With a rich and storied tradition as one of college football's oldest bowl games, the Cotton Bowl has several generations of loyal spectators. Cotton Bowl tickets are an ideal way for any sports fan to ring in the New Year.
Cotton Bowl Tickets: Historical Overview
The first Cotton Bowl was played back in 1937. The game was held each year at the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas. In 2010, the Cotton Bowl moved to a spectacular new venue. Cowboys Stadium (capacity of 105,121) should help the Cotton Bowl boost its standing in the college football postseason landscape over the next few years!
For many years, the Cotton Bowl was part of the traditional New Year's Day lineup that also featured the Rose, Sugar and Orange Bowls. With the champion of the Southwest Conference being one of the schools in the game, the Cotton Bowl usually had a team from the state of Texas to play in Dallas. When the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1995, the Cotton Bowl lost some of its luster. The game was not chosen to become part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998.
Still, the Cotton Bowl has continued to be a popular postseason affair. After the Southwest Conference dissolved, the new Big 12 Conference was added as a league tie-in for the game. Since 1999, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has been the other conference tie-in for the Cotton Bowl.
Cotton Bowl Tickets: Memorable Highlights
The Cotton Bowl has had its share of memorable highlights over the years. On many occasions, a national championship has been at stake in the game. In 1964, the Texas Longhorns defeated the Navy Midshipmen in the Cotton Bowl to secure a national title for the first time. A few years later, Navy quarterback Roger Staubach would return to the city of Dallas to star for the Cowboys.
Another legendary NFL quarterback would go on to become a memorable part of the Cotton Bowl's history. In 1979, the Houston Cougars held a commanding 34-12 lead over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish heading into the fourth quarter. After staying in the locker room for part of the second half while battling the flu in the chilly Dallas weather, Notre Dame quarterback Joe Montana brought his team all the way back in the final quarter for a dramatic 35-34 victory.
Cotton Bowl Tickets: 2011 Season
For the 2011 season, the Cotton Bowl will take place on Friday, January 6, 2012. Cotton Bowl tickets can be enjoyed at an incredible football venue.