1938 Cotton Bowl Classic

The 1938 Cotton Bowl Classic was the second edition of the Cotton Bowl Classic, featuring the Colorado Buffaloes and the Rice Owls.[1][2]

1938 Cotton Bowl Classic
2nd Cotton Bowl Classic
1234 Total
Colorado 14000 14
Rice 02170 28
DateJanuary 1, 1938
Season1937
StadiumCotton Bowl
LocationDallas, Texas
MVPByron White (Colorado)
Ernie Lain (Rice)
RefereeAlvin Bell
Attendance37,000–38,000
Cotton Bowl Classic
 < 1937  1939

Background

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Senior halfback Byron "Whizzer" White was the highlight on a Colorado team that had an unbeaten regular season. A Rhodes Scholar and Heisman Trophy runner-up, the future Supreme Court justice was a consensus All-American who could defend, run, punt, and pass the ball.

Rice were led by sophomores, highlighted by Ernie Lain, dubbed by sportswriter Grantland Rice as "football’s greatest sophomore back." This was the first bowl game for both programs.

Game summary

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Colorado sprung up a 14–0 lead after the first quarter on a Joe Antonio touchdown catch and a White interception return for a touchdown. But Lain was determined; he threw two touchdown passes to Jake Schuehle and Ollie Cordill, and then ran for a touchdown to take a 21–14 lead into halftime.

Frank Steen caught a touchdown pass from Lain in the third quarter to seal the game for the Owls, who dominated the Buffaloes on defense for most of the game, who had less first downs than punts. Colorado's next appearance in the Cotton Bowl was in January 1996, while Rice returned in 1950, and went to two more in a span of eight years (1954, 1958).[3]

Statistics

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Statistics     Rice     Colorado
First Downs 20 6
Yards Rushing 257 87
Yards Passing 158 8
Total Yards 415 95
Punts–Average 4–38.0 9–41.0
Fumbles Lost 2 2
Interceptions 1 2
Penalties–Yards 9–65 3–15

Outstanding Players

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Colorado

  • Byron White (future NFL player and future Supreme Court Justice of the United States)
  • Leon Lavington Jr. (future NFL player, Chicago Cardinals, son of Leon Lavington Sr., Colorado State Treasurer)

Rice

  • Ernie Lain

References

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  1. ^ Wells, Jay (January 2, 1938). "'Whiz' White stands out, but Rice triumphs 28-14". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 1, sports.
  2. ^ "Colorado gets away in lead, but Rice Institute blasts way to victory". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1938. p. 2B.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). media.attcottonbowl.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 11, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)