1965 Orange Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1965 Orange Bowl
, part of the 1964 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1965, at the Orange Bowl Stadium
in Miami, Florida
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), and the Texas Longhorns, representing the Southwest Conference (SWC). Texas won the game 21–17.
, Alabama accepted a bid to play in the Orange Bowl from bowl officials. The appearance marked the fourth for Alabama in the Orange Bowl, and their 18th overall bowl appearance. With USC upsetting Notre Dame 20–17 on the final weekend of the season, Alabama was selected as the 1964 national champions by both the AP and UPI prior to the bowl game.
in week five kept the Longhorns from repeating as National Champions.
Ernie Koy took the ball 79-yards for a 7–0 Texas lead with only :23 remaining in the first quarter. Texas extended their lead to 14–0 on their next offensive possession when George Sauer caught a 69-yard touchdown reception from Jim Hudson
. Alabama cut the lead in half later in the second quarter when Joe Namath
hit Wayne Trimble for a 7-yard touchdown reception. On the following possession, Alabama blocked a 35-yard David Conway field goal attempt, recovered the ball, but fumble
d it on the return, which Texas recovered. Ernie Koy capped the ensuing 38-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to give the Longhorns a 21–7 halftime lead. Alabama was unable to take the lead in only scoring ten second half points. The first came on a 20-yard Ray Perkins touchdown reception from Namath and the second on a 26-yard Dave Ray field goal. Although on the losing side, Alabama quarterback Joe Namath was selected as the games Most Valuable Player
for completing 18 of 37 passes for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, part of the 1964 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1965, at the Orange Bowl Stadium
Miami Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl, formerly Burdine Stadium, was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, west of downtown in Little Havana. Considered a landmark, it was the home stadium for the Miami Hurricanes college football team...
in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC), and the Texas Longhorns, representing the Southwest Conference (SWC). Texas won the game 21–17.
Alabama
The 1964 Alabama squad finished the regular season as both SEC and national champions with a record of 10–0. During the Iron BowlIron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
, Alabama accepted a bid to play in the Orange Bowl from bowl officials. The appearance marked the fourth for Alabama in the Orange Bowl, and their 18th overall bowl appearance. With USC upsetting Notre Dame 20–17 on the final weekend of the season, Alabama was selected as the 1964 national champions by both the AP and UPI prior to the bowl game.
Texas
Opening the season as defending national champions, the Longhorns finished the regular season with a record of 9–1. Only a 14–13 loss against ArkansasArkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in week five kept the Longhorns from repeating as National Champions.
Game summary
After the defense stopped Alabama at the one-yard line on fourth down, Texas responded quickly with the first score of the evening. After moving the ball 20 yards, Longhorn running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Ernie Koy took the ball 79-yards for a 7–0 Texas lead with only :23 remaining in the first quarter. Texas extended their lead to 14–0 on their next offensive possession when George Sauer caught a 69-yard touchdown reception from Jim Hudson
Jim Hudson
Jim Hudson , is a former professional American Football defensive back. He started in Super Bowl III for the New York Jets, and made a key interception just before the end of the first half....
. Alabama cut the lead in half later in the second quarter when Joe Namath
Joe Namath
Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
hit Wayne Trimble for a 7-yard touchdown reception. On the following possession, Alabama blocked a 35-yard David Conway field goal attempt, recovered the ball, but fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d it on the return, which Texas recovered. Ernie Koy capped the ensuing 38-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to give the Longhorns a 21–7 halftime lead. Alabama was unable to take the lead in only scoring ten second half points. The first came on a 20-yard Ray Perkins touchdown reception from Namath and the second on a 26-yard Dave Ray field goal. Although on the losing side, Alabama quarterback Joe Namath was selected as the games Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
for completing 18 of 37 passes for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns.