1942 Cotton Bowl Classic
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = Cotton Bowl Classic
| subheader = 6th Cotton Bowl Classic
| date_game_played = January 1
| year_game_played = 1942
| football_season = 1941
| stadium = Cotton Bowl
| city = Dallas, Texas
| visitor_school = University of Alabama
| visitor_name_short = Alabama
| visitor_nickname = Crimson Tide
| visitor_record = 8–2
| visitor_rank_AP = 20
| visitor_coach = Frank Thomas
| visitor_conference = SEC
| visitor_1q = 0
| visitor_2q = 7
| visitor_3q = 13
| visitor_4q = 9
| home_school = Texas A&M University
| home_name_short = Texas A&M
| home_nickname = Aggies
| home_record = 9–1
| home_rank_AP = 9
| home_coach = Homer H. Norton
| home_conference = SWC
| home_1q = 0
| home_2q = 7
| home_3q = 0
| home_4q = 14
| MVP = T Martin Ruby (Texas A&M){{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Bowls.pdf |title=Bowl/All-Star Game Records: Most Valuable Players in Former Major Bowls |author=National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) |work=2011 NCAA Division I Football Records |page=95 |publisher=NCAA.org |access-date=November 19, 2011 }}
HB Jimmy Nelson (Alabama)
E Holt Rast (Alabama)
T Don Whitmire (Alabama)
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|image=Cotton Bowl Classic 1942.png}}
The 1942 Cotton Bowl Classic, part of the 1941 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1942, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the Texas A&M Aggies, representing the Southwest Conference (SWC) as conference champions. Alabama won the game 29–21.
Teams
=Alabama=
{{see also|1941 Alabama Crimson Tide football team}}
The 1941 Alabama squad finished the regular season with an 8–2 record. The Crimson Tide also finished third in SEC play with losses to Vanderbilt and conference champion Mississippi State. Following their victory over Miami, Alabama accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl on New Years Day on December 1.{{cite news |title=Tide resumes work next week for Cotton Bowl |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sNQ-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=uUwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4883%2C4454920 |last=Staff Reporters |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |page=7 |date=December 2, 1941 |access-date=January 5, 2011}} The appearance marked the first for Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and the first bowl game played outside the Rose Bowl Game.
=Texas A&M=
{{see also|1941 Texas A&M Aggies football team}}
Texas A&M finished the regular season with a 9–1 with its lone defeat coming against Texas.{{cite news |title=Texas ponds Aggies, 23–0 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rdQ-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=uUwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6352%2C4250150 |first=Austin |last=Bealmear |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |page=11 |date=November 28, 1941 |access-date=January 5, 2011}} The appearance marked the second for the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl, as they defeated Fordham 13–12 in the 1941 game.
Game summary
In a game statistically tilted toward the Aggies, Alabama won 29–21, after racing to a 29–7 lead. Alabama then inserted its third-string, allowing for Texas A&M's late scoring.{{cite news |title=Alabama outscores Texas Aggies in touchdown race, 29 to 21 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1OdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z00MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6474%2C75291 |last=Staff Reporters |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |page=7 |date=January 2, 1942 |access-date=January 5, 2011}}{{cite news |title=Tiders to Return Home with Bowl Bacon Today|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=XUmZziu-z7kC&dat=19420104&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|last=Staff Reporters |newspaper=The Tuscaloosa News |page=10 |date=January 4, 1942 |access-date=July 27, 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/1942-cotton-bowl.html |title=Bowl History – 1942 Cotton Bowl |work=AggieAthletics.com |publisher=Texas A&M Athletics Media Center |access-date=January 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217085907/http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/1942-cotton-bowl.html |archive-date=2009-12-17 |url-status=dead }} Alabama had only one first down to A&M's 13; however, under the Southwest Conference rules in 1942, touchdown runs and pass plays were not counted as first downs; Alabama also had 59 rushing yards to A&M's 115; and 16 yards receiving to 194. The Crimson Tide prevailed through special teams play and intercepting seven Aggie passes in their victory.
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=Alabama|HomeName=Texas A&M|state=expand}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=
| Team=Texas A&M
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=Harold Cowley
| QB=Leo Daniels
| yards=12
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=J.D. Webster
| Visitor=0
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=2
| Time=
| Team=Alabama
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Russ Craft
| yards=8
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=George Hecht
| Visitor=7
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=
| Team=Alabama
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=Other
| Other=Jimmy Nelson 72-yard punt return, George Hecht kick blocked
| Visitor=13
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=3
| Time=
| Team=Alabama
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=Jimmy Nelson
| yards=21
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=George Hecht
| Visitor=20
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=
| Team=Alabama
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=FG
| yards=31
| Kicker=George Hecht
| Visitor=23
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=
| Team=Alabama
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=IntTD
| Def=Holt Rast
| yards=10
| kickresult=failed
| Kicker=George Hecht
| Visitor=29
| Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=
| Team=Texas A&M
| DriveLength=
| DriveTime=
| Type=RushTD
| Runner=J.D. Webster
| yards=1
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=J.D. Webster
| Visitor=29
| Home=14
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
| Quarter=4
| Time=
| Team=Texas A&M
| Type=RecTD
| Receiver=James Sterling
| QB=R. Moser
| yards=35
| kickresult=good
| Kicker=J.D. Webster
| Visitor=29
| Home=21
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=29|Home=21}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1941 bowl game navbox}}
{{Cotton Bowl Classic navbox}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide bowl game navbox}}
{{Texas A&M Aggies bowl game navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotton Bowl Classic, 1942}}
Category:1941–42 college football bowl games