Jan. 1, 1965 - A fired up herd of Texas Longhorns knocked over top-ranked Alabama, 21-17, today as the Orange Bowl football classic marked its 31st anniversary with a glittering nighttime celebration. The victory was achieved despite a phenomenal passing performance by Alabama’s Joe Namath that fell a foot short of victory. (Pictured below, starting Texas quarterback Marvin Kristynik in action. Kristynik was later replaced by Jim Hudson.)
The spectacle kept 72,647 spectators on the edge of their seats despite two rain squalls.
A national T.V. audience estimated at 25 million watched the first color telecast in Orange Bowl history. Bowl officials called it the biggest audience to ever witness a sporting event.
Slowed by the recurrence of the knee injury that kept him out of action most of the season, Namath nevertheless completed 18 passes — an Orange Bowl record — for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
In the waning minutes, he passed 31 yards on a drive that was halted a foot away from the winning touchdown, as he was stopped on a quarterback sneak.
The Alabama quarterback, who is scheduled to sign a pro contract with the New York Jets tomorrow, seemed to work a spell on the Texans in his immunity to the designs of their clutching hands. Rarely were they able to get to him, although he never seemed to be hurried in getting the ball away.
Namath was voted the most valuable player of the game, and second to him was the Longhorns’ Ernie Koy, who scored two Texas touchdowns. Koy’s masterpiece was a 79-yard touchdown run that set an Orange Bowl record for a run from scrimmage. A superb block by Lee Hensley gave him clearance at the Alabama 10. There he cut to the left and sped all the way without a hand being laid on him.
“I sure didn’t think I’d go that far,” exclaimed Koy after the game. “It was our usual power sweep play, but we changed the blocking on it a little. Coach Royal sent in the change. It amounts to [end] Pete Lammons blocking a different way.
I got in the clear pretty fast.”
Koy was the big man with not only his running but his kicking, booting the ball once 50 yards from his end zone. He and Buddy French of Alabama put on one of the finest punting exhibitions seen in the bowl. Tommy Nobis, Texas’ all-America linebacker, was another standout in leading the defense that held Alabama to 49 yards on the ground, compared with 212 for Texas.
Among the spectators was Richard M. Nixon, who is an avid and knowledgeable football fan. Before the first quarter, Nixon predicted a 17-14 victory for Texas.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comentários