1953 Cotton Bowl Classic

The 1953 Cotton Bowl Classic featured the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Longhorns. This was the first Cotton Bowl Classic to be broadcast on television.

1953 Cotton Bowl Classic
17th Cotton Bowl Classic
1234 Total
Tennessee 0000 0
Texas 2707 16
DateJanuary 1, 1953
Season1952
StadiumCotton Bowl
LocationDallas, Texas
MVPHB Richard Ochoa (Texas)
G Harley Sewell (Texas)
LB Bob Griesbach (Tennessee)
RefereeAlvin Bell (SEC;
split crew: SEC, SWC)
Attendance75,500
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
Cotton Bowl Classic
 < 1952  1954

Background

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The Longhorns were in their first Bowl appearance under Price, in his second season with the team. They had won the Southwest Conference for the first time since 1950. The Volunteers finished 2nd in the Southeastern Conference in Neyland's final season.

Game summary

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Midway through the first quarter, Dave Griffith was tackled by Carlton Massey for a safety after trying to do a fake punt...on first down. After a fumble by Ray Byrd was recovered by Clifford Polk early in the second quarter, Gib Dawson scored on a 4-yard touchdown run 7 plays later to give Texas a 9-0 lead at halftime. Midway through the fourth quarter, Jim Rosser recovered a Vols fumble and seven plays later, Billy Quinn scored on a touchdown run seal Tennessee's fate as the Longhorns got revenge on what happened two Cotton Bowls earlier. Despite both teams losing three fumbles, Tennessee cost them more dearly and led to 14 points for Texas.[1]

Aftermath

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Price would win the SWC again, but a 1-9 season in 1956 led to Price's resignation, leading the way for Darrell Royal to be hired. Harvey Robinson took over for the Vols after Neyland's retirement, but it would take him being fired before the Vols returned to a bowl game under his replacement.

Statistics

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Statistics Texas Tennessee
First Downs 20 6
Yards Rushing 269 -14
Yards Passing 32 46
Total Yards 301 32
Punts-Average 5-35.4 7-40.9
Fumbles-Lost 5-3 5-3
Interceptions 1 0
Penalties-Yards 5-55 3-30

References

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  1. ^ "26-37.pmd" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on January 5, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2014.