1968 Cotton Bowl Classic
Encyclopedia
The 1968 Cotton Bowl Classic, part of the 1967 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1968, at the Cotton Bowl
in Dallas, Texas
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference
(SEC), and the , representing the Southwest Conference (SWC) as conference champions. Texas A&M won the game 20–16.
in their opening game and lose to eventual conference champion Tennessee
. Following their victory over , Alabama accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl on November 20. The appearance marked the third for Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and their 21st overall bowl game
.
scoring on an eight yard run to give the Crimson Tide a 7–0 lead. The Aggies responded with a 13-yard Edd Hargett
touchdown pass to Larry Stegent
to tie the game at 7–7 at the end of the first quarter. After Steve Davis hit a 36-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter for Alabama, A&M responded late in the quarter with a 7-yard Tommy Maxwell
touchdown reception from Hargett. After the ensuing extra point
failed, the Aggies took a 13–10 lead at the half. A&M extended their lead to 20–10 early in the third after Wendell Housley scored on a 20-yard touchdown run. The final points of the game came later in the third when Stabler scored his second touchdown of the game, and with a failed two point conversion attempt and a scoreless fourth, the Aggies won 20–16. For his performance, Texas A&M quarterback
Edd Hargett was named the Most Valuable Player
of the game. As A&M coach Stallings was both a former player and assistant coach under him, Bryant carried him off the field to celebrate the victory.
Cotton Bowl (stadium)
The Cotton Bowl is a stadium which opened in 1929 and became known as "The House That Doak Built" due to the immense crowds that former SMU running back Doak Walker drew to the stadium during his college career in the late 1940s. Originally known as Fair Park Stadium, it is located in Fair Park,...
in Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. 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 , representing the Southwest Conference (SWC) as conference champions. Texas A&M won the game 20–16.
Alabama
The 1967 Alabama squad finished the regular season with an 8–1–1 record. The Crimson Tide opened the season ranked #2 only to tieTie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
in their opening game and lose to eventual conference champion Tennessee
1967 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1967 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1967 college football season. The Volunteers offense scored 283 points while the defense allowed 141 points. Led by head coach Doug Dickey, the Volunteers won the Southeastern Conference and competed in the...
. Following their victory over , Alabama accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl on November 20. The appearance marked the third for Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and their 21st overall bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M finished the regular season with a 6–4 after opening the season 0–4 with losses to , , and Florida State. With a 10–7 victory over in the regular season finale, the Aggies secured their position in the Cotton Bowl as SWC champions. The appearance marked the third for the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl, and their eighth overall bowl game.Game summary
Alabama opened the game with a ten play, 80 yard drive with Ken StablerKen Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
scoring on an eight yard run to give the Crimson Tide a 7–0 lead. The Aggies responded with a 13-yard Edd Hargett
Edd Hargett
Edward Eugene Hargett is a former American football quarterback for Texas A&M University who went on to play professionally for the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers. He later played for the Shreveport Steamer of the World Football League.Edd passed for 5379 yards in his 3 year career ...
touchdown pass to Larry Stegent
Larry Stegent
Larry Stegent was a National Football League running back for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. Although highly touted during his collegiate career at Texas A&M, he proved to be a disappointment in the NFL as he only played in seven games recording just one reception for 12 yards.Larry now lives...
to tie the game at 7–7 at the end of the first quarter. After Steve Davis hit a 36-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter for Alabama, A&M responded late in the quarter with a 7-yard Tommy Maxwell
Tommy Maxwell
Tommy Marshall Maxwell is a former American football player. After playing college football at Texas A&M, he spent six seasons playing in the NFL...
touchdown reception from Hargett. After the ensuing extra point
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
failed, the Aggies took a 13–10 lead at the half. A&M extended their lead to 20–10 early in the third after Wendell Housley scored on a 20-yard touchdown run. The final points of the game came later in the third when Stabler scored his second touchdown of the game, and with a failed two point conversion attempt and a scoreless fourth, the Aggies won 20–16. For his performance, Texas A&M quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Edd Hargett was named the 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...
of the game. As A&M coach Stallings was both a former player and assistant coach under him, Bryant carried him off the field to celebrate the victory.