1945 Cotton Bowl Classic Explained

Game Name:Cotton Bowl Classic
Subheader:9th Cotton Bowl Classic
Date Game Played:January 1
Year Game Played:1945
Football Season:1944
Home Name Short:TCU
Home Nickname:Horned Frogs
Home Record:7–2–1
Home 1Q:0
Home 2Q:0
Home 3Q:0
Home 4Q:0
Visitor Name Short:Oklahoma A&M
Visitor Nickname:Cowboys
Visitor Record:7–1
Visitor 1Q:14
Visitor 2Q:0
Visitor 3Q:7
Visitor 4Q:13
Mvp:End Neill Armstrong (Oklahoma A&M)<br>RB Bob Fenimore (Oklahoma A&M)<br>DT Ralph Foster (Texas)
Type:bg
Referee:Harry Viner (SWC;
split crew: SWC, Missouri Valley)
Attendance:37,500

The 1945 Cotton Bowl Classic featured the TCU Horned Frogs and the Oklahoma A&M Cowboys.[1]

Background

Oklahoma A&M won the Missouri Valley Conference and had only lost to Norman NAS (a naval team). TCU was lucky to be there, with a 7–2–1 record and 3–1–1 conference record. This was Oklahoma A&M's first bowl game.[2]

Game summary

The game started with and ended with an Oklahoma A&M touchdown. Bob Fenimore had two touchdown runs with additional touchdowns by Jim Spavital, Joe Thomas, and Mack Creage the game was dominated by A&M, who had long drives of 59, 61, 62, 40, and 66 all result in touchdowns while TCU turned the ball over twice and let Oklahoma A&M run the ball 60 times in one of the more lopsided Cotton Bowl games.[3] [4]

Aftermath

Oklahoma A&M would win the Sugar Bowl the year after, but they would not reach another Cotton Bowl until 2003 (now known as Oklahoma State) and has not won one since the 1945 game.TCU would reach the Cotton Bowl four more times from 1951 to 1958.

Statistics TCU Oklahoma A&M
First Downs 520
Yards Rushing74295
Yards Passing 31199
Total Yards 105494
Punts-Average 8-34.36-26.3
Fumbles-Lost 2-11-1
Interceptions10
Penalties-Yards 5-257-75

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 9th Classic, 1945 - 2023-24 - Cotton Bowl Classics History . Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic . 30 July 2023 . en.
  2. Web site: Cox . Kyle . Wayback Wednesday: OSU’s First Bowl Game, the 1945 Cotton Bowl . Pistols Firing . 30 July 2023 . 3 July 2019.
  3. Web site: 14-25.pmd (PDF) . Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic . 30 July 2023 . en.
  4. Web site: 1945 Cotton Bowl Classic Recap . Oklahoma State University Athletics. 30 July 2023 . en.