Cotton Bowl
1962
Texas 12
Ole Miss 7
Both Texas and Mississippi had gained the No.
1 ranking in the Associated Press poll during the regular season. The
Longhorns held the top spot during the first two weeks of November
before TCU knocked them from the unbeaten ranks. Ole Miss had moved into
first-place on October 9th. Even though both had suffered unexpected
midseason losses, neither team had dropped very far in the polls. On New
Year’s Day, the 26th Cotton Bowl featured a top attraction: No. 3 Texas
vs. No. 5 Mississippi, both 9-1-0.
The Rebels were the nation’s total offense leader, and second in passing. Texas was the nation’s second best rushing team and the fourth best in total offense. Ole Miss was led by three gifted quarterbacks: Doug Elmore, Glynn Griffing, and Perry Lee Dunn. The Longhorns had four running backs ranked among the Southwest Conference’s top ten rushers: James Saxton, Jerry Cook, Tommy Ford, and Ray Poage. Both teams also boasted solid defenses. This Classic was bound to be a classic, and it was.
Never had an SWC team defeated Mississippi in a post-season bowl game, but by halftime Texas appeared well on its way to becoming the first. Saxton, Texas’ All-America tailback who led the SWC in rushing that season, gave the Horns an early 6-0 lead, plunging one yard for the score. The touchdown was set up on an interception, the Longhorns’ second of five for the day.
The Longhorn offense flexed its offensive muscle again in the second period, driving 72 yards in nine plays. Quarterback Mike Cotten led the Texas rampage, moving the Horns to the ‘Ole Miss 24. At that point, Cotten rolled right and hit Jack Collins with a perfect toss at the 16. Aided by Charles Talbert’s crunching block, Collins sidestepped two defenders and sprinted into the end zone. To offset the missed extra point after the first score. Texas elected to go for two, but it, too, failed as Collins was stopped a yard short of the goal line.
At this point, Texas was threatening to turn the game into a rout. It was the first time in 17 games the Mississippi defense had allowed a pair of touchdowns, and it was the first time in eight years the Rebels had trailed by a dozen points at the half. But, in the second half, the Rebels let it be known that 12 points might not necessarily be enough to win. Taking over on their own 14, after Saxton pulled off a 73-yard quick kick, the Rebels began to roll. Within four minutes, Ole Miss was on the scoreboard. Griffing passed 20 yards to Reed Davis, to trim the Texas lead to 12-7.
Only five points separated the two teams and tension began to build. The clock had ticked down to the 8:20 mark and it was time for the Texas defense to take over. Already the Horns had snared five interceptions, but to win more big plays had to be made.
A short punt gave Ole Miss field position at its 45, and it took just six plays for Griffing to reach the Texas 23. But, just when things began to look promising for the Rebels, their luck evaporated. Safety Duke Carlisle batted down a third down pass, and on fourth-and-two, end Bob Moses stepped forward for Texas. As Griffing pulled away from center he slipped and never had time to recover. Moses met him head-on to stuff the play for a yard loss. The ball went over on downs to Texas and Ole Miss never seriously threatened again. The Horns ran out the clock and the SWC recorded its first-ever bowl victory over Mississippi.
Jerry cook carries in 1962 Cotton Bowl.
Ray Poage carries for Texas.
Doug Elmore shared quarterbacking duties with Glynn Griffing.
Texas' Pat Culpepper carries in the first period.
Attendance- 75,000
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
UT- Saxton 1 run (Moritz kick blocked)
Second Quarter
UT- Collins 24 yard pass from Cotten (Run failed)
Third Quarter
UM- Davis 20 yard pass from Griffing (Sullivan kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
UT- Poage 11-54, Cotton 11-25, Saxton 9-22, Culpepper 3-15
UM- Griffing 10-45, Doty 5-29, Randall 4-13, Morris 3-10, Roberts 4-10, Elmore 7-10
Passing
UT- Cotten 6-13-60
UM- Griffing 12-29-163, Elmore 3-8-29
Receiving
UT- Collins 2-30, Saxton 3-18
UM- Guy 4-43, Doty 4-41, Holloway 3-30, Dabbs 1-32, Davis 1-20
