Follow the Cotton Bowl on Instagram

  Get an up-close view of the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic through social media throughout the game by going to the Classic's Instagram account: cottonbowl.
   Lots of photos and videos to enjoy, including exclusive shots from the sidelines.

Stirring National Anthem before the start of the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

A giant U.S. flag was unfurled on the field prior to the game

   The 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic got off to a stirring start with Freddie Jones playing a haunting version of the national anthem on his trumpet. Jones also performs the anthem before all Dallas Cowboys home games.
   Prior to the anthem, former Baylor coach Grant Teaff, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, gave the invocation.

Kilgore Rangerettes celebrate dual anniversaries

The Kilgore College Rangerettes

   Kilgore Rangerettes director Dana Blair tossed the coin before the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in tribute to two anniversaries involving the world's most famous dance/drill team.
    The Rangerettes are celebrating their 75th anniversary of existence, as well as their 65th anniversary of being associated with the Cotton Bowl Classic.
   Congratulations, Rangerettes! It wouldn't be a Cotton Bowl without you.

Michigan State gets on the scoreboard first

Michigan State's Jeremy Langford scores from two yards out.

   It didn't take long for the scoring to start at the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
   On the third play of the game, Michigan State's Jeremy Langford broke a 65-yard run down to the Baylor one yard line. It was the third-longest run ever by an FBS player at AT&T Stadium.
   A couple of plays later, Langford scored from two yards out to give Michigan State a 7-0 lead. The 75-yard drive took all of six plays and 2:33 off the clock.
   Baylor answered with a 10-play, 93-yard yard touchdown drive ending with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Petty to K.D. Cannon.
  So with 8:56 to play in the first quarter, we've already had a couple of big plays. The outlook is for many more to come.

Children's hospital visits are rewarding for patients as well as players

A Baylor player visits with a patient at Children's Medical Center

   One of the great traditions of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is the team visits to local children's hospitals.
   On Monday, Baylor players visited Children's Medical Center while Michigan State players spent time with the kids at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.

   Every year, the players come away thinking they've gotten more out of the visit than the patients

"It's always a unique perspective because we seem to be the heroes, quote unquote, and to me it's them that are the heroes," Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty said. "They have to go through things that I've never had to go through in my life, and they do it day in and day out.

"For everybody to see a day in the life of those kids, I think it puts a unique perspective on life for all of us, and really understand it and truly realize the blessing that we have to be able to get up each morning healthy and play football. Not being in a hospital every day is something you take for granted if you're not in there. For us to be a part of that was huge."

What makes the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic great: Volunteers like Cathy Luetje

Media Hotel Coordinator Cathy Luetje and her two walkie-talkies

   A bowl game is only as good as its volunteers, and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic has an army of first-rate volunteers making sure the event runs smoothly.
   One of the generals of the bowl's volunteer army is Cathy Leutje, the Media Hotel Coordinator who has been with the Cotton Bowl Classic for 24 years.
   Cathy is so busy, she needs two walkie-talkies to do her job! She gave us a minute out of her hectic schedule to explain why she donates so much time and energy to the Cotton Bowl Classic every year.

   "I love it," Luetje said. "I love the Cotton Bowl. I love the people. Every year it's like a family reunion. You come back, you see the same folks that you've worked with before. They're all great people and they're great to work with."

 And the worst part of her job?

"There's not enough hours in the day," Luetje sighed. "Lots of things happening at the same time, moving parts during the week and also trying to prep and get ready for gameday as well."

So why does she need two walkie-talkies?

"I have one that I can hear all the other traffic from the other hotels, team hotels as well as the stadium," Luetje explained. "One is an internal channel here at the media hotel. Communication is key, that's what it's all about."

Happy New Year from the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

   Greetings from AT&T Stadium and the 2015 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic! It's rainy and cold outside but warm and enthusiastic inside. The doors haven't opened yet to the public, but some of the sideline and halftime performers have been on the field warming up.
   Soon, it will be the teams from Baylor and Michigan State taking the field and kickoff will be here before you know it!