00:00:00.000 - 00:00:19.000

[ Silence ] [ Music ] >> On the first day of 1981, a legend came to the Cotton Bowl. [ Music ]

00:00:19.000 - 00:00:39.400

The visit to Dallas marked a record 22nd consecutive bowl appearance by one of the sport's most honored coaches, Paul William "Bear" Bryant, the winningest coach in college football, would test a Southwest Conference champion that had swept through its opponents like few teams in league history.

00:00:39.400 - 00:01:09.260

An overflow Cotton Bowl crowd of more than 74,000 was anxious to learn what would happen in this battle of the Bear and the Bears. [MUSIC] No Baylor team in 81 years of competition could match the success of

00:01:09.260 - 00:01:22.540

Grand Taps 1980 Bears. Both their offense and defense were the most productive in the school's history. They broker tied 28 school records. through their conference schedule undefeated,

00:01:22.540 - 00:01:41.040

and their 10 victories were the most ever by a Baylor team. [music] Picked in most preseason polls to finish in sixth or seventh place, the Bears ended the season in first place by three games,

00:01:41.040 - 00:02:03.040

a margin matched only once before in Southwest conference history. [Music] With only a single loss marring their season, the Bears entered the 1981 Cotton Bowl Classic

00:02:03.040 - 00:02:21.420

with an opportunity to stake a claim for the national championship. [Music] But before these two top ten ranked teams could settle their dispute, there was a round of cotton ball activities for the enjoyment of everyone.

00:02:21.420 - 00:02:44.860

The Texas Sports Hall of Fame hosted players and coaches of both Baylor and Alabama and enshrined five new members. One-time track coach at Baylor and Texas and former athletic director at Baylor, Jack Patterson. Coach of four NCAA championship golf teams while at North Texas State,

00:02:44.860 - 00:03:01.260

the late Fred Cobb, accepting for Cobb, former pupil and longtime Dallas Pro, Ross Collins. Number one catcher with the champion New York Giants of 1933, '36, and '37, and a major leaguer for 17 years, Gus Mancuso,

00:03:01.260 - 00:03:26.980

inducted by former manager Bobby Brigham. Two-time Texas football All-American and a member of the Atlanta Falcons for 11 seasons, linebacker Tommy Nobis, and a former Cotton Bowl hero, All-American at Rice and seven-year starter in the NFL, Dick Magle. These outstanding inductees

00:03:26.980 - 00:03:48.800

joined a special group of brilliant athletes honored since 1951 by the Texas Sports Writers Association. On New Year's Eve, the Cotton Bowl Queen was introduced by CBS announcer Lindsey Nelson and officials from the two universities and the Southwest Conference rang in 1981 with a gala dinner dance.

00:04:06.440 - 00:04:38.280

January 1st was bright with anticipation of the 45th annual Cotton Bowl Classic. Thousands of fans crowded the streets of Dallas to view what has become a regular highlight of this big day, the Cotton Bowl parade. All the colorful floats, and pretty girls were there as downtown Big D became an endless stage of breathtaking entertainment.

00:04:38.280 - 00:05:29.360

It was fun for everyone as each person shared a favorite among the many spectacular marching units. units. But it was just the beginning. For a national television audience and the attention of football fans from Maine to California

00:05:29.360 - 00:05:48.240

We're about to focus on the 1981 Cotton Bowl. [Music] This was Baylor's second visit in seven years. And Alabama's first since losing to Texas in the long-remembered

00:05:48.240 - 00:06:10.640

"Did He or Didn't He Step Out of Bounds" game of 1973. [ Music ] But standing just as tall with these two fine teams was a man only 10 victories away from becoming college football's all-time top winner.

00:06:10.640 - 00:06:28.260

Called football super coach by Time Magazine, Bear Bryant brought a tie team to the much-awaited Cotton Bowl Classic that had been a preseason favorite for an unprecedented third straight national championship. A pair of narrow defeats had dashed those dreams.

00:06:28.260 - 00:06:58.980

But on the first day of 1981, Alabama began its quest for Bryant's 306th coaching victory with its defense in the driver's seat. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:06:58.980 - 00:07:12.060

Ever since Bear Bryant took the reins in Tuscaloosa, a swarming gang-tackling defense has been the Tides' trademark, providing the rock-solid foundation as Alabama became the winningest team of the 1970s.

00:07:12.060 - 00:07:52.740

[MUSIC] This tied defense, the second best against scoring in all of college football in 1980, set up two first quarter field goals by Peter Kim. [music]

00:07:52.740 - 00:08:12.340

The visitors from the deep south showed they meant business in search of their first win in the Cotton Bowl since 1942. But if this was to be Alabama's day in the sun, they would have to tame a Baylor defense that had dominated the Southwest Conference. [MUSIC]

00:08:12.340 - 00:08:34.940

A pair of all conference linebackers, number 46 Stoke Field and two-time All-America Mike Singletary roam the field in search of prey. [MUSIC] Three times Singletary was honored as conference defensive player of the year

00:08:34.940 - 00:08:58.940

He was the heart and soul of the Bears' determined effort to neutralize Alabama. [Music] It was this menacing Baylor defense that cut into the Tides' first-half lead. A safety by Tommy Taber marked the sixth time this season

00:08:58.940 - 00:09:18.940

the Bears had scored points by tackling the enemy in the end zone. [music] Watch number 77 refused to be detoured. [music]

00:09:18.940 - 00:09:47.740

An unyielding effort put two points on the board for a celebrating Baylor team. [Music] But just when the Bears began to take charge, disaster struck. Under awesome pressure, quarterback Jay Jeffrey threw for Mike Fisher.

00:09:47.740 - 00:10:01.180

Short. The turnover seemed to take the sting out of Baylor's momentum and gave Alabama a golden opportunity to split this Cotton Bowl classic wide open.

00:10:01.180 - 00:10:15.260

Always a team quick to capitalize on opponent's errors, the tide struck like lightning. A Don Jacobs to Jesse Bendris aerial, the key to a scoring drive.

00:10:15.260 - 00:10:35.840

[MUSIC] The perfectly thrown pass set Bama up inside Baylor's 10 and coming from a team that lived by the run, the 49-yard connection was as long as any the Tide completed

00:10:35.840 - 00:10:55.760

during the entire 1980 season. [MUSIC] captain Major Ogilvie dived over, he became the first player in NCAA history to run for a touchdown in four consecutive bowl games.

00:10:55.760 - 00:11:24.660

The first half ended with Alabama holding a 13 to 2 lead and both teams realizing the outcome had not been decided. The 45th annual Cotton Bowl was still anybody's game. The gala halftime spectacular featured the bands of both universities.

00:11:24.660 - 00:11:50.020

And as always, a special precision performance by the stunning Kilgore Rangerettes of Kilgore Junior College. nearly 75,000 fans and millions more watching on CBS television, settled in for Baylor's second half attempt to stem the tide.

00:11:50.020 - 00:12:07.620

The Bears led with their strong suit, the top running game in the Southwest Conference, and the leading rusher, Walter Abercrombie. [Music] All-conference quarterback, Jay Jeffrey, kept the Alabama defense guessing,

00:12:07.620 - 00:12:28.820

and Baylor fans fired up for a comeback. [Music] But as in the first half, just when hopes reached a peak, the Tide defenders clamped the lid on the sixth best offense in all of college football.

00:12:28.820 - 00:13:01.680

[Music] for frustrating Baylor and handing Alabama an easy road to points. Peter Kim's third field goal tied a Cotton Bowl record and further nipped at the Bears attempt to turn this game around.

00:13:01.680 - 00:13:14.800

Calling on the determination and pride that led them through one of the finest seasons by any team in conference history, Baylor continued to jab the visitors. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:13:14.800 - 00:13:32.320

But again, those dreaded turnovers choked them. [MUSIC PLAYING] Four fumbles and three interceptions were just too many presents for Alabama to open.

00:13:32.320 - 00:13:52.580

[MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC] When quarterback Don Jacobs took the nation's third best rushing offense in, the Tide had put 23 points on the scoreboard.

00:13:52.580 - 00:14:08.700

In his third try, Bear Bryant was approaching his first Cotton Bowl victory while coaching Alabama. [MUSIC] A 56-yard run by Joe Carter ended any comeback hopes

00:14:08.700 - 00:14:30.580

the Southwest Conference champions might have. [Music] It was now all Alabama. The tide walked off with a 30-2 victory in the 1981 Cotton Bowl,

00:14:30.580 - 00:14:44.780

a six straight bowl triumph for Bear Bryant. The unexpected setback should not tarnish the extraordinary accomplishments of Grant Taff and his Baylor Bears.

00:14:44.780 - 00:14:59.820

They rode roughshod through a rugged Southwest Conference, finishing as one of only nine teams in the last 20 years to not lose a conference game. But on the first day of 1981,

00:14:59.820 - 00:15:18.100

They had collided with a legend, and Bear Bryant's Alabamans played near perfect football. For the respected Bear, it was his 306th coaching victory. For the Cotton Bowl, the Battle of the Bears had provided a legend with one more step toward immortality.

00:15:18.100 - 00:15:38.860

[Music] (fire crackling) [BLANK_AUDIO]