THE CLASS OF 2018
QUENTIN CORYATT, TEXAS A&M, LINEBACKER1992 Classic: Florida State 10, Texas A&M 2
Defensive Statistics: 15 tackles, 10 unassisted
Tackles For Loss: 3 tackles for -12 yards
Safeties: 1 safety for -2 yards
Quentin
Coryatt always arrived at the football in a hurry. The Texas A&M
linebacker could pack a punch, too. Coryatt’s sack of Florida State
quarterback Casey Weldon in the 1992 Classic has become legend.
Following an Aggie turnover that gave the Seminoles the ball just
outside of the goal line, Weldon rolled to his right. With jet speed,
Coryatt closed swiftly and trapped the Seminole quarterback in the end
zone, sacking the Heisman runner-up for a safety to give Texas A&M
the first score of the game. It was a spectacular play and was one of 10
solo tackles for Coryatt. The Southwest Conference Defensive Player of
the Year ended the day with 15 stops, three of them resulting in -12
yards in losses. In a word…Quentin Coryatt was sensational.
COACH HOUSTON NUTT, ARKANSAS / OLE MISS2000 Classic: Arkansas 27, Texas 6
2002 Classic: Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3
2009 Classic: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
2010 Classic: Ole Miss 21, Oklahoma State 7
Classic Record: 3-1-0
Coach
Houston Nutt knew the route to the Cotton Bowl Classic better than
almost anyone. He is one of five head coaches to guide more than one
university to the bowl, and is one of only three to carry home a victory
for both institutions. It all started in 2000, the Classic’s “Turn of
the Century” game, when Arkansas defeated Texas 27-6. The Razorbacks
held the Longhorns to -27 yards on the ground to become the first team
ever to hold Texas to negative rushing yards in a game. More success
followed as head coach at Ole Miss. His Rebels went toe-to-toe with
Texas Tech in 2009 before pulling out a record-setting 47-34 victory. A
year later, Ole Miss knocked off Oklahoma State 21-7 to win back-to-back
Classics and the first in AT&T Stadium. In four appearances, his
teams were 3-1.
COACH JOHN ROBINSON, USC1995 Classic: USC 55, Texas Tech 14
Classic Record: 1-0-0
When
John Robinson served as head coach at USC, the Trojans were in a class
by themselves. His career record of 104-35-4 is an amazing resume. Under
Robinson, USC won nearly 75 percent of its games. One memorable victory
took place in the 1995 Cotton Bowl Classic when USC handed Texas Tech a
decisive 55-14 defeat. The Trojans were simply unstoppable. USC set
records for total offense, passing yards, total points, points in one
quarter and points in one half. The Men of Troy rolled up 578 yards in
offense. Defensively, they stymied Tech at every turn. It was a classic
display of an explosive offense joining forces with a dominating
defense. Robinson and his Trojans logged one of the most incredible
performances ever in the Classic.
WALLY TRIPLETT, PENN STATE, TAILBACK / LINEBACKER1948 Classic: Penn State 13, SMU 13
Receiving: 1-6, 1 TD (Additional Statistics Not Available)
Wally
Triplett made history at Penn State. A heralded offensive threat at
tailback and a hard-hitting linebacker on defense, he also was the
Nittany Lions’ first African-American football star. In the 1948 Cotton
Bowl, Triplett and fellow teammate Dennie Hoggard did more than play
football. They broke down racial barriers in Texas. When asked to
consider leaving the team’s two black players at home, their teammates’
quick response was one of solidarity…“We are Penn State, there will be
no meetings.” Triplett played as advertised against SMU and reeled in
the game-tying touchdown with a six-yard catch in the third quarter. The
game ended in a 13-13 tie. The final score aside, Triplett, Hoggard and
Penn State had taken a stand that New Year’s Day, one for a more just
society.
RICKY WILLIAMS, TEXAS, RUNNING BACK1999 Classic: Texas 38, Mississippi State 11
Rushing: 30 attempts, 203 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: 5 receptions, 45 yards
Ricky
Williams was precision in motion. The explosive Texas running back with
hydraulic thighs and blazing speed was the buzz of college football as
the landslide winner of the Heisman Trophy as his senior season came to
an end. All eyes turned toward Dallas for his career finale against
Mississippi State in the 1999 Cotton Bowl Classic. Three plays into the
second half, the decorated Longhorn running back broke loose up the
middle and sailed 37 yards for his first score of the day. As he crossed
the goal line, Williams pulled up and struck the classic Heisman pose
and sparked a celebration of major proportions. Powered by Williams’ 203
rushing yards, Texas cruised to a 38-11 decision over the Bulldogs and
its first New Year’s Day bowl victory in 17 years.
ROY WILLIAMS, OKLAHOMA, STRONG SAFETY2002 Classic: Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3
Defensive Statistics: 6 tackles, 5 unassisted
Tackles For Loss: 3 tackles for -17 yards
Quarterback Sacks: 2 sacks for -8 yards
They
called him Superman, and it was easy to see why. Oklahoma safety Roy
Williams dominated Arkansas in the 2002 Classic. No matter where the
Hogs tried to run, Williams stood in their way. The Defensive MVP was
equally as effective on deep pass routes as he was at the line of
scrimmage. He was in on six tackles, five of them unassisted, including
three tackles for -17 yards in losses and two sacks for minus-eight
yards. A sure tackler, when Williams got his hands on a ball carrier,
that player went down at the point of contact. His Sooners held Arkansas
to 50 yards in offense, two pass completions, and collected nine sacks
to win 10-3. No wonder he became the first player to win the Bronko
Nagurski and Jim Thorpe awards in the same season. Versatile was his
middle name.
