Heart of Dallas Bowl postcard
cotton bowl a treasure trove of memories
They were preparing to paint “UNLV” in one end zone of the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, readying the famous stadium for the Heart of Dallas Bowl on Wednesday.
The only thing that would have made it better: Had it been at the same end where Joe Montana culminated one of the greatest comebacks in college football.
I love history. Absolutely love historic venues like this. The Rebels meet North Texas on New Year’s Day, 34 years after Montana and Notre Dame rallied from 22 points down to beat Houston 35-34 in the famous “Chicken Soup” game.
Doak Walker ran wild here. Also passed. Also kicked. Doak was The Man.
Roger Staubach. Bobby Lane. Sammy Baugh. Bear Bryant. Jim Brown. They all took part in major games here. So did Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for Arkansas during its undefeated season in 1965, but I’m sure he would have messed things up had he the opportunity.
The annual Oklahoma-Texas game is played here during the State Fair. In another form of football, Brazil beat Holland 3-2 in a dramatic World Cup quarterfinal in 1994.
The house shows its age, even after $57 million of upgrades were completed in 2008. But it’s still a great house, if you don’t count those small and yet dangerous openings on the upper-deck railings, of which a light breeze might blow someone to an unfortunate demise.
But, heck, Elvis played this joint in 1956.
Sort of takes the sting away from Jerry Jones competing here.
ED GRANEY/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
