Lone Star Sports Legends: On This Day in History

By Ryan Sprayberry

From the clash of college to the best married shooting duo in history, the Lone Star State clears every hurdle the sports world offers. A former Texas Christian basketball player became the first tenured African American professor at Harvard Business School. Aggie football legend John Kimbrough's first professional contract required him to act in movies and serve as the stadium's handyman. For every date on the calendar, Ryan Sprayberry provides a play-by-play of 365 memorable days in the state's athletic history, beginning with the birth of the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 1937, and ending with the final snap of the Ice Bowl on December 31, 1967.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Aug 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781439662144

Ryan Sprayberry

Ryan Sprayberry was born and raised in Texas before his passion for history took him to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. Today, he lives in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and son while working on a degree from Texas A&M to add to his undergraduate degree from Baylor University.

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AUTHOR

JANUARY

JANUARY 1, 1937: COTTON WEAVES INTO TEXAS CULTURE

Trains were roaring from the Lone Star State to the Golden State. Thousands of fans—more than ten thousand, in fact—crammed into one hundred railway cars. Among them was James Allred, the governor of Texas; Matty Bell, the first-year head coach of Southern Methodist University; and, of course, thousands of SMU fans. The Mustang faithful were itching to watch SMU, the undefeated and untied number one team in the nation, take on Stanford in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 1936.

While SMU would end up falling to Stanford, 7–0, one passenger on the trip asked a simple question: Why travel thousands of miles for a bowl game, when Dallas is a hotbed of football fans and a much closer destination? That man was J. Curtis Sanford, an early Texas oil executive. His question was a common one. After the Rose Bowl became college football’s first postseason game in 1902, it was joined by the Orange Bowl in 1933, the Sugar Bowl in 1935 and the Sun Bowl in 1936 as college football fans looked to bring postseason games to their region.

Within a month, Sanford had applied to copyright the name Cotton Bowl and made plans to rent the forty-six-thousand-seat Fair Park Stadium for the event. After the failure of the Dixie Classic, another postseason game held in Dallas, Sanford found that he was unable to garner many investors. Undeterred, he covered the expenses of the first Cotton Bowl himself.

So, on January 1, 1937, the country was introduced to the Cotton Bowl. The game featured No. 16 Texas Christian University, with head coach Dutch Meyer, Slingin’ Sammy Baugh and Ki Aldrich, against No. 20 Marquette. After going down 6–3 early in the first quarter, TCU held a 16–6 edge at halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Coach Meyer had used all of his bench players, including a little-known sophomore quarterback, Davey O’Brien. Neither team scored after the half, as the TCU Frogs held on to win. Baugh would end his collegiate career in the Cotton Bowl, becoming the first in a long line of great quarterbacks to play in the game. After leaving TCU, he spent sixteen years in the NFL, where he won six passing titles and became a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In honor of Cotton Bowl founder J. Curtis Sanford, a halftime band spells out his name at the 1961 Cotton Bowl. Courtesy of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Despite featuring a pair of top-twenty teams, including a near-hometown team, the first Cotton Bowl was a failure. With just seventeen thousand fans in attendance, Sanford took a $6,000 hit on his new venture. Detractors began calling the Cotton Bowl Sanford’s Folly, but he was driven to see the game succeed. Within two years, he had doubled attendance—forty thousand fans filled the stands to see St. Mary’s knock off undefeated Texas Tech, 20–13. The game was gaining momentum.

Original ticket from the first Cotton Bowl played between Texas Christian University and Marquette. Courtesy of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

While Sanford had envisioned the game as a promotion for the Southwest Conference (SWC), the conference began urging its champions to decline any invitation to the Cotton Bowl. Unhappy that Sanford exercised exclusive authority, the conference wanted the game removed from private control. Accordingly, the 1938 national champions, TCU, and 1939’s national champs, Texas A&M, snubbed Sanford, accepting instead invitations to the Sugar Bowl. Seeing the game’s long-term viability dependent on locking down the SWC champion, Sanford struck a deal. On January 1, 1941, No. 6 Texas A&M beat No. 12 Fordham, 13–12, in the first SWC-sponsored Cotton Bowl.

From modest beginnings, the Cotton Bowl Classic has been woven into the fabric of Texas culture. Even today, it is arguably the most iconic Texas sporting contest, continuing a legacy as one of the premier postseason college football games.

JANUARY 2, 1922: AGGIES STAND TO SERVE

The 1921 college football season was a legendary one. The Praying Colonels of Centre College in Kentucky had routed TCU in the Fort Worth Classic by a score of 63–7 to end the 1920 season, but no one expected them to post a 6–0 victory over college football’s premiere team, Harvard, in 1921. Led by Charley Moran (who coached Texas A&M from 1909 to 1914, compiling a 38-8-4 record), Centre looked to be a formidable team, and it backed up this reputation, outscoring opponents by a staggering 282–6. Not surprisingly, it would claim the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association title with a perfect regular season record of 9-0 (many consider the SIAA the primary precursor to today’s Southeastern Conference [SEC]). With just three college postseason matchups in 1922, Centre was invited to two of them, accepting both. The first, played on December 28, was the San Diego Christmas Classic. Traveling cross-country to face the Arizona Wildcats, Centre won by a typical margin. The final score was 38–0.

Blanket presented to the Texas A&M Aggies for defeating powerful Centre College in the 1922 Dixie Classic. Courtesy of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Dana X. Bible poses in his coaching cap. Bible is responsible for some the earliest football success at both the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Courtesy of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

On its way back to Kentucky from California, Centre stopped in Dallas to play the Southwest Conference champions, Texas A&M, in the Dixie Classic. The Aggies, coached by the legendary Dana X. Bible, looked to give the Centre team a hard fight despite its underwhelming 5-1-2 record. On the opening drive, Texas A&M lost its team captain to a leg injury. After a punt, the Aggies tackled Centre for a safety, putting Texas A&M up, 2–0. It was the first time all season that Centre had fallen behind in a game. To end the half, A&M stopped Centre three times from two yards out for a turnover on downs and the halftime lead.

The Aggies continued to suffer injuries, and Coach Bible took notice. Concerned about his lack of depth, Bible approached E. King Gill in the stands. Gill had left the football team to focus on the 1922 basketball season, but when Bible asked him to come to the aid of the football team, he immediately obliged, switching clothes with the injured Heine Weir under the stadium. Gill reported to the A&M sideline for the second half, ready to serve his team at a moment’s notice.

After going down 7–2, A&M forced two turnovers, scoring each time to take a 16–7 lead. With such a large deficit, Centre was forced to pass to try and save its perfect season. On the ensuing drive, Texas A&M’s Ted Winn stepped in front of a pass, intercepting it and returning it forty-five yards for the final Aggie score. Centre scored one more time, but A&M triumphed, 22–14.

Although Gill never entered the game for the Aggies, he reportedly later said, I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me. In honor of Gill, the Aggies still stand today. Texas A&M’s student body remains standing throughout football games, as a sign of solidarity and commitment to serve fellow students. One of collegiate athletics’ most notable traditions, Texas A&M’s 12th Man began with E. King Gill at the 1922 Dixie Bowl.

JANUARY 3, 1971: THE COWBOYS’ FIRST CHANCE TO BE SUPER

The first NFC championship game pitted the Dallas Cowboys against the San Francisco 49ers. Played at San Francisco’s Kezar Stadium, the game took place on a bright, sunny afternoon. The contest was knotted 3–3 at halftime, but the Cowboys opened it up in the second half.

Up 10–3, the Cowboys’ Mel Renfro intercepted a 49er pass. Looking to ice the game, Dallas rode Walt Garrison on the ensuing sixty-two-yard drive. The injured Garrison had a twelve-yard carry, a twenty-four-yard run on a screen pass and, at last, a five-yard touchdown reception. Up 17–3, the Cowboys defense took over, and Dallas won, 17–10.

Garrison had the gutsiest performance of the day, playing with a broken collarbone and an ankle injury. Garrison is still remembered as a fan favorite and a true cowboy. When not playing football, he spent time roping and participating in rodeo competitions. His Dallas Cowboys signing bonus even included a horse trailer.

The victory over San Francisco propelled Dallas to its first Super Bowl appearance, but the ’Boys would fall to the Baltimore Colts, 16–13, in Super Bowl V. The Cowboys fought hard; it is the only time a Super Bowl MVP award was given to a member of the losing team. Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley was given the award after intercepting two passes, but he refused to accept it, saying it was meaningless, since the Cowboys had lost the game.

JANUARY 4, 2006: LONE STAR BCS

With head coach Mack Brown, quarterback Vince Young, freshman running back Jamaal Charles, tight end David Thomas and sophomore safety Michael Griffin, the Texas Longhorns won the 2005 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national title. UT is the only Texas school to claim a title in the BCS era. Vince Young put on a one-man show, setting multiple Rose Bowl records.

Up 16–10 at half, the Longhorns found themselves down 38–33 with 1:50 left in the game. Completions to Quan Cosby, Limas Sweed and Brian Carter, and a facemask penalty, moved the ball to the University of Southern California eight-yard line. On fourth down, Young scanned the field and, finding no one open, trotted into the end zone to put the Longhorns up 39–38 with nineteen seconds left. After a two-point conversion on a Young rush, the ’Horns had the final score of 41–38. Young’s final statistics included completing thirty of forty passing attempts for 267 yards, with nineteen carries for another 200 yards and three touchdowns.

JANUARY 5, 1931: TWO-SPORT STAR WALTER "BUDDY" DAVIS IS BORN

Born in Beaumont, Walter Davis contracted polio at the age of nine. Despite not being able to walk for three years, Davis would grow to be six feet, eight inches tall and earn an athletic scholarship to Texas A&M. While an Aggie, Davis made a name for himself as a two-sport athlete, excelling in field events and on the basketball court.

In 1952, after being chosen in the second round of the NBA draft by the Philadelphia Warriors, Davis won a gold medal at the Helsinki Olympics in the high jump. He returned to the United States, playing for the Warriors from 1953 to 1958 and helping the team win a NBA championship in 1956. After moving to the St. Louis Hawks in 1958, Davis won a second NBA title with that team.

JANUARY 6, 1929: GEORGE "TEX" RICKARD PASSES AWAY

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, George Rickard moved with his family to Sherman, Texas, when he was four. His early life took him from cattle rancher to marshal, from gambler to casino owner. While working in Nevada, Rickard tried his hand at boxing promotion and showed an immediate ability to thrive. Offering an unheard-of purse—$30,000—Rickard still managed to make a profit when gate receipts went over $60,000. For his second fight, Rickard matched fellow Texan Jack Johnson against James Jeffries. This time, Rickard offered a purse of over $100,000 and, again, came out on top.

After a six-year hiatus from boxing, Rickard returned to promotion and arranged a fight in 1916 at Madison Square Garden. The bout between Jess Willard and Frank Moran earned $156,000 in gate receipts, a record for an indoor fight at the time. Rickard remained in boxing promotion for the rest of his life. His most successful draw was a series of fights featuring Jack Dempsey from 1921 to 1927. Each fight earned over $1 million in gate receipts. The highlight of this series was a rematch between Dempsey and Gene Tunney, held at Chicago’s historic Soldier Field. The fight earned an astounding $2.6 million in receipts.

Rickard made a lasting impression on the city of New York after he acquired the rights to Madison Square Garden. He established the Madison Square Garden Corporation, dedicated to creating profitable sporting events. Rickard opened Madison Square Garden III in 1925, which stood until 1968. In 1926, the National Hockey League granted Rickard a franchise, nicknamed Tex’s Rangers. The name stuck, and today, the team plays as the New York Rangers. Rickard passed away at the age of fifty-nine from complications following an appendectomy. He was working in Miami Beach at the time, an area he believed held great promise for future growth.

JANUARY 7, 1957: BOBBY MORROW ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

The Fastest Man in the World and Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year, Bobby Morrow became one of the greatest Olympic athletes in history when he won gold medals in the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the 4x100 relay at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Born in Harlingen, Texas, Morrow’s track career began at Abilene Christian University, where he was coached by the legendary Oliver Jackson. Coach Jackson produced athletes that set or broke fifteen world records while winning four Olympic gold medals.

Bobby Morrow trains in his Abilene Christian College gear. Courtesy of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

JANUARY 8, 1921: FIRST SANCTIONED HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Cleburne and Houston Heights battled to a 0–0 draw in a game played at Clark Field in Austin. The Interscholastic Athletics Association was created by the University of Texas Extension Service in 1910. In 1913, the group merged with the Debating League of Texas to create the University Interscholastic League (UIL), which would be responsible for governing athletic and academic contests in Texas high schools. With just one division, the 1921 game represented a matchup between the champions of North Texas and South Texas.

JANUARY 9, 1975: GRANT TEAFF WINS AFCA "COACH OF THE YEAR"

Teaff was named the recipient of the American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year award after leading Baylor to an 8-3 record in 1974. The Bears won the Southwest Conference title that year, their first conference title in five decades. Even more impressive, Teaff accomplished the feat with a team that went 2-9 in 1973. The ’74 season was highlighted by a 34–24 victory over No. 12 Texas. Down 24–7 at halftime, the Bears rallied to victory, their first win over UT in seventeen years. The game was almost immediately immortalized as the Miracle on the Brazos.

JANUARY 10, 1956: NELSON AND HOGAN PLAY VENTURI AND WARD

Golf is a game of historic moments. People discuss for years how a single stroke defines a major tournament. A moment of brilliance or mental breakdown leads to victory or defeat.