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Thirty years had passed since Texas had beaten Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl to go on and win the National Championship on January 1, 1970. Razorback fans had a hard time coming to the realization that it would not be the Hogs in that game. Following the heartbreak of December 6th, 1969, the Razorbacks would once again have their chance to rise up and slay the Longhorns from Austin. It had been 1991 when the two teams had last met and the game ended with a Hog victory at 14-13. After this, the two teams had gone their own separate ways to the SEC and the Big 12. This would be their first reunion since.
Thirty years had passed since Texas had beaten Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl to go on and win the National Championship on January 1, 1970. Razorback fans had a hard time coming to the realization that it would not be the Hogs in that game. Following the heartbreak of December 6th, 1969, the Razorbacks would once again have their chance to rise up and slay the Longhorns from Austin. It had been 1991 when the two teams had last met and the game ended with a Hog victory at 14-13. After this, the two teams had gone their own separate ways to the SEC and the Big 12. This would be their first reunion since.
"History had shown a one sided record favoring the Longhorns for this rivalry. But you could never predict the outcome. For after all, this was Arkansas and Texas."
Before a crowd of 72,723, Mack Brown would bring his #14 Longhorns to match up against Houston Nutt and the #24 Razorbacks in the first Cotton Bowl of the new millennium. It was a 50 degree, clear Saturday, on January 1, 2000, when once again Arkansas would have their chance to defeat their former rival of the SWC. It was Arkansas' first Cotton Bowl victory since 1976 when the Hogs defeated Georgia 31-10 behind Scott Bull, Ike Forte, and the toe of Steve Little. This was Texas' second consecutive Cotton Bowl. The year before, the Longhorn's had soundly defeated the Bulldogs of Mississippi State by a score of 38-11. Naturally, hopes were high by the Texas contingent that this would be a repeat. Get ready 'horns.
History had shown a one sided record favoring the Longhorns for this rivalry. But you could never predict the outcome. For after all, this was Arkansas and Texas. A rivalry that had been unmatched throughout college football. The stage was set to play at the Cotton Bowl for the game that would usher in the new century and fans would find that it was not just an ordinary New Year's Day. Arkansas would have a chance to finally attempt to regain some of their pride and bury a portion of their haunting memories from the past.
History had shown a one sided record favoring the Longhorns for this rivalry. But you could never predict the outcome. For after all, this was Arkansas and Texas. A rivalry that had been unmatched throughout college football. The stage was set to play at the Cotton Bowl for the game that would usher in the new century and fans would find that it was not just an ordinary New Year's Day. Arkansas would have a chance to finally attempt to regain some of their pride and bury a portion of their haunting memories from the past.
Defense, defense, defense. Click to enlarge The first half turned into a defensive struggle and ended with both teams knotted in a 3-3 tie. The initial score came from a 25 yard field goal with 6:02 left in the first quarter by Tony Dodson of Arkansas. The field goal had been set up by a roll out pass to the left on second and three at the Texas 33 from Hog quarterback Clint Stoerner to tight end Joe Dean Davenport down to the Longhorn 13 with 7:48 on the clock. After moving the ball to the Longhorn eight yard line, Dodson would tack on the three points breaking open the scoreless first quarter.
Texas' first score would come after an Everick Rawls interception of a Stoerner pass that had given Texas new life at the Arkansas 41. The Longhorns would move the ball down to the Hog 26 where this would be followed shortly thereafter by a 35 yarder in the second quarter off the foot of Texas kicker Kris Stockton.
By halftime, a total of 171 yards for both teams (125 by the Razorbacks) was all that could be mustered from the faltering offenses. Not to be repeated, this would change in the second half.
After what was a lackluster offensive first half, the New Year's Day fireworks would finally be ignited during the third quarter. Beginning on the third possession of the half, a Stockton punt would force the Hogs back to their own three yard line placing them 97 yards away from paydirt. On first down, Stoerner was sacked by Longhorn Ervis Hill and was able to stretch just far enough to clear the goal line and avoid the safety. Second down would bring the same result with running back Chrys Chukwuma being swarmed by three Longhorn defenders while going for no gain to the one and again just avoiding the safety. It was now third and 12 from the one yard line. Stoerner steps in to begin his cadence. The ball is snapped, and Stoerner drops back five yards deep in the end zone, pump fakes, and launches a 47 yard pass down the left sideline to a streaking Anthony Lucas. First and ten. Another "Arkansas First Down." The Hogs were now in command. They quickly moved the ball to the Texas 30 yard line. On first and ten while scrambling to avoid a vicious pass rush, Stoerner threw a lob pass to freshman #4 Cedric Cobbs in the right flat at the 22 yard line. Cobbs pulled the pass in over his right shoulder, turned and made his way down the sideline for the final 22 yards ending a 9 play 97 yard drive. After the PAT by Dodson, the Hogs found that they had scored the first touchdown of the game with 5:44 left in the third quarter. The crowd went crazy as the sound level was off of the scale. The tie was now broken. Arkansas 10, Texas 3.
However, it would not take Texas long to try and score. On the next possession, Texas sophomore quarterback Major Applewhite would go 6 for 7 in the passing department while engineering a 73 yard drive that would take the Longhorns down to the Razorback one yard line. First and goal. The defense would became a wall and kept Texas out of the end zone on next three attempts. Enter Stockton for Texas. The Longhorn score would now come from a 22 yard field goal with 1:07 left in the quarter. Arkansas 10, Texas 6. No TD here. As the clock wound down, the third quarter would come to an end.
When the final quarter began, Texas would find that the game could not end soon enough. With 2:12 elapsed in the quarter, backup tailback Michael Jenkins would take an inside handoff from Stoerner for his first carry of the day and break tackles while going up the middle for the final 42 yards to end an 86 yard, 7 play drive.
Things would only go downhill for Texas from here on out. On their next possession, Applewhite would be sacked on consecutive plays and end his day after suffering a torn anterior cruicate ligament in his left knee while being flushed out of the pocket by the Hogs' relentless defense. He was replaced by freshman quarterback Chris Simms who promptly would be sacked for a six yard loss thereby forcing Texas to again call on Stockton for the punt.
Following a short punt, the Hogs would take possession at the Texas 37 yard line. On the initial play following the punt, Cobbs would take the handoff from Stoerner, bounce outside to the right, and tightrope his way down the sideline while outrunning the Texas defense for his second touchdown of the day. With the clock now showing 10:19 left in the game, the scoreboard proclaimed Arkansas 24, Texas 6.
The final score would come at 2:48 showing on the clock when Nutt would cap a 38 yard, 8 play drive by calling on Dodson to complete a 27 yard field goal. At the conclusion of the game, the scoreboard lights would finally dim as they showed a game ending score of Arkansas 27, Texas 6.
Texas' first score would come after an Everick Rawls interception of a Stoerner pass that had given Texas new life at the Arkansas 41. The Longhorns would move the ball down to the Hog 26 where this would be followed shortly thereafter by a 35 yarder in the second quarter off the foot of Texas kicker Kris Stockton.
By halftime, a total of 171 yards for both teams (125 by the Razorbacks) was all that could be mustered from the faltering offenses. Not to be repeated, this would change in the second half.
After what was a lackluster offensive first half, the New Year's Day fireworks would finally be ignited during the third quarter. Beginning on the third possession of the half, a Stockton punt would force the Hogs back to their own three yard line placing them 97 yards away from paydirt. On first down, Stoerner was sacked by Longhorn Ervis Hill and was able to stretch just far enough to clear the goal line and avoid the safety. Second down would bring the same result with running back Chrys Chukwuma being swarmed by three Longhorn defenders while going for no gain to the one and again just avoiding the safety. It was now third and 12 from the one yard line. Stoerner steps in to begin his cadence. The ball is snapped, and Stoerner drops back five yards deep in the end zone, pump fakes, and launches a 47 yard pass down the left sideline to a streaking Anthony Lucas. First and ten. Another "Arkansas First Down." The Hogs were now in command. They quickly moved the ball to the Texas 30 yard line. On first and ten while scrambling to avoid a vicious pass rush, Stoerner threw a lob pass to freshman #4 Cedric Cobbs in the right flat at the 22 yard line. Cobbs pulled the pass in over his right shoulder, turned and made his way down the sideline for the final 22 yards ending a 9 play 97 yard drive. After the PAT by Dodson, the Hogs found that they had scored the first touchdown of the game with 5:44 left in the third quarter. The crowd went crazy as the sound level was off of the scale. The tie was now broken. Arkansas 10, Texas 3.
However, it would not take Texas long to try and score. On the next possession, Texas sophomore quarterback Major Applewhite would go 6 for 7 in the passing department while engineering a 73 yard drive that would take the Longhorns down to the Razorback one yard line. First and goal. The defense would became a wall and kept Texas out of the end zone on next three attempts. Enter Stockton for Texas. The Longhorn score would now come from a 22 yard field goal with 1:07 left in the quarter. Arkansas 10, Texas 6. No TD here. As the clock wound down, the third quarter would come to an end.
When the final quarter began, Texas would find that the game could not end soon enough. With 2:12 elapsed in the quarter, backup tailback Michael Jenkins would take an inside handoff from Stoerner for his first carry of the day and break tackles while going up the middle for the final 42 yards to end an 86 yard, 7 play drive.
Things would only go downhill for Texas from here on out. On their next possession, Applewhite would be sacked on consecutive plays and end his day after suffering a torn anterior cruicate ligament in his left knee while being flushed out of the pocket by the Hogs' relentless defense. He was replaced by freshman quarterback Chris Simms who promptly would be sacked for a six yard loss thereby forcing Texas to again call on Stockton for the punt.
Following a short punt, the Hogs would take possession at the Texas 37 yard line. On the initial play following the punt, Cobbs would take the handoff from Stoerner, bounce outside to the right, and tightrope his way down the sideline while outrunning the Texas defense for his second touchdown of the day. With the clock now showing 10:19 left in the game, the scoreboard proclaimed Arkansas 24, Texas 6.
The final score would come at 2:48 showing on the clock when Nutt would cap a 38 yard, 8 play drive by calling on Dodson to complete a 27 yard field goal. At the conclusion of the game, the scoreboard lights would finally dim as they showed a game ending score of Arkansas 27, Texas 6.
"At least for now, the memories of the past were put on hold as this game would forever be found in the "W" column."
With the bowl game now history, Cobbs was selected as the offensive MVP and became the first Razorback to score both a rushing and a passing touchdown in the same bowl game. He ended with 98 yards on 15 carries. The outstanding defensive player award went to tackle D.J. Cooper who had 2 sacks and 5 unassisted tackles.
Clint Stoerner tied the Cotton Bowl record for the most consecutive pass completions at 8. Arkansas set the Cotton Bowl record for the fewest rushing yards allowed to an opponent (worst in Longhorn history) at minus 27 on 25 carries (fewest yards per rush allowed at -1.1). The Hogs tied the Cotton Bowl longest scoring drive record at 97 yards.
Arkansas ended with 385 total yards compared to Texas at 185. The only area that Texas held the lead was in the Time of Possession. At least for now, the memories of the past were put on hold as this game would forever be found in the "W" column.
Clint Stoerner tied the Cotton Bowl record for the most consecutive pass completions at 8. Arkansas set the Cotton Bowl record for the fewest rushing yards allowed to an opponent (worst in Longhorn history) at minus 27 on 25 carries (fewest yards per rush allowed at -1.1). The Hogs tied the Cotton Bowl longest scoring drive record at 97 yards.
Arkansas ended with 385 total yards compared to Texas at 185. The only area that Texas held the lead was in the Time of Possession. At least for now, the memories of the past were put on hold as this game would forever be found in the "W" column.
"ANNOUNCING: A new e-book has now been released this month describing the history of the Razorback football program. It tells of the coaches, legends, "Voices of the Razorbacks", traditions, and of course, the memorable games (most of which have not been previously discussed on hawg-tales.com). This is the first e-book telling about the complete Razorback football program that is officially licensed by CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company) and the University of Arkansas. The e-book is now available through Smashwords.com (click to visit the world's largest distributor of e-books), the Apple iStore, Barnes and Nobles, Kobo, etc. and is available for virtually all e-readers, smart phones, tablets, and computers. Look for "Hit That Line" as it is NOW available."
Join us next month, as we once again recall tales of the games, players, and coaches from the past. Also, be sure and take a look at the FREE sample of the new e-book "HIT THAT LINE!" (click here) about the total history of the Razorback football program.
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