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In 1947, two schools from the state of Texas epitomized football
powerhouses: SMU and the University of Texas. Their game was a classic
struggle between two giants with SMU emerging victorious, 14-13. The key to
the game was the play of Doak Walker. Walker's performance that day was the
key to ensuring SMU an undefeated season and a trip to the Cotton Bowl
making the 1947 Texas game one of the 90 Greatest Moments in SMU Football
History.
On November 1, 1947, UT traveled to Dallas to take on conference rival SMU
in a showdown of two top-10 teams. Both schools were undefeated with SMU at
5-0 and ranked No. 8 in the nation while Texas stood at 6-0 and No. 3 in the
polls. It was also the last meeting of Doak Walker and Bobby Layne, former
high school and future pro teammates. The game drew a standing room only
crowd of 50,000 to the 46,000 seat Cotton Bowl, setting the wheels in motion
to enlarge the stadium as soon as possible.
Texas was rated the superior team at the time. In public, Matty Bell sang
the praises of the Longhorns, but in the locker room, he was preparing his
players to beat them. "I just had to convince them they could win with all
the chips down," Bell said. "I said they would have to do their hardest
blocking and tackling and that they were not to be awed by Texas's
reputation."
Before the game, Doak Walker got up and said, "Fellows, I've been sweating
this game out since we lost to Texas in 1945, and we've just got to win this
time." SMU struck in the first three minutes to take a 7-0 lead following
an 81-yard kickoff return. Walker hit Dick McKissack inside the Texas 5 on
a crucial fourth down play to keep SMU moving. Paul Page scored on a
reverse one play later as the Texas defense focused on Walker.
Bobby Layne, however, brought the Longhorns back. He engineered a scoring
drive capped off by an 11-yard touchdown run by Tom Landry. The game stayed
tied until just before halftime when Walker set SMU up for another
touchdown. Gil Johnson hit Walker for a gain of 37, putting the Mustangs at
the Texas one yard line. McKissack rammed through the line on the next play
for the score. Walker added the extra point and SMU led 14-7.
Texas surged back and had a chance to tie the score late in the fourth
quarter. Layne went to the air and hit Byron Gillory for a long touchdown
pass. However, kicker Frank Guess pushed the extra-point attempt wide of
the uprights, allowing SMU to hang on to the narrow lead. SMU spoiled the
Longhorn's bid for its first national championship with the thrilling 14-13
victory.
Walker later recalled, "During the years that I have been on football,
baseball, basketball, track, and swimming teams either in high school or
college, or the army, I have had lots of thrills. But I guess my highlight
in sports was that game against Texas."
SMU finished the season with a record of 9-0-1 and were crowned Southwest
Conference champions. They earned their first trip to the Cotton Bowl
matching them against Penn St. Texas finished the regular season 9-1 and
earned a trip to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. The 1947 SMU-Texas game
will go down as one of the greatest games in SMU history and takes it place
as one of the 90 Greatest Moments in SMU Football History.Î...
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