1965 Orange Bowl
1965 Orange Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||
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31st Orange Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Date | January 1, 1965 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Season | Network NBC | | |||||||||||||||||||
Announcers | Jim Simpson, Bud Wilkinson | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 1965 Orange Bowl, part of the 1964–65 bowl season, was the 31st edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Friday, January 1. Part of the 1964–65 bowl season, It matched the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the #5 Texas Longhorns of the Southwest Conference (SWC). Texas built an early lead and won 21–17.[2][3][4]
This was the first Orange Bowl game played at night,[1][5] and the first live national network telecast of a college football game during prime time.[6] NBC acquired the television rights and the kickoff was moved to follow the network's Rose Bowl telecast, without competition from other bowls. It also was the first Orange Bowl in twelve years not to include a team from the Big Eight Conference.
Despite Alabama's loss they were still named co-national champions (along with Arkansas).
Teams
Alabama
Alabama finished the regular season as both SEC and national champions with a record of 10–0.[7] During the Iron Bowl, Alabama accepted a bid to play in the Orange Bowl from bowl officials.[8] It was fourth Orange Bowl appearance for Alabama and their 18th bowl game. With USC upsetting Notre Dame 20–17 on the final weekend of the season, Alabama was selected as the 1964 national champions by both final major polls, released prior to the bowl games.[7]
Texas
The defending national champion Longhorns finished the regular season with a 9–1 record Only a 14–13 loss against Arkansas in week five kept the Longhorns from repeating as national champions.[9]
Game summary
After the defense stopped Alabama at the one-yard line on fourth down, Texas responded quickly with the first score of the evening.
In the second half, Texas was held scoreless, but Alabama was unable to take the lead with only ten additional points. The first score was a 20-yard
Scoring
Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Statistics
Statistics Texas Alabama First Downs 15 18 Rushes–yards 51–212 26–49 Passing yards 101 298 Passes (C–A–I) 4–17–1 20–44–2 Total Offense 68–313 70–347 Punts–average 9–36.8 5–3.4 Fumbles–lost 2–1 3–1 Turnovers 2 3 Penalties–yards 3–25 4–46
Aftermath
The following day, Namath signed his record contract with the New York Jets of the American Football League (AFL), estimated at $400,000 over three years.[2][12][15]
Both final polls were released at the end of the regular season, prior to the bowls.
References
- ^ a b Land, Charles (January 1, 1965). "Tide, Texas in Orange Bowl battle". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). p. 6.
- ^ a b Underwood, John (January 11, 1965). "Fabulous in defeat". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.
- ^ "Alabama fell six inches short". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. January 3, 1965. p. 10.
- ^ a b c "Tenacious Texas tops No.1 ranked Alabama". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1965. p. 1B.
- ^ "Orange Bowl". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 31, 1964. p. 12.
- ^ Vecsey, George (January 6, 2010). "Namath Has His Own Memories of '65". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
- ^ a b Land, Charles (December 1, 1964). "Bama crowned best in nation". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ "Orange Bowl bid offered, accepted". The Tuscaloosa News. November 27, 1964. p. 9. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Smothers, Jimmy (December 31, 1964). "Orange Bowl battle just a day away now". The Gadsden Times. (Alabama). p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fitzgerald, Tommy (January 2, 1965). "Big plays by Texas hold off Namath rush". The Miami News. p. 1B. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Land, Charles (January 2, 1965). "Namath's 18 completions set Orange Bowl record". The Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). p. 6.
- ^ a b "Joe Namath to sign $400,000 pro pact". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1965. p. 1B.
- ^ a b "Texas vs Alabama (Jan 1, 1965)". University of Texas Athletics. (statistics). January 1, 1965. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ a b "Game-by-game recaps: 1965" (PDF). 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl media guide. January 2019. p. 33.
- ^ "Namath now pro football's richest rookie". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 3, 1965. p. 2B.