April 14, 2010
DALLAS - Six individuals who helped shape the tradition and history of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic were inducted today into the Hall of Fame "Class of 2010" during enshrinement ceremonies at Cowboys Stadium.
The honorees included the CBAA's first executive director Wilbur Evans, Notre Dame split end Kris Haines, Texas wingback Phil Harris, Alabama middle guard Warren Lyles, Notre Dame quarterback Joe Montana, and Texas A&M and Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill. Evans was represented by his son Terry Evans and grandson Chad Evans.
Each member of the Hall of Fame received a personalized bronze statue in the likeness of a 1930s football player, the era in which the Classic was founded.
Brad Sham, "The Voice of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic," and "The Voice of the Dallas Cowboys," served as Master of Ceremonies.
"Hall of Fame Day is truly a special day," said Tommy Bain, the Chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. "This is an event that gives us a chance to reflect upon our game's history and to honor those who have played such a vital role in the success of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic through the years.
"We have so much to be thankful for in our game's 74-year history," Bain noted. "Our record book reads like a Who's Who in college football. The Hall of Fame celebrates the amazing performances of four legendary players, an outstanding head coach, and an administrator who played a huge role in expanding the reach and legacy of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic."
The Class of 2010 was the eighth to be inducted into the AT&T Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame and the first in three years.
A judging committee comprised of media representatives and athletic administrators voted from a list of 50 nominees that included players, coaches, bowl administrators and others who have made special contributions to the Classic.
Selection criteria for the AT&T Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame include the following:
• Voting is based solely upon an individual's performance in, or contribution to, the Classic rather than on the person's overall college or professional career.
• An individual is eligible five years after their final Classic appearance.
The inaugural Class in 1998 included Syracuse halfback Jim Brown, Texas quarterback Bobby Layne, Rice halfback Dicky Maegle, Texas coach Darrell Royal, Cotton Bowl founder J. Curtis Sanford, "Mr. Cotton Bowl" Field Scovell, and SMU halfback Doak Walker.
The Class of 1999 featured TCU quarterback Sammy Baugh, Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, Kilgore Rangerettes founder Gussie Nell Davis, Houston linebacker David Hodge, Cotton Bowl Team Selection Chairman Felix McKnight, and Texas quarterback James Street
The Class of 2000 honored Alabama and Kentucky coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, Texas quarterback Duke Carlisle, Texas A&M linebacker Johnny Holland, Texas A&M fullback John Kimbrough, the longtime Voice of the Cotton Bowl Lindsey Nelson, Navy quarterback Roger Staubach, and TCU halfback Jim Swink.
The Class of 2001 recognized Texas defensive tackle Scott Appleton, Syracuse halfback Ernie Davis, Miami defensive tackle Russell Maryland, Rice and Clemson head coach Jess Neely, Arkansas defensive tackle Loyd Phillips, Texas split end Cotton Speyrer, and Houston head coach Bill Yeoman.
The Class of 2003 was comprised of former CBAA Chairman Robert B. Cullum, Mississippi quarterback Eagle Day, Georgia tailback Kent Lawrence, LSU head coach Charles McClendon, SMU halfback Kyle Rote, Notre Dame quarterback Joe Theismann, and Texas fullback Steve Worster.
The Class of 2005 honored UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman, Arkansas halfback Lance Alworth, former CBAA executive director Jim "Hoss" Brock, Texas offensive guard Mike Dean, Tennessee fullback Andy Kozar, Tennessee tailback Hank Lauricella, Penn State running back Lydell Mitchell, and former Texas A&M head coach Gene Stallings.
The Class of 2007 featured CBAA photographer Brad Bradley, Oklahoma A&M halfback Bob Fenimore, USC wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, Texas A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen, Notre Dame head coach Ara Parseghian, and Texas offensive tackle Jerry Sisemore.
Since its first game in 1937, the Classic has hosted:
20 Pro Football Hall of Famers
11 Heisman Trophy winners
13 Outland Trophy winners
12 Lombardi Award winners
9 Maxwell Award winners
8 Walter Camp Award winners
AT&T COTTON BOWL HALL OF FAME
THE CLASS OF 2010
WILBUR EVANS, CBAA
Hometown: Little River, Texas
CBAA Executive Director: 1970-1978
CBAA Information Director: 1961-63, 1966-69
As one of the Cotton Bowl's famed "Rover Boys," Wilbur Evans commanded a presence over college football in the 1970s that opened doors everywhere he went. The most notable door Evans pried open was in South Bend when he and travel partner Field Scovell persuaded Notre Dame to break a self-imposed 45-year ban on post-season play. The Irish accepted the invitation and the dream matchup of Notre Dame vs. Texas in the 1970 Cotton Bowl became a football classic. It was quite a beginning for Evans who had been appointed as the bowl's first full-time executive director just months before. During his watch, the Cotton Bowl Classic staged three national championship games - 1970, 1971 and 1978. Evans' eye for detail set the standard for all to follow in the bowl industry.
KRIS HAINES, NOTRE DAME
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 181 Class: Junior/Senior
Position: Split End
Hometown: Sidney, Ohio
1978 Classic: Notre Dame 38, Texas 10
1979 Classic: Notre Dame 35, Houston 34
Statistics:
1978 Receiving: 2 receptions, 29 yards
1979 Receiving: 4 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD, 1 Two-Point Conversion
The name Kris Haines warms the hearts of Notre Dame fans all over the world thanks to his miracle catch against Houston in the 1979 Classic. Haines and his Irish teammates braved the ice and the cold to rally Notre Dame from a 22-point deficit in the game's final eight minutes. Down the stretch, Haines grabbed a two-point conversion pass that brought the Irish within six points of the Cougars with 4:15 left to play. Minutes later, Haines stepped forward again to become Notre Dame's man of the hour. Irish quarterback Joe Montana connected with his standout receiver on an eight-yard touchdown pass just as time expired. Haines made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone to tie the score at 34-34. The ensuing PAT added an exclamation point to an amazing 35-34 come-from-behind Irish victory.
PHIL HARRIS, TEXAS
Ht. 6-0 Wt. 190 Class: Sophomore
Position: Wingback
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
1964 Classic: Texas 28, Navy 6
Statistics:
Rushing: 2 attempts, 5 yards
Receiving: 3 receptions, 157 yards, 2 TDs
Phil Harris played football like a math major...he knew how to compile big numbers. In the 1964 Classic, the Texas sophomore wingback shredded No. 2 Navy with a record shattering performance by catching three passes for 157 yards. He averaged 52.3 yards a catch and established an NCAA bowl record that has endured for 46 years. The game was just six plays old when Harris caught Navy by surprise. He hauled in a throwback pass from quarterback Duke Carlisle then raced 58 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Harris' second score came on a tipped pass that he promptly turned into a 63-yard touchdown play for Texas. Harris may have been the youngest man on the field that day, but he played like a veteran in helping the Longhorns secure their first national title.
WARREN LYLES, ALABAMA
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 253 Class: Junior/Senior
Position: Middle Guard
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
1981 Classic: Alabama 30, Baylor 2
1982 Classic: Texas 14, Alabama 12
Statistics:
1981 Defensive Statistics: 8 tackles, 5 unassisted
1981 Tackles For Loss: 5 tackles for -26 yards
1982 Defensive Statistics: 8 assisted tackles
1982 Tackles For Loss: 1 tackle for -1 yard
Alabama middle guard Warren Lyles saved his best effort of the season for the 1981 Cotton Bowl Classic. His coach, the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant, sensed that Lyles would be the target of Baylor's point of attack. Minutes before kickoff in the Bama locker room, Bryant challenged his defenders to make a statement against the Bears. Obviously, his words touched a nerve because Lyles responded with a tremendous performance. He recorded eight tackles for the Crimson Tide, five of them were unassisted and resulted in 26 yards in losses. The Alabama defense totally disrupted the Baylor game plan, limiting the Bears to 158 yards in total offense, 54 yards rushing and forced seven turnovers. Lyles lived up to his coach's pregame challenge and helped lead the Crimson Tide to a compelling 30-2 victory.
JOE MONTANA, NOTRE DAME
Ht. 6-2 Wt. 191 Class: Junior/Senior
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Monongahela, Pennsylvania
1978 Classic: Notre Dame 38, Texas 10
1979 Classic: Notre Dame 35, Houston 34
Statistics:
1978 Rushing: 1 attempt, 3 yards
1978 Passing: 10-25-1, 111 yards, 1 TD
1979 Rushing: 7 attempts, 26 yards, 2 TDs
1979 Passing: 13-34-4, 163 yards, 1 TD
1979 Two-Point Conversions: 2 (2-of-3 pass attempts)
Notre Dame's "Comeback Kid" proved he had the stuff that legends are made of with two incredible Cotton Bowl Classic performances. In 1978, Joe Montana led the Irish to a stunning 38-10 upset of top-ranked Texas, a win that vaulted Notre Dame from fifth in the regular-season rankings to the national championship. A year later, facing miserable weather conditions and needing a dose of chicken noodle soup at halftime to erase a below-normal body temperature, Montana guided the Irish to an incredible finish against Houston. In the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter, he chipped away at what appeared to be an insurmountable 22-point deficit. The game clincher was an eight-yard scoring pass to split end Kris Haines as the clock hit 0:00. The ensuing PAT on the game's final play gave the Irish an amazing 35-34 victory.
COACH JACKIE SHERRILL, TEXAS A&M / MISSISSIPPI STATE
Hometown: Duncan, Oklahoma
Classic Coaching Record: 2-2-0
1986 Classic: Texas A&M 36, Auburn 16
1987 Classic: Ohio State 28, Texas A&M 12
1988 Classic: Texas A&M 35, Notre Dame 10
1999 Classic: Texas 38, Mississippi State 11
Jackie Sherrill was a player's coach. He knew exactly how to motivate them to reach a higher level come game day. A tireless worker, Sherrill constantly searched for new ideas to get his teams ready to play. In 1999, Sherrill joined an elite brotherhood of coaches when he guided Mississippi State to the Classic. In the process, he became the third of only four coaches to lead two different institutions to the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. In the 1980s, after an 18-year absence, he led Texas A&M to three consecutive appearances in the Classic. The highlight was a memorable 36-16 victory over Auburn in the Cotton Bowl's 50th anniversary game in 1986. Sherrill taught his players to have high expectations, always be prepared, play together as one, and most of all, how to win.