1985 Bluebonnet Bowl

The 1985 Bluebonnet Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the Texas Longhorns and Air Force Falcons, played on December 31 at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas.[2][3][4][5]

1985 Bluebonnet Bowl
Air Force Falcons Texas Longhorns
(11–1) (8–3)
24 16
Head coach: 
Fisher DeBerry		 Head coach: 
Fred Akers
APCoaches
107
1234 Total
Air Force 14073 24
Texas 7036 16
DateDecember 31, 1985
Season1985
StadiumRice Stadium
LocationHouston, Texas
MVPPat Evans, FB, Air Force
FavoriteAir Force by 6 [1]
Attendance42,000
United States TV coverage
NetworkLorimar Sports Network
AnnouncersTom Hammond
Gifford Nielsen

Background

The Falcons ran the wishbone offense and had the most regular season victories in program history with eleven, but a conference loss to defending national champion BYU at Provo on November 16 cost them a shot at the national title and an outright Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title.[6] This was the fourth consecutive bowl appearance for Air Force, the previous three were victories.[2] Unranked Texas tied for second in the Southwest Conference (SWC) but had lost to rival Texas A&M to end the regular season; it was their ninth straight bowl appearance and first Bluebonnet Bowl in five years.[2]

This Bluebonnet Bowl was the first at Rice Stadium since 1967; the previous seventeen editions (1968–1984) were at the Astrodome. Nearly a dozen years earlier, Rice Stadium hosted Super Bowl VIII (January 1974).

Kickoff was at 1:45 pm CST.[7]

Game summary
  • Texas - Harris 34 pass from Stafford (Ward kick), 11:14 remaining
  • Air Force - Pshsniak 1 run (Ruby kick), 3:37 remaining
  • Air Force - Weiss 1 run (Ruby kick), 1:38 remaining
  • Texas - Ward 24 FG, 6:19 remaining
  • Air Force - Evans 19 run (Ruby kick), 3:35 remaining
  • Texas - Ward 31 FG, 14:14 remaining
  • Texas - Ward 28 FG, 7:34 remaining
  • Air Force - Ruby 40 FG, :43 remaining
Source:[3]

Air Force fullback Pat Evans had 18 carries for 129 yards in an MVP effort.[3][4][8]

Statistics
StatisticsAir Force  Texas  
First Downs1714
Rushes5349
Rushing Yards189214
Passes1–59–18
Passing Yards588
Punts-Average11–49.26–44.5
Fumbles-Lost1–00–0
Interceptions02
Penalties-Yards6–458–67
Source:[3]

Aftermath

The Falcons (12–1) finished in the top ten in both major polls (fifth in Coaches, eighth in AP), which remains their highest ranking ever. Texas (8–4) lost its fourth straight bowl and did not make a bowl game the following season (at 5–6), and head coach Fred Akers was soon fired.

References
  1. Jimmy the Greek (December 31, 1985). "Odds". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). p. 3B.
  2. "Today's bowl games: Bluebonnet". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 31, 1985. p. 2B.
  3. "Falcons finish season with a rush". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 1, 1986. p. 3C.
  4. "Air Force rumbles past Texas". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. January 1, 1986. p. D2.
  5. Slavik, Coy. "Air Force downs Longhorns, 24-16". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). p. 1B.
  6. "BYU throws No. 4 Falcons for a loss, 28-21". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 17, 1985. p. 2B.
  7. "Football: College bowls". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). December 31, 1985. p. C3.
  8. http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/bowl_afahistory.html


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