1959 Cotton Bowl Classic

1959 Cotton Bowl Classic
Air Force Falcons TCU Horned Frogs (9–0–1) (8–2) 0 0 Head coach:  Ben Martin Head coach:  Abe Martin AP 6 AP 10
1 2 3 4 Total Air Force 0 0 0 0 0 TCU 0 0 0 0 0
Date	January 1, 1959
Season	1958
Stadium	Cotton Bowl
Location	Dallas, Texas
MVP	T Dave Phillips (Air Force) FB Jack Spikes (TCU)
Attendance	75,504
United States TV coverage
Network	CBS

The 1959 Cotton Bowl Classic featured the TCU Horned Frogs and the Air Force Falcons. This was the first tie since the 1948 Cotton Bowl Classic. This was the first game broadcast on CBS, which would broadcast the game for 38 of the 41 next games.

Background

Air Force had one tie, to Iowa, 13–13, who went on to win the Big Ten Conference title. TCU had gone unbeaten in Southwest Conference play until losing to SMU 20–13 in the last game of the season.

Game summary

In the end, it was six lost fumbles (out of 13 in total) and five missed field goals that decided the scoreless outcome. The Falcons at one point had the ball at TCU's 6-yard line before being stuffed, but when they tried to kick a field goal from the 12, George Pupich's kick sailed wide left. Pupich missed two more (one from 34 and the other from 52) while TCU missed two of their own. TCU went 3 for 11 on passing for a woeful 37 yards but had 190 yards rushing on 48 attempts. Air Force barely did better with 12 for 23 passing for 91 yards and two interceptions. Both teams finished with over 227 yards yet had more punts (16) then points. Dave Phillips of Air Force and Jack Spikes of TCU were named Outstanding Players.

Statistics	TCU	Air Force
First Downs	9	13
Yards Rushing	190	140
Yards Passing	37	91
Total Yards	227	231
Punts-Average	9-38.4	7-38.1
Fumbles-Lost	8-3	5-3
Interceptions	0	2
Penalties-Yards	8-61	3-15