

The 1962 Cotton Bowl Classic was the 26th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, January 1. Part of the 1961–62 bowl game season, the game featured the third-ranked Texas Longhorns of the Southwest Conference (SWC) and the #5 Ole Miss Rebels of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Ole Miss was slightly favored, but Texas won, 12–7.[2][3]

Teams

Main article: 1961 NCAA University Division football season

Both teams had been ranked first in the polls before-mid season losses knocked them out of championship contention. At the end of the regular season, both were still ranked in the top five, which made for an interesting bowl matchup.

The Longhorns were co-champions of the Southwestern Conference while Ole Miss finished third in the Southeastern Conference. Texas was fourth in offense while Ole Miss was first. Both teams were in the middle of bowl streaks, the Longhorns were in their third consecutive bowl game, while Ole Miss was in their fifth consecutive bowl game.

Texas

Main article: 1961 Texas Longhorns football team

The Longhorns were making their first of three consecutive Cotton Bowl appearances.

Mississippi

Main article: 1961 Ole Miss Rebels football team

Game summary

Tommy Ford intercepted Glynn Griffing's pass, which gave the Longhorns the ball at the Rebels' 34. Seven plays later, James Saxton scored from a yard out to give Texas the lead 47 seconds into the game. But Eldon Moritz's extra point attempt was blocked by James Dunaway to make it only 6–0. Mike Cotten drove his team 72 yards which culminated in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jack Collins. But when Texas tried to make the two-point conversion, it fell short as the Longhorns held a 12–0 halftime lead.

Four minutes into the third quarter, Griffing drove his team 86 yards and threw a twenty-yard touchdown pass to Reed Davis to narrow the lead to five. But the Longhorn defense took over from there. Ole Miss had only one serious chance the rest of the game, as they drove to the 23 with eight minutes to go in the third. But Moses sacked Griffing on fourth down, as both teams did not score the rest of the game as Ole Miss lost their first game against the Southwest Conference.[4]

Scoring

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

No scoring

Statistics

Statistics Texas Miss
First Downs 12 17
Yards Rushing 123 127
Yards Passing 60 192
Total Yards 183 319
Punts–Average 5–40.2 4–32.5
Fumbles–Lost 2–1 1–1
Interceptions 3 5
Penalties–Yards 3–35 4–30

Aftermath

Texas went to the next two Cotton Bowls and later six straight (1969–1974), which included several national championships. The Longhorns also won the 1965 Orange Bowl over top-ranked Alabama.

Ole Miss went undefeated the following year and won the Sugar Bowl, but USC was declared champion by both major polls (AP, UPI). However, since other polls voted them champion, Ole Miss claims the 1962 title; their next Cotton Bowl was in January 2004.

References

  1. ^ "Cotton Bowl contest termed 'wide open'". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. January 1, 1962. p. 7.
  2. ^ a b "Texas upsets Ole Miss". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. January 2, 1962. p. 8.
  3. ^ a b "Pass defense key in Texas Cotton Bowl win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1962. p. 3B.
  4. ^ "38-49.pmd" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
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