1966 Cotton Bowl Classic (January)

1966 Cotton Bowl Classic
LSU Tigers Arkansas Razorbacks (7-3) (10-0) 14 7 Head coach:  Charles McClendon Head coach:  Frank Broyles AP Coaches 2 2 1 2 3 4 Total {{{Visitor School}}} 0 14 0 0 14 {{{Home School}}} 7 0 0 0 7
Date	January 2, 1966
Season	1965
Stadium	Cotton Bowl
Location	Dallas, Texas
MVP	Joe Labruzzo, LSU David McCormick, LSU
Attendance	76,200
Cotton Bowl Classic  < 1965  1966 (Dec) >

The 1966 Cotton Bowl Classic was a post-season college football bowl game with national championship implications between the Southwest Conference champion Arkansas Razorbacks and the LSU Tigers. LSU defeated Arkansas, 14-7 in front of 76,200 spectators.

Setting

Main article: Arkansas–LSU rivalry

Arkansas and LSU's rivalry had been discontinued since 1956, and Arkansas had not beaten the Bayou Bengals since 1929. This was the second Cotton Bowl Classic meeting, after the Hogs and Tigers met in the 1947 Cotton Bowl Classic. The game, sometimes referred to as the Ice Bowl, ended a tie in the bitter cold, 0-0.

Arkansas and LSU had a common opponent, Rice. The Bengal Tigers defeated Rice 42-14, and Arkansas defeated the Owls 31-0.

Arkansas

See also: 1965 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

Bobby Burnett tied three others in scoring, with 16 TD's, the fourth-highest total in the nation. Ronny South was second in kick scoring, with 42 extra points and 6 field goals. As an offensive unit, the Hogs had the best scoring offense (32.4 ppg), the eighth-best rushing offense (226.1 ypg), seventh best total offense (360.2 ypg) nationally. The defense was fourth-best against the run (74.9 yards allowed per game). Glen Ray Hines was a consensus All-American.

Arkansas, defending national champions, entered the game on a 22 game winning streak. The 1965 Hogs defeated the #1 Texas Longhorns and #9 Texas Tech Red Raiders in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Despite this, the Razorbacks were ranked #1 for only one week, during which they defeated North Texas 55-20. #2 Michigan State beat #6 Purdue on the same weekend, giving the Spartans the #1 spot in the AP Poll.

LSU

See also: LSU Tigers football

LSU was 7-3 entering the game, losing at Florida, and to Ole Miss and Alabama at home.

Game summary

The Arkansas Razorbacks put their 22-game win streak on the line in the 1966 Cotton Bowl Classic against their rivals, the Tigers of LSU. Arkansas had the number one scoring offense coming into the game, averaging 32.4 points per contest.

Arkansas took the ball to the end zone on the opening drive, capped by a 19 yard toss from Jon Brittenum to All-American end Bobby Crockett. Running back Joe LaBruzzo then ran in from three yards out for the Bengal Tigers to tie the game at 7. Razorback QB Brittenum then left the game after suffering a shoulder injury and the Hogs fumbled the ball three plays later. LaBruzzo again scored, this time from one yard away, giving the Tigers a 14-7 halftime lead.

Neither team scored in the second half, and Arkansas ended the game on the LSU 24 yard line. Razorback Bobby Crockett set a bowl record with 10 catches for 129 yards.

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring Information Score Plays Yards TOP ARK LSU 1 3:35 87 11 ARK Bobby Crockett 19-yard touchdown reception from Harry Wilson, Ronny South kick good 7 0 2 4:15 80 16 LSU Joe LaBruzzo 3-yard touchdown run, Doug Moneau kick good 7 7 2 0:18 34 7 LSU Joe LaBruzzo 1-yard touchdown run, Doug Moneau kick good 7 14 "TOP" = Time of Possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 7 14