1961 Gotham Bowl

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1961 Gotham Bowl
Utah State Aggies Baylor Bears
(9–0–1)(5–5)
924
Head coach: 
John Ralston 		Head coach: 
John Bridgers
AP Coaches
1010
1234Total
Utah State00369
Baylor737724
DateDecember 9, 1961
Season 1961
Stadium Polo Grounds
Location Upper Manhattan, New York
MVPRB Ronnie Bull, Baylor
Referee David H. Buchanan
Attendance15,123
Gotham Bowl
  1962 > 

The 1961 Gotham Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the Utah State Aggies and the Baylor Bears at the Polo Grounds in New York. The game attracted a modest crowd of 15,153 fans because of inclement weather.

Contents

Background

For the second straight year, the Aggies were champion of the Mountain States Conference. The Bears had finished tied for 6th in the Southwest Conference. Both teams were making bowl games for the 2nd straight year. This became the inaugural Gotham Bowl after attempts to invite schools such as Syracuse and Holy Cross to last year's game failed, leaving the bowl makers to cancel the game and wait for 1961.

Game summary

Ronnie Bull scored on a 14-yard run to give the Bears a 7–0 lead as the first quarter expired, all set up by an Aggie fumble. Carl Choate added in a field goal later in the 2nd to make it 10–0 with 5:28 remaining in the half, which turned out to be the halftime lead. The Aggies narrowed the lead with a 36-yard field goal with 8:47 in the 3rd, but Don Trull increased the lead on a touchdown sneak with 1:22 remaining in the quarter to make it 17–3. Ted Plumb caught a 38-yard pass from Trull to make it 24–3 with 9:48 to go in the game. Munson made the final score 24–9 on his TD run, but by then there was only five minutes remaining as Baylor won their first bowl game since 1956. The Aggies turned the ball over eight times, while Don Trull threw 11-of-16 for 116 yards for the Bears. Bull rushed for 61 yards on 13 carries and caught 4 passes for 25 yards. [1] [2] [3]

Aftermath

The Aggies did not reach another bowl game again until 1993. The Bears played in the Bluebonnet Bowl two years later.

Statistics

StatisticsBaylorUtah State
First downs1410
Rushing yards113153
Passing yards15341
Passing (C–A–I)13–26–03–14–3
Total yards266194
Punts–average6–31.05–36.6
Fumbles–lost5–26–5
Penalty–yards3–162–32

References

  1. ↑ "2011 Baylor Football Media Almanac" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ "2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ "2014 Utah State Football" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2016.
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