1956 Cotton Bowl Classic
The 1956 Cotton Bowl Classic was the twentieth edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, January 2. Part of the 1955–56 bowl game season, it matched the sixth-ranked TCU Horned Frogs of the Southwest Conference (SWC) and the #10 Ole Miss Rebels of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Underdog Ole Miss rallied to win by a point, 14–13.[2][3]
| 1956 Cotton Bowl Classic | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 20th Cotton Bowl Classic | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 2, 1956 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 1955 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Cotton Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Dallas, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Eagle Day (Ole Miss QB) Buddy Alliston (Ole Miss G) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | TCU [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Cliff Shaw (SWC; split crew: SWC, SEC) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 75,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | NBC | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Lindsey Nelson, Red Grange | ||||||||||||||||||||
New Year's Day was on Sunday in 1956; the major bowl games were played the following day.
Teams
Both teams had 9–1 records.
TCU
TCU hadn't been to a bowl game since the Cotton Bowl four years earlier.
Mississippi
Ole Miss was trying to win their first bowl game since the 1948 Delta Bowl, which was also against TCU.
Game summary
On the game's first play, TCU quarterback and returner Chuck Curtis injured his shoulder and broke two ribs. He sat out the rest of the game and was replaced by Dick Finney, who went one for three passing for thirteen yards and rushed for five yards. Halfback Jim Swink helped carry TCU to with two rushing touchdowns and finished with 107 yards. On the second extra point attempt by TCU, Harold Pollard missed after having to try again due to a penalty on TCU. Down 13–0, Ole Miss quarterback Eagle Day and running back Paige Cothren led the team back, with Cotheren's 3-yard run narrowing the lead to six at halftime.
The second half had only one score, but it was crucial. With 9:34 to play, Ole Miss started their drive after a punt. And with 4:22 left, the Rebels scored on a Billy Lott touchdown run. The extra point was converted by Cothren, as Mississippi held on to win their first bowl game since 1948.[2][3]
Scoring
First quarter
- TCU – Jim Swink 1-yard run (Harold Pollard kick)
Second quarter
- TCU – Swink 39-yard run (Pollard kick fail),
- Miss – Paige Cothren 3-yard run (Cothren kick)
Third quarter
- No scoring
Fourth quarter
- Miss – Billy Lott 5-yard run (Cothren kick)
Statistics
Statistics TCU Ole Miss First Downs 11 12 Yards Rushing 233 92 Yards Passing 20 137 Total Yards 253 229 Punts-Average 5–28.8 6–42.7 Fumbles-Lost 2–1 1–1 Interceptions 2 0 Penalties-Yards 8–80 6–80
References
- "Scoring show due in Cotton". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. January 2, 1956. p. 7.
- "Mississippi in upset win over TCU, 14-13". Wilmington Morning Star. (North Carolina). Associated Press. January 3, 1956. p. 12.
- "Clutch play wins for Ole Miss". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. January 3, 1956. p. 28.