No. 25 Ole Miss Beats No. 7 Texas Tech in 73rd Cotton Bowl Classic

In what was considered a shock by some, No. 25 Ole Miss beat No. 7 Texas Tech in today’s Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, 47-34. Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree, both Heisman Trophy candidates this season, had games they would probably rather forget.

Crabtree caught 4 passes for a season low 30 yards with one short yardage touchdown grab. While Harrell had a statistical record breaking day, going 36 of 58 for 364 yards and 4 TD’s (his 364 yards broke the Cotton Bowl record for yards in the 73 years of the Dallas Classic), he was unable to match the number he had been putting up all season, and made some costly errors that put Ole Miss in position to win the Cotton Bowl.

Harrell threw two costly picks, one in the third quarter which was returned 65 yards for a touchdown by the Rebel’s Marshay Green. The second came from miscommunication between Harrell and Crabtree, and an untimely slip from the Red Raider star receiver.

Despite beautiful weather, and what seemed to be excellent field conditions, players slipped and fell all over the field the entire game, creating big play opportunities for both teams.

Texas Tech gained a quick first quarter lead with two scores off a touchdown and pick-six. Ole Miss countered every Texas Tech score and capitalized on one more Texas Tech turnover to change the momentum and eventually take the game.

With slightly over one minute left in the game Texas Tech scored to bring the game within 12 and elected to go for two to bring the game to ten. Before the snap, the Texas Tech O-Line was called for a false start, igniting Tech lineman Brandon Carter, who ran to the referee, helmet off, and began screaming in his face. Despite this outburst, only the false start was called. On the next play, Harrell was sacked, and both Carter and Stephen Hamby were charged with personal fouls, to which they ripped off their helmets and walked to the sideline in disgust. In spite of the classless and unsportsmanlike behavior, neither player was ejected.

The two personal foul penalties forced Texas Tech to try an onside attempt from their own seven yard line, which was recovered by Ole Miss to end the game.

Most of the Texas Tech players retreated directly to the locker room with out shaking hands with the Rebels or staying for their own schools Alma Mater.

On the other side, the Ole Miss band and fans played and chanted “We just beat the hell out of you” throughout the playing of the Texas Tech “Song of the Matador.”

This was the last Cotton Bowl to be played in the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park. Next year the Cotton Bowl will be played in the new Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium in Arlington, leaving behind an iconic stadium that has housed a tradition for 73 years.

It seems that the theme for the last Cotton Bowl was saying goodbye, as Dallas says goodbye to the Cotton Bowl, Texas Tech says goodbye to the top ten, and both sides said goodbye to sportsmanship.