On December 1, 1979, Houston expected to get invited to the Sun Bowl after the team’s game vs. Rice. The Cougars ran through the Owls, 63-0. The Coogs scored 14 in the first quarter and 21 in the second to end any chance at a Rice comeback.
But during the game, players and fans started getting information. Texas A&M, which had scored 51 points total in its four Southwest Conference losses, had upset No. 6 Texas at Kyle Field, 17-13. Houston and Texas had been tied atop the standings with Arkansas, and a Texas win at Kyle Field would have secured a Cotton Bowl berth.
Due to UT’s loss and Houston’s earlier win at Arkansas, the 10-1 Cougars would now be heading to Fair Park to take on the No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers, also 10-1.
sports front of the Houston Post // 12-2-1979
Coogs have date in Dallas continued // Houston Post
QB Terry Elston leads that the Aggies have beaten Texas // Houstonian
Hello Dallas // Houston Post 12-2-1979
Change of plans ok with Cougars // Houston Post 12-3-1979
Backup QB Mark Jermstad sweeps to score TD // Houstonian
Terry Monroe and Leonard Mitchell carry trainer Tom Wilson off the field // Houstonian
players douse each other in coke when they find out going to Cotton Bowl // Houstonian Yearbook
roar from crowd tells Coogs Texas has fallen Houston Post – 1221979
Roar from crowd tells Coogs Texas has fallen continued // Houston Post
with news of the Cotton Bowl the Bayou Bucket takes a back seat // Houstonian
ever had one of those years // Houston Post cartoon
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