November 1960

by srr50 on Oct 7, 2010 5:15 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

Gunsmoke was the top-rated TV show on the networks.

John Wayne's latest film hit the screens.

And on November 14, 1960 the AP College Football Poll appeared without Texas, USC, Penn State or Notre Dame in the Top 20. That wouldn't happen again for almost 50 years.

This week's AP poll is the first time since then that none of those four teams have been ranked.

Back in 1960 those four programs were in different stages of repair.

John McKay was in his first season as the USC head coach, and on November 12th, his Trojans lost to Baylor 35-12 in Waco.

John McKay's first USC team finished 4-6 in 1960, but he would go on to win 9 Pac 10 Conference Titles and 3 National Championships in 16 years at the school.

Penn State was a solid program under Rip Engle, but hardly a national power. The Nittany Lions played in only their 3rd bowl game in 1959 -- the inaugural Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia, where they beat Alabama 7-0. Penn State was 5-3 after beating Maryland on Nov. 12th, and were still out of the national rankings.

In 1960, Joe Paterno (right) was in his 10th season as an assistant coach to Rip Engle.

Penn State would go back to the Liberty Bowl in 1960, where they would beat Maryland 28-9. The Nittany Lions did finish the season ranked #16 in the AP poll.

Notre Dame was mired in mediocrity in 1960 and would finish the season with a 2-8 mark.

One of Joe Kuharich's and Notre Dame's 8 losses in 1960 was to the Ara Parseghian-coached Northwestern Wildcats 7-6.

Darrell Royal's reconstruction of Texas was well underway in 1960. Texas defeated TCU on Nov. 12th 3-2, to go 5-3 on the season. The Horns would earn a berth in the 2nd annual Bluebonnet Bowl.

Texas played #9 Alabama to a 3-3 tie in the 1960 Bluebonnet Bowl.

Texas' Dan Petty kicked a 20-yard field goal with just 3:34 to go in the game to tie Alabama 3-3. The Longhorns got the final shot at a win late in the contest. Texas QB Johnny Genung threw deep to Bob Moses, but the 'Bama defender batted the ball away as time ran out. However, the Tide were called for pass interference, the ball was placed on the 18-yard line and Texas tried a game-winning field goal.

Petty's attempt was wide right and the 3-3 tie stood.

The Alabama defender called for the pass interference was future Longhorn Defensive Coordinator Leon Fuller.

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Comments

Always enjoy these. Thanks, srr50

by Scipio Tex on Oct 7, 2010 5:22 PM CDT reply actions

Check out that top 20:

Missouri, Iowa, Ole Miss, Minnesota, Washington, DUKE, Arkansas, Navy, Auburn, Ohio State, UCLA, Michigan State, Purdue, NEW MEXICO STATE, RICE, ’Cuse, YALE, Alabama, Florida, Oregon.

http://www.collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=245&sort=ap

The ESPN article is a bit odd in that it focuses on four teams when it might as well mention that of the top 10 teams with the most poll appearances only Ohio State and Alabama are ranked on November 14, 1960.

Anyways, we’re lucky you know? I mean people should be envying us. I know I envy us.

by David St. Hubbins on Oct 7, 2010 6:12 PM CDT reply actions

It is a eclectic bunch isn’t it? New Mexico State was the only team to go unbeaten-untied in 1960 — they beat Utah State in the Sun Bowl.

They were Boise State Light back then — their biggest win was over Arizona State and the rest of their schedule was dog meat. They did have a damn good QB, Charley Johnson, who played in the NFL for 15 years.

Charley is from Big Spring and will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame later this year. He led the NCAA in passing efficiency two years in a row. Charley was a true student-athlete, he got his Masters in Chemical Engineering, started his own company after the NFL and is also a professor at New Mexico State.

Scip — thanks. I enjoy finding some kind of Six Degrees of Separation when looking back (see Fuller, Leon). It also helps relieve the mind to remind yourself that the current black hole our fans are diving head long into will also pass.

by srr50 on Oct 7, 2010 6:46 PM CDT reply actions

Hard to win more than twice with helmets like those sported by the irish.

by horninexile on Oct 7, 2010 7:40 PM CDT reply actions

Once again, I appreciate these, srr. This was three seasons before I became a ’Horn fan, and a season I knew almost nothing about. Keep ’em coming.

by Blueshorn on Oct 7, 2010 9:01 PM CDT reply actions

Great stuff srr50

by Enos Slaughter on Oct 7, 2010 9:31 PM CDT reply actions

" . . . the current black hole our fans are diving head long into will also pass."

Agreed. It will pass. But we still won’t be able to run.

by edsp on Oct 7, 2010 10:11 PM CDT reply actions

Leon Fuller… There’s a I’ve not heard in a long time. A long time.

/Obi Wan

by nobis60 on Oct 7, 2010 10:51 PM CDT reply actions

Amazingly enough, Leon Fuller is now the Executive Athletic Director of the Ector County Independent School District (Odessa, Tx).

by Blueshorn on Oct 7, 2010 11:11 PM CDT reply actions

David St. Hubbins’ comments are something I’m coming to look forward to.

by Nickel Rover on Oct 8, 2010 5:07 AM CDT reply actions

You are the Bill Little of the interwebs.

Seriously, no one has a better grasp of the history of Longhorn sports than you do. And no one cen describe it better than you. Great read, Steve.

by beowulf on Oct 8, 2010 6:45 AM CDT reply actions

This article has Greg Davis thinking “Whew! It’s not my fault! Joe Paterno, as the only constant in this equation, is clearly to blame.”

Thanks to srr50, the history of football is once again much more enjoyable than the present of football.

by Magnificent Bastard on Oct 8, 2010 12:54 PM CDT reply actions

But, I’m guessing John McKay won 4 AAWU and 5 PAC-8 conference titles.

by Magnificent Bastard on Oct 8, 2010 12:56 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks MB

But, I’m guessing John McKay won 4 AAWU and 5 PAC-8 conference titles.

I’ll cut them some slack since 8 of the 9 were Pac 8 titles.

by srr50 on Oct 8, 2010 1:51 PM CDT reply actions

The food and prices here are great, and Abdul is really friendly. I am a big fan of Shawarma/Doner Kebab/Donair, etc. and have eaten it all over the world, from Vancouver to Calgary to Toronto to Germany (doner kebab is the most popular fast food there, and these places are everywhere due to the large Turkish immigrant population there), and Abduls is one of the very best Ive ever had. I think if his pita sandwiches were combined with the in-store freshly baked pita that is very common in the German doner shops, then I would consider Abduls shawarma wraps my favorite by a far margin! But even without it, its up there with my top two or three places Ive tried in the world.

by steak on Jan 28, 2011 10:07 PM CST reply actions