Nebraska Upsets Steers, 14‑13; Last‑Ditch Field Goal Try Fails
Interpreted from Boo Odem, Sports Staff Austin, Sept. 17 —
Nimble Nebraska, a 14‑point underdog from the Big Eight, stunned mighty Texas before 40,000 fans Saturday night, 14‑13, in a thriller that marked the first opening‑game loss for new Longhorn coach Darrell Royal.
The Cornhuskers, led by quarterback Pat Fischer, fought from behind and twice turned apparent disaster into triumph. Fischer branded the Steers with two touchdowns — one a dazzling 76‑yard punt return and another on a fourth‑down keeper — then tossed a fake placement pass for the decisive two‑point conversion.
Texas struck first, driving 80 yards in 18 plays behind sophomore Ray Poage’s hard running. Quarterback Mike Cotten plunged over from the six, and Ray Barton’s kick made it 7‑0. But Nebraska answered when Fischer picked up a punt at his 24, slipped through five tacklers, and raced untouched to the end zone. The extra‑point try failed, leaving Texas ahead 7‑6.
In the third period, breaks went against the Steers. A quick kick by Jimmy Saxton backfired, and Nebraska capitalized. Fischer, cool under pressure, faked a pass and swung wide for 16 yards to the Texas 16. Six plays later, he ran laterally and handed off to David Russell for the touchdown. On the fake placement, Fischer flipped the ball over Russell’s head to Bill Thornton for two points, giving Nebraska a 14‑7 lead.
Texas roared back early in the fourth quarter, marching 63 yards behind Poage’s bursts. Cotten faked to Poage and followed his fullback through right guard for the score. But his two‑point try was stopped inches short, leaving the score 14‑13 with 6:15 to play.
With time running out, Cotten engineered a desperate drive to the Nebraska 17. A 30‑yard pass to Larry Cooper put Texas in striking distance, but Barton’s 23‑yard field‑goal attempt fell short with 30 seconds left.
Royal, visibly disappointed, said afterward, “We didn’t cover, we didn’t handle punts, and we didn’t do anything well on our kicking game. That was the difference.” Yet he added, “I’m sick about the loss, but I can’t help being happy for Bill Jennings — they played well enough to win.”
Nebraska’s trio of backs — Bernie Clay, Clay White, and Thornton — punched holes in the Texas line all night, while Fischer’s poise and daring sealed the upset.
For the Cornhuskers, it was a victory of grit and guile; for Texas, a bitter lesson in missed chances and narrow margins.
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Courtesy of The Houston Chronicle September 18, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Alabama Engulfs Georgia, 21‑6
Interpreted from Jesse Outlar, Sports Editor Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 17 —
Aggressive Alabama rolled over Georgia’s defending Southeastern Conference champions Saturday afternoon at Legion Field, 21‑6, in a game that left little doubt about the Crimson Tide’s growing power under Bear Bryant.
Before a shirt‑sleeved crowd of 35,726 and a national television audience, the Tide turned what was billed as a toss‑up into a one‑sided romp. Three swift scoring drives — 89, 52, and 75 yards — in a nine‑minute span of the second quarter settled the issue.
Georgia’s offense, led by quarterback Francis Tarkenton, never found its rhythm. The Bulldogs managed only 67 yards rushing and lost 115 yards to penalties, while Alabama’s relentless ground attack piled up 272 yards. Junior fullback Billy Richardson led the charge with 102 yards, aided by halfbacks Ray Abruzzese, Tommy White, and Carlton Rankin.
The Bulldogs held early promise when Bobby Walden’s 42‑yard punt pinned Alabama deep, but that was the last bright moment for Georgia fans. Alabama’s first touchdown came on a 17‑play drive capped by White’s two‑yard sweep. Brooker’s kick made it 7‑0.
Moments later, Pat Trammell and Abruzzese combined for a 52‑yard march, and Skelton sneaked the final yard for 14‑0. A personal foul helped set up the third score, with White and Skelton hammering through the line for 21‑0 before halftime.
Georgia’s lone spark came in the final minute when sophomore safety Billy Jackson returned a punt 78 yards to the Tide 3. Tarkenton hit Dan Davis for the points, but his two‑point try failed.
Tarkenton completed 15 of 31 passes for 152 yards, but Alabama’s defense — anchored by Tommy Brooker, Jerry Neighbors, and Bobby Boylston — was impenetrable when it counted.
Bryant’s men, abandoning their usual “defense‑first” creed, proved that winning beats anything that comes in second. The Tide’s seventh straight league victory confirmed Alabama’s return to power after three seasons under its hard‑nosed coach.
Georgia, weary and penalty‑plagued, will try to rebound against Vanderbilt next Saturday in Nashville. Alabama meets Tulane in Birmingham.
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Courtesy of The Atlanta Journal September 18, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Stanford Blows 2‑TD Lead, Bows to WSU 15‑14
Interpreted from Dick Friendlich, Sports Staff Spokane Stadium, Sept. 17 —
Luckless Stanford saw a 14‑point lead vanish in the chill of a Spokane evening Saturday as Washington State rallied for two touchdowns in the final quarter to snatch a 15‑14 victory before 22,000 fans.
For three quarters the Indians looked every bit the team that had been written off in preseason talk. With fullback Skip Face and halfback Gil Dowd pounding the Cougar line, Stanford’s running game — its best in three years — kept the favored hosts on their heels.
Quarterback Dick Norman engineered two crisp scoring drives. The first came midway through the opening period when Norman mixed short passes with Dowd’s inside bursts and Face’s swing runs. On fourth‑and‑three from the eight, Face caught Norman’s pass, broke two tackles, and crashed into the end zone. Face’s kick made it 7‑0.
Moments later, a twisting punt by Carl Craig died on the Cougar 1‑yard line. When WSU fumbled, Stanford struck again. Junior quarterback Rod Sears took over and, behind the blocking of Dean Hinshaw and Rich Hearney, Dowd twisted over from the six. Face’s second conversion made it 14‑0.
The Cougars, out‑rushed 175 to 68, turned to the air. Quarterback Mel Melin hit Jim Boylan for 47 yards and later found Pete Schenck in the corner for a touchdown. The extra‑point try failed, leaving Stanford ahead 14‑6.
Then came the heartbreak. Early in the fourth quarter, Melin fired two passes — one for 47 yards, another for 17 and a score — and Keith Lincoln cut back at tackle for the two‑point conversion, closing the gap to 14‑14.
Stanford still had the lead until Norman’s screen pass was intercepted by big Cougar tackle Garner Ekstran, who lumbered 40 yards down the sideline for the winning touchdown. Melin’s kick made it 15‑14.
The Indians fought back valiantly. Face carried 49 yards on the final drive, and Norman twice hit him for short gains to reach the 25. But when Norman tried the same play again, tackle Bob Hoien snared the ball at the line of scrimmage, sealing Stanford’s second straight one‑point opening‑game loss — last year it was 28‑27 to Oregon.
Stanford’s defense, led by Doug Pursell and Jack Gordon, was stout, and Dowd’s running drew praise even in defeat. But penalties and two costly interceptions turned a sure victory into a bitter memory.
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Courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle September 18, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Last‑Minute Bruin TD Beats Pitt, 8‑7
Interpreted from Jamie Curran, Sports Staff Los Angeles Coliseum, Sept. 17 —
A desperation drive in the final minute gave UCLA a thrilling 8‑7 victory over Pittsburgh before 36,056 fans at the Coliseum Saturday night.
Halfback Ezell Singleton capped a 51‑yard march by slashing four yards off tackle for the touchdown. Then quarterback Bill Kilmer drove off tackle for the two‑point conversion that sealed the win.
For three quarters, the Panthers’ rugged defense kept the Bruins bottled up. Pitt struck first midway through the opening period when fullback Bob Cunningham plunged one yard for a score after a 14‑yard run by Cox set up the drive. Cox added the conversion for a 7‑0 lead.
UCLA countered with Kilmer’s punting and passing wizardry. His 63‑yard quick kick in the second quarter pinned Pitt deep, and his aerials to Johnson, Luster, Alexander, and Earl Smith kept the Bruins moving. But fumbles and a stiff Panther line stalled every threat.
The Bruins finally broke through late in the fourth quarter. Kilmer hit Johnson for 25 yards and Luster for 16 more to the Pitt 20. Singleton then took over, pounding through the middle until he found daylight at the goal line.
Pitt had one last chance after the kickoff, but Frasca’s second fumble recovery ended the drive and the game.
Kilmer completed nine passes for more than 100 yards and directed the winning drive with cool precision. Singleton’s running and Kilmer’s leadership turned a grim night into a Bruin celebration.
It was UCLA’s first victory of the season — and a heartbreaker for Pitt, whose defense had held firm until the final minute.
Courtesy of The Los Angeles Times September 18, 1960 via Newspapers.com
Kansas Wins Opener, 21-7, Over TCU
Interpeted from Sports Staff Lawrence, Kan., Sept. 17 —
Kansas snapped an eight-year jinx Saturday night, defeating Texas Christian University 21-7 before 20,000 fans at Memorial Stadium for its first season-opening victory since 1952.
Sophomore quarterback John Hadl and halfback Curtis Coan sparked the Jayhawks’ attack, combining speed and precision to upset the favored Horned Frogs.
The Jayhawks struck first midway through the opening quarter. Hadl directed a 63-yard drive capped by Coan’s 24-yard gallop down the right sideline. Fullback Ken Coleman plunged over from the two, and Hadl’s kick made it 7-0.
TCU’s only score came late in the second period. Safety Larry Dawson detected Kansas’ quick-kick attempt, returned the punt to the TCU 39, and set up the Frogs’ lone touchdown. Quarterback Guy Gibbs picked up 29 yards on the option play and later hit end Don George for the score. The conversion tied it 7-7.
Kansas regained control in the third quarter. Hadl and Coan alternated short bursts and passes to move 63 yards in nine plays. Hadl kept for the touchdown from the three, and his kick made it 14-7.
The Jayhawks sealed the victory in the final period when Hadl fired a 16-yard pass to end John Mosier for the third touchdown. Hadl again converted for 21-7.
TCU managed only 80 yards on the ground and 62 through the air, while Kansas rolled up 163 yards rushing and controlled the ball for most of the game.
The Jayhawk defense, led by Don Fambrough and John Zook, stifled the Frogs throughout the second half. TCU’s final drive ended on the Kansas 29 after three incomplete passes.
Coach Jack Mitchell praised his young backfield after the game, calling Hadl and Coan “the spark we’ve been waiting for.” The victory marked Kansas’ first opening-game win in eight years and set a promising tone for the Big Eight season ahead.
Courtesy of The Wichita Eagle September 18, 1960 via Newspapers.com