1938 Cotton Bowl Classic
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
|game_name=Cotton Bowl Classic
|subheader=2nd Cotton Bowl Classic
|date_game_played=January 1
|year_game_played=1938
|football_season=1937
|home_school=Rice University
|home_name_short=Rice
|home_nickname=Owls
|home_record=5–3–2
|home_coach=James Kitts
|home_conference=SWC
|home_rank_AP=18
|home_1q =0
|home_2q =21
|home_3q =7
|home_4q =0
|visitor_school=Colorado University
|visitor_name_short=Colorado
|visitor_nickname=Buffaloes
|visitor_record=8–0
|visitor_coach=Bunny Oakes
|visitor_conference=Rocky Mountain
|visitor_rank_AP=17
|visitor_1q =14
|visitor_2q =0
|visitor_3q =0
|visitor_4q =0
|MVP=Byron White (Colorado)
Ernie Lain (Rice)
|type=bg
|stadium=Cotton Bowl
|city=Dallas, Texas
|referee= Alvin Bell
|attendance=37,000–38,000
|image=Cotton Bowl Classic 1938.png}}
The 1938 Cotton Bowl Classic was the second edition of the Cotton Bowl Classic, featuring the Colorado Buffaloes and the Rice Owls.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c1IbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6ksEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4594%2C311944 |work=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |last=Wells |first=Jay |title='Whiz' White stands out, but Rice triumphs 28-14 |date=January 2, 1938 |page=1, sports }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uidWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wOMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6702%2C487534 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Colorado gets away in lead, but Rice Institute blasts way to victory |date=January 2, 1938 |page=2B}}
Background
Senior halfback Byron "Whizzer" White was the highlight on a Colorado team that had an unbeaten regular season. A Rhodes Scholar and Heisman Trophy runner-up, the future Supreme Court justice was a consensus All-American who could defend, run, punt, and pass the ball.
Rice were led by sophomores, highlighted by Ernie Lain, dubbed by sportswriter Grantland Rice as "football’s greatest sophomore back." This was the first bowl game for both programs.
Game summary
Colorado sprung up a 14–0 lead after the first quarter on a Joe Antonio touchdown catch and a White interception return for a touchdown. But Lain was determined; he threw two touchdown passes to Jake Schuehle and Ollie Cordill, and then ran for a touchdown to take a 21–14 lead into halftime.
Frank Steen caught a touchdown pass from Lain in the third quarter to seal the game for the Owls, who dominated the Buffaloes on defense for most of the game, who had less first downs than punts. Colorado's next appearance in the Cotton Bowl was in January 1996, while Rice returned in 1950, and went to two more in a span of eight years (1954, 1958).{{cite web |url=http://media.attcottonbowl.com/resource/history/1938/rsrc/1938-Classic-Recap.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=media.attcottonbowl.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511012825/http://media.attcottonbowl.com/resource/history/1938/rsrc/1938-Classic-Recap.pdf |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
! Statistics !! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Rice Owls|border=0|color=white}}"|Rice !! style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Colorado Buffaloes|border=0|color=white}}"|Colorado | ||
| First Downs | 20 | 6 |
| Yards Rushing | 257 | 87 |
| Yards Passing | 158 | 8 |
| Total Yards | 415 | 95 |
| Punts–Average | 4–38.0 | 9–41.0 |
| Fumbles Lost | 2 | 2 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 2 |
| Penalties–Yards | 9–65 | 3–15 |
Outstanding Players
Colorado
- Byron White (future NFL player and future Supreme Court Justice of the United States)
- Leon Lavington Jr. (future NFL player, Chicago Cardinals, son of Leon Lavington Sr., Colorado State Treasurer)
Rice
- Ernie Lain
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1937 bowl game navbox}}
{{Cotton Bowl Classic navbox}}
{{Colorado Buffaloes bowl game navbox}}
{{Rice Owls bowl game navbox}}
Category:Colorado Buffaloes football bowl games